BANDOROFF OPTIMISTIC ON NY SALE

Anticipation is building in New York for the opening of the long-awaited video lottery terminal casino at Aqueduct, which is scheduled for later this year. Revenue from the casino’s first year of operation is expected to produce about $32 million prize money for runners at the New York Racing Association’s tracks and to raise the rewards for New York-bred horses.

That’s why Fasig-Tipton officials are optimistic about the prospects for the company’s New York-bred preferred yearling auction, which is scheduled for Aug. 13 and 14 in upstate New York. They believe the excitement about the casino can overcome concerns about the volatile stock market and other economic concerns here and abroad.

“We’re very encouraged and expect a strong sale,” said Fasig-Tipton president Boyd Browning. “Obviously the VLT developments in New York are really generating a lot of activity and enthusiasm for this sale. We think it will be a positive influence on the sale results.”

The size of the auction’s catalog is larger. There are 216 yearlings listed in the book compared to 175 in 2010.

“With these purses that are coming and with New York-breds getting a big part of them, I would be very surprised if this sale doesn’t have a real surge and a lot of interest from people,” said consignor Craig Bandoroff of Kentucky-based Denali Stud. “I think we’re definitely going to see some good numbers.”

Each session of the auction will start at 7 p.m. (EDT) in the Humphrey S. Finney Pavilion in Saratoga Springs.has now won four times in eight starts for David Donk, who trains the filly for William Punk and Phil DiLeo.