Month: August 2022

Fireworks For Hard Spun Colt As Momentum Continues Into Fasig-Tipton NY-Bred Sale

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY – The momentum from last week's record-setting Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Selected Yearlings Sale carried into the first of two sessions of the company's New York-bred Yearlings Sale in Saratoga Sunday night, with a colt by Hard Spun bringing a record-tying final bid of $600,000 from owner Al Gold.

“It was an outstanding session tonight,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning. “It was a great start to the New York-bred sale. The place was full of people and full of energy again, just like it was for the selected sale. There was broad participation across the board. There was just very, very good trade and enthusiastic bidding. It's a tribute to the quality of the program. It continues to be unquestionably the best state-bred program in the world. The quality of the program increases each year, in terms of pedigree and presentation.”

A total of 64 yearlings sold Sunday for a gross of $6,900,000. The average was $107,813 and the median was $77,000. The buy-back rate was 23.8%.

During last year's opening session of the New York-bred sale, 62 horses grossed $6,497,500. The average was $104,798 and the median was $80,000. The buy-back rate was 24.4%.

Agent Joe Hardoon made the session's highest bid of $600,000 when he acquired the colt by Hard Spun from the Perrone Sales consignment. That figure matched the highest price for a colt at the sale which was set by a Pioneerof the Nile yearling in 2018. The auction's record price was set by a filly by Malibu Moon who sold for $775,000 in 2019.

The Fasig-Tipton New York-bred Yearlings Sale continues with a final session Monday. Bidding begins at noon.

Hard Spun Colt All Gold At Saratoga

Owner Al Gold, through bloodstock agent Joe Hardoon, went to a co-sales record $600,000 to acquire a colt by Hard Spun (hip 378) from the Perrone Sales Ltd. consignment late in Sunday's opening session of the Fasig-Tipton New York-bred Yearlings Sale.

“He is a big, beautiful chestnut colt with a lot of size and leg to him,” Hardoon said. “For how big he is, he was very light on his feet. He was a beautiful mover. It looks like he will be a nice two-turn horse. He was really everything we look for in a colt and he's a New York-bred on top of that.”

Gold has enjoyed top-level success this season with GI Arkansas Derby and GI Haskell S. winner Cyberknife (Gun Runner).

“When you have a horse like Cyberknife, you always have to try to find the next one,” Hardoon said. “Al has put so much into this game and he's waited so long for a horse like Cyberknife, we'd like to try to find the next one and not make him wait as long until he can get the next one.”

Consignor Jim Perrone watched the sale of the colt from the periphery of the auction stand while a pair of grooms stood in the ring doing a celebratory dance as the yearling's price continued to escalate.

Perrone was consigning the chestnut on behalf of his breeders, Bill and Jane Moriarty's Apache Farm.

“Bill and Jane Moriarty are unbelievable horse people,” Perrone said. “They are in Camden, South Carolina, they have a little farm. Their son has a farm in New York, it's called Apache Farm North. And Jane, she does everything herself. She foals them all herself. She brings them up there, they stay up here a while and then she brings them right back to Camden. She raises them and preps them. They are great people.”

The yearling, bred in partnership with Godolphin, is out of Passe (Dixie Union) and is a half-brother to the Apache-bred multiple stakes winner and multiple Grade I placed Wonder Gal (Tiz Wonderful).

“This colt has done everything right from day one,” Perrone said. “His name at the barn was 140 because he was 140 pounds when he was born. He was a monster, this guy.”

Of expectations for Sunday's sale, Perrone said, “We kind of felt like $300,000, in that vicinity, would be really good. The kind of people we had on him, we thought he would be ok. We never expected that. It was a great night for everyone.”

 

 

 

More Saratoga Magic for Reeveses

Dean and Patti Reeves, who made the highest bid at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Fall Sale last year, were back in action at the Humphrey S. Finney Pavilion Sunday, going to $370,000 to acquire a filly by Good Magic (hip 341).

“I loved her,” Patti Reeves said after signing the ticket on the yearling. “When I saw her, I thought she looked fabulous. They had her on the short list, but I hadn't seen them at all. When I saw her, I said, 'If you're going to get one, get that one.'”

The Reeveses have recently acquired a farm in Micanopy, Florida, which is managed by Nellie and Chetley Breeden, along with Jimmy Gladwell.

“She'll go down there and get in with the rest of them,” said Dean Reeves. “We will be able to get her started early and look forward to how she stands up to the rest of the crop.”

The couple warmed up for the sale with a dominating score by their Big Invasion (Declaration of War) in the Mahony S. at the racetrack across the street Sunday. Friday evening, their colt Senbei (Candy Ride {Arg}) was named 2021 New York-bred champion 2-year-old.

“We really are enjoying the New York program,” Dean Reeves said of their focus on Empire-breds. “We have been successful in it and we're having a good time with it. The incentives of the New York program, being able to get a lot of the money back out of the horse quickly up here in New York is really a big deal for us. It helps turn the money back over for us. It is an integral part of our stable, right now, New York-breds, whether it's here or at Keeneland or at the 2-year-old sales. If they happen to be New York-breds, that's an added incentive for us.”

Hip 341 was consigned by Vinery Sales on behalf of her breeder, Lere Visagie's Rockridge Stud. She is out of graded stakes winner Majestic Heat (Unusual Heat), a full-sister to Grade I placed Mensa Heat.

Visagie acquired the mare, with this foal in utero, for $130,000 at the 2020 Keeneland November sale after she was originally led out unsold.

“I didn't have a lot of expectations,” Visagie admitted, while accepting congratulations Sunday. “I knew I needed to sell the filly and I knew she was good. Obviously, I didn't expect any of this, but now I feel so much better about buying the mare.”

Visagie, who has around 12 mares, said circumstances helped make his six-figure purchase of Majestic Heat.

“I knew she was the best mare I could afford ever,” Visagie said. “Because of the circumstances–somewhat I have to thank COVID because there were not a lot of people there to buy her.”

Sunday's sale came just a day after champion Good Magic was represented by his first graded winner when his daughter Vegas Magic upset the GII Sorrento S. at Del Mar.

“The timing on this was as good as it gets,” Visagie said. “You just sit and enjoy and savor every minute. This is my highest sale. It's life-changing.”

 

 

 

Bolt d'Oro Sets Early Pace at New York Sale

A colt by Bolt d'Oro (hip 314) set the early pace during the first session of the Fasig-Tipton New York-bred Yearling sale in Saratoga when selling for $355,000 to the bid of bloodstock agent Gregory Martin. Martin signed for the ticket in the name of Jay Provenzano's Flying P Stable.

“He was just a gorgeous individual,” Martin said of the yearling's appeal. “He's put together really nicely and it looks like he will develop into a really nice horse. I love the Bolt d'Oros. He is an all-around beautiful animal.”

Flying P campaigns last year's GII Brooklyn S. winner Lone Rock (Majestic Warrior), as well as last year's GII Bernard Baruch H. winner Tell Your Daddy (Scat Daddy).

Martin admitted the team was almost at its limit with his final price tag.

“The market, I know, is going to be strong,” Martin said. “So we knew what our budget was going to be and we stayed very close to it.”

Consigned by Gainesway, the gray colt is out of Judge Lee (Street Cry {Ire}), a half-sister to multiple stakes winner Euro Platinum. The yearling was purchased by Carolyn Cannizzo's Willow Brook Stables for $120,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton New York Mixed Sale.

“He was a likeable horse,” Gainesway's Brian Graves said of the colt. “That was a little bit more than I thought we would get for him. He was vetted three or four times. I guess it's just a sign of the strength of the main sale and the carryover. Bolt d'Oro is doing well.”

Graves agreed with the sentiments of many horsemen on the grounds.

“I looked around at all the horses and I would say it is a really solid group of physicals,” he said. “It's a little stronger than what I've seen here in the past. Hopefully they all sell this well.”

 

 

 

Blue Chip Gets on the Board

Tom Grossman and wife Lisa D'Angelis, whose Blue Chip Farms is well known in the New York Harness-bred industry, made their biggest Thoroughbred yearling purchase Sunday in Saratoga, going to $350,000 to acquire a filly by freshman sire Oscar Performance (Kitten's Joy) (hip 392).

“This is the first big one that I bought as a yearling,” Grossman said. “I have bought some mares and bred and raced, but it's the first yearling that I really stepped up to buy. We want to play on the high end. I think we started there.”

Grossman continued, “We are New York breeders and we understand the value of the program. We breed quite a few Harness horses and have sold some Thoroughbreds well. We love the program, love the filly and love the team.”

 

 

 

Bloodstock agent Conor Foley of Oracle Bloodstock signed the ticket on the filly on behalf of Blue Chip Bloodstock, West Paces, and Flying Partners.

The yearling is out of Reachfortheheavens (Pulpit) and is a half-sister to Grade I winner Real Solution (Kitten's Joy) and graded-placed Ava's Kitten (Kitten's Joy). She was bred and consigned by Jonathan Thorne of Thorndale Farm, who purchased the mare for $100,000 at the 2018 Keeneland November Sale.

“She probably had the best pedigree and the best physical in the sale,” Foley said. “I thought she was exceptional. It was tough to find anything wrong with her. When they walk and act like that and have a pedigree like that, it gives you a lot of confidence. Oscar Performance's start helps a lot. She's a half to a Grade I winner. But even if she didn't have that kind of pedigree, she was still exceptional just as an individual.”

 

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Havnameltdown Gives Baffert a Ninth Best Pal

Sent off the 1-2 chalk on the strength of a 2 1/4-length debut victory going five furlongs July 24, Mike Pegram, Karl Watson & Paul Weitman's Havnameltdown (Uncaptured) was made to work for it, but in the end proved too classy for his rivals in Sunday's GIII Best Pal S., coming away late to take it by open lengths.

Drawn widest of all, the $16,000 OBS October Yearling turned $200,000 OBS April breezer (:9 4/5) pinged the stalls and showed good early speed to get down into the three path, where he cut the opening quarter-mile in a sharp :21.74 despite having to do some work. Maintaining a narrow advantage into the turn, the Florida-bred raced in the two path and faced a fresh challenge from $400,000 OBS March graduate  Agency (Bolt d'Oro), who rolled up three wide, looking every bit poised to capitalize on the favorite's early exertions. The latter got to within about a half-length with three-sixteenths of a mile to travel, but Havnameltdown had something in the locker and kicked home about 2 1/2 lengths to the good. Longshot Man Child (Creative Cause) rounded out the trifecta. Havnameltdown was providing trainer Bob Baffert with a record-extending ninth Best Pal, but first since Klimt (Quality Road) in 2016. The same ownership group won the 2009 Best Pal with future champion 2- and 3-year-old male Lookin At Lucky (Smart Strike).

“I was outside and my plan was to stay second or third, but he was real aggressive out of the gate,” said winning rider Juan Hernandez. “He wanted to go to the front so I just let him run and do his thing. At the quarter pole he was getting kind of lazy so I woke him up a bit and he picked it up really well and got to the wire.”

Pedigree Notes:

Havnameltdown is the 11th stakes winner and sixth graded winner for Uncaptured, who was sold by Ocala Stud to South Korea to continue his stud career in late 2019 and covered a total of 137 mares in his first two seasons there, including 92 in 2020. The 12-year-old is a son of Lion Heart, whose record as a sire of sires–particularly in Florida–is well documented, as his son Kantharos achieved great success before being moved to Hill 'n' Dale. The latter's son Bucchero is off to a promising start at Pleasant Acres Stallions. Produced by a half-sister to three full black-type winners and to the dam of 2020 GIII Selene S. winner Two Sixty (Uncaptured), Havnameltdown has a yearling half-sister by Tapiture. Ashley's Babe was barren to both World of Trouble and Maximus Mischief for 2022 and was most recently bred to the latter.

Sunday, Del Mar
BEST PAL S.-GIII, $202,500, Del Mar, 8-14, 2yo, 6f, 1:10.22, ft.
1–HAVNAMELTDOWN, 120, c, 2, by Uncaptured
1st Dam: Ashley's Babe, by Put It Back
2nd Dam: Charms Way, by Salt Lake
3rd Dam: Remember Midnight, by Cure the Blues
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($16,000 Ylg '21 OBSOCT; $200,000 2yo '22 OBSAPR). O-Michael E Pegram, Karl Watson & Paul Weitman; B-Katherine S Devall (FL); T-Bob Baffert; J-Juan J Hernandez. $120,000. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $168,000. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Agency, 120, c, 2, Bolt d'Oro–Queen of May, by Bernardini. 1ST BLACK-TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK-TYPE. ($100,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP; $400,000 2yo '22 OBSMAR). O-Muir Hut Stables LLC; B-Twin Creeks Farm (KY); T-Mark Glatt. $40,000.
3–Man Child, 120, c, 2, Creative Cause–Neck of the Moon, by More Than Ready. 1ST BLACK-TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK-TYPE. ($45,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP). O-California Racing Partners, Ciaglia Racing LLC, Michelle Hanson, Richard C Pearson, Timothy J Husted & Robert Drenk; B-Dell Ridge Farm LLC (KY); T-Ryan Hanson. $24,000.
Margins: 2HF, 5 3/4, 1 1/4. Odds: 0.50, 9.40, 28.50.
Also Ran: Pop d'Oro, Jin Tong, Fleet Feet, Mardukas, Arman, King Adrock, Quagmire Magic. Scratched: Kangaroo Court. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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‘Today Was His Best Race’: Ever-Improving Big Invasion Pleases Clement With Mahony Score At Saratoga, Possible For Breeders’ Cup

Trainer Christophe Clement had high praise for Reeves Thoroughbred Racing's graded-stakes winner Big Invasion after he took down the $150,000 Mahony Stakes, a 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint for sophomores, on Sunday at Saratoga Race Course.

“Today was his best race,” said a smiling Clement. “He's a very good horse, he keeps winning, so there's no doubt about it, but today I thought he behaved better than he's ever done.”

The off-the-pace score was the sixth victory in a row for the son of Declaration of War, who entered from an emphatic 2 3/4-length win to make the grade in the Quick Call presented by the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (G3) on July 17 at the Spa. The talented bay's winning streak dates back to a maiden-breaking score at second asking in February at Gulfstream Park and includes stakes triumphs in the Texas Glitter at Gulfstream, the William Walker at Churchill Downs, the Paradise Creek at Belmont Park and his two victories at the Spa.

Emerging from post 2 under regular pilot Joel Rosario, Big Invasion spotted the pacesetting That's Right seven lengths as the field was led through a swift opening quarter-mile in 21.76 seconds over the firm turf. Cadamosto was patiently handled by Tyler Gaffalione two lengths back with Surprise Boss tracking in third.

A determined That's Right held to his lead through a half-mile in 44.14 and dug in under Andy Hernandez to maintain his position at the top of the lane, but Cadamosto loomed to the outside with Big Invasion making giant strides down the center of the racetrack. Determined Kingdom launched his bid between rivals, but Big Invasion proved much the best and won with ease, crossing the wire three lengths clear in a final time of 1:01.42.

Cadamosto held off Determined Kingdom by a half-length with Sky and Sand completing the superfecta 1 1/4 lengths behind them. Surprise Boss, That's Right and Editorial Comment completed the order of finish.

Clement said the ever-improving Big Invasion has rounded into form in the seventh start of his sophomore season.

“He looked better than he's ever done and you know, he came from out of it,” Clement said. “He broke well, he [Joel Rosario] took him back, he behaved well and he finished very well, so I'm thrilled. I'm very happy.”

Rosario agreed, noting the colt's newfound ability to settle.

“The horse relaxed today and it looked like they ran away from him a little bit,” Rosario said. “It was very good and he really came with a run like he always does. He's getting there mentally.

“He was just kind of off the bridle nice and came with a run,” Rosario added. “Sometimes he can jump in the bridle, but he was all good today and it worked out perfectly.”

Clement added that Big Invasion may be ready to take the step up to top company at the Breeders' Cup in November at Keeneland.

“I've always thought he was the best 3-year-old in the country on the grass sprinting. We just don't have a program with Grade 1, Grade 2, that's the way the program is made,” said Clement. “But, I don't know, I'd have to talk to Mr. Reeves. I need to give him some time at some stage and maybe we can think about a race like the Breeders' Cup even if it's very ambitious. Why not?”

It is likely Big Invasion would train up to the Breeders' Cup should Clement choose to send him for an engagement in the Turf Sprint (G1) at Keeneland November 5.

“Maybe, I wouldn't mind doing that, that would be my feeling,” Clement said. “Let's see how he comes out of it and we can go from there.”

It was the 12th stakes victory of the meet for Rosario, who credited his agent, Ron Anderson, and the many owners and trainers he rides for with his successes.

“Thanks to the owners that got me there and all the trainers. My agent Ron does an excellent job all the time for me,” said Rosario. “I'm really happy, and to do it here at Saratoga is even better. I can't explain how happy I am.”

Bred in Kentucky by John O'Meara, the $72,000 2020 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase banked $82,500 in victory, increasing his total purse earnings to $444,045. Returning $2.70 for a $2 win wager, Big Invasion, who is out of the Curling mare Curls in Place, improved his record to 6-1-0 from seven lifetime outings.

Gaffalione said the Joseph O'Brien-trained Cadamosto ran admirably in defeat.

“My horse broke alertly and put himself in good position, traveled good throughout,” Gaffalione said. “He gave me a good run into the stretch and just couldn't hold off the winner today.”

Cadamosto was the first stakes starter of the meet for O'Brien, whom Gaffalione said is an honor to ride for.

“It feels amazing. I've been a big fan of his even when he was a rider and watched a lot of his replays,” said Gaffalione. “He's very impressive and I'm just thrilled to get the opportunity.”

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Strong-Finishing Sister Seagull Wears Down Pacesetter Late For Bison City Win

It appeared Sister Seagull had run out of runway, but the 3-year-old daughter of Hard Spun found a way to land herself in the winner's circle at the finish of the $250,000 Bison City Stakes, Sunday at Woodbine.

Bred by Sean Fitzhenry, who co-owns with his wife Dorothy, Sister Seagull finished second to major Queen's Plate contender Moira in the Woodbine Oaks on July 24.

This time, in the second leg of the Canadian Triple Tiara Series, the Catherine Day Phillips trainee went one better.

But it wasn't easy.

Strega, under Rafael Hernandez, zipped to the lead in the 1 1/16-mile Tapeta race, with Lady Brew, Pioneer's Edge, Sister Seagull and Souper Flashy following through an opening quarter-mile split of :23.85.

The order of the five-horse field remained unchanged through a half in :48, as Strega kept her lead over Lady Brew at two lengths.

Sister Seagull, with Antonio Gallardo in the irons, continued to save ground along the inside, but had plenty of work to do to collar the leader, who was still running comfortably on the front, a length on top at the stretch call.

Gallardo and his sophomore filly began to cut into the lead in deep stretch, eventually striking front in the final strides to record a neck win over a very game Strega. Pioneer's Edge, fifth in the Woodbine Oaks, was third, 1 ¼ lengths in front of Souper Flashy.

The final time was 1:44.48.

“She's started getting better,” said Gallardo. “After putting the blinkers on, she got more focused. She improves every race. Last time [in the Woodbine Oaks], there was a more aggressive pace, and I had a little bit of traffic that day, but I think the winner [Moira] is much the best. We finished second and I'm pretty happy about that. I'm very confident today. She's honest and I like that.”

Sister Seagull is now 2-1-1 from seven starts. She broke her maiden two starts ago in a maiden special weight race on June 5.

The final race of the Canadian Triple Tiara Series, the $250,000 Wonder Where Stakes, at 1 ¼ miles on the E.P. Taylor Turf Course, is set for September 11.

Sister Seagull paid $5.40. She was bred in Ontario from the Kitten's Joy mare Sweet Kitten.

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