All the essential timing elements for Sunday have dovetailed for Houston Astros star third baseman Alex Bregman and his very promising filly Kodiac Wintergreen (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}).

By the time Kodiac Wintergreen goes to the starting gate for the $500,000 Global Tote Juvenile Fillies S. at Kentucky Downs at 5:28 p.m. (CT), the Astros's home game with the San Diego Padres should be long finished. His day's work on the diamond at Minute Maid Field done, Bregman will be parked in front of a television to watch how the 2-year-old filly handles the one-mile race, the biggest test of her young career.

Bregman expects Kodiac Wintergreen to emerge as the second standout in his nascent and fast-growing thoroughbred stable, Bregman Family Racing LLC. Trained by Rusty Arnold and to be ridden again by Jose Oritz, she is the 3-1 favorite on the morning line. So far, No Nay Mets (Ire) (No Nay Never), with two stakes wins on his resume, is the most accomplished Bregman runner. He will try for a third stakes victory Saturday at Colonial Downs in Virginia.

Two years after Bregman, his wife Reagan and his parents, Jackie and Sam, made their first purchases at auction, the stable is emerging as a player at major racetracks.

“My family has been in love with horse racing since my great grandfather and my grandfather,” Bregman said in a telephone interview. “Everyone has loved horse racing in my family. I used to go to Albuquerque Downs with my grandfather growing up and my dad as well.”

Since Bregman, 29, made his major-league debut in 2016, the Astros have reached the World Series four times, winning twice. He is a two-time American League All-Star.

Veteran bloodstock agent Mike Akers and Ciaran Dunne of Wavertree Stables in Ocala, Florida, have guided Bregman as he built his roster and helped him select trainers Arnold, George Weaver and Doug O'Neill.

The stable is handled by an enthusiastic racing manager.

“That's me,” Bregman said. “I love it. It's a passion of mine. It's something that I'll love forever and something that I want to be involved with forever. I want to build something special.”

While the baseball schedule keeps him away from the track, Bregman tries to see the races unfold live.

“I normally watch them with my whole team, and we yell at the TV hoping that we win,” he said.

As a result, he has become something of a racing ambassador to the Astros.

“Some of my teammates actually have owned parts of horses that we've owned,” he said. “It's been a blast. They love it now.”

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“It's hard early on with these 2-year-old races to know exactly what you're running against, but when you win by five lengths, that's a pretty big margin sprinting on the grass,” Weaver said of the Tyro win. “He just sprinted away from those guys in the stretch. He's always had a bunch of quality.”

A Coolmore-bred colt out the Group 3 winner Etoile (War Front)–whose family includes GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf winner Pizza Bianca (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) under the second dam–No Nay Mets was originally slated as a pinhook prospect for Houston Astros All-Star Alex Bregman when he was purchased for €180,000 at the 2022 Arqana August Yearling Sale. Although the juvenile posted a :20 4/5 breeze at the OBS Spring Sale, bidding stalled at $335,000.

Retained by his original buyer, No Nay Mets was sent to Weaver, who was tasked with preparing him for the Royal Palm Juvenile S. just a few weeks after the sale.

“He went straight from the sale to me and he's been straightforward and a very smart colt from day one,” said Weaver. “We never really had to rush him with his gate work. We shipped him to Gulfstream to work out of the gate. We shipped him to run at Gulfstream. We shipped him to England. Nothing fazed him.”

No Nay Mets was a frontrunning 3 1/2-length winner at Gulfstream, where he earned an automatic berth to compete at Royal Ascot, but the colt did not fare as well as his stablemate Crimson Advocate (Nyquist) at the prestigious meet. After failing to get the same speedy start he had shown on debut, he settled for ninth in the G2 Norfolk S.

“He didn't get away and wasn't able to cut the pace that day,” said his conditioner. “I think his speed is his asset. He came back at Monmouth and we used his speed and it just worked out a lot better.”

Owners Bregman Family Racing and Ivan Carbrera are hoping that their star can come back with a similar performance at Saratoga, but a rainy forecast Friday morning could put a damper on their plans.

“I would prefer not to run him under unfavorable circumstances,” admitted Weaver. “He's been so good to us and he just won. We're coming back on a short rest, but I'll just have to talk with Alex and we'll do what we think is best.”

For now, morning-line favorite No Nay Mets is slated to race from the seven position in a 10-horse Skidmore. The field also includes Mike Maker's Ship Cadet (Midshipman), who was second to No Nay Mets in the Tyro. Stonestreet Stables' Fandom (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) was impressive in his debut at Keeneland this spring, but he finished a disappointing 11^th in the G2 Coventry S. at Ascot. The MyRacehorse colorbearer Seize the Grey (Arrogate) will make his turf debut coming off a maiden win in the slop for D. Wayne Lukas on July 29 at Saratoga.

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While the late-running trip may have caused her backers some anxious moments, bloodstock agent Mike Akers, who purchased the filly last year on behalf of Houston Astros third baseman Alex Bregman's Bregman Family Racing, had confidence she could get the job done.

“I loved the ride,” Akers said. “I was getting a little nervous, but [Jose Ortiz] had ridden her before. She didn't get loose last time, he kept her inside and split horses and she got a lot out of that first race that bode well for today. So there was no panic. He knew how much punch she had when he got her loose. I think everybody saw her turn out of foot there.”

Kodiac Wintergreen is a half-sister to Love Reigns (Ire) (U S Navy Flag, MSW, $242,065), who won last year's Bolton Landing S. and came back this term to win the Limestone S. for Stonestreet Stables. She is also a half to Goldana (Ire) (Galileo Gold {GB}), GSW-Ire, SW-Ger; and to Glorious Empire (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), GISW, $977,227. She has a yearling half-brother by Mehmas (Ire).

Akers purchased the filly for €160,000 at last year's  Goffs Orby sale.

“It's a good family. She is a half to a good horse here in America and also a couple over there that came to America and ran well here,” Akers said of the filly's appeal. “The pedigree would get your attention. She stayed in Ireland to get broke and then she went to Wavertree to Ciaran Dunne and at every stop, I've had very good horsemen telling me that she has a great mind and talent. We just hoped everything worked out. You can have all of that and not go anywhere, but she is on the right trail. Let's just see if we can keep it going.”

As for what is next for the filly, Akers said, “That's in the hands of [trainer] Rusty Arnold. He's very patient. But I think she will tell us that she wants a little more ground. Right now, we were happy to get 5 1/2 [furlongs]. So you have to wait and see what's out there. Obviously, somebody would look at the 'Win and You're In' [the Breeders' Cup] races for 2-year-olds. That would be a natural to look at and see where they pop up on the racing schedule. Everybody can be excited now and dream a bit.”

Akers was busy buying on behalf of Bregman across the globe last year. He purchased No Nay Mets (No Nay Never) for €180,000 at the Arqana August sale. The colt RNA'd for $335,000 following a bullet quarter-mile breeze at the OBS April sale this year, but won a Royal Ascot qualifying stakes at Gulfstream in May and sold for ₤800,000 at Goffs in June.

“Alex's instructions were, 'Buy me some athletes,'” Akers explained. “That's kind of the way we approached it. We weren't really focused on any particular thing. And when I go to sales, I send him a short list and he goes over the short list and gives me instructions on what he likes. He is very eager to learn and he's like a sponge, he's picking everything up. I think he will be in it for the rest of his life in some form. It's been refreshing to work that way. It's always fun shopping sales and I always seem to have a list. So far it has worked out well and we've had some pretty good success kicking it off.”

Akers agreed a filly like Kodiac Wintergreen is bought looking ahead to her residual value as a broodmare.

“He's got a couple of mares,” Akers said of Bregman. “He bought a mare in foal to Wootton Bassett, so he's got a baby filly by him out of a nice mare. And he bought another mare and bred her to Constitution. So yes, his long-term plan would include being a breeder. We will continue on the road and concentrate on some fillies with enough pedigree to sell out of and try to create some added value to them at the racetrack. He loves competition of any kind and the racetrack and the sales rings are just other places to compete. We will attack those two things.”

6th-Saratoga, $105,000, Msw, 7-20, 2yo, f, 5 1/2fT, 1:03.40, fm, 3/4 length.
KODIAC WINTERGREEN (IRE) (f, 2, Kodiac {GB}–Humble And Proud {Ire}, by Pivotal {GB}) Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. Lifetime Record: 2-1-1-0, $75,750. O-Bregman Family Racing LLC; B-Patrick Grogan (IRE); T-George R. Arnold, II.

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Bregman Family Racing made its debut on the racetrack a winning one just last May when the first horse to carry the family's colors, Cadillac Candy (Twirling Candy), graduated at Churchill Downs.

The family's focus will still be on racing, according to Ciaran Dunne, whose Wavertree Stables preps Bregman's horses in Ocala, but the reoffered lots reflect a slight adjustment for the three-year-old stable.

“Alex made the decision to sell a few colts to try to finance his racing stable,” Dunne said. “I think he's decided that racing fillies is probably, in his grand scheme of things, going to be a better plan. He wants to develop a broodmare band and sort of have a long-term plan of action. By selling the colts, it helps finance some of the racing stable and the broodmare band. That's not to say he won't race a colt going forward, but, if he races fillies, he wants to own them 100% and he'll partner on colts with the hope of making a stallion. We have three in the sale for him here and if the right people with the right plan came along, I am sure he would be more than willing to stay in and be a partner.”

Hip 332, an Irish-bred son of No Nay Never, was purchased on behalf of Bregman by bloodstock agent Mike Akers for €180,000 at last year's Arqana August Yearling Sale. He is the first foal out of group winner Etoile (War Front), who is a full-sister to group winner and multiple Group 1-placed Ancient Rome.

“We got him in October or November sometime,” Dunne said of the colt. “It took him a little while to get his feet underneath him. It's a long process between shipping and quarantine and everything else. But ever since, he's been a really straightforward horse. His works have been more than solid coming into this. So we went in there with high expectations and I think he delivered. He's just a really solid colt by probably one of the top stallions in Europe.”

On behalf of the Bregman family, Wavertree will also send out a colt by Twirling Candy (hip 402) to work Tuesday and a son of Omaha Beach (hip 617) to work Wednesday.

“He absolutely loves the horse business,” Dunne said of Bregman. “It will be bittersweet for him. Racing is his first love. Pinhooking is probably going to be very hard for him. But we've had the discussion, 'look if you bring them over, you have to sell them.' So I think he will. But, like I said, if someone were to come along, I think he would be more than happy to stay in.”

Four horses shared Monday's fastest furlong time of :9 4/5. A filly by Flameaway (hip 177, video) worked the bullet for David McKathan and Jody Mihalic's Grassroots Training and Sales just minutes after the session's 8 a.m. start time. Out of Cinnamon Girl (Meadowlake), the chestnut filly was purchased by Grassroots for $15,000 at last year's Keeneland September sale.

Consignor Marcial Galan sent out a colt by Jimmy Creed (hip 239, video) to share the fastest furlong time Monday around 10:30 a.m. Out of Days Like This (Congrats), the juvenile was bred by Jason Hall, Stephen Baker, Herschel Martindale and Mike Riordan.

A colt by Triple Crown winner Justify (hip 299, video), who is out of D'Wildcat Speed (Forest Wildcat) and is a half-brother to multiple Group 1 winner Lady Aurelia (Scat Daddy), gave Jonathan Navas's Navas Equine its first :9 4/5 work when he hit the track around 10:40 a.m. Monday morning.

“I am very fortunate to have such a nice individual under my care,” Navas said. “He is an easy colt to work with. He is that kind that goes out there, puts in a lot of effort in training, does his best in the morning, and then comes back to the stall. Rest and repeat.”

Navas picked the well-bred colt out of the back ring at Keeneland last September and purchased him as part of a pinhooking partnership for $50,000.

“I saw him in the back ring, but I didn't inspect him at the barn,” Navas said. “His page is obviously really strong. And I liked the way he was taking everything in at the sale. We liked what I thought I could polish and develop a little bit more with training.”

Asked if he was surprised to get the colt at that price last fall, Navas said, “Yes, to be honest, it was a little bit surprising. With that pedigree, I would have thought I would have had to extend my budget a little bit more. He didn't look as athletic as he does now. He had a belly and he was a little bit narrow as a yearling. But with the time and training, he became a better-looking athlete. That's what I visualized last year and I think that's what we have right now.”

From a racing family in Venezuela, Navas launched his consignment in 2020. He was represented by a Shackleford filly who worked a quarter-mile bullet in :20 3/5 at the 2021 OBS June sale. Purchased for $7,500 at the 2020 Keeneland September sale, the filly sold for $70,000 that June. Now named Join the Dance, she resold for $110,000 at last year's Keeneland Horses of Racing Age Sale and is two-time stakes-placed.

“This is my third year consigning and I had never had a :9 4/5 before,” Navas said of hip 299's work Monday. “He was able to put up this great workout for us and am I very happy with it. It was pretty impressive.”

A colt by Twirling Candy (hip 192, video), consigned by Steve Venosa's SGV Thoroughbreds, completed the quartet of bullet workers shortly before noon Monday. Out of Conquest Babayaga (Uncle Mo), the dark bay was bred by St. Elias Stables and RNA'd for $120,000 at Keeneland September last fall.

The colt was the second from the SGV Thoroughbreds to turn in a :9 4/5 work this week at OBS. A filly by Flameway (hip 37, video) hit that mark for the consignment Sunday.

The final sets of Sunday's initial session of the under-tack show had horses working into a headwind, but it was the earlier sets Monday that had to deal with the wind, according to Dunne.

“All the way through the first set and through the second set, there was a pretty good headwind and then it seemed to get quieter towards the end of the day,” Dunne said. “We had a horse go :10 1/5 in the last set, so I think the track has been consistent the whole way through, which is all we can ask.”

The under-tack show continues through Saturday with sessions beginning daily at 8 a.m. The Spring sale will be held next Tuesday through Friday. Bidding commences each day at 10:30 a.m.

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But he's no longer the only five-for-five juvenile in North America after a win Saturday by the filly Back to Ohio (Midshipman), who cruised to a 7 1/4-length romp against Ohio-bred stakes company at Mahoning Valley.

It's not unusual for 2-year-olds to rack up wins if they compete largely against state-bred stakes company. But Tyler's Tribe is different because he's run legit 90+ Beyer Speed Figures on several occasions while dominating everyone who's lined up against him at Prairie Meadows, meriting his shot at the Breeders' Cup.

Back to Ohio hasn't garnered the same lofty figs just yet. But she signaled promise six months ago when unleashing a co-fastest eighth of a mile in :9 4/5 during her OBSAPR under-tack session, then hammered for $385,000 for Vince Foglia, who now races her under his stable name, Patricia's Hope LLC.

That's quite a cash outlay for a Buckeye-bred. But Back to Ohio has already earned $245,700 of it back for Foglia since debuting June 23.

Bred by Trail M Boarding & Guest Farm, the filly out of Sheza Runaway Star was pinhooked for $70,000 by Top Line Sales from the Mill Ridge Sales consignment at last year's FTKOCT. After Foglia purchased her this spring, trainer Larry Rivelli had her ready for a 4-5 winning unveiling against open company at Presque Isle Downs, leading to 3-5 favoritism in start number two, an Ohio-bred stakes at Belterra Park on July 8.

Back to Ohio uncorked a near-winning effort that day, but crossed the line second, beaten a neck, with the rest of the shell-shocked field at least 12 1/4 lengths in arrears. But the filly who narrowly beat her subsequently got disqualified because of a positive post-race drug test, and Back to Ohio was later ruled the official victress.

She scored in another state-bred stakes Aug. 13 at Thistledown by 5 1/2 lengths as the 9-10 favorite, then bested open-company fillies at Presque Isle by 2 1/2 lengths in a $99,900 stakes.

Her powerhouse performance in the 1 1/16-mile $100,000 John W. Galbreath S. on Oct. 29 wasn't without an anxious moment at the start. Making her two-turn debut, Back to Ohio got crunched at the break, then settled willingly and stalked a dueling duo until the far turn, when she inhaled the pacemakers and drew off under the lightest of encouragement from jockey Jareth Loveberry as the 2-5 chalk.

Breeders' Cup week is now upon us. Back to Ohio won't be there and Tyler's Tribe will. But that's not the point.

When you're five-for-five, the sky's the limit, and everybody in the Back to Ohio equation–from small-scale breeders to her well-established owner, trainer and jockey connections–can enjoy the rush that comes with the promise of possibility.

Backspin, baby!

In May, TDN colleague Bill Finley profiled Houston Astros all-star third baseman Alex Bregman's first win as a Thoroughbred owner in a partnership that involves his family members. On Saturday night, the slugger clocked a two-run homer to propel his team to victory over the Philadelphia Phillies to even the World Series at one game apiece.

Bregman Family Racing LLC also took a step up in class over the weekend. Baby Got Backspin (Kantharos), a 2-year-old maiden filly competing against winners, ran third at 9-1 odds in the $200,000 Myrtlewood S. at Keeneland.

The “backspin” part of the filly's name references a baseball term that describes how power hitters launch batted balls over long distances.

An unraced colt in the Bregman stable is Golden Sombrero (Medaglia d'Oro), named after the inglorious feat of striking out four times in a game.

“Total reverse psychology,” Bregman joked about the name choice to baseball writer Ken Rosenthal in a Sunday piece in The Athletic.

Down to the wire…

Maybe someday in the near future the sport will feature prop bets or exchange wagering on winning meet-specific titles. We're not quite at that point yet, but the closing weekend at Keeneland would have provided an intriguing example, as the winningest owner, trainer and jockey honors all were decided on the final day of racing.

The riding-title race in particular was dramatic: Tyler Gaffalione notched two victories Friday to give him 19 going into the final day of the 17-day fall meet. His closest pursuer, Luis Saez, won one race on Friday to put him at 18. On the final day of the meet, Gaffalione, seeking his sixth Keeneland riding title, had eight mounts versus 10 for Saez.

Saez and Gaffalione ran one-two in that order in the Saturday opener. They remained tied for the title until race five, won by Saez, then Gaffalione captured the eighth, again deadlocking the score. They both had mounts in the five-horse featured ninth, in which Gaffalione got third while Saez was last on the favorite.

Tied going into the nightcap, Gaffalione had no mount, but Saez pulled off a 26-1 shocker, securing the riding title in an unlikely fashion.

Tour de Fort

There are still a handful of tracks that card closing-day “marathon” races on the final days of race meets, and Fort Erie is one of them.

Known locally as the “Tour de Fort,” the 2 mile and 70 yard curtain-closer this year was just pure fun to watch for the novelty of it (with the beautiful late-October Ontario foliage adding style points).

The $10,000 starter/optional $12,500 claimer Oct. 24 featured too-fast-to-last splits of :23.89 and :47.73 for the opening quarter and half, and the eventual winner, Trinity Gold (Flat Out) was charted as being 23 lengths last during the first of two laps.

Jockey Brandon Boulanger started to let the three-for-15 gelding unwind at the five-eighths pole the second time down the backstretch. The move appeared almost certainly premature considering how rapidly Trinity Gold picked off the pack with a rush that landed him on the lead with 3 1/2 furlongs still left in the race and odds-on favorite Seventyseven Stone (Seventysevenatreet) coming at him full-tilt.

The two stayers hooked up for a hard-fought, length-of-stretch drive that featured Trinity Gold edging away by 2 ½ lengths under the wire with the rest of the stragglers no closer than 12 lengths back in 3:35.98. George Newland trained the winner for Trinity Racing Stables, Inc.

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“It felt like hitting my first home run in the Major Leagues,” Bregman said.

The enthusiasm is for real. Bregman has been active at the sales the last two years, has compiled a stable of eight horses and said his goal is to develop Grade I-caliber horses.

“It felt amazing,” he said of the victory, which came in the colt's second lifetime start. “The whole team was watching the race with me. We knew it was going to be tough for him to win because he was turning back in distance from 5 ½ to five furlongs and he is a closer. Ideally, he wants a little bit longer. He came flying and I don't remember much after that, other than yelling and going crazy.”

That Bregman has gravitated to Thoroughbred racing is hardly a surprise. His father, Sam Bregman, is the chairman of the New Mexico Racing Commission. His grandfather, the late Stan Bregman, was a prominent Washington D.C. lawyer and a frequent visitor to Pimlico and Laurel. Alex Bregman was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico and his grandfather started taking him to Albuquerque Downs when he was just five years old. His wife, Reagan, is a lifelong equestrian.

His horses run under the name of Bregman Family Racing LLC, which consists of Bregman, his wife, his father and his mother, Jackie.

Once he decided to start buying horses, he put together a team that included bloodstock agent Mike Akers. He has also leaned on Jim (Mattress Mack) McIngvale for advice. Bregman owns some of his horses in partnership with the Houston furniture magnate and rabid Astros fan.

“I own three horses in partnership with Mack,” Bregman said. “I'm really hopeful about those horses. He's been awesome and he has taught me a lot about the Thoroughbred business, what to do, what not to do. He's been an awesome resource.”

While the Astros were gearing up for the 2021 postseason, the Bregman team descended on Keeneland last September, which is where they found Cadillac Candy and two other yearlings. Cadillac Candy, who is also partially owned by Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Jake Marisnick, sold for just $15,000.

“It's a little bit of beginner's luck,” Bregman said. “I liked how he looked. Most importantly, my wife liked him and she is the one who picked him out. We all thought that buying him would be a good way to start.”

The Bregman babies were sent to Ciaran Dunne's Wavertree Stable in Ocala, where they were prepared for the races.

“Ciaran Dunne did an unbelievable job getting this horse ready to run,” Bregman said. “I asked him, `do we have anything here with this horse?' and he said, 'yes, actually, I think you have something.'”

Cadillac Candy wins at Churchill May 19, 2022 | Coady photo

While Cadillac Candy was bought for what now looks like quite the bargain, Bregman hasn't been afraid to go after pricier horses. In partnership with Trevor Smith, he bought a Medaglia d'Oro colt named Golden Sombrero (a baseball term that means someone struck out four times in a game) at Keeneland September for $150,000. At this year's OBS March sale, he and partner Ivan Cabrera bought a two-year-old by Ransom The Moon for $200,000. The colt has been named Raji.

“Our game plan right now is to find the best athletes possible,” Bregman said. “We want give ourselves a chance to win graded stakes races. We are in it to win and we are in it for the long run.”

“Alex does not do anything half-assed,” Sam Bregman said. “He is going to put all his effort into this, just like he does with everything else. It's a wonderful thing for the whole family. He felt the desire to get involved as more than just a fan. He loves the adrenaline, he loves the competition. He loves the idea that you go out and get results or you don't get results. I don't think it's going to take 10 years for Alex to be competing at the highest level in horse racing. If I know anything about my son and his drive, I can assure you that he is a sponge and he has educated himself 100 percent when it comes to racing. He's going to know the game as well as anyone. It also takes a little luck and so far he's had that going for him, too.”

Bregman says he will be back at Keeneland for the sale this September and expects that future partners will include Astros teammates.

Obviously, Bregman's first priority is baseball. The third baseman is considered one of the elite players in the game, but he finds the time to follow racing and attended last year's Breeders' Cup at Del Mar. Give him a chance and he'll tell anyone who will listen that there is something special about horse racing and that's the reason why he has become so involved with the sport.

“These animals are amazing and the people in the business are amazing,” he said. “It's an amazing competition, the best two minutes in the sport. It's just amazing to get a horse at one of these sales, watch it grow, watch it learn. They learn what their job is and then they go out there and do it. You get to watch a horse do what it most loves doing. And as you saw with Rich Strike in the Derby, anything can happen, anybody can win. This sport allows you to have that dream.”

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LEXINGTON, KY – The Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale saved its best to almost last Wednesday with Paris Lights (Curlin) capping a day of solid trade when bringing a final bid of $3.1 million from Spendthrift Farm. The racing or broodmare prospect was one of seven to top the million-dollar mark during the one-session Book 1 section of the 10-day Keeneland November sale.

“It was a good, steady, strong session,” Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin said Wednesday night. “We felt great about the way today went.”

In all, 118 horses sold for $50,634,000 Wednesday at Keeneland for an average of $429,102–up 10.35% from the 2020 Book 1–and the median was up 17.86% to $330,000. With 48 horses reported not sold, the buy-back rate was 28.92%. It was 27.68% a year ago.

“The 18% increase in median, I think was encouraging,” said Keeneland's Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy. “The money is spread across the board a lot more. I think overall, it was a very honest, fair and encouraging session as we move forward.”

During the first session of last year's November sale, 135 head sold for $52,942,000. The average was $392,163 and the median was $280,000. Concrete Rose topped the session when selling for $1,950,000 and the filly was one of nine to bring seven figures on the day.

Japanese buyers, who were so active during Fasig-Tipton November sale Tuesday night, continued to be a major presence at Keeneland Wednesday, taking home two of the top seven lots, but the domestic buying bench was responsible for five of the day's seven million-dollar mares.

“As we welcome back more and more travelers from around the world–I think we saw a far more diverse group–they are active and they are going to be active into Books 2 and 3,” said Lacy. “I think that's really encouraging as we step forward into the next year or two.”

Arvin added, “It was nice to have the international folks back. Definitely we saw internet bidding go down because there were so many international folks who were able to be here, which was great to see. And the domestic buying bench stayed very strong and steady as well, as it was in September.”

Matt Dorman's D. Hatman Thoroughbreds purchased the session's top-priced weanling when going to $800,000 to acquire a filly by Frankel (GB) from the Four Star Sales consignment.

“It's strong for any kind of quality,” Four Stars' John Greathouse said of the market. “You go up there and whatever you think you can pay, just add at least 50% to it. If you've got a quality horse here, I think you will do well.”

Greathouse continued, “I think there is a lot of money floating around right now. Purse money is good and people are wanting to race. There is a hunger for racehorses. That's translated into the sales, which has been nice. Breeders are finally getting rewarded, so you can buy a mare and do ok. It's a nice change. I hope it stays.”

The Keeneland November sale continues through Nov. 19 with sessions beginning daily at 10 a.m.

Paris 'Lights' Up Keeneland
Grade I winner Paris Lights (Curlin) (Hip 224D), a late supplement to the sale, lit up the ring just three hips from the end of the Book 1 session, bringing the day's top price of

$3.1 million from Spendthrift Farm. Offered by Elite on behalf of WinStar, the 4-year-old filly sold as a racing or broodmare prospect.

“She is going to Into Mischief and comes from as good a family as we have in the stud book, so there is not much more you can ask for,” Spendthrift's Ned Toffey said after signing the ticket. “It is very competitive. We tried on one earlier and didn't get it. We are happy to get this one and this is very much what we thought we had to pay.”

WinStar purchased Paris Lights dam Paris Bikini (Bernardini) from Bobby Flay for $425,000 at the 2016 KEEJAN sale. She is a daughter of SP Lacadena (Fasliyev) and a half-sister to Flay's GSW & MGISP America (A.P. Indy), who produced Grade III-winning 'TDN Rising Star' and $1.5-million FTSAUG co-topper First Captain (Curlin). Paris Bikini summoned $1.95 million from Japan's Katsumi Yoshida carrying a foal by Uncle Mo at the 2020 FTKNOV sale.

Paris Lights RNA'd for $200,000 at KEESEP and was place into the WinStar Stablemates Racing program. Entrusted her to Hall of Famer Bill Mott, she captured Saratoga's prestigious GI CCA Oaks last season and was shelved for the rest of the year. The bay returned a winner in the GIII Distaff H. in April and was last seen in a Belmont optional claimer in September. Paris Lights retires with a record of 9-4-0-3 and earnings of $403,842.

“It was a unique opportunity and we're very grateful,” said Elite's Brad Weisbord. “WinStar doesn't generally sell this type, so we really appreciate Elliott Walden, Dave Hanley and the Trout family for trusting Elite to consign Paris Lights. This is the product of an Eclipse Award-winning breeder producing a top class racehorse and clearly they were rewarded. Bill Mott had her looking extremely well coming off the track and it all came together for an excellent result. She is going to a great home in Spendthrift Farm, who is establishing a powerhouse breeding operation themselves.”

Paris Lights was one of just two purchases for Spendthrift Wednesday, the other being the $120,000 mare Hrasky (Speightstown) (Hip 128). They also purchased four mares at Fasig Tuesday, topped by the $3.4 million champion Vequist (Nyquist).

Last year the late B. Wayne Hughes' operation dominated the November market, purchasing nine mares at Fasig for over $24 million, including $9.5-million dual Eclipse winner Monomoy Girl (Tapizar), and another three during the opening session of KEENOV, topped by $1.5 million Holy Helena (Ghostzapper).

When asked about the decline in purchases this term, Toffey said, “We are pretty happy with where our broodmare band is right now. You always have to add to the top and keep culling. We are trying to add really select mares.”

Both Monomoy Girl and MGISW Got Stormy (Get Stormy), a $2.75 million FTKNOV buy last term, returned to training following their purchase, but are now retired to the Spendthrift broodmare band.

“Monomoy Girl will go to Into Mischief and Got Stormy we are still thinking about,” Toffey said. —@CDeBernardisTDN

Tapit Mares Reward Rosen & Beck
Pink Sands (Hip 183) was one of two Tapit mares owned by Andrew Rosen and Gainesway's Antony Beck to summon seven figures Wednesday at Keeneland, bringing $2.3 million from Masahiro Miki while carrying her first foal by the red-hot Into Mischief. The Japanese horseman was also active at Fasig-Tipton Tuesday, buying a pair of $3-million mares in GradeI/Group 1 winners Brave Anna (War Front) and Aunt Pearl (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}).

“She is named after our favorite spot, the Pink Sands [Resort] in Harbour Island [Bahamas],” said Rosen while standing alongside Beck. “That's been good to us and the mare has been good to us. She was a good race mare and I am happy to own her with Antony. You just have to sell one once in a while. Sometimes it's nice just to get a good sale. The racing ix exciting, the breeding is exciting, but the sales ring is also exciting.”

The CEO of Theory, Inc., added, “Into Mischief was a great choice for the mare and is probably the best sire America has. You have to have one to compete in either the sales ring or the racetrack.”

A $625,000 FTSAUG purchase, Pink Sands is out of Grade I winner Her Smile (Include). The Shug McGaughey pupil captured the 2019 GIII Rampart S. and 2020 GII Inside Information S. She retired at the end of her 2020 season with a record of 21-3-6-4 and earnings of $490,800. Pink Sands' 5-year-old full-brother Timing Now is already in Japan. He was third in a Hanshin allowance on the dirt Oct. 17 and second in a similar spot Oct. 31.

“I think the market is very strong for the right type of horse,” said Beck, whose operation consigned the 6-year-old mare. “Pink Sands was a great racemare and Shug McGaughey did an outstanding training job. We are very happy with the price.”

About 15 hips prior, another Tapit mare Mind Out (Hip 168), owned by Beck and Rosen in partnership with the Roth family's LNJ Focwoods, realized $1.2 million from Dana Bernhard.

“I think the Tapit mares are pretty special,” Rosen said. “We had another filly that we owned together with LNJ, who brought $1.2 million just before. So it has been a very good day for Tapit.”

Beck added, “We are very happy to have him. He has been an absolutely outstanding stallion for Gainesway.”–@CDeBernardisTDN

Sams Strikes Early
Bernie Sams was the first to sign a seven-figure ticket at Keeneland Wednesday when the Claiborne Farm Bloodstock Manager went to $1.4 million to land the well-bred Satin and Silk (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) on behalf of an undisclosed client. The 4-year-old, offered in foal to young Triple Crown winner Justify, was consigned by Eaton Sales as hip 13.

“It was for a farm client,” said Sams. “We tried to buy a couple mares last night [at Fasig-Tipton], and got outbid, but we liked her and we've got a couple others we like today, so we'll see. [Half-sister] My Miss Sophia's at the farm, and we know the family well, so we'll keep our fingers crossed.”

A 900,000gns Tattersalls October yearling purchase by Coolmore's M.V. Magnier in 2018, Satin and Silk was off the board in six tries for Aidan O'Brien. She is a half to GI Besilu Stables Florida Derby winner Materiality (Afleet Alex) and GSW and GI Kentucky Oaks runner-up My Miss Sophia (Unbridled's Song), who fetched $4 million in foal to Claiborne's War Front at the 2018 renewal of this sale. The War Front colt My Miss Sophia was carrying at the time has blossomed into two-for-two 'TDN Rising Star' Annapolis, winner of the GII Pilgrim S. at Belmont

“It probably helped,” Sams said when asked how much Annapolis's exploits might've impacted the price, adding of the Justify cover, “If she has a good colt, we'll see what happens.”–@BDiDonatoTDN

Bernhards Building Broodmare Band
Louisianians Dana and Jim Bernhard made their first foray into the Thoroughbred bloodstock market at this year's yearling sales with five purchases total including a $1-million War Front colt (click for more), and they began to build their broodmare band Wednesday with the help of Matt Weinmann of Equine Analysis Systems.

The Bernhards kicked things off with the $700,000 Glitter and Gold (Bodemeister) (hip 122)–a half to champion Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil) in foal to Curlin and consigned by Hill 'n' Dale–and then went to $1.2 million to secure hot broodmare prospect Mind Out (Tapit) from Gainesway as hip 168.

“She's a beautiful Tapit filly, 'TDN Rising Star', showed a lot of talent on the track,” said Weinmann of Mind Out as the Bernhards headed back to the barn to see their new purchase. “It's a really nice family. We've played with a few horses in that family. We're really excited about her. The Bernhards are just getting their broodmare band going, and she's going to be one of our standout broodmares at the farm.”

An $850,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling, Mind Out was a debut-winning juvenile at Del Mar for Gainesway, LNJ Foxwoods, Andrew Rosen and trainer Simon Callaghan. She hit the board in both the Surfer Girl S. and California Oaks.

Glitter and Gold was a $10,000 KEESEP yearling and had last changed hands publicly for $2,500 in an Emerald Downs claimer. The two-time winner's genes obviously grew significantly more valuable after Swiss Skydiver's exploits over the past two seasons, which included the 2020 GI Preakness S. en route to the Eclipse Award for champion 3-year-old filly. Swiss Skydiver sold for $4.7 million to Katsumi Yoshida at Tuesday evening's Night of the Stars. —@BDiDonatoTDN

Maxim Rate to Japan
Grade I winner Maxim Rate (Exchange Rate) (hip 191) will be heading to Japan after selling for $1.2 million to the bid of Ken Mishima, who was acting on behalf of an undisclosed client, Wednesday at Keeneland.

“The plan will be to send her to Japan and breed her,” Mishima said after signing the ticket on the 5-year-old mare.

Of the seven-figure price tag, Mishima added, “It's high, but she's a very nice mare.”

Maxim Rate, campaigned by Slam Dunk Racing, Stable Currency and James Branham, captured this year's GI Gamely S., as well as the 2020 GII Goldikova S. and 2019 GIII Senorita S. She was second in last year's GI Rodeo Drive S.

The mare was consigned by Eaton Sales.

“I actually thought it was the best bargain of the last two days,” Eaton's Reiley McDonald said. “She is stunningly beautiful and she won graded stakes at three, four and five. And in this market, I really thought she would have brought more, but she sold and I am happy for those guys. They got a really nice mare. At the high end, the sale just doesn't seem to have the pop that it did last night. But we came to sell her and we did. You can't quibble with seven figures. From that standpoint, it was a very nice sale.” @JessMartiniTDN

Goodman Gets His Top Pick Late
Greg Goodman of Mt. Brilliant Farm struck during the supplemental section of offerings Wednesday at Keeneland to take home Look Me Over (Hard Spun), a half-sister to last week's GI TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance winner Corniche (Quality Road). The final price was $1.2 million for the 4-year-old, who won a Churchill maiden special weight and Ellis allowance earlier this year while in foal to Kitten's Joy. She was last seen on the track missing third by a neck in Ellis's Kentucky Downs TVG Preview Ladies Mile S. Hunter Valley consigned the chestnut as hip 223 on behalf of Qatar Racing.

“We had three horses all day that we loved, including this last one that we couldn't afford, the one we bought and one other,” said Goodman after coming up short on session-topping Paris Lights. “We loved her. She was our first choice all day and we're just happy to get her.”

Goodman had a bit of added insight in his corner, as his advisor Marette Farrell bought Corniche for a sale-topping $1.5 million at OBS April on behalf of Speedway Stables. Corniche, who earned 'TDN Rising Star'-dom for a sharp Del Mar debut, also annexed Santa Anita's GI American Pharoah S. Oct. 1.

“Marette bought Corniche, so she kept up with him,” Goodman noted. “Obviously, we all know now after Friday that he's a great horse and maybe a Derby horse, so we're really happy to get her. She's beautiful and she's literally one of three mares who we were even interested in at all.”

Look Me Over, who was a $235,000 KEESEP yearling, is out of MGSW and GISP Wasted Tears (Najran). —@BDiDonatoTDN

No 'Downside' for Black Ridge
Bill and Will Daugherty and Bill Barr's BlackRidge Stables cashed out on a shrewd buy Wednesday when their Downside Scenario (Scat Daddy) garnered a winning bid of $1.15 million from Barbara Banke's Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings. The 8-year-old mare was consigned by Taylor Made Sales as hip 101 and is in foal to Into Mischief.

BlackRidge paid $250,000 for Downside Scenario–a winning half-sister to Dubai MGSW Cool Cowboy (Kodiak Kowboy)–while she was carrying her first foal by Into Mischief at the 2018 Keeneland January sale. The resulting colt was sold to Shadwell for $425,000 that November, and grew up to be 'TDN Rising Star' Mutasaabeq, the impressive last-to-first winner of the 2020 GII Bourbon S. at Keeneland and winner of the Mucho Macho Man S. as a freshly turned sophomore.

Downside Scenario, a $290,000 KEESEP yearling, was claimed for $40,000 out of her final start. Her subsequent produce is a current 2-year-old filly by California Chrome who was a $17,000 KEESEP RNA and $22,000 OBSAPR juvenile; a yearling colt by Uncle Mo who brought $400,000 from Suehiro Racing; and a foal colt by Audible.

“That was a little above expectations,” said Will Daugherty. “We bought this mare in 2018 for $250,000, and obviously had a great success right off the bat with Mutsaabeq. And she just kept delivering for us all the way through the end. We had a great partner in Randy Hill on her from start to finish. We're glad to see her move on.”

The BlackRidge partners' first-ever equine investment was in California Chrome before he took the 2016 G1 Dubai World Cup, and they also bought into Cathryn Sophia right before she won that same year's GI Kentucky Oaks.

BlackRidge's first broodmare buy was Laffina (Arch), who they acquired at the 2016 Keeneland November sale after she RNA'd for $290,000 carrying future MGISW juvenile Bast (Uncle Mo). BlackRidge sold Bast for $200,000 as a KEENOV weanling and Laffina for $1.5 million while in foal to Ghostzapper at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton November sale.

“We had a little piece of GSW and MGISP Estilo Talentoso (Maclean's Music) [who sold for $600,000] and RNA'd an Uncle Mo filly as well, so we'll take her on to the next level and look to pick up one or two more this week,” Daugherty said when asked if BlackRidge had done any business on Tuesday at Fasig. “We'll use some of this to cycle back into the market hopefully.” —@BDiDonatoTDN

Frankel Filly to Dorman
Matt Dorman purchased a weanling filly by Frankel (GB) (hip 144) for $800,000 under the name of his D Hatman Thoroughbreds racing division Wednesday at Keeneland, but admitted the long-term goal will be for the filly to join his Determined Stud broodmare band.

“We have horses that run, so she will be in the racing program and hopefully improve her page and go from there,” Dorman said. “She's long-term for us.”

Bred by Stephen Sullivan and consigned by Four Star Sales, the weanling is out of Lady Ederle (English Channel) and is a half-sister to multiple graded stakes winner Nay Lady Nay (Ire) (No Nay Never) and multiple Grade I placed Arizona (Ire) (No Nay Never).

“Obviously, it's Frankel and it's a great page, a great family, and she has great conformation,” Dorman said of the filly's appeal. “She checked all the boxes.”

Four Star Sales' John Greathouse said the team was pleased with Wednesday's result.

“She was a foal share with Juddmonte and Stephen Sullivan and I think she exceeded expectations for both of them,” Greathouse said. “We got her in midsummer and she was always a really nice horse. We were proud of how she did, how she shipped in. And she really acted nice down there and everybody seemed to like her.”

Juddmonte purchased the weanling's half-sister Nay Lady Nay for $1.7 million at Tuesday's Fasig-Tipton November sale.

Dorman's Determined Stud made its first appearance as a seller at the Fasig November sale. The operation sold a filly by Uncle Mo (hip 64) for $400,000 to Glen Hill Farm, while RNA'ing two other weanlings.

“I was very happy selling one for $400,000. He's a great horse, but we are breeding to sell,” Dorman said. “The other two, we put prices on them that we think are good and we can bring them back and sell them as yearlings.”

Determined Stud was also active buying broodmares. The team went to $350,000 to acquire Hard to Resist (Johanesburg) (hip 264)–dam of Going to Vegas (Goldencents)–at Fasig-Tipton and to $300,000 to take home Sociable (Run Away and Hide) (hip 23)–dam of Keeper ofthe Stars (Midnight Lute)–at Keeneland Wednesday.

“We were looking for ones that had either won graded stakes or had been graded stakes producers,” Dorman said. “So we got one Grade I producer last night and another one today.” @JessMartiniTDN

Lanni Scoops Up Quality Colt for Chus
Donato Lanni fended off all comers to win a prolonged bidding war on Hip 111, a $600,000 son of Quality Road. He was acting on behalf of Susan and Charlie Chu's Baoma Corp.

“Obviously, Quality Road had a good weekend in the Breeders' Cup,” Lanni said. “This colt is the type of horse that I think is going to grow up to be a really strong, athletic horse. We will send him to [Hill 'n' Dale at] Xalapa and then race him.”

He continued, “It is really tough to get a good colt in September, so I thought if we could find one here, let's buy him. Last year we brought a Justify colt here for the same price and we kept him.”

It is not unusual to see Lanni buying expensive horses for the Chus, though typically they focus on fillies.

“They like to buy one colt a year just to have that hope that they have a [GI Kentucky] Derby horse on their hands and can run in those big colt races,” the bloodstock agent said. “Bob [Baffert] has done a great job for them and they are great, lucky people. That helps a lot.”

Lanni continued, “They have three stallions at Bridlewood and she supports all three, but hopefully we will have one standing in Kentucky.”

Consigned by Bedouin Bloodstock, Hip 111 was bred by SF Bloodstock, which also sold his dam Exotic Notion (Lemon Drop Kid) (Hip 110) to Avenue Bloodstock for $800,000 carrying this colt's full-sibling one hip earlier. Exotic Notion is a half-sister to MGISW and popular young stallion City of Light (Quality Road).

“It is always a great compliment when Donato Lanni buys from your program,” said SF's Tom Ryan. “He is a beautiful colt. He is one of those colts who was stunning from the day he was born and everything went according to plan. He presented himself as a November candidate early on. The mare is a half-sister to, possibly to date, Quality Road's best son. It felt like the right move to present him here in November.”

As for Exotic Notion, who is stakes placed in Argentina, Ryan said, “The mare also sold very well. It was great to be able to put her foal on display beside her and she was carrying a foal sibling. It was a very intriguing package for anyone to put in their broodmare band.”

Yearlings from the first crop of City of Light were extremely well received at Keeneland September. A colt by the Lane's End stallion topped the premiere auction at $1.7 million and another one of his sons brought $1.05 million. His top sire and barnmate Quality Road was right behind him with the auction's second-most expensive offering, a $1.6 million colt, and had another son bring $1.15 million.

As Lanni mentioned, Quality Road had a stellar Breeders' Cup weekend with his unbeaten and soon-to-be champion son Corniche winning the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile and his daughter Dunbar Road was a very close second in the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff.

“City of Light is a stunning physical and the yearlings that were presented in Saratoga and September were amazing,” Ryan said. “Quality Road has really risen to an elite status in the last couple of years and it really feels like he will continue to maintain that status for years to come. He is breeding the best mares in the country now. He is a great stallion to produce a sales horses and on top of that he produces brilliant racehorses.” —@CDeBernardisTDN

Mattress Mack In It For the Long Haul With Into Mischief Filly
James McIngvale, better known as “Mattress Mack,” not only plans to keep the $510,000 weanling filly by Into Mischief (Hip 48) he purchased Wednesday for racing, but he already has her future mate picked out. No surprise…it's his champion sprinter Runhappy.

“I like Into Mischief,” McIngvale said, while sporting a 2021 World Series sweatshirt featuring his beloved Houston Astros. “I like the filly. My sister-in-law Laura Wohlers, who is the trainer, liked her. I think she will make a good mate one of these days, after she runs some races, for the great Runhappy. I am glad to have her.”

Consigned by Paramount Sales for breeders Drumkenny Farm, American Equistock and Dromoland Farm, Hip 48 is out of a half-sister to Grade I-winning sire Latent Heat (Maria;s Mon), MGSW Art Master (Royal Academy) and GSW Indian Flare (Cherokee Run).

Given the filly's sire and physique, McIngvale said he was not surprised by the price.

“I thought it would be about that,” he said. “The auctioneer said if you go to $510,000 he will quit, so I did. [Buying as a weanling], you get a lower price, but obviously there is more risk. I have never been afraid of risk. I love to gamble and I am gambling today.”

McIngvale is well known in the racing world for his creative promotions for his young stallion Runhappy and is famous nationwide for his massive bets on the Astros. He has brought his two passions together at the November Sale by bringing a new owner into the game.

“My friend Alex Bregman, who plays third base for the Houston Astros, is here and he is buying horses, so I brought some new people to the horse business,” McIngvale said. “I am glad to have Alex getting in the horse game. It is a great sport and we do everything we can to help racing through the advertising and promotion of Runhappy.”

“I have to show you guys this,” McIngvale said to the group of reporters and he reached in his pocket for a folded piece of paper. He opened it to reveal Wednesday's TDN Sire List, which featured Leading Second-Crop Dirt Sires by Black-Type Winners.

“See, there he is,” McIngvale said, pointing to Runhappy's name at the top of the list. “I am always promoting. I am a salesman.” —@CDeBernardisTDN

Bregmans Have Long-Term Racing Goals
With the World Series in the rearview mirror, Houston Astros third baseman Alex Bregman was enjoying some down time at the Keeneland November sale Wednesday. Bregman and wife Reagan recently began building a racing stable, buying a handful of yearlings, as well as a weanling, this fall.

“Growing up in New Mexico, I always used to go to the track with my grandfather,” Bregman said of his initial interest in racing. “My dad is on the racing commission in New Mexico. So we have always had a strong love for horse racing in our family. And my wife grew up with hunter/jumpers, so she's always loved horses.”

With the encouragement of the Astros number one fan Jim McIngvale, the Bregmans made their initial racing investments this year and while their plans remain flexible, their interest is for the long-term.

“This is the first year that we actually got involved in the business,” Bregman confirmed. “I'm looking forward to it. I would like to do a lot of things in the business. First and foremost, I want to win races.”

The Bregmans, assisted by bloodstock agent Mike Akers, purchased three yearlings at the Keeneland September sale, led by a $150,000 son of Medaglia d'Oro (hip 1314) and another two at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Fall sale–a $67,000 daughter of Kantharos (hip 135) and a $65,000 filly by Goldencents (hip 499). They acquired a weanling daughter of Practical Joke (hip 131) for $45,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Fall Sale.

“We bought a few yearlings and we have one weanling. We are looking to race them and we have two fillies that we are hoping will be good broodmares down the road,” Bregman said. “We are thinking long-term. We want to run from within. We haven't completely nailed down everything we want to do yet. But we want to be in the horse racing business for a long time.”

He continued, “Right now, four of the yearlings are down in Ocala with Ciaran Dunne and two of our yearlings are here over with Laura [Wohlers] and Mack.”

Bregman was at the November sale fresh off a trip to Del Mar for the Breeders' Cup last weekend.

“It was a lot of fun,” Bregman said of his first Breeders' Cup experience. “We had the whole family there, it was a blast. I actually own a half-share of Runhappy, so it was awesome to go see Following Sea [run third in the GI Qatar Breeders' Cup Sprint. I thought he looked great. And honestly, I look forward to Runhappy do really well. I think he's on the rise and he'll be a great stallion.”

Bregman's off-season plans start with healing a broken hand and also includes spending time with his new racing prospects.

“I'll be enjoying the time off, going to see the horses with the wife and watching them grow up and hopefully grow into some winners,” Bregman said. “Being with the horses, healing the broken hand and also just training and getting ready for next season.” @JessMartiniTDN

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