Brian Graves | Horse Racing Free Tips

Pricey Karakontie Colt Highlights Book 5 Opener

A colt by Karakontie (Jpn) (Hip 2814) achieved a very rare feat in Keeneland September’s Book 5 opener Tuesday, summoning a session-topping $500,000 from Marsha Naify. The Gainesway stallion had another yearling in the top five lots of the day with a full-sister to graded stakes-bound Spanish Loveaffair (Karakontie {Jpn}) (Hip 3161) bringing $220,000 from Ballyfair Bloodstock.

A total of 253 yearlings brought $6,484,100 Tuesday with an average of $25,629 and a median of $15,000.Fifty-five horses failed to meet their reserves Tuesday.

Throughout the first nine days of trade, 1,880 youngsters sold for a gross of $240,340,300 with an average of $127,841 and median of $62,000. There were 743 RNAs.

“It has been really thin except for top horses in your draft,” said Brian Graves of Gainesway, which bred and consigned the day’s top lot. “The top horses have a lot of action and bring more than you think they will bring and the horses below that are tougher to sell and you really have to adjust your expectations and be willing to let the market say what they are worth.”

Karakontie Colt Sparks Fireworks in Book 5

It is pretty unusual to see a yearling summon $500,000 in Book 5 of Keeneland September, but a colt by Karakontie (Jpn) (Hip 2814) did just that Tuesday, selling to California-based owner Marsha Naify, who did her bidding over the phone.

“The sire can be grass or dirt,” said Naify. “We think the yearling would be a good dirt miler, but he could also go on turf. There is a lot of upside. There were obviously a lot of bidders for that horse, which drove the price up. But, that’s okay. I stuck to my guns and stayed in there.”

The chestnut is out of Untouch (Speightstown), a half-sister to SW and GI Kentucky Derby third-place finisher Mr. Big News (Giant’s Causeway). This is also the family of GISW sire Sligo Bay (Ire). The yearling was bred and consigned by Gainesway, where Naify keeps her broodmares.

“The Karakontie was a drop-dead gorgeous horse,” Gainesway’s Brian Graves said. “He had everything you want to see. I know we were in Book 5, but he had everything you want to see in a Book 1 horse. He had a lot going for him. Physically, he was a standout. He was really athletic with a big, sweeping walk and was correct. He attracted the interest of Maria Niarchos [of Flaxman Holdings, who bred and campaigned Karakontie] and of Marsha Naify, who decided she wasn’t going to leave the sale without him. It culminated to a perfect sale. It is a very good thing for Karakontie. We wish Marsha Naify the best of luck with him.”

With Naify not in attendance at the sale, it was Graves that pointed the colt out to her.

“Brian Graves helped me and my trainer Karen Headley out,” Naify said. “That is who I will be sending the horse to here in California once it gets cold in Kentucky. I send all my purchases back to Gainesway just to stay in Kentucky a little longer.”

She continued, “He was on my short list. I made some other smaller purchases, not like that one of course. There were a couple I lost out on. Everyone else I know who is over there said he was a good-looking horse and of course they have the videos online. I also got another cell phone video sent to me.”

Naify has purchased five yearlings at Keeneland so far, but Hip 2814 is by far the most expensive. Her other purchases include: a $75,000 Liam’s Map filly (Hip 2235), a $70,000 son of Carpe Diem (Hip 1905), a $35,000 daughter of Jimmy Creed (Hip 3064) and a $30,000 filly by Gormley (Hip 2842).

“I am usually pretty conservative on my bidding,” Naify said. “I don’t spend a lot of money at auctions. I look for horses in the more conservative range who could be stars. This one was just special. He just caught my eye. Everybody said he was a great horse and obviously the underbidders thought he was a great horse. Sometimes you have to just go for it.”

She added, “They will all go to Karen. This is the biggest grouping we will have together. I used to have horses with Bruce Headley. He also looked at the video and thought this was a great horse. He still has an eye for the horses.”

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$950,000 Uncle Mo Colt Highlights Third Session Of Keeneland September Sale

Keeneland's September Yearling Sale resumed Wednesday, the first session of the two-day Book 2 catalog, featuring strong participation from a mix of foreign and domestic buyers and the sale of an Uncle Mo colt from the family of Grade 1 winner and sire Twirling Candy for $950,000 to Mayberry Farm.

During today's session, 185 yearlings grossed $40,861,000, for an average of $220,870 and a median of $180,000. Through the first three sessions of the auction, Keeneland has sold 394 yearlings for $126,076,000, for an average of $319,990 and a median of $250,000.

Book 1 spanned three days in 2019, with Book 2 beginning on Day 4 of the sale. For that reason, comparisons to last year's corresponding session are not available.

“In a time where there was such uncertainty about how much international participation there would be, we're really happy with it,” Keeneland President-Elect and Interim Head of Sales Shannon Arvin said. “We've seen a very diverse base of buyers, and they're participating in different ways. We continue to have a lot of activity on the Internet – today the most of any day so far with 150 bids and six horses sold.”

During last year's first session of Book 2, 16 horses brought $500,000 or more. Today, 12 horses reached that mark.

“Given the year of COVID, I think that's a strong statistic,” Keeneland Director of Sales Operations Geoffrey Russell said. “Last year was a surreal market, one of the strongest September Sales we have had in long time. The whole feel of the market was very strong last year. To replicate that even in a normal year would have been difficult. So for what we are doing at the moment in an unusual year, we are very appreciative of our sellers and our buyers who are here to make this market.”

The session topper, who was bred by Three Chimneys Farm, is out of the Smart Strike mare Bella Rafaela, a half-sister to the aforementioned Twirling Candy as well as to Grade 2 winner Ethnic Dance and Grade 3 winner Dubai Sky.

“He was a really nice colt and, in what has proven to be a pretty selective market, it's great to see him jump through all of the hoops and do well,” Three Chimneys COO Chris Baker said. “He's in good hands to do well, so we are excited about that.”

David Ingordo signed the ticket for the colt.

“I saw this horse at Three Chimneys Farm a few weeks before the sale,” Ingordo said. “He is one of the best prospects I saw and I probably looked at fifteen-hundred (yearlings) on the farms before the sale. He was my personal top pick. We have Twirling Candy (at Lane's End, where Ingordo is bloodstock agent), and he looks like the family. This is the horse we wanted to have.

“If you bring a good horse up here and it jumps through the hoops, you get rewarded,” Ingordo added. “We have found it very competitive to buy horses. We try to buy the best horse, and we have our price in mind. We know we have to stretch for the better ones. My clients are usually their own entities. So it is one person's finances, in some instances, against many people's finances.

“The hardest thing is adjusting to the partnerships (that bid against us). When you are bidding for one person against an entity that is many headed and many 'walleted', we have to figure out how to adjust.”

Among Mayberry's other purchases today was a $775,000 colt from the first crop of Gun Runner out of Grade 1-placed Sweet Shirley Mae, by Broken Vow. Consigned by Baccari Bloodstock, the colt is a half-brother to stakes winner Mae Never No (IRE).

Mayberry was the session's leading buyer, spending $2,385,000 on five horses.

The session-topping Uncle Mo colt was consigned by Gainesway, agent, which sold 20 yearlings for $6,755,000 to lead all sellers on Wednesday. The farm also consigned a colt by Into Mischief who sold to West Bloodstock, agent for Repole Stables and St. Elias Stable, for the session's co-second highest price of $875,000. The colt is out of the Tiznow mare Mimi's Tiz, a full sister to stakes winner Summer House and from the family of Grade 3 winner Custom for Carlos.

Additionally, Gainesway, agent, sold the session's top-priced filly, a daughter of Tapit to Whisper Hill Farm for $500,000. Out of the Forestry mare, Redwood Dancer, the filly is a half-sister to Australian stakes winner The Virginian and is from the family of champion and Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies winner Flanders.

“I just feel fortunate that we're here and have the opportunity to sell horses,” Gainesway General Manager Brian Graves said. “Keeneland has done a good job to make it work. My hat is off to Keeneland for making it easy for people to bid in every way. I think that is really necessary this year. There are people at home all over the world and Keeneland has made it easy for them to conduct business and that is fantastic.

“I can't say we expected to be leading consignor,” Graves added. “We'll take it gladly.”

Demi O'Byrne went to $875,000 to acquire a colt by Into Mischief out of the Divine Park mare Divine Heart, a half-sister to Grade 1 winners Include Me Out and Check the Label. Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent for Watercress Farm, consigned the colt.

A colt by Quality Road out of Revel in the Win, by Red Bullet, fetched $870,000 from B-4 Farms. Consigned by Summerfield, agent for Stonestreet Bred & Raised, the colt is a half-brother to Grade 3 winner Poker Player and stakes-placed Coleman Rocky and War Treaty.

Shadwell Estate Company Ltd. purchased two of the day's top-priced horses, paying $800,000 for a Speightstown colt who is a full brother to stakes winner and Grade 1-placed Dawn the Destroyer and was consigned by Elm Tree Farm, agent for Stonesteet Bred & Raised. Shadwell also acquired a colt by Into Mischief for $700,000. Consigned by Hill 'n' Dale Sales Agency, agent, he is a full brother to the Grade 2-placed filly Classy Act. Out of the Distorted Humor mare Acting Class, the colt is from the family of champion and Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies winner Tempera.

Donato Lanni, agent for SF/Starlight/Madaket, signed the ticket for a Candy Ride (ARG) colt consigned by Claiborne Farm, agent, for $760,000. He is out of the Grade 1-placed Tapit mare Draw It and is a half-brother to 2020 G2 Rebel Stakes runner-up Excession.

A colt by Uncle Mo out of multiple graded stakes winner Kauai Katie, by Malibu Moon, brought a bid of $700,000 from M.V. Magnier. He was consigned by Denali Stud, agent for Stonestreet Bred & Raised.

The September Sale continues Thursday with the second of the two-day Book 2 that begins at 10 a.m. ET.

To view the session's results, click here.

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Tugel, Gibson Join Appointed To Positions at Gainesway

Sean Tugel, who served WinStar Farm as its director of bloodstock services and assistant racing manager for the last decade, and Lakota Gibson, who spent the last five years working alongside David Ingordo in the bloodstock department at Lane’s End Farm, have joined the team at Gainesway.

A native of Rochester, New York, and a Lexington resident since 2004, Tugel has been named the director of stallion sales and recruitment. He has also served in management roles at Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm and Paul’s Mill.

“We’re excited about adding Sean to our team,” said Brian Graves, Gainesway’s General Manager. “He has established a wide network of relationships with breeders and owners through his reputation built on honesty and horsemanship. He brings a depth of experience from both the farm and the racetrack, which will be a great benefit to our clientele.”

Said Tugel: “From the beginning of my career, I’ve been lucky to work and learn from some of the best horsemen and women in our industry. Gainesway has an unbelievably rich history in the Thoroughbred industry and Mr. Beck’s passion for the sport and future of the farm is infectious. I look forward to giving our existing clients and new clients an extended reach to help them with all of their bloodstock needs.”

In addition to her more recent work at Lane’s End, Gibson also has close ties with Coolmore, having worked for the Australian branch of the stud in the Hunter Valley. She later relocated back to Kentucky and worked for Ashford Stud for an additional 3 1/2 years. Gibson will primarily focus on Gainesway’s sales and seasons.

“I’m thrilled to join the Gainesway family,” said Gibson. “I’ve been very fortunate to work at some of the top Thoroughbred farms in the world and Gainesway is no exception. Mr. Beck’s enthusiasm for the game and love for the animal is inspiring. I’m thankful to have the chance to work alongside Brian Graves and the amazing team he has assembled. It’s my pleasure to build on the strong existing relationships Gainesway already has with their breeders and look forward to helping any new clients see that Gainesway’s passion for the industry is above all others.”

Antony Beck, owner and CEO of Gainesway, added: “I’m delighted to have Sean and Lakota join the team. Sean brings with him a wealth of experience in both stallion and racing programs. Lakota is devoted to sales and will be working very closely with Brian in representing our consignment. It’s been my honor to put together this team of dedicated horsemen and women to oversee our equine operations here on the farm. Between Brian, Alex [Solis], Sean and Lakota, I personally look forward to seeing this new generation of leaders take Gainesway’s Stallion roster, Sales consignment, and Racing ventures to the next level.”

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McKinzie to Gainesway

Four-time Grade I winner McKinzie (Street Sense–Runway Model, by Petionville) will begin his stud career at Gainesway Farm upon his retirement from racing after the Kentucky nursery announced Monday that it had purchased the breeding rights to the 5-year-old.

“It is very exciting to stand a horse with McKinzie’s credentials at Gainesway,” said Gainesway’s Director of Bloodstock Alex Solis, II. “I don’t believe there is a more exciting prospect than McKinzie out there. We are grateful to Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, Paul Weitman, and Bob Baffert for this fantastic opportunity.”

With earnings of $3,438,560, McKinzie has run first or second in 13 of 15 graded stakes during his career. The 5-year-old, tabbed a ‘TDN Rising Star’ following his debut victory at two, won the 2017 GI Los Alamitos Futurity, 2018 GI Malibu S. and GI Pennsylvania Derby, as well as last year’s GI Whitney S. Also in 2019, the bay was runner-up in the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic, GI Runhappy Metropolitan H., GI Santa Anita H., and GI Awesome Again S. He most recently captured the June 7 GII Triple Bend H.

“McKinzie is a Grade I winner at two, three, and four from distances of seven furlongs to 1 1/8 mile,” said Gainesway’s General Manager Brian Graves. “His speed, versatility, and soundness make him an absolute standout. His 10 individual triple-digit Beyer figures are truly impressive.”

Trainer Bob Baffert added, “From day one, McKinzie has just been exceptional. He is a gorgeous physical with brilliant speed and stamina. I’ve only had one other horse in my career that has been able to accomplish what he’s done by winning a Grade I at two, three, and four. It takes an extraordinary horse to achieve that.”

Baffert continued, “The plan with him going forward is to return in the [Runhappy] Met Mile. Hopefully, this will put us in an excellent position to earn Horse of the Year honors and champion older horse of 2020.”

McKinzie is out of Runway Model, a dual Grade II who was third in the 2004 GI Breeder’s Cup Juvenile Fillies and second in the 2005 GI Ashland S.

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