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First-Time Pinhookers Hoping Nyquist Colt Pays at Gulfstream

When Danzel Brendemuehl purchased a colt by Nyquist for $275,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton California Fall Yearlings Sale, she lay the groundwork for a pair of first-time pinhookers who will be hoping the move hits pay dirt when the youngster returns to the sales ring as hip 62 next Wednesday at the Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream Sale. Brendemuehl signed the ticket on the yearling in the name of Don Cox's Sausalito Partners and Colleen Smith's Breckenridge Bloodstock, but pretty soon another name was added to the partnership when Dr. Bramdeo Singh joined the group.

Cox, who has been involved in horse racing on and off since the 1980s, has a handful of racehorses and broodmares, but his first foray into pinhooking came almost by accident when he was attending the California yearling sale last fall.

“This is my first time pinhooking,” Cox confirmed. “This opportunity just came up over at Pomona. I don't know, you get over there and you might have a cocktail or two and you're talking to everybody and you meet more and more people in the horse industry and it's an auction–sometimes you do things you wouldn't normally do. I jumped in with Danzel and Colleen and I guess somehow after that there was a fourth partner who wanted in, but I own one-third of him.”

While the Nyquist colt will be Cox's first official pinhook, the California resident did come close a few years ago.

“Danzel has been breaking horses for me for a few years and she bought a couple to pinhook a few years ago,” he explained. “We bought a Ghostzapper filly and a Goldencents colt and we were going to pinhook those. But, long story short, I said, 'Why pinhook them? I will just keep them and race them.' I bought both of those. I haven't had much luck with them yet, they both got hurt, but they are getting back to the track soon.”

Moderate to bad luck seems to be a theme for Cox's racing stable.

“One of my friends had a horse ranch, that's kind of how I got into it back in 1985,” Cox said. “I was working at the ranch and I just loved the animals. So they sold me one for $500 and I went down to Caliente with him and he won the race by 11 lengths. But they told me he would never be able to race again. I was a novice, I said, 'What do I do?' We gave him to a kid from the area to use as a riding horse. That was my first experience.

“Ever since then, unfortunately, we have given five or six horses away,” Cox said. “One of them went to Huntington Beach Equestrian Center and the people love him. One of them went to a little girl who sent us a nice letter about how much she loves him. We always get them re-purposed for a good cause. I don't like to hurt anything or put anything down. Of course we'd like to make some money, but so far we've mostly been donating.”

Cox is a vendor for the Albertsons, Vons and Pavilions chain of stores.

“My business is going great guns and that pays for all of my vets. The disposable income pays for my horse fun,” he explained.

Dr. Bramdeo Singh, who serves as medical director of Montefiore Nyack Hospital in New York, has been active in the Standardbred industry over the years, but jumped at the chance to return to Thoroughbred racing when he met Brendemuehl through a mutual friend.

A native of British Guyana, Singh's roots in Thoroughbred racing run deep.

“My grandpa had one of the most famous horses in that country, so that gives me goose bumps hearing the stories,” Singh said. “That's why my first love is the Thoroughbreds. There is just a thrill about being around the horses and watching them go fast.”

But when the family relocated to the U.S., Singh's love of racing took a slight detour.

“I came to this country when I was seven years old,” Singh said. “My dad took me to Yonkers Raceway. I've lived in Yonkers all my life pretty much. And I was a Standardbred fan. But I was always a fan of the Kentucky Derby, so this was my chance to get into the Thoroughbred business.”

Brendemuehl made several purchases at the California sale last September and Singh eventually invested in a package of three pinhooking prospects–one for each of his children–but he said the Nyquist colt was always at the top of his list.

“I noticed Danzel had bought a few in the California sale and on paper the Nyquist was the best looking,” Singh said. “I was a big Nyquist fan because he was undefeated when he won the Derby and I liked him in the Derby. So when I had a chance to own one of his offspring, I was all in. I asked her if I could get a share and she said of course. In the videos that she sends me of the three yearlings, this one stands out by far.”

The bay colt, who sells under Brendemuehl's Classic Bloodstock banner, is out of Soul Crusader (Fusaichi Pegasus) and is a half-brother to stakes-placed There Goes Harvard (Will Take Charge). He is from the family of Grade I winner Killer Graces and graded winner Chocolate Ride.

So far, Singh has only seen the 2-year-old from afar and his schedule is unlikely to allow him to travel to South Florida for the Gulfstream sale next week.

“I've just seen the videos,” he said. “I haven't had the chance yet to see him in Florida. I'm a medical director by day with three kids. So with my schedule I probably won't make it to the sale. But with my other two, one is selling in Maryland and I may try to go there.”

Singh has been getting positive reports on the colt.

“Danzel told me he is the best horse she's had by far. And that speaks volumes,” he said. “And the videos are like poetry in motion. He just looks so fluid.”

Both Cox and Singh make it clear that Brendemuehl is the lynchpin to their involvement in the pinhooking venture.

“In this business, trust is a big factor and she is one of the most honest people I know,” Singh said of Brendemuehl.

Cox agreed.

“I don't think I would do it with anybody other than Danzel,” he said. “I really like her and she's as honest as the day is long.”

Nyquist has already developed quite a resume for himself at the Gulfstream sale. Bloodstock agent Dennis O'Neill purchased the future Derby winner for $400,000 at the 2015 auction. The stallion was represented by the sale topper a year ago when his colt out of Spinning Wheel (Smart Strike) sold for $2.6 million.

In addition to hip 62, the 2022 Gulfstream catalogue also includes a daughter of Nyquist (hip 15) who sells with the Wavertree Stables consignment responsible for the 2021 sale topper and a son of the Derby winner (hip 31) who sells with Cary Frommer.

The under-tack show for the Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream sale will be held Monday beginning at 9 a.m. The auction will be held Wednesday in the track's paddock with bidding scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.

The post First-Time Pinhookers Hoping Nyquist Colt Pays at Gulfstream appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Madone Named 2021 Aiken-Trained Horse Of The Year

The City of Aiken Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Department is excited to announce that Madone has been named the 2021 Aiken-Trained Horse of the Year.

Madone won the Grade 2 San Clemente Stakes and the G3 Senorita Stakes. She raced 10 times in 2021 with five wins and $217,000 in earnings.

Glendalough LLC bred Madone, a foal of 2018, in Kentucky. The dark brown daughter is by Vancouver (AUS) and Solerina by Indian Love Call. Kaleem Shah, Inc. purchased the filly for $125,000 from the 2020 Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale.

She trained at the historic Aiken Training Track under the tutelage of Cary Frommer and is currently trained by Simon Callaghan.

The Aiken-Trained Horse of the Year award, created in 2002, honors local Thoroughbreds who have had an excellent racing season. Nominees must have trained in Aiken County, and must have won at least one graded stakes race during the year or exceeded $500,000 in career earnings. The Hall of Fame Advisory Board approves the winner.

Beginning April 1, 2022, an exhibit about Madone's 2021 racing season will be on display at the Hall of Fame.

Past winners are Congaree (2002), Wando (2003), Limehouse (2005), Bob and John (2006), Country Star (2007), Midshipman (2008), Quality Road (2009 and 2010), It's Tricky (2011), Alpha (2012) Palace Malice (2013 and 2014), Curalina (2015 and 2016), Dickinson (2017), Still Having Fun (2018) and Concrete Rose (2019).

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Mendelssohn On Top In Competitive Midlantic Opener

TIMONIUM, MD – Buyers had every right to expect competitive bidding during Monday's first session of the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Fall Yearlings Sale–with normal Maryland shoppers joined by bidders shut out at previous sales–and the arena did not disappoint.

By the close of business Monday, 149 yearlings grossed $4,577,300. The average was $30,720 and the median was $20,000.

During the sale's first session in 2020, 122 yearlings sold for a total of $2,983,600. The session average was $24,456, the median was $15,000, and the buy-back rate was 24.7%.

“It was a great opening session,” Fasig-Tipton president Boyd Browning said Monday evening. “The gross is up 53%, the average is up 26%, median is up 33%, and the RNA rate is a very low 16.2% today.”

While the 2020 auction was held during the uncertainty of the pre-vaccination pandemic, its figures remained fairly steady with the 2019 opening session when 102 yearlings sold for $2,680,000, an average of $26,275 and a median of $15,000.

“[Monday's results] are really more impressive when you consider this was one of the sales that, when you compare 2020 to 2019, it really didn't have a COVID drop,” Browning said. “So '20 and '19 were very similiar in terms of statistical results for this sale. Some other sales have had a little bit of an anti-COVID bump throughout the United States this year in 2021 compared to 2020. Well, this is a pretty genuine increase in terms of statistical performance. Results in '19 and '20 were basically flat, so this increase in 2021 is even more impressive than it has been for some of the other sales.”

Eight yearlings sold for six figures Monday, up from just two a year ago.

A colt by Mendelssohn (hip 189) brought the day's top price when selling for $230,000 to Oracle Bloodstock. Also topping the $200,000 mark was a colt by Union Rags (hip 113) who sold for $220,000 to trainer Mac Robertson. Both were consigned by locally based sellers, with Dreamtime Stables offering hip 189 and consignor/breeder Dark Hollow offering hip 113.

“One of the nice things we saw today was the support of the local breeders,” Browning said. “It was nice to see the sale topped by Dreamtime, which is Mike Palmer and his wife and their longtime association with Candyland Farm's Herb and Ellen Moelis, who have been long-time supporters of this sale and this region. And the second highest-priced horse was from David Hayden and his Dark Hollow Farm. They were both really legitimate pedigrees with Mendelssohn and Union Rags. It is really rewarding to see regional breeders who have quality product support this marketplace, which helps lure more buyers and more successful buyers to the sale this year and in future years as well.”

The day's top-priced filly was also a daughter of Mendelssohn with Donato Lanni bidding $160,000 to acquire hip 159.

Cary Frommer, traditionally an active buyer at the Midlantic Fall sale, signed for three yearlings Monday, including a Twirling Candy colt (hip 78) for $115,000. But Frommer agreed it was tough sledding.

“I feel like I am paying more than I thought I would have to,” she said. “For a nice horse, it's still very strong and I've been outbid on a bunch of very nice horses. I think the market is fair, but it's just that it's a trickle down effect from the other sale. People haven't been able to buy what they wanted. So it's strong here.”

Pinhookers, some of whom are not traditional bidders at the auction, were a dominant presence at the sale Monday.

“I knew they were coming,” Frommer said of the pinhooking buying bench. “I knew everybody was having trouble at the previous sale. So I knew they would be here and I was not happy about it.”

One of those pinhookers making an unusual appearance in Timonium was Susan Montayne, who purchased a filly by Tiznow (hip 76) for $150,000.

“We've never actually done this sale before,” Montayne, who is a regular presence as a consignor at the Midlantic May 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale, said. “I have never come up here to buy horses. We usually focus on the Kentucky sales and sales at home in Ocala, but here we are. It was very hard to buy at Keeneland. Luckily, we have clients that send us horses to go to the races, but with the pinhook side, it was a little tough.”

The Midlantic sale continues Tuesday with bidding at the Maryland State Fairgrounds beginning at 10 a.m.

Mendelssohn Colt to Handal

Conor Foley of Oracle Bloodstock struck late in Monday's first day of the Midlantic Fall Yearling Sale to secure a colt by Mendelssohn (hip 189) for a session-topping $230,000 on behalf of a partnership.

“He's going to go to [trainer] Ray Handal,” Foley said. “I bought him for a group of people.”

Of the yearling, Foley said, “He just looks a lot like Mendelssohn. He just looked like an athlete that should run next year; what surface he can run on, I don't know. I think horses like him were few and far between here and he really stood out.”

The colt was bred by Classic Thoroughbred XXIX and was consigned by Dreamtime Stables. He is out of Tasha's Moon (Malibu Moon) and is a half-brother to stakes-placed Juror Number Four (Into Mischief) and from the family of multiple graded winner Tasha's Miracle.

Hip 189 was one of two yearlings from the first crop of Grade I winner Mendelssohn to bring six figures Monday in Timonium. Earlier in the session, bloodstock agent Donato Lanni, bidding on behalf of Caroline and Greg Bentley, acquired the day's top-priced filly when going to $160,000 for a daughter of the Coolmore stallion (hip 159).

Union Rags Colt to Novogratz

Trainer Mac Robertson, bidding on behalf of owner Joe Novogratz, purchased a colt by Union Rags for $220,000 Monday in Timonium. The bay colt was bred and consigned by Dark Hollow Farm and is out of Safe Journey (Flatter), who is also the dam of multiple stakes winners O Dionysus (Bodemeister) and Joy (Pure Prize). The yearling's second dam is Safe at the Plate (Double Zeus), a half-sister to champion sprinter Safely Kept.

“Safe Journey is an awful good mare for this sale,” Robertson said after signing the ticket on hip 113. “She has four or five really good horses that can win where we want to go. And I thought, for a Union Rags, he has enough length to be a really good horse.”

Several times a leading owner at Canterbury Park, Novogratz was a linebacker for the Pitt Panthers and was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers before being traded to the Minnesota Vikings. He is the founder of IDI Distributors Inc., an insulation distribution company.

Robertson trained the multiple stakes winner Amy's Challenge (Artie Schiller) for Novogratz. The mare, second in the GI Madison S. and third in the GI Humana Distaff S. in 2019, was purchased for $20,000 at the Fasig Midlantic Yearling sale in 2016.

“I thought he'd bring between $200,000 and $250,000 when he vetted well and scoped well,” Robertson said of the yearling's final price. “Until you get your guy to vet him, you don't really know.”

Also on behalf of Novogratz Monday, Robertson purchased a filly by Malibu Moon (hip 158) for $95,000.

The competitive market was no surprise to Robertson.

“It's really strong,” he said with a rueful smile. “But I'm not surprised. I was at Keeneland–I've never seen an 80% clearance rate in my life. There are people who didn't get what they wanted at Keeneland, so of course they came here.

Tiznow Filly Likely for 2-Year-Old Sales

A filly by Tiznow (hip 76) is likely destined for a return to the sales ring next spring after selling for $150,000 to the bid of Ocala horsewoman Susan Montanye.

“She looks like a classy, two-turn filly,” Montanye, who signed for the pinhooking partnership in the name of her SBM Training and Sales, said of the yearling's appeal. “She is a little bit of a later foal, but she had all the right angles and parts. She vetted great for me. I watched her and I loved her walk, big overreach on her. What's not to like about her?”

Of the filly's final price, Montanye said, “Listen, if you want them right now, it looks like you're going to have to pay for them. She's a Tiznow filly and she's got some pedigree, so $150,000, I feel comfortable with that.”

The yearling was consigned by Sabrina Moore's GreenMount Farm and was bred by Moore in partnership with Tiznow Syndicate. She is out of Pinkprint (Not For Love), a half-sister to GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner and likely GI Breeders' Cup Classic favorite Knicks Go (Paynter).

Filly Adds Up for Newtownanner

Ron Blake liked a filly by Cloud Computing when he purchased her as a short yearling for $40,000 at the Keeneland January sale earlier this year and he still liked the bay yearling (hip 11) when he sent her through the sales ring in Timonium Monday. He advised his clients, Samantha and Maurice Regan's Newtown Anner Stud, to purchase the bay for $145,000.

“We always loved her,” Blake said. “We bought her as a weanling and from the day we bought her I thought she was gorgeous. She's grown into a very pretty filly. She is a late foal and I think when you take that into account, you can see what she could become. She's by a first-year stallion and she was a late foal so she looked maybe a little small to some people. But because she is a May 20 foal, we thought she'd be a real beautiful filly. We advised our client to buy her.”

The yearling is out of Martini and is a three-quarter sister to stakes winner Dirty (Maclean's Music).

“I just think she has so much quality,” Blake said. “We think she'll be a good racehorse. She'll go back to the farm and be able to grow up a little bit. We will give her some time off before we break her and then go forward with her and see what she can do.”

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Lesson Horses Presented By John Deere Equine Discount Program: Cary Frommer On Inca Chief

You never forget the name of your first lesson horse – that horse who taught you what you need to know to work with every one that follows.

In this series, participants throughout the Thoroughbred industry share the names and stories of the horses that have taught them the most about life, revealing the limitless ways that horses can impact the people around them. Some came early on in their careers and helped them set a course for the rest of their lives, while others brought valuable lessons to veterans of the business.

Question: Which horse has taught you the most about life?

Cary Frommer: “I had a horse one time that I bought, Inca Chief, and I bought him just because I loved him. I loved the way he looked. He was an athlete. He sold for a life-changing amount of money for me, and when he ran through his conditions and he didn't really run on, he started going down the claiming ranks, and I got him back to turn out. He still lives at my farm.

“He had been such a life-changer for me, and he's such a sweet, kind horse, but what taught me the most is everybody that was around him wanted good things for him, too. It made me think much better of people than I sometimes do, because everybody worked together to try and give him a good home, and to make sure he ended up with me – happy, turned out, and just living the rest of his life out.

“I think I learned more about people from that horse than I have from many of the people I've known.

“I don't know what went wrong, because he had some pretty serious problems when he got back to me, but he was kind, and 100 percent heart. Just a really special horse in my life. Obviously, he affected everyone that way, because people lined up to help him end up in a good place.

“He just lives out on my farm and eats grass. He babysits the occasional baby, but that's it.”

About Inca Chief
(2014, c., Uncle Mo x Five Star Dream, by Five Star Day)

Inca Chief was bred in Kentucky by Candyland Farm, and he was consigned by that operation at the 2015 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Eastern Fall Yearlings Sale, where he sold to Frommer for $90,000.

The colt was a standout at the 2016 Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream Selected 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale. He breezed an eighth in :10 seconds flat, tying for the sale's fastest time at the distance, and his smooth motion down the Gulfstream Park stretch put him at the head of the class from an eye-test standpoint, as well.

That excitement followed Inca Chief to the sale ring, where he sold to the Coolmore partnership and Stonestreet Stables for $1 million, tied for the second-highest price of the elite auction.

Injuries hampered the big-bodied colt, and delayed his debut until June of his 3-year-old season, where he finished second in a maiden special weight at Monmouth Park with trainer Todd Pletcher.

He raced just once for the connections that bought him at auction before going through the ring at the 2017 Fasig-Tipton Selected Horses of Racing Age Sale, where he sold to owner Doyle Williams for $55,000. Frommer said she was the underbidder at $50,000.

Inca Chief continued to struggle in the search for his first win on a major circuit with new trainer Randy Morse, even dropping into maiden claiming company at Churchill Downs to no avail.

After another long layoff, Williams gave Inca Chief a change of scenery and moved him to the Southwest barn of trainer Scott Young, which paid immediate dividends. He won his first two starts at Will Rogers Downs; first a maiden claiming race, then an allowance race. He was then moved to Prairie Meadows, where he won another allowance at first asking, then made two more starts before retiring.

Inca Chief retired with three wins in 13 starts for earnings of $61,572.

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