After being KO'd by COVID in 2020, the sale returned in 2021, generating $3,657,800 in revenue for 163 head sold. Heading last season's sale was a filly by Catalina Cruiser, that realized top price of $195,000.

“This is an important sale for those that actively participate in the New York-bred program,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning. “Saratoga Fall annually offers the highest concentration of New York-bred weanlings of any mixed sale in North America. This year we have 175 weanlings catalogued–all of which are New York-bred.”

Added Browning, “There are also good opportunities in the broodmare portion of the sale, with a number of mares in foal to promising young sires.”

Among this season's young stallion roster with first weanlings or yearlings up for grabs Monday are Instagrand, Leofric, Solomini, Global Campaign, Fog of War, Honest Mischief, King for a Day, Sun to Run, Complexity, Higher Power, Maximus Mischief, Yoshida, Killybegs Captain, Frank Conversation, Mr. Monomoy, Gunnevera, Flameaway, Audible, Country House, Vekoma, Honor A.P., Vino Rosso, War of Will, Gift Box and Tom's d'Etat.

Once again providing strong New York-bred representation, RFHF Bloodstock offers up 21 head–19 youngsters and a pair of in-foal broodmares. Often found among the leading consignors at this venue, RFHF sold the sale-topping weanling, a colt by Practical Joke, for $160,000 during the 2019 renewal of the sale.

“We are going in there with a slightly smaller group of horses this year,” said RFHF's Chris Bernhard. “We had a few April and May babies, and pushing them for an October sale didn't really seem fair to them. I feel we often leave money on the table with them, so I tried to go over there with the horses that are going to fit. Although we have a few less horses than we normally do, the quality and sire power is still there.”

In regard to the positioning on the sale's calendar, he continued, “I always try to have a significant number of horses for this sale. I feel like a lot of the Florida and Kentucky pinhookers have put it on their calendars.”

“I think it's a great opportunity for breeders to sell horses in their own backyard. For me, it's nice to do it at home and be able to sleep in my own bed and then go back at it the next day.

I've always been one of the biggest supporters of the sale and will continue to do so.”

Among RFHF's leading prospects this year is Hip 200 by Honor A.P. out of Italian Highweight juvenile filly Omaticaya (Bernstein), purchased by the operation in foal to the Lane's End sire for $30,000 at Keeneland last November. The Jan. 29 colt is from the family of Irish highweighted router Muhtarram.

“He's a standout,” he said. “He's just really beautiful.”

Bernhard is equally high on Hip 105, a colt by Taylor Made stallion Instagrand out of EZ Passer (Southern Image).

“I like our first year horses which is what I try to program,” he explained. “We go over there with proper horses that are proper physicals and have some pedigree behind them. And try to be the first of that sire's offspring to go through the sale.”

Of the pair of colts, Bernhard added, “They are both big, scopey, pretty individuals. We thought this was a good opportunity here. They both have lovely pedigrees.”

Another colt on offer representing first-season sire War of Will is Hip 209. The colt's dam Parol (Mizzen Mast) was secured in foal to the Claiborne sire for $102,000 at Keeneland last November. The March foal hails from the female family of Pulpit.

“I have intentionally put in first-season sires in this sale because between Taylor Made, Lane's End and Claiborne, they each have their own following in this business and I feel it's strategically a smart place to put them. Hopefully, the individuals can shine and we can top the sale again this year.”

Additionally, Empire State-based sires also can be found on the pages of this season's consignment, including a pair of weanlings by Fog of War (War Front), who stands at Bernhard's Hidden Lake Farm in Stillwater, New York. The GI Summer S. winner is represented by his first crop of weanlings in 2022.

Heading the duo is a colt bred by Hidden Lake, Hip 117. The Feb. 4 foal is the fifth offspring out of Fujiana (Fusaichi Pegasus), a half-sister to GSW Josh's Madelyn (Quiet American) and Party Silks, dam of MGSW and MGISP Upstart (Flatter) and SW Practice Squad (Malibu Moon). RFHF also presents Hip 23, a Fog of War colt out of SP Sweet Sugaree (Tiznow).

“They are intentionally put into this sale,” he said. “I have talked to a few people that are keen on [the stallion's first foals] as well. I am excited to see how his progeny fare at this sale and we have a few more that we'll offer over the next couple of months.”

He continued, “I have seen about 70% of [Fog of War's] offspring and I've been really pleased with them as individuals. They have a lot of leg, and are big, stretchy horses with a real powerful shoulder. They are very pretty, balanced and look fast and early.”

According to Bernhard, partner Chris Larsen's 3C Stable has made a concerted effort to improve his broodmare band in an effort to support his New York program. As a result, several of the resulting foals secured in utero over the past year have made their way to the sales ring this fall.

“We bought a couple million dollars worth of mares–about 60 mares over the course of the last two years–to support his investment in Fog of War and Galilean [standing in partnership with West Point],” he explained. “So, these are the first couple of weanlings that are coming out of that group, which includes our War of Will and Honor A.P. colts”

“[From those mares] we have a lot of those babies are nicely sired Kentucky horses and we'll have another group of horses that will go to Keeneland. We'll probably hold back 60 or 70 weanlings to look at for the August sales in Saratoga.”

“Basically, we were looking to get our initial investment back from the 22 foals out of the mares we purchased and can also give [Fog of War and Galilean] a proper opportunity to be bred to nice mares.”

The post Breeding Stock on Tap at Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Fall Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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The latest issue of the PR Back Ring is now online, ahead of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale.

The PR Back Ring is the Paulick Report's bloodstock newsletter, released ahead of, and during, every major North American Thoroughbred auction. Seeking to expand beyond the usual pdf presentation, the Back Ring offers a dynamic experience for bloodstock content, heavy on visual elements and statistics to appeal to readers on all platforms, especially mobile devices.

Here is what's inside this issue…

CLICK HERE TO READ THIS ISSUE OF THE PR BACK RING

• Lead Feature, presented by Pyrois Media: Bloodstock editor Joe Nevills ranks the 20 best Keeneland November weanlings by on-track performance since 2014, a five-year span, ending with the 3-year-olds of 2021.
• Stallion Spotlight presented by New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc.: Chris Bernhard of Hidden Lake Farm discusses Fog of War, a Grade 1-winning son of War Front whose first foals arrive in 2022.
• Toast To Vino Rosso presented by Spendthrift Farm: Tanya Gunther of Glennwood Farm reflects on breeding Breeders' Cup Classic winner and Spendthrift Farm sire Vino Rosso, and spotlights the two Vino Rosso weanlings the consignment will offer in Book 1 of the Keeneland November Sale.
• Lesson Horses presented by John Deere Equine Discount Program: Bernard McCormack of Cara Bloodstock describes what the first broodmare he owned taught him about life.
• Ask Your Veterinarian presented by Kentucky Performance Products: Dr. Katy Dern of Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital explains why broodmares are so prone to colic, and the common causes.
• Indiana Weanling Spotlight presented by Indiana Thoroughbred Alliance: Putting the spotlight on an Indiana-bred filly by the red-hot sire Not This Time, and the state-bred program where her buyer can reap the benefits.
• Pennsylvania Leaderboard presented by Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association: A rundown of Pennsylvania's leading stallion award incentive earners with five crops of racing age or fewer.
• American Graded Stakes Standings presented by Muirfield Insurance: Catching up with the leading breeders by North American graded stakes winners following the Breeders' Cup.
• First-Crop Sire Watch: Stallions whose first crops of weanlings are represented in the Keeneland November Sale, including the number of horses cataloged and the farm where the stallion is currently advertised.

CLICK HERE TO READ THIS ISSUE OF THE PR BACK RING

The post PR Back Ring Keeneland November: From Weanlings To Winners appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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That honor belonged to McMahon of Saratoga's Redesdale at this year's renewal. The son of Speightstown was responsible for the highest-priced yearling by an active New York stallion, with Hip 379 selling to Reeves Thoroughbred Racing for $140,000 during Sunday's opening session.

Bred by Ron Bowden, the colt is out of the winning Lemon Drop Kid mare Dakota Kid, herself a half-sister to Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner Dakota Phone. The colt was born at The New Hill Farm in Hoosick Falls, N.Y., and the operation raised raised him and consigned him on Sunday.

“He's always been pretty, from the day he was born,” said The New Hill's Lili Kobielski. “He's correct. What I think really stands out about him is there are some horses that get to the sale and just fall apart, since it's such a crazy environment, but he actually improved. He looked great, he kind of puffed himself up, he was walking like a demon. He seemed to get better as the sale went on and people were looking at him. He kind of thrived on the busyness.

“I was not going to be surprised if he brought six figures, just by how pretty he is,” Kobielski continued. “He was very popular, but he way, way exceeded the reserve we had on him.”

The colt was part of a 48-horse first crop for Redesdale, who stood his first season at Hidden Lake Farm at Questroyal North in Stillwater, N.Y., then was relocated to McMahon of Saratoga in 2020 after the farm bought into the stallion's partnership.

Redesdale raced four times during his on-track career, winning his first three starts, then coming out of his first graded stakes try with a career-ending injury.

Syndicate manager Chris Bernhard said investing in a stallion with a light race record was a risk – a risk he took with partners Schumer Bloodstock and 3C Stable – but the horse's physical, his page, and the potential he showed in his brief career made it one worth taking.

A product of the Juddmonte Farms breeding program, Redesdale is out of a half-sister to the top international sire Danehill, and his fourth dam is the great broodmare Natalma, who produced breed-shaper Northern Dancer.

“You come up with a horse that didn't win a stakes race, but was a fast horse that looked like he had genuine talent,” Berhhard said. “He was a pedigree play for us. We figured if we could get enough quality mares to him, we'd have a shot. For Fasig-Tipton to take a couple of them and give us a shot up here was very rewarding. I'm excited for my friends over at The New Hill for having the horse sell so well.”

Redesdale figures to have a solid pipeline of foals to get him started. In addition to the 48 foals in his first crop, he covered over 100 combined mares in each of his next two seasons at stud.

In the immediate future, Bernhard said the stallion will have a busy month in October, with plans to send some first-crop Redesdale yearlings to the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Fall Yearling Sale in Maryland on Oct. 4-5, and Fasig-Tipton's Saratoga Fall Sale on Oct. 18. The stallion's partnership also has several Redesdale foals that it will take directly to the races.

“Most of the babies I've seen by him have all been big hipped, fast-looking horses that the pinhookers really liked,” he said.

To learn more about Redesdale, read his recent Stallion Spotlight feature in the PR Back Ring.

The post First-Crop Redesdale Colt Leads Active State-Sired Offerings At Fasig-Tipton New York-Bred Sale appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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The latest issue of the PR Back Ring is now online, ahead of the Fasig-Tipton New York-Bred Yearling Sale.

The PR Back Ring is the Paulick Report's bloodstock newsletter, released ahead of every major North American Thoroughbred auction. Seeking to expand beyond the usual pdf presentation, the Back Ring offers a dynamic experience for bloodstock content, heavy on visual elements and statistics to appeal to readers on all platforms, especially mobile devices.

Here is what's inside this issue…

CLICK HERE TO READ THIS EDITION OF THE PR BACK RING

• Lead Feature presented by McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds: Najja Thompson, executive director of New York Thoroughbred Breeders Inc., discusses the present and future of the state's breeding program with bloodstock editor Joe Nevills.
• Stallion Spotlight: Syndicate manager Chris Bernhard on Redesdale, whose first foals are yearlings of 2021.
• Lesson Horses Presented By Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.: Mid-Atlantic horseman Clovis Crane discusses the former bucking horse that taught him about life and horsemanship.
• The Stat Presented By New York Thoroughbred Breeders Inc.: Leading graduates of the Fasig-Tipton New York-Bred Yearling Sale by racetrack earnings.
• First-Crop Sire Watch: First yearlings of the Fasig-Tipton New York-Bred yearling sale, with the number of horses cataloged and the farms where they are currently advertised.

CLICK HERE TO READ THIS EDITION OF THE PR BACK RING

The post PR Back Ring Fasig-Tipton New York-Bred Yearling Sale: Najja Thompson On The Empire State Program’s Future appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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A $400,000 Keeneland September yearling, Fog of War was purchased by White Birch Farm and raced for his entire career with Chad Brown in Brant’s colors.

“Fog of War has been a horse we’ve been following since early on in his career,” said Christopher Bernhard, general manager at Questroyal and advisor to Three C Stables. “He was a maiden special weight winner here in Saratoga and shipped up to Woodbine for a second start [in the GI Summer S.] and looked pretty hopeless at the top of the stretch. Ultimately, he got free and got ahead of Preakness winner War of Will (War Front) at the wire. He won by about a length and a half. Just to have all that traffic in just his second race and then when he finally got free, he just kind of shook loose. He probably would have been one of the favorites for the Breeders’ Cup that year if he didn’t come out of the race with some sore shins. And, so they put him away for a little while.”

Brant, speaking to the TDN on Nov. 17, said he was impressed with Fog of War’s two-year-old season as well.

“Fog of War’s win first time out at Saratoga and his Grade I victory in the “Win and You’re In” Summer S. at Woodbine beating War of Will showed us that he was our best colt of that crop and marked him as one of the clear favorites for the 2018 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf,” said Brant. “Unfortunately, Fog bucked his shins and would not make the race but his undefeated 2-year-old campaign managed to show everyone his brilliant turn of foot and class.”

Said Bernhard, “Fog of War, to me, is probably the nicest pedigree of any horse that’s come to the state. War Front has established himself as a very good sire of sires at this point. His son Declaration of War had a Breeders’ Cup winner with Fire at Will. The Factor has also had numerous Grade I stakes horses. War Front also has several young sons that are at stud now like Omaha Beach who was an incredibly popular horse last year. And, then Claiborne Farm will be standing War of Will for his first season this coming breeding season.”

“Fog of War’s, dam, Say, was a Group Stakes winner, Group 1 Stakes-placed over in Europe,” Bernhard continued. “She had three foals of racing age. All three of them are stakes winners by War Front. The second dam was an incredible race filly here named Riskaverse, who made a little over $2 million dollars and danced every dance here. She was a $5 million broodmare prospect. The female family includes Havre de Grace, who was a $10 million broodmare prospect several years ago and sold to Mandy Pope. And Toll Fee, the third dam, is a brilliant female family with countless number of Group and Graded stakes winners.”

Chris Larsen, founder of Three C Stables, named for himself, his wife Colleen and his son Conner, became interested in horse racing after a serious motorcycle accident. He invested with West Point Thoroughbreds

“I was lucky enough to start off as a partner in Saratoga Russell (Trippi) and Justwhistledixie (Dixie Union),” said Larsen. “They were both outstanding runners and it was great working with West Point and Terry Finley.”

When Larsen decided try his hand at breeding racehorses, he started with the fillies then racing with West Point.

“Instead of selling them all at auction, we would have them appraised and I would decide whether or not to buy them. For instance, I bought and still have Fitz Just Right,” said Larsen. “I enjoy the idea of trying to create something. When you breed a horse that goes on to win a race, it puts you on top of the world.”

Larsen met Bernhard a decade or so ago when he was looking for someone to oversee his mares and advise him on breeding decisions.

“I’ve been doing this for close to a decade with Chris’s help,” said Larsen. “He has been looking for a stallion prospect for New York and when he mentioned Fog of War, I was like ‘that’s the horse.'”

“I am huge believer in the Galileo mare and you can’t take anything away from War Front,” said Larsen. “You have two great sire lines in Fog of War. He could be the horse that really carries on the Danzig line. I feel that strongly about him. I like him so much I decided to invest a lot more in mares and become more of a commercial breeder.”

“It was made even better when we found out we could partner with Peter,” said Larsen. “It’s the right horse with the right guy, with the right partner, and he’s got the right support. I’m really looking forward to it.”

In speaking to the TDN in November, Larsen added: “This will give breeders access to the world’s most successful sire lines… as well as taking advantage of the lucrative New York State breeder awards and restricted racing programs. We think Fog of War is destined to be New York State’s great sire.”

Adjusting to life on the farm at Questroyal seems to be no problem for Fog of War.

“I’ve been really impressed with the way Fog of War has handled coming in off of the racetrack,” said Bernhard. “You know, we’ve had quite a few showings and he’s come right into the breeding shed, stands up like he’s been doing this his whole life.”

“He has been a sweetheart to be around in the stall. I picked him up a Jollyball so he can throw that at me every day. And he’s just been a complete gentleman. We’re really excited to get him turned out in big field and let him do his thing and the breeding shed will open in a few weeks.”

“I’m going to say at this point we’ve got seventy-five in-house mares that are going to Fog of War,” said Bernhard. “When we were able to negotiate a deal with Mr. Brant, who’s also going to be sending a significant number of mares from Kentucky to breed to him, we went to Keeneland and Mr. Larsen bought 31 mares at the Keeneland November sale specifically for the horse. I don’t believe there’s been a horse that’s had that opportunity right off the racetrack with that volume of in-house horses.”

“Fog of War has all the makings of a potentially high-class stallion with his conformation, pedigree and speed,” said Brant in November. “I am so thrilled Fog will have the opportunity to be an exciting freshman stallion in New York and also allow White Birch Farm to be a new player in the New York State breeding and racing program.”

The post Fog of War: The New War Front in Town appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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A $400,000 Keeneland September yearling consigned by Gainesway, Fog of War was purchased by White Birch Farm and raced under the colors of Peter M. Brant his entire career.

A precocious 2-year-old, Fog of War won his career debut in an $85,000 maiden special weight at Saratoga, defeating a $800,000 OBS 2-year-old and a $725,000 son of Curlin in a field of nine, racing 5 1/2 furlongs on the turf in 1:03.92. A month later, Fog of War met up with War of Will in a duel to the wire to capture the Grade 1 Summer Stakes at Woodbine over the eventual Preakness Stakes victor in a winning time of 1:33.90 at a mile on the turf.

At three, he was caught at the wire by future Grade 1 winner Win Win Win in the Manila Stakes at Belmont Park, racing one mile on the turf in 1:31.56, just 33/100ths off the course record. The 4-year-old was recently retired after finishing on the board in the G3 Belmont Turf Sprint Invitational Stakes at Belmont Park on Oct. 4.

Fog of War's sire War Front, has perennially ranked among the top 25 sires in the United States. He is the sire of three champions, a four-time highweight in Europe, 95 stakes winners, and 465 winners of 1,271 races, with earnings of nearly $75 million. He is sire of 21 seven-figure sale yearlings and stands at Claiborne Farm for a fee of $150,000.

Fog of War's dam Say, a daughter of Galileo, was a Group 3 winner in Ireland, earning $158,325, and she finished in the top three in five stakes in Ireland and Great Britain.

She produced two full-brothers to Fog of War – Invader, a $500,000 Keeneland September yearling who won the John Battaglia Memorial Stakes by 6 1/4 lengths, and Naval Intelligence (exported to Hong Kong and renamed Gold Chest), a stakes-winner in Great Britain and handicap winner in Hong Kong.

Fog of War's second dam Riskaverse is a multiple Grade 1 winner of $2,182,429. A stakes winner and Grade 1-placed at two, she captured the G1 Flower Bowl Invitational Stakes twice, the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes, and she won or placed in ten other graded events. At the 2005 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Mixed Sale the daughter of Dynaformer commanded $5 million as a racing/broodmare prospect.

This is the family of 2011 Horse of the Year and champion older mare Havre De Grace. Following her career, she was purchased as a broodmare prospect at the Fasig-Tipton November Sale for a record $10 million by Mandy Pope's Whisper Hill Farm.

Chris Larsen commented, “I'm excited to partner with Peter Brant to bring Fog of War to stud in New York. This will give breeders access to the world's most successful sire lines Peter and I love, as well as taking advantage of the lucrative New York State breeder awards and restricted racing programs. We think Fog of War is destined to be New York State's great sire.”

Peter M. Brant of White Birch farm added, “Fog of War's win first time out at Saratoga and his Grade 1 victory in the “Win and You're In” Summer Stakes at Woodbine beating War of Will, showed us that he was our best colt of that crop and marked him as one of the clear favorites for the 2018 Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf. Unfortunately, Fog bucked his shins and would not make the race but his undefeated 2-year-old campaign managed to show everyone his brilliant turn of foot and class. Fog of War has all the makings of a potentially high-class stallion with his conformation, pedigree and speed. I am so thrilled Fog will have the opportunity to be an exciting freshman stallion in New York and also allow White Birch Farm to be a new player in the New York State breeding and racing program.”

Fog of War stands as property of White Birch Farm Inc. and Three C Stables LLC with a stud fee set at $7,000, live foal stands and nurses. A limited number of lifetime breeding rights are available.

The post Grade 1 Winner Fog Of War Retires To Questroyal/Hidden Lake Farm In New York For 2021 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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The logistics between racetracks, training centers, auctions, farms, and breeding sheds can give a person a lot of time behind the wheel, which leads to a lot of time listening to the radio.

In this edition of INQUIRY, we ask folks on the sales grounds what they're listening to while traveling from place to place with the question, “What is your favorite music for the road?”

Seth Gregory – Seth Gregory Bloodstock

“Country. I like a little bit of everything from old school guys like Hank Williams Sr. to '90s country, and some of the new stuff.”

Ron Blake – Blake-Albina Thoroughbred Services

“I listen to Bachata music. It's a Latin dance originated in the Dominican Republic. I Bachata myself, it's a dance. I go to the Dominican Republic three or four times a year, and it makes me feel like I'm down there.”

Mike Recio – South Point Sales Agency

“R&B and hip hop. I like Drake, Tupac, and I've always been a Notorious B.I.G. fan from back in the day. It's good party music, it's got a good feel and beat, and that's what the kids are listening to.”

Joe McMahon – McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds

“'60s on 6 on Sirius Radio. All the great bands were in the '60s – There were the Beatles of course, and Elvis had some great songs in the '60s. Herman and the Hermits, Tommy James and the Shondells.”

Freddie Seitz – Brookdale Sales

“Wilco. I've liked them ever since I was 20 years old, and they come out with great music all the time.”

Chris Bernhard – Hidden Lake Farm

“Probably corny 1990s pop music. I usually listen to the news or something else, so I rarely listen to music, but if I had to pop a CD out of the case, it's probably something that's been sitting in there for 15 years.”

The post INQUIRY Presented By Iowa Thoroughbred Breeders And Owners Association: Favorite Road Music? appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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That's the thought on the minds of folks in this edition of INQUIRY, where we ask members of the bloodstock industry to reminisce on the “tell your grandchildren” moments they've been fortunate enough to see by posing the question, “What is the greatest race you've seen in person?

Seth Gregory – Seth Gregory Bloodstock

“That one's easy. The 1996 Dubai World Cup. I was fortunate enough to go be Cigar's groom for that race. I was Bill Mott's foreman at the time, and his groom couldn't go, so I went as his groom. It was a huge blast.”

Mike Recio – South Point Sales

Jimbo Gladwell – Top Line Sales

Chris Bernhard – Hidden Lake Farm

“I would have to say the Travers that Arrogate won. I'm just in awe of the horse. We got a nice mare to Arrogate, and you just watched him show up, shipping all over the country, and it was cool to be in his presence.”

Joe McMahon – McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds

Freddie Seitz – Brookdale Farm

The post INQUIRY: What Is The Greatest Race You’ve Seen In Person? appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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