Cupid Colt Tops Midlantic Opener

TIMONIUM, MD – The Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Fall Yearlings Sale got underway with an abbreviated session Monday afternoon which opened with an offering of 154 catalogued New York-breds and featured the session’s two six-figure transactions. Just minutes into the action, Vicki and Mike McGowan’s Xtreme Racing Stables purchased the day’s top-priced offering when going to $160,000 to acquire a colt from the first crop of Grade I winner Cupid (hip 4). The yearling was consigned by Eaton Sales.

“We put him here because we thought he would be a bigger fish in a smaller pond,” Eaton’s Reiley McDonald said. “I think he was so good physically that he brought as much here as he would have brought anywhere else in the country. When you are in the top 20% of the auction, whether it is this year or any other, you are probably going to do relatively close to the same, except at the very highest levels where you need the principals bidding. So if it’s an agent-driven year, which it has been, we are not going to hit the huge high numbers. At the same time, he was a beautiful colt and a lot of people liked him. He was clean and he sold really well in this market. We’ve never sold here before, so it was a nice experiment and it worked well for us.”

Fasig-Tipton’s Selected Yearlings Showcase in Lexington last month also opened with an offering of New York-breds to compensate for the company’s canceled Saratoga auction. Eaton’s first Midlantic consignment featured 10 Empire-breds and McDonald said the decision to sell in Maryland was based on both geography and timing.

“We thought if we had New York-breds, it would be tougher to sell them in Kentucky, especially leading off the entire yearling season,” McDonald said. “We had two New York-breds who sold at Fasig-Tipton [Showcase] very well, but they were top 10% physicals. Everything else we had came here because we figured it was 3 1/2 hours down the road and maybe they would get more New York traffic, which turned out to be true.”

During Monday’s session, 162 of 200 catalogued yearlings went through the ring with 122 selling for a gross of $2,983,600. The average was $24,456 and the median was $15,000. A further 374 yearlings are catalogued for Tuesday’s second and final session of the auction.

“I think the market here is limited,” McDonald said. “There is not enough demand to handle the 500-some horses catalogued, but on the whole, in an awful year, it could have been a lot worse. I think it’s been ok and we should all be happy that we’ve been able to trade horses at a time when our world is in a state of–let’s just say–a state of ‘bleep.'”

Pinhookers, who largely found themselves competing with typical end-users on the perceived top offerings at the September yearling sales in Kentucky, were active Monday in Timonium. Among them was David Scanlon, who purchased three lots during the session.

“It’s been a little spotty all year. I still think when you follow the good ones up, ones that you think are going to be pinhook prospects, you’ll find competition,” Scanlon said. “I think there is a strong market for the horses we judge to be fast or early types that we can make good money on. But we don’t have the option not to buy. This is what we do, so we have to have stock.”

Scanlon expects the competition to only increase Tuesday.

“I found Keeneland was hard for the right horse,” Scanlon said. “We got a few bought at Fasig in the New York-breds section and I was really happy with them. But I found the open section was pretty tough to buy a pinhook-type horse. I think here is the same thing. I think momentum will build here tomorrow, so it was nice to jump in early and get a couple.”

Tuesday’s second and final session of the Midlantic sale gets underway at 10 a.m.

McGowans Adds Cupid Colt to Stable

Mike and Vicki McGowan’s Xtreme Racing Stables added a colt from the first crop of Grade I winner Cupid to their burgeoning racing stable when trainer Mac Robertson went to $160,000 to acquire hip 4 early in Monday’s first session of the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Fall Yearlings Sale.

“I think when we go to these auctions, the first thing we do is look at the bloodlines,” Mike McGowan said. “We put a list together that looks like a good fit for us, but at the end of the day it comes down to the hands of our trainer Mac Robertson. He’s the one that is out there. He goes through all the horses. And we all thought this horse was a very athletic-looking colt with some really nice lines. He checked out very well, so we are very excited about him.”

Consigned by Eaton Sales, the yearling is out of Gottah Penny (Stravinsky) and is a half-brother to stakes-placed Brokered (Eddington) and Copper Gem (Gemologist). Alan Quartucci signed the ticket to acquire the youngster for $52,000 at last year’s Fasig-Tipton New York Mixed Sale.

The McGowans, based in Minnesota, have been involved with racing for about five years now, but which of the couple is responsible for their involvement in the sport is still a subject of debate.

“I would buy every single horse because I love them all,” Vicki McGowan said. “My husband is the one that digs into bloodlines and all of that. He and our trainer Mac Robertson are the ones that try to figure out what is the best one to get.”

Mike McGowan, for his part, said, “My wife really was the one that got into it. I think she has about 12 or 15 horses. We try to differentiate. She usually tries to take the fillies and I take the colts.”

Xtreme Racing Stables was recently represented by first-out Delaware Park maiden winner Sir Wellington (Palace), who was purchased by the operation for $55,000 at this year’s Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale. From that same auction, the operation acquired a colt by Bayern for $80,000. Now named Xtreme Mayhem, the juvenile is training at Delaware and is getting positive early reviews.

At the recent Keeneland September Yearling Sale, Xtreme Racing Stables acquired a colt by Not This Time (hip 2685) and a filly by Jimmy Creed (hip 3816), both for $30,000.

“We are probably very skewed to the younger side, we have a lot of 2-year-olds going and we have four or five yearlings right now,” McGowan said. “I think we will continue to grow it as long as we have success with the ones we have.”

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Cupid Colt on Top as Book 5 Concludes

A colt from the first crop of Grade I winner Cupid (Hip 3391) topped Wednesday’s trade when selling for $200,000 to bloodstock agent Larry Zap, who was acting on behalf of Michael Mellen.

The topper and the day’s third-highest purchase, a son of fellow first-season sire American Freedom (Hip 3196), were both sold by Shawhan Place, who was the session’s leading consignor by average.

“Both of them are big, strong colts, especially the Cupid,” said Shawhan’s Matt Koch. “He is a good walking colt. We foaled and raised him at the farm. We know everything about it. That is kind of our niche, to bring up horses we are very familiar with, and the market rewarded us today”

Bred by Jory Sherman and Don Blowe, the Cupid colt is out of the Distorted Humor mare Just Joking, who is also responsible for GSP Quick Release (Trappe Shot). His third dam is champion Safely Kept (Horatius).

Zap could not be reached by phone, but tweeted a photo of the colt with the following caption: “Headed to Jesse Hoppel in Ocala to get his education! A special thanks to Amanda Murphy for helping out with isolating the colt. What a cool colt with a great mind and the physicality to match. Feeling so fortunate to have Mike Mellen believe in what we do!”

Hoppel will be heading back to Ocala with both of Wednesday’s top lots, having purchased the second highest-priced offering, a $115,000 colt by first-crop sire Klimt (Hip 3523). Consigned by Vinery Sales, the colt was bred in New York by Allen Hallett and is a half-brother to Grade I winner El Deal (Munnings).

“He is a May 29th foal,” Hoppel said. “There is no telling what he is going to be as a 2-year-old. He is a horse that is going to take a little more time. He will probably a candidate that ends up at a later [2-year-old] sale if we go that route. How handy he is and how well put together and balanced, there is no telling what this horse could be when he grows up.”

A total of 290 yearlings changed hands Wednesday for a gross of $4,521,900, an average of $19,920 and median of $13,000. There were 63 horses that failed to meet their reserves. Overall, through 10 days of selling, 2,129 youngsters sold for $245,278,700. The average was $115,208 and the median was $50,000 with 795 RNAs.

“There is not quite the stock that was in here in the earlier books,” said “So individuals like the [top two colts] are standing out amongst the rest. I am glad some of the guys who have a little more money than we do are already gone.”

From the buyer’s perspective, Koch found the market to be tough.

“It is tough,” Koch said. “We had five horses in today. Two of them did extremely well, but with the other three it is tough sledding. When you’ve got that horse, it’s great. They exceed your expectations. But, when you don’t have that horse it is tough times.”

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Colt By Cupid Brings $200,000 Wednesday At Keeneland September Sale

Larry Zap, agent for Mike Mellen, paid $200,000 for a colt from the first crop of Cupid to lead results of Wednesday's 10th session of the 12-day Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

Shawhan Place, agent for Ascot Thoroughbreds, consigned the colt, who is out of Just Joking, by Distorted Humor. He is from the family of Hall of Famer Safely Kept along with Grade 2 winners Partner's Hero and Venetian Harbor.

Zap was the leading buyer with the single purchase.

On Wednesday, Keeneland sold 238 yearlings for $4,664,900, for an average of $19,600 and a median of $12,500. Cumulative sales for 2,010 yearlings are $235,224,700, for an average of $117,027 and a median of $50,000.

Jesse Hoppel, agent, paid $115,000 for the day's second high seller, Klimt Eastwood, a colt from the first crop of Klimt who is a half-brother to Grade 1 winner El Dean. Consigned by Vinery Sales, agent, the colt is from the family of Grade 2 winners Choctaw Nation, Her Temper and Thunder Achiever as well as Grade 3 winner Street Game.

Two colts sold for $100,000 each.

Shawhan Place, agent for Mr. and Mrs. Theodore R. Kuster, sold the first, a colt from the first crop of American Freedom, to New Day Training Center. A half-brother to Grade 3 winner Strike the Bell, the colt is out of the Mountain Cat mare Vesper Cat. He is from the family of Grade 1 winners Hymn Book and Data Link.

Three Amigos paid $100,000 for a Tapizar colt, who was consigned by Cross Key Sales, agent. Out of the winning Super Saver mare Chainsmoknsuprmodl, he is from the family of Grade 2 winner Greeley's Galaxy and Grade 3 winner License Fee.

Paramount Sales was the day's leading consignor, selling a total of 19 horses for $371,000.

The September Sale continues Thursday with the final session on Friday. Both sessions begin at 10 a.m.

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Adrian Wallace on First-Crop Yearling Sires Classic Empire and Cupid

Three of Ashford Stud’s Grade I-winning stallions will be in the limelight in the coming weeks as they are represented by their first crop of yearlings in the sales ring.

Three-time GIW Practical Joke (Into Mischief), the regally-bred Cupid (Tapit) and juvenile champion Classic Empire (Pioneerof the Nile) all ranked amongst the top of their class with the sale of their weanlings, and now look to continue the streak with their yearlings.

We sat down with Coolmore’s Adrian Wallace and discussed two of the young sires.

Classic Empire (Pioneerof the Nile):

Classic Empire headlined Ashford’s trio of freshman sires in 2018 with a $35,000 stud fee. He covered a book of 185 mares in his first year and averaged $108,925 with his weanlings and short yearlings with 27 of 36 sold. Now in the coming weeks, 22 of his yearlings are cataloged at the Fasig-Tipton Selected Yearling Showcase, and an additional 61 are slated for the Keeneland September Sale.

KR: What were some of the big moments in Classic Empire’s juvenile season that led to his Eclipse Award for Champion 2-year-old?

AW: While Practical Joke may have done his best racing in New York, it’s safe to say that Classic Empire did his best racing in Kentucky. He broke his maiden in May at Churchill Downs, followed by the GIII Bashford Manor S. and the GI Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland. To win in front of the breeders at Keeneland is very important for any stallion prospect, but then to go on and win at Santa Anita in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile really cemented his future as a stallion.

 

Classic Empire colt out of Victory Party | Thorostride

KR: What qualities do you believe defined his racing career?

AW: His longevity and determination as a 2-year-old, and the fact that he then came back as a 3-year-old and won the GI Arkansas Derby and finished second in the GI Preakness S, really showed what a tough horse he was not only to stay on the track for so long, but to be as brilliant as he was in all of those races.

KR: What have you seen in Classic Empire’s first crop? Are there any yearlings you’re excited to watch sell?

AW: The thing that struck me most about the Classic Empires is that they sold very well as weanlings. As a group, they were a very nice bunch. I think breeders were happy with what they saw.

The highest-priced Classic Empire colt to go through the sale at Keeneland was bought by Empire Bloodstock for $285,000 last November. He now sells at Keeneland as Hip 8. He’s out of Victory Party (Yankee Victor) and is from the same family as Into Mischief, Mendelssohn, and Beholder. He’s a wonderfully-moving horse with lots of quality and a great walk to him. He’s a horse that looks the complete package.

Hip 667 at Keeneland, a colt out of GSW Le Mi Geaux (First Samurai), is another one that I think is going to be very popular. He brought $250,000 as a weanling. He oozes quality and is very athletic.

 

Cupid (Tapit):

   With a $12,500 initial stud fee, Cupid covered 223 mares in his first book before averaging $44,987 with 39 of 45 weanlings and short yearlings sold. This year, he will be represented by 13 yearlings cataloged at the Fasig-Tipton Selected Yearling Showcase and 50 more at the Keeneland September Sale.

KR: Could you tell us about Cupid’s racing career that was campaigned by Coolmore?

AW: He’s from a  family that we’ve had a long association with and Cupid was the one that really stood out for us. We paid $900,000 for him at the Keeneland September Sale.

Early on, he showed us that he was a horse that was going to win a lot of races. He famously won the GII Rebel S. early on in his career. Unfortunately, he didn’t make the Kentucky Derby, but he did come back later in the year to win the GII Indiana Derby and the GII West Virginia Derby, and then he got his Grade I in the Gold Cup at Santa Anita S. as a 4-year-old.

KR: What have been Cupid’s biggest selling points as a sire?

I think everyone wants a Tapit. We see it happening now with Constitution. Tapit is well on his way to becoming a sires of sires, and Cupid is our Tapit. He was a tough horse. I think what we remember most about his racing style was his ability to get into a rhythm quickly and maintain that high cruising speed.

He covered a lot of mares in his first book and he was very popular with the breeders. His stock ooze quality. They sold very well, with top prices last year including two selling for $130,000 and a third for $127,000.

KR: How have the yearlings reflected their sire? Are there any that come to mind as strong representations of Cupid himself?

AW: The thing about the Cupids is that they all have a lot of quality. You look at him- he’s a very attractive horse and stands over a lot of ground. With his progeny, I think they’re horses that are going to get better as they go farther. They’re very good looking, very correct and good movers.

One I really like is a colt out of Lisdoonvarna (Bodemeister), selling as Hip 209 at the Fasig-Tipton sale. He’s very well conformed, very strong and has lovely quality to him. He’s got a lovely head. He was one of the highest-priced Cupids that sold last year when selling for $127,000, and I think he will be very popular in the sales ring.

Another one I’m really looking forward to seeing is Hip 296 at Fasig-Tipton, a colt out of the mare Perdy (Tale of the Cat). I think the mating looks really good on paper. He is a lovely horse, picked up by Renne Dailey for $95,000 in January. I think he’ll do very well also.

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