OCALA, FL – While it took some time to find its stride, the first session of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training gained momentum throughout the day and concluded with figures in line with the first session of its record-setting 2023 renewal.

“I thought it was a good day,” said OBS Director of Sales Tod Wojciechowski. “A good horse sells well and I thought we had a lot of nice horses today. Holding true to last year, that's a great start to the week. Obviously, there are a lot of nice horses left to come.”

From a catalogue of 302 juveniles, 205 horses went through the ring Tuesday for a gross of $19,725,000. The average of $136,034 was right on par with the 2023 figure of $136,665, while the median of $87,000 rose 16% from a year ago.

With 60 horses reported not sold, the buy-back rate was 29.3%.

The auction's first hour included a number of RNA's as the Spring Sale settled into rhythm and many of them were getting sold Tuesday evening after bidding had stopped for the evening.

“I think some of that was the sale just getting started,” Wojciechowski said of the measured start to the sale. “I think a little bit of that maybe getting their feet wet, getting their sea legs. I wouldn't be surprised to see a number of those horses getting sold in the post-sale setting here pretty quick.”

Bloodstock agent Donato Lanni and trainer Bob Baffert purchased the session's top-priced lot, going to $775,000 for a filly by Caracaro on behalf of Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman. The filly was consigned by Global Thoroughbreds.

Pedro Lantz, bidding on behalf of KAS Stables, purchased the session's top-priced colt, a son of Global Campaign, for $650,000. The juvenile was consigned by Eddie Woods, who was the session's leading consignor with nine sold for $2,213,500.

The OBS Spring sale continues through Friday with sessions beginning daily at 10:30 a.m.

Three Amigos Strike for Caracaro Filly

A filly from the first crop of Grade I-placed Caracaro (hip 199) turned heads with a quarter-mile work in :20 2/5 during last week's under-tack show and she duly delivered in the sales ring Tuesday when selling for session-topping $775,000. Bloodstock agent Donato Lanni, alongside trainer Bob Baffert, handled bidding out back of the pavilion to acquire the speedy filly on behalf of Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman. She was consigned by Global Thoroughbreds and was bred by the consignment's Rafael Celis.

The Caracaro filly's work last week | Judit Seipert

“We are happy to get her,” Lanni said. “She did everything she was asked to do. She went fast, came back great.”

The filly is out of Key d'Oro (Medaglia d'Oro), a half-sister to stakes-placed Twirled (Twirling Candy).

Caracaro, who was second in the 2020 GI Travers S. and GIII Peter Pan S., stands at Crestwood Farm for $6,500.

“He is throwing a beautiful athletic horse,” Lanni said of the stallion's first crop of foals. “You see a lot of Uncle Mo's influence.” @JessMartiniTDN

Caracaro Keeps Rewarding Celis

Caracaro is the stallion who keeps giving for Rafael Celis, who campaigned the bay in partnership with Lucas Noriego's Top Racing. After watching his homebred filly from the first crop of Caracaro sell for $775,000 at OBS Tuesday, the native of Venezuela was beaming with pride.

Rafael Celis and family | Jessica Martini

“That was our best filly in the whole program,” Celis said. “We had high expectations for her. She's by Caracaro, who is our stallion that we own with Crestwood Farm. We were really excited about her. She had been doing well all the way in training. We weren't sure if we should work her a furlong or a quarter, but she prepped really nice and we decided to go a quarter. She was really fast and the gallop out was really strong. She went out in :44 and :59, which was very good.”

Celis purchased Caracaro for $95,000 as a weanling at the 2017 Keeneland November sale. He admitted he almost had the horse sold as a 2-year-old in 2019.

“In our program, we buy weanlings and take them to the 2-year-old sales,” Celis said. “That's what we do. I almost had him sold, but he had an issue and we got him back after we sold him. So we decided to race him.”

In the COVID-delayed season of 2020, Caracaro broke his maiden by six lengths at Gulfstream Park in January and returned to just miss when second behind Country Grammer in the GIII Peter Pan S. in July. He was second behind Tiz the Law in the GI Travers S. in what proved to be his final career start.

“We qualified for the Kentucky Derby, but we couldn't make it because he had a problem with his suspensory,” Celis said. “We couldn't race in the Derby, so we went shopping around to see who wanted him as a stallion. The Crestwood people were open and we made a deal with them.”

While Celis has just 10 broodmares in the U.S., his family has plenty of experience in the breeding industry.

“We have a breeding farm in Venezuela,” he said. “So we have been in the horse business for 50 years. The name of Caracaro is actually the name of our farm in Venezuela, which my father, who passed away, named and that's why we named the horse Caracaro.”

Celis will offer two more juveniles by Caracaro this spring and has an additional 10 yearlings for next year. But he won't completely divest his foals by the stallion.

“We are going to keep two for racing,” he said. @JessMartiniTDN

Global Campaign Colt Sells To KAS Stables

Hip 291, a colt consigned by Eddie Woods, Agent III from the first crop of WinStar's Global Campaign, may be bound for Saudi Arabia after bringing a final bid of $650,000 from Pedro Lantz, acting as agent for KAS Stables. Selling late in Tuesday's session, the colt impressed Lantz not only during his :10 breeze last week but also as a yearling at OBS last October.

Global Campaign | Sarah Andrew

“I tried to buy this horse as a yearling at OBS October [last year]. And I saw his breeze–he has spectacular action and a very fluid stride.”

Buying for Saudi Arabia-based KSA Stables, Lantz noted that the colt may ship overseas but could also stay in America as KSA is looking to expand their operation. By Global Campaign, who is represented by his first 2-year-olds this year, the colt's price exceeded Lantz's expectations.

“I was expecting four [hundred thousand], maybe five [hundred thousand] but people are paying and everyone is on the same horses. So I told them [KSA Stables] to be prepared for at least five [hundred thousand] because the horse [vetted] clean and was about perfect.”

Lantz was busy throughout the day, also picking up hip 195, a filly by Nyquist also from the Eddie Woods consignment for KAS Stables bound for Saudi Arabia, and looks to stay busy throughout the remainder of the week.

“This is a sale that you can get a good horse,” Lantz continued. “I expect to go for [a few] more horses this week. There are a lot of nice horses–in the final two days especially.” @SGrimmTDN

Uncle Mo Filly to Coolmore

A filly by Uncle Mo (hip 166) jumped to the top midway through the session at OBS Tuesday when selling for $600,000 to Justin Casse, who was bidding on behalf of Coolmore's M.V. Magnier. The bay, who was consigned by Tom McCrocklin, worked a quarter-mile last week in :20 3/5. She is out of graded winner Jacaranda (Congrats), who is a half-sister to Constitution and is the dam of Grade I-placed Be You (Curlin) and stakes-placed American West (Curlin).

Justin Casse at OBS in March | Photos by Z

“She is extremely attractive,” Casse said of the filly. “It's a lovely family. The dam is a half-sister to Constitution. She's an Uncle Mo filly, everything you would want from a nice female family sire line and possible future broodmare prospect.”

McCrocklin purchased the filly for $380,000 on behalf of Michael Sucher's Champion Equine at the Fasig-Tipton October sale last fall.

Of the filly's final price tag Tuesday, Casse said, “I thought she was one of the best fillies here, so it was good to get in at that price. I haven't seen what the rest of the sale has been like, I know it's early, but we are happy to get her.” @JessMartiniTDN

Spendthrift Partners Up on Nyquist Colt

A third of the way through Tuesday's opening session, Spendthrift Farms's Ned Toffey started the action off, going to $550,000 for a colt (hip 125) by GI Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist. Bred in Maryland by Bowman and Higgins Stable, the colt was purchased as a yearling for a sale-topping $205,000 by Thorostock & Seth Morris Thoroughbreds at last year's Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Fall Yearling Sale and is out of a winning half-sister to the dam of MGISW and young Spendthrift sire Cyberknife (Gun Runner).

Ned Toffey | Spendthrift

“He was hard to miss,” said Toffey after signing the ticket. “He's a big, beautiful colt and [we] had him identified based off his breeze. I love the sire and he's just a big, athletic-looking horse.”

Toffey confirmed that the colt, who worked in :10,  will head west to race in partnership with MKW Racing and Breeding LLC.

“He'll go back to Spendthrift to get a little bit of a break and then we'll send him out to Richard Mandella.” @SGrimmTDN

Maryland Sale Topper Shines at OBS

A Maryland-bred son of Nyquist (hip 125) brought the top price of last year's Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Fall Yearling Sale when bringing a final bid of $205,000 from Thorostock and Seth Morris Thoroughbreds and he helped kick start the OBS Spring sale Tuesday when selling for $550,000 to Spendthrift Farm/MKW Racing and Breeding.

“He was an extraordinarily well-balanced, good-minded horse,” Thorostock's Nick Sallusto said after sending the colt through the ring Tuesday. “He had almost perfect conformation. He was really typical of Nyquist. We felt really lucky the day we found him.”

Nyquist | Sarah Andrew

Sallusto continued, “At the time, Nyquist wasn't as fashionable as he is right now. But I have long been a fan of his. I just felt he was a lot of horse at that particular sale and I wasn't sure I would be able to get him.”

The juvenile worked a furlong during last week's under-tack show in :10 flat.

“He's really advanced since [October],” Sallusto said. “He is a later foal, so we knew he had plenty of advancement left in him. And he still does. He has so much more to go. He has put every foot forward the right way. He never had a day of missed training. He was a lovely horse.” @JessMartiniTDN

Omaha Beach Filly Brings $390,000 For JVC Training And Sales

JVC Training and Sales's Jorge Villagomez saw a good return on investment when the Omaha Beach filly (hip 127) he purchased for clients for $40,000 at Keeneland September last year brought a final bid of $390,000 from Woodford Thoroughbreds during Tuesday's session.

“Her particularly, she's been special for a long time,” said Villagomez. “They say the cream always rises to the top and she was always very fast so it's no surprise that she came over here and did what she did.”

Omaha Beach | Spendthrift/Autry Graham

After working in :10, hip 127 stayed busy throughout the lead up to the sale.

Villagomez continued: “She had a ton of activity–almost an overwhelming amount. She was shown over 100 times and got plenty of attention [from vettings]. We're not at all surprised that she brought the kind of money she did. [Her breeze] was exceptional and everyone was on her.”

Early in the sale, Villagomez, who will sell three more hips later in the week, was cautiously optimistic on his expectations.

“For the good horses? The buyers are here. They're here for horses that breeze well and [vet] well. The rest of [the horses] will be hit or miss. But I don't think anyone will have a problem selling a good horse.” @SGrimmTDN

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OCALA, FL – With a $1-million Authentic colt early in the session and a $1.8-million Win Win Win filly late in the day, the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's March Sale of 2-Year-Olds matched its 2023 number of five seven-figure juveniles and the auction concluded its three-day run Thursday with another strong renewal.

“Overall, it was a terrific sale and we are looking forward to April,” said OBS Director of Sales Tod Wojciechowski.

Through three sessions, 446 horses sold for $66,437,600. The average of $148,963 dipped 5.0% from 2023 and the median of $75,000 was down 6.3%. The buy-back rate was 25.3%. It was 23.2% at the close of bidding last year.

In its ninth renewal as an open sale, the March auction has now produced back-to-back competitive editions and multiple seven-figure offerings for the third straight year.

“I think consignors are probably more comfortable and feel more confident that they can put a horse in either March or April and do well,” Wojciechowski said. “It doesn't have to be either/or. It can be both. And the way we set these sales up, if you have a horse that is ready now, he is March-type of horse and if he needs just a little more time, he is an April horse, and if he needs even more time than that, he is a June horse. I think when we opened this sale up there were probably some reservations and concerns and there was a little bit of a sit-back-and-watch attitude, but I think that comfort level is there now. The consignors who have brought those type of horses the last couple of years have been rewarded and the rest of the consignors have seen that.”

Bloodstock agent Marette Farrell saw the results of that increased confidence in the March market on the OBS sales grounds this week.

“I thought the sale was deep with good horses and there were a lot of very athletic horses to choose from,” Farrell said. “I think the consignors did a good job bringing early, athletic horses here. Horses who were forward, they weren't afraid and didn't feel like they had to wait for the April sale. One consignor said to me, 'If it's a good horse, it will be found.' If it's showing a little more precocity, they are happy to bring it to this sale because they are going to find the real athletes.”

A Florida-bred filly by first-crop sire Win Win Win became the sale's highest-priced offering when selling to Amr Zedan for $1.8 million. The filly was the highest-priced horse ever sold by the O'Farrell family's historic Ocala Stud.

“They are a legacy consignor here at OBS,” said Wojciechowski. “Their history and reputation within the industry is important to both OBS and to the industry. So to see them do well was very gratifying.”

Ocala Stud's sale-topping Win Win Win filly | Photos by Z

The sale topper provided an exclamation point on a strong showing for the Florida breeding and racing industry, with a pair of seven-figure juveniles set to join the barns of trainers based in the state.

“I think what it shows is that Florida is still loaded with quality horses and quality horsemen,” Wojciechowski said.

It was the second year in a row that Zedan has walked away with the top-priced horse at the March sale. The Saudi businessman purchased subsequent Grade I winner Muth (Good Magic) for $2 million last year.

The end results of the March sale continued to show a polarization in the market.

“This year, we had a lot of horses in that middle market over the first couple of days and it's been a little tough,” admitted consignor David Scanlon. “Overall, the market has been a little bit challenging. When everything lines up, you get rewarded. Really rewarded. But the other ones that you need $100,000 for, it's been a struggle. You have to be realistic and set your reserves right. It keeps you humble.”

Farrell speculated buyers in the middle market may be taking a wait-and-see approach to the juvenile sales season.

“It's becoming increasingly the same,” she said. “The top horses are definitely gathering momentum and there is a little bit of a dearth in the rest of the market. But I think it's also because it is the first sale of the season, so some people are sitting on their hands a little bit for a lower-level horse now. They are saying, 'Well, April is coming up and there are 1,200 horses, maybe we could find the same for less.' But maybe they won't. I think that is the dilemma that everyone is facing.”

De Meric Sales was the leading consignor at the March sale, with 40 sold for $6,595,100, followed by Wavertree Stables with 14 sold for $4,960,000.

Hideyuki Mori was the sale's leading buyer. The Japanese trainer signed for 10 horses for $2,695,000.

Homebred Success for Ocala Stud

“I am absolutely speechless,” Ocala Stud's David O'Farrell said after watching the operation's homebred filly (hip 788) from the first crop of Win Win Win sell for a sale-topping $1.8 million to Amr Zedan Thursday at OBS. “I don't know whether to laugh or cry. It's incredible.”

O'Farrell knew the filly was special even before the striking bay turned in her track-record equaling :20 1/5 work during last week's under-tack preview.

“We weren't totally surprised,” O'Farrell said after watching the filly sell. “She prepped extremely well, all completely on her own. I didn't tell people what the prep time was because I don't think they would believe me. But I was super excited coming into the breeze show because I knew she was special and we were expecting that kind of breeze from her.”

David O'Farrell | Photos by Z

O'Farrell continued, “She is just a special filly. The fastest that we've had and we've been doing these 2-year-old sales a long time. She has just been a spectacular filly. She performed every time that we sent her out to the racetrack and she came back beautifully and the sky is the limit for her.”

Bred and campaigned by Live Oak Plantation, Win Win Win (Hat Trick {Jpn}) won the 2020 GI Forego S. He stands at Ocala Stud for $5,000.

“We are super excited about the stallion,” O'Farrell said. “We love what we are seeing. We have more to come in the later sales and later crops and we think he has a huge future.”

Ocala Stud has grown a reputation as launching pad for stallions to begin their careers in Central Florida before making the trek north to Kentucky. Recent stallions to take that path include Girvin and Kantharos.

“To recruit the stallion [Win Win Win] and bring on great partners in Live Oak, who bred and raced the horse, and also Airdrie Stud is a partner and to support him heavily and to carry him all the way to the 2-year-old sales for our own crop, is super rewarding,” O'Farrell said. “And to get him off to a great start, we couldn't be happier about his prospects.”

Asked what he was seeing in the stallion's first crops, O'Farrell said, “Just a ton of athleticism, super versatile, good-looking horses with big rear ends. Very smart, very quick and very athletic.”

The topping Win Win Win filly | Photos by Z/Joe DiOrio

The $1.8-million juvenile is from the same family that has put her breeder on the GI Kentucky Derby trail this year with GIII Holy Bull S. winner Hades (Awesome Slew). Ocala Stud purchased the filly's second dam, Lady Discreet (Boundary), for $45,000 from the E. P. Robsham dispersal at the 2004 OBS October sale.

Lady Discreet produced The Shady Lady (Quality Road) in 2013 and that unraced mare is the dam of Hades. Two years later, the mare produced Unanimity (Union Rags), the dam of hip 788, who RNA'd for $65,000 at the 2017 OBS March sale and was winless in three starts for the O'Farrells.

Unanimity produced a colt by Gretzky the Great this year. She also has a yearling colt by Win Win Win. @JessMartiniTDN

Wow Wow Wow

Moments before Hip 788 was to stroll into the OBS sales ring, the buzz began to intensify. Ocala Stud's daughter of Win Win Win was certainly no secret following a sparkling quarter-mile display in :20.1 last Saturday. With the bids coming hard and fast from several points in the pavilion, the price quickly surpassed the seven-figure mark and the volleys didn't seem to be slowing down any time soon. When the dust had settled, it was Donato Lanni–bidding on behalf of Amr Zedan–who held the hot draw, securing the filly for $1.8 million.

“Nothing surprises me at these sales anymore,” said Lanni. “Everyone knew she was the best. I'm just happy we got her.”

Donato Lanni | Photos by Z

He continued, “You come to a sale like this every year and you never know what you are going to see. That's what's great about the 2-year-old sales, there are some horses that just do things that are out of the ordinary. Everyone witnessed that she had a breeze that was unbelievable. And she did the same thing the week before.”

According to Lanni, the Florida-bred filly will head west to join Zedan's regular trainer, Bob Baffert.

'She is a cool filly,” Lanni said. “Every time I saw her, she was out of her stall. She just took it all in stride. She was easy to like.”

A member of the first crop of the Ocala Stud-based sire Win Win Win, the Mar. 9 foal is a daughter of the unplaced mare Unanimity (Union Rags), herself out of Lady Discreet (Boundary)–a half-sister to Grade I winners Discreet Cat and Discreetly Mine. The juvenile's 9-year-old dam, who is a half-sister to SW and GSP Courtesan (Street Sense) and SW Chary (Montbrook), RNA'd for $65,000 at this venue in 2017.

“We always come to the sales and look at horses by sires that are a bit obscure or haven't had a runner yet,” explained Lanni. “What's great is that you never know where the good ones will come from.”

With Ocala Stud's influence running through the March sale's topper top and bottom, Lanni was clearly impressed with the operation.

“She comes from a great outfit and they are honest people and I trust them,” he underscored. “And when they breeze one, you never really see one like that. She was special.”

When asked if this was his first Win Win Win purchase, Lanni quipped, “I hope she's a win win win.”  @CBossTDN

Authentic Colt Brings a Cool Million

A colt from the first crop of GI Kentucky Derby winner Authentic (hip 601) provided a jolt to the early stages of Thursday's final session of the OBS March sale when selling for $1 million to an online bid from John Stewart's Resolute Bloodstock. Consigned by Hartley/DeRenzo Thoroughbreds, the chestnut worked a furlong last week in :9 4/5. Randy Hartley and Dean DeRenzo's operation purchased the colt for $260,000 at last year's Keeneland September sale.

“Absolutely stunning physical,” Resolute's Gavin O'Connor said. “His breeze was so fluent and he looked fantastic going a fast time.”

Hip 601 | Photos by Z

The juvenile is out of stakes-placed Ruby Trust (Smart Strike), a daughter of graded winner Queen of the Catsle (Tale of the Cat).

“The cross through Authentic with Into Mischief over Smart Strike and his overall physical would make him a standout in any stallion barn in Kentucky,” O'Connor said.

Resolute Bloodstock purchased five juveniles during the OBS March sale, including a $525,000 daughter of American Pharoah (hip 370) and a $500,000 filly by Munnings (hip 453).

The result was the first million-dollar sale for Authentic, winner of the 2020 Derby and GI Breeders' Cup Classic. The Spendthrift stallion was represented by a $900,000 colt at last year's Keeneland September sale, as well two $875,000 sons at that sale and a third at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale.

Hartley and DeRenzo, who sold the $1.5-million Not This Time colt during Wednesday's session of the March sale, came back later Thursday to sell a filly by Uncle Mo (hip 681) for $600,000 to Seth Morris, as agent for Hit the Bid Stables. The bay was a $290,000 Fasig-Tipton July purchase last summer.  @JessMartiniTDN

Bernardini Filly to Speedway

A filly by Bernardini (hip 613) will be joining Peter Fluor and K.C. Weiner's Speedway Stables after bloodstock agent Marette Farrell went to $875,000 to acquire the juvenile from the de Meric Sales consignment early in Thursday's final session of the OBS March sale.

Marette Farrell | Photos by Z

“She's a beautiful filly,” Farrell said. “Both Peter Fluor and K.C. Weiner were here themselves and they really liked her. And we love the fact she is by Bernardini. She traces to a really good family.”

The juvenile is out of graded-placed Salamera (Successful Appeal) and from the family of Grade I runners Piedi Bianchi and Outadore. She was bred by the Eisamans' Eico Ventures, which purchased the mare for $300,000 at the 2016 Keeneland November sale.

“She looks super athletic and we think she will come around quickly and they will have a lot of fun with her,” Farrell said of the filly who worked a furlong last week in :10 flat.

During Wednesday's second session of the auction, Farrell purchased a colt by Mitole for $725,000 on behalf of Speedway. Both juveniles will be trained by Bob Baffert. @JessMartiniTDN

Mori Extends to $800k for Son of Constitution

Ever present at North America's major sales in his trademark red jacket, Hideyuki Mori landed a son of Constitution for $800,000 early in Thursday's session at OBS. Consigned by Scanlon Training and Sales, Hip 617 breezed an eighth of a mile in :9.4 last week.

“He liked the build of the horse and of course, the most important factor was his performance on the track,” said Hideyuki Mori through an interpreter. “You get good value for the horses here. They are nice and inexpensive. In Japan, the horses are nice too, but expensive. They are also very nice here, but more affordable. That's why he keeps coming back.”

Hideyuki Mori | Photos by Z

Bred by Don Alberto, the chestnut is out of Argentine multiple group winner Sand Puce (Arg) (Footstepsinthesand).

“The intention is to get these horses to the races as early as possible. His horses usually make their debuts early, which is why they can go on to be successful. They're ready to return at three and then target group company. That's how he likes to train the horses he buys here.”

The Mar. 23 foal RNA'd for $385,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Sale last summer. A full-brother to the colt, Burden of Proof, sold for $700,000 in Saratoga in 2022.

“He was training really well coming in here,” said David Scanlon. “Constitution has also been doing really well, his horses have been doing well. He has proven to show horses getting ready for Classic races. Based on the pedigree and the strength of his work, he was rewarded.

“He walked well, he breezed well and is out of a hard-knocking mare. There was a lot of interest in him from all the right parties, so everything lined up.”

Also during Thursday's session, Scanlon sold Hip 641, a colt by Liam's Map, for $500,000 to MyRacehorse. @CBossTDN

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The filly made it all the way to the Keeneland sales grounds before a puncture wound in her shoulder kept her from going through the ring. While it was nothing serious, the minor abrasion became inflamed enough to make walking back and forth for buyers impossible. So she was scratched from the September Sale, sent to Margaux Farm and eventually joined Bill Mott's stable. Not long after, she became Krikorian's first Breeders' Cup champion.

“It's funny how things happen because we would have sold her,” reflected Donato Lanni, Krikorian's longtime advisor who was the one that had made the call to Krikorian about withdrawing the filly from the sale. “Somehow when you do good things in life and you're a good person, the Man Upstairs decides that he's going to take care of you. I really believe things like that happen for a reason.”

Lanni couldn't be more genuine in his praise for Krikorian, the California-based movie theater mogul who famously gave Lanni the opportunity to buy his first horse. As the story goes, Krikorian told a 20-something-aged Lanni that if he ever saw a yearling that he liked, to go ahead and buy it. In the summer of 1999 while Krikorian was busy scouting out properties for a new theater project in Arizona, Lanni somewhat nervously spent $35,000 on a Dynaformer yearling. Named Starrer, the filly eventually became the first of many Grade I winners for both Krikorian as an owner and Lanni as an agent.

Krikorian celebrates his first Breeders' Cup victory with Just F Y I | Benoit

While Lanni has since developed a stellar career working with a number of the top horsemen and owners in the game, he has maintained a steady relationship advising his good friend–the soft-spoken Vietnam veteran with a knack for business who had launched his start in the sport.

“George is the kind of guy that is very low-key,” Lanni explained. “He has that Shawn Connery way about him. He's charming and everyone that meets him says he's a gentleman and a great guy. His whole operation is pretty cool.”

Krikorian, who developed a passion for racing while growing up near Rockingham Park where his father George Krikorian Sr. was a trainer, has spent the past three decades building up a prosperous racing and breeding operation with an emphasis on establishing and advancing each family in his commercial program.

As a perfect example of his success in achieving just that, Starrer was among the top performers of Krikorian's racing stable for many years as a dual Grade I-winning millionaire, but she would eventually be surpassed in earnings by her own granddaughter Just F Y I.

A Breeders' Cup win had alluded Krikorian for many years, but to make it to the winner's circle with a homebred in the Juvenile Fillies –and at his home track at Santa Anita with his children and grandchildren celebrating alongside him–made the wait all worthwhile.

“It was exciting just being there the whole week before the Breeders' Cup and going through the whole process,” Krikorian recalled. “The whole experience of going back and forth with the horse to the track every morning, watching her get ready and watching the other horses, she was just showing herself more and more. I knew the day that she ran that she was going to run a hell of a race. I didn't know if she would win or not, but I knew she was going to run her best race.”

Wrapping up her juvenile season undefeated, Just F Y I secured her spot as the best 2-year-old filly in the country after overcoming the widest post to come out victorious in the Juvenile Fillies. Since then, the talented bay has enjoyed a bit of time off in Florida alongside fellow Krikorian stable star War Like Goddess (English Channel), the three-time Grade I winner who is set to return to the racetrack for her 7-year-old season this spring.

To go into 2024 with the most accomplished 3-year-old filly is exciting, but Krikorian acknowledges that there are plenty of others vying for the top spot.

“It feels great, but there is going to be more competition coming,” he said. “The competition gets a little bit tougher this year, but she is also growing. She was going through a growth spurt before the Breeders' Cup and she went through a growth spurt again when she got turned out. She's going to be a much bigger, stronger horse this year. Both she and War Like Goddess are back galloping and we're getting ready for the spring. In a few weeks we will probably start putting together schedules.”

When he's not in sunny California or traveling the country for the next horse race, Krikorian has found himself spending more time in Kentucky. He recently opened a one-of-a-kind entertainment complex across from Rupp Arena in downtown Lexington called LexLive.

“I can't help myself,” the entrepreneur admitted. “If I'm driving and I see a location that I think may be a good location for a theater, I go for it. So downtown Lexington had no theaters and I thought it would make sense to put something there.”

Opened for business in 2021, LexLive is home to 10 movie theaters, a bowling alley, multiple restaurants and bars and an arcade.

But the main draw for Krikorian's trips to Lexington is to visit his farm outside of Versailles. Named Starwood Farm in honor of Starrer and fellow foundation mare Hollywood Story (Wild Rush), the 350-acre property Krikorian purchased 15 years ago is home to around 40 broodmares and their offspring.

Krikorian is known for the effort he puts into the clever, oftentimes cinema-related names of his racehorses, but he has just as much pride for the work he puts into planning his matings every spring.

Lanni gives Krikorian all the credit for successful matings like the one that produced Just F Y I, but he does wryly point out that Krikorian has a tendency to match his mare to the perfect stallion even if it might be to the detriment of the farm's bottom line in the short term when it comes time to send the yearlings to the sales in the fall.

“It's a commercial operation, but sometimes he likes to breed to stallions that are not the most commercial at the time because it's the right thing to do for the mare,” Lanni explained. “So when we go to sell them, they don't bring the money because they're not by a first-year stallion. He wants to breed to the best. I'll tell George, 'This mare is 15 years old and she hasn't had a runner. I think spending this amount of money is too much.' But he doesn't look at the price of the stallion. He just wants to breed what is best for the mare.”

Krikorian checks in with the full-sister to champion Just F Y I | Sara Gordon

He might stray away from the commercial norm, but at the end of the day Krikorian knows when to make the right business decision in order to keep the farm's overhead in check and oftentimes that means parting with a horse that he is confident has all the potential to become a star.

The one that still makes him wince just a bit is Honor A. P. (Honor Code). The son of his Grade I-winning star mare Hollywood Story, Honor A.P. went through the sales ring as a yearling and fetched $850,000 from CRK Stable before he developed into a Grade I winner and eventual Lane's End sire.

“Honor A.P. stood out from day one from when he was born and it was painful to sell the horse, but I had to,” Krikorian reflected. “The poor horse ran in the Derby, but he never got a chance to really run his race. Coming out of the gate, he gets hit and knocked out but still ends up finishing fourth. Had he been able to run his race, who knows what would've happened?”

Another recent success in the sales ring for Krikorian's program was the $1.1 million sale of Mucho Unusual (Mucho Macho Man). The homebred claimed four graded stakes including the 2020 GI Rodeo Drive S. before selling to Shadai Farm when she retired from the track in 2022.

Now Krikorian is looking to make another shrewd move for his program as he sends a high-caliber mare to the Keeneland January Sale. Starrer's stakes-placed daughter Star Act (Street Cry {Ire}), the dam of Just F Y I, already has two other winners that sold for six figures as yearlings on her produce record and she is carrying a foal by Life Is Good.

“She's gorgeous,” Krikorian gushed of the winning 13-year-old mare. “She was a beautiful racehorse to look at. Unfortunately she had an injury that shortened her career as a racehorse, but she has made up for it as a broodmare. Her foals are large and very strong-boned with big shoulders and big hips. They're just what you want in a racehorse.”

Star Act's newly-turned yearling, a full sister to Just F Y I, was originally slated for the January sale as well, but Krikorian opted to focus on selling the mare in January and perhaps send the yearling to Keeneland come September. He admitted that she reminded him too much of her older sister to part with just yet.

“Just F Y I ruled the roost here,” he said with a smile. “She really stood out physically and she pushed everybody around. She was running the show and now this foal here is doing the same thing.”

The Starwood Farm office features portraits of farm matriarchs Starrer (pictured) and Hollywood Story | Sara Gordon

Krikorian's Starwood Farm has suffered several sad losses in recent years as Starrer passed away in 2021 and Hollywood Story died the following summer. With the passing of the farm's two matriarch mares, there is space in the program for other talented race mares to take on the role of leading producer someday–be it Just F Y I, or perhaps Big Pond–a daughter of Krikorian's stallion Mr. Big who recently ran second in the GI La Brea S., or maybe one of his rare sales purchases like War Like Goddess.

Bought as a 2-year-old by Lanni for a mere $30,000, the future multi-millionaire marked a full-circle find for Krikorian and Lanni, taking them back to their early days of shopping for bargain buys together back before Krikorian raced almost exclusively from his own breeding program.

“When I had first met Donato, he had just moved to Kentucky and was starting out,” Krikorian recalled. “He was sleeping in his car, looking to get a job. I liked him because he was really energetic and you could tell how much he loved the horses. Starrer was the first horse he picked. He was starting his career and I was starting a new venture, so it worked out well. He had an eye for a horse and he didn't know he had an eye for a horse.”

Krikorian, too, has more of an eye for a horse than he will readily give himself credit for.

Only a few years after the purchase of Starrer, Krikorian and Lanni were shopping for yearlings when Lanni pointed out Hollywood Story. Krikorian took one look and knew he had to have her. He was worried she might sell for too much, but the bidding stalled at $130,000 and he took home a future Grade I winner.

It was a similar story with Mr. Big (Dynafomer). Krikorian rarely buys weanling, but when Lanni mentioned the colt at the Keeneland November Sale in 2003 and Krikorian went to see him, he couldn't resist going to $220,000 for the youngster. While injuries kept Mr. Big from reaching his full potential on the racetrack, Krikorian bred a few mares to him on a whim when the new retiree was letting down at Starwood and was thrilled when the stallion's first starter won on debut by almost 10 lengths.

Now standing at Legacy Ranch, Mr. Big is ranked among the top five leading sires in California and Krikorian supports him with a dozen mares every spring.

So when it comes to judging horseflesh, Krikorian's opinion is one to take seriously. And while the septuagenarian doesn't have any specific goals as he continues to develop his program, his drive for finding the winner's circle is evident.

“I just keep looking for those nuggets,” he said. “But everything has worked out well. It seems like every couple of years, we've been fortunate to have something good happen and that keeps you rolling along.”

Krikorian is understated in reflecting on his many achievements in the sport, but Lanni is clear that Krikorian is deserving of everything he has attained and more.

“He's self-made and he did it the hard way,” Lanni said. “I'm lucky that I've known him since 1997 and so to me he's like a father figure. I work for him, but he's more like a father figure than anything else. He takes care of a lot of people and he's very generous, so he's an easy guy to cheer for.”

The post Breeders’ Spotlight: ‘Just’ Like the Movies, Krikorian Gets a Breeders’ Cup Champ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Will this be Krikorian's year? Those were among the questions our team asked Krikorian on this week's TDN Writers' Room podcast presented by Keeneland. He was the Green Group Guest of the Week.

“I'm pretty excited to be here and to have this opportunity and with two horses,” he said. “This is the first time that's happened for me. So it's going to be a pretty special weekend.”

In War Like Goddess, Krikorian owns one of the biggest over achievers in the sport. She sold for $1,200 as a weanling before RNA'ing for $1,000 at Keeneland September 2018. She showed up next at the 2019 OBS June Sale, where bloodstock agent Donato Lanni convinced Krikorian to take a shot on the filly. He bought her for $30,000. All she's done since is earn $2,495,184 and win eight stakes, including three Grade I's.

“You have to give kudos to Donato Lanni because he called me one day and said, 'I've seen this horse and she should not be in this sale and she's going to be overlooked,'” Krikorian said. 'He said, I see in the future that she could be a very special horse.' I told him that I knew that he didn't mind taking the time it takes for a horse to develop. And so that's exactly what we did. We took our time. Just as he predicted, she turned out to be an incredible horse.”

George Krikorian Joins the TDN Writers' Room from Thoroughbred Daily News on Vimeo.

Just FYI is 2-for-2 and coming off a win in the GI Frizette. Despite her strong credentials, this might be a tough spot for her and only because she'll have to take on Tamara (Bolt d'Oro), considered by many to be the most likely winner of any Breeders' Cup race.

“I know that Tamara is going to be a tough, tough horse,” Krikorian said. “The bottom line is you're challenged by any horse that's in a race like this. I think that Just FYI has shown to be a incredibly talented horse and I think that she's going to be a very tough competitor in that race.”

Elsewhere on the podcast, which is also sponsored by the Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association, Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders, West Point Thoroughbreds, WinStar Farm, XBTV.com and 1/ST Racing, the team of Zoe Cadman, Bill Finley and Randy Moss went through all the Breeders' Cup races, offering their insights and handicapping opinions. Both Moss and Finley loved longshot Roses for Debra (Liam's Map) in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint. Moss had a less positive take on the GI Breeders' Cup Classic, calling this one of the weakest Classic fields ever assembled. Yet, everyone agreed that this might be the best field ever assembled for the Breeders' Cup Turf. Moss also made a compelling case why Elite Power (Curlin) should turn the tables on Gunite (Gun Runner) in the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint.

To watch the podcast as a video, click here. For the audio version, click here.

The post George Krikorian Joins TDN Writers’ Room Podcast Breeders’ Cup Preview Show appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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“It was another solid day,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning, Jr. “Today the numbers were up over the similar session last year and we are trending very closely to last year's overall numbers, which is pretty remarkable considering how the sale took another huge leap last year. It is very encouraging to be in the same neighborhood. It's a healthy marketplace in terms of people wanting to own horses, but they demand quality.”

Jessie Longoria made the session's highest bid when going to $725,000 to acquire a colt by Justify on behalf of Zane Kiehne and Grier Brunson, the same clients for whom he purchased a $500,000 son of Bernardini during Tuesday's session.

The session-topping yearling was consigned by Hunter Valley Farm, which also consigned the day's second highest priced offering, a $500,000 son of Practical Joke, and the co-third highest priced lot, a $460,000 son of Curlin.

Jesse Longoria | Fasig-Tipton

“We had some more fire power today,” Browning said. “The top end is very strong, reflecting the strong demand for the top offerings. There were some very nice physicals that matched up with the pedigrees. There was lots of competition to the very end. The back walking ring had tons of people in it when the last horse went through the ring. We are encouraged through three-quarters of the sale and we look forward to tomorrow.”

The Fasig-Tipton October sale concludes with a final session Thursday with bidding beginning at 10 a.m.

Justify Colt to Kiehne and Brunson

Jessie Longoria, who purchased the first Thoroughbred for Zane Kiehne and Grier Brunson Tuesday, doubled the new stable's roster when going to $725,000 to acquire a colt by Justify (hip 1023) from the Hunter Valley Farm consignment Wednesday at Fasig-Tipton. A day earlier, Longoria had signed the ticket at $500,000 for a colt by Bernardini.

“We had our eye on this horse from the time we got here,” Longoria said. “We were debating about this one or the other one. So they said, 'Get them both.' So they are happy. They are going to have a good time with them.”

Hip 1023, the Justify topper | Fasig-Tipton

The chestnut colt is out of Palace Princess (Hard Spun), who is a daughter of graded-placed Arienza (Giant's Causeway) and a granddaughter of champion Azeri (Jade Hunter).

“For one thing, he's by Justify,” Longoria said of the colt's appeal. “That was the main thing. And then he's just an athletic-looking horse that I think they are going to enjoy. It looks like he will have a lot of speed, plus the pedigree. He's just a nice individual.”

After making his two session-topping bids, Longoria was back to shopping for his pinhooking partnerships Wednesday.

“There is not much difference,” he said when comparing between shopping for his new deep-pocketed clients and for the pinhook ventures. “We want the same horses. They just want the higher-end horses. I am just trying to give them the best odds. If they are willing to spend the money and get a nice colt with pedigree, better for them. Unfortunately, for the pinhooking, that's way out of my league. And it's awfully risky to buy that kind of horse to try to flip over. Any little thing can happen.”

Of the market for the pinhooking prospects, Longoria said, “It's a little tough. But it's like every sale. Everything is tough. The good ones rise to the top and the other ones we fight over. And try to make do with what we've got.”

Lynch, Durtschi Score with Justify Colt

Andre Lynch and Pat Durtschi purchased Palace Princess (Hard Spun) for $80,000 at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton February sale and put the granddaughter of champion Azeri (Jade Hunter) in foal to Justify. The resulting colt sold for $180,000 at the 2022 Keeneland January sale and then resold for $220,000 at that year's Keeneland September sale. The mare's second foal, another colt by the Triple Crown winner (hip 1023), proved even more popular in the sales ring, selling for $725,000 to Jessie Longoria Wednesday at Fasig-Tipton.

Andre Lynch and Pat Durtschi | Fasig-Tipton

“She looked terrible,” Lynch said with a laugh of the mare's appearance at the 20202 auction. “She had mange all over her, but she was beautiful underneath. She was a great walker, correct. We bid against John Sikura from $20,000 to $80,000, but we still wanted her.”

Of the sale-topping colt, Lynch said, “The plan was always to bring him here because he was a late foal. He was an early May foal and we didn't enter him in September. He was just entered for October.”

Lynch, who previously served as stallion nominations manager at Coolmore, said he was a big fan of the farm's Triple Crown-winning stallion, Justify.

“This is the best stallion in America at the moment,” Lynch, celebrating the result with Pat and Brittany Durtschi back at the Hunter Valley sale barn, said. “It's fantastic. And I thank Coolmore for letting us breed the mare to him.”

The 7-year-old Palace Princess, one of just two mares Lynch and Durtschi own together, is back in foal to Munnings.

“Hopefully, we can breed her back to Justify again,” Lynch said.

Practical Joke to Eurton

A colt by Practical Joke (hip 1194) will be joining the barn of trainer Peter Eurton after bloodstock agent Phil Hager signed the ticket at $500,000 to secure the yearling on behalf of an undisclosed West Coast client. Hager signed the ticket in the name of Mayberry Farm.

“I thought he was a standout of the sale,” Hager said. “He was just a really nice physical by a good, proven stallion.”

Hip 1194 | Fasig-Tipton

The yearling was consigned by Hunter Valley Farm on behalf of breeder Robert Hibbert, II. He is out of Runninwiththewind (Medaglia d'Oro), who is out of the A.P. Indy mare Brilliant Disguise. Jayne Johnson, who raised the yearling on her farm in Shelbyville, purchased Runninwiththewind on behalf of Hibbert for $115,000 at the 2019 Keeneland January sale.

“That will never happen again,” Hibbert said after watching the colt sell late in Wednesday's session. “You just have to get lucky every now and again.”

Hibbert, who has been in the breeding industry for three decades and currently has just three broodmares, was celebrating his highest sale result.

“I've been in the business long enough to only have three mares,” Hibbert said with a laugh.

Asked about the mare's appeal in 2019, Hibbert said, “The Medaglia d'Oro with A.P. Indy on the bottom. And she was affordable.”

The mare's first foal, a filly by Speightstown, sold for $160,000 at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton October sale. She also produced a colt by Munnings who sold for $130,000 as a weanling at the 2021 Keeneland November sale.

“I was thinking $150,000 to $200,000, perhaps,” Hibbert said of expectations for the yearling Wednesday.

Johnson, asked if she expected the yearling to bring that kind of price, admitted, “No. But I am always hopeful. But I did not expect it. Because I've been in the business long enough.”

Runninwiththewind has a weanling colt by Justify and she may return to that stallion next spring.

Curlin Colt Kick Starts Wednesday Session

A colt by Curlin, who is a half-brother to GI Kentucky Derby winner California Chrome (Lucky Pulpit) (hip 809), got Wednesday's third session of the Fasig-Tipton October sale off to a quick start when selling for $460,000. Bloodstock agent Donato Lanni signed the ticket on behalf of Frank Fletcher. Ramiro Restrepo was underbidder on the chestnut.

Hip 809 | Fasig-Tipton

The yearling, who was bred by SF Bloodstock and the Curlin Syndicate, was consigned by Hunter Valley Farm. A partnership led by Hunter Valley's Adrian Regan purchased the colt for $225,000 at last year's Keeneland November sale.

“The likes of Donato and Ramiro appreciated the age of the horse and how much improvement there is to come,” said Regan. “He has a very late foaling date [May 23]. I signed the ticket last year as Long Run Stable because I was thinking at the time it might take until October. And this sale is a very good sale for horses that need a bit of time.”

Regan continued, “I think it's the most I ever had in a pinhook anyway. It's a syndicate that bought him last year–Mark Dwyer and Willie Browne, John Wade, Barry Claughessy, and myself. Mark and Willie were calling me for updates and I kept saying, 'He's coming, he's coming, he's definitely coming.' In mid-August when I came back from Saratoga, we decided to give him another six weeks. And since mid-September, he really started to thrive. The staff on the farm has really done an amazing job with this colt. Fergus [Galvin] and I loved him. We lunged him and he was so light on his feet and he has a super temperament. I am hope he goes on to do what his brother did.”

Lanni Doubles Up on Curlins

Bloodstock agent Donato Lanni, who began the session buying a colt by Curlin (hip 809) for $460,000 on behalf of Frank Fletcher, came back to acquire a filly by the sire (hip 943) for that same price on behalf of Michael Lund Petersen midway through the day Wednesday at Fasig-Tipton.

Donato Lanni | Fasig-Tipton

“I bought them for two amazing clients,” Lanni said. “And what can you say about Curlin? The career he has had as a stallion is unbelievable. It makes the decision easier when you find one that's by him and looks like a runner. It gives you the confidence that you want to buy the horse.”

Hip 943 is out of graded-placed Munchkin Money (Freud), a half-sister to stakes winner Here Comes Rita (Raffie's Majesty) and from the family of Letgomyecho, the dam of champion Echo Zulu and GISW Echo Town.

The yearling, consigned by Denali Stud, was bred by T & G Farm of Kentucky, which purchased the mare in foal to American Pharoah for $220,000 at the 2020 Keeneland November sale.

“There are a lot of horses here and you've got to get through them all,” Lanni said of the October sale. “This filly, the first time I saw her was this morning. We were so busy doing the other barns. And this was the last barn we saw this morning.”

Medaglia d'Oro Filly Heads West

A filly by Medaglia d'Oro (hip 822) will be joining Lee and Susan Searing's C R K Stable after April Mayberry signed the ticket at $380,000 to secure the yearling Wednesday in Lexington. Bred by Peter E. Blum Thoroughbreds and Godolphin and consigned by Paramount Sales, the dark bay is out of stakes winner Magical (Tapit). The mare is a daughter of graded winner Magical Feeling (Empire Maker) and is a full-sister to multiple stakes winner Exulting and a half to stakes winner Occult (Into Mischief), who was third in this summer's GI Acorn S. and GI Cotillion S.

April Mayberry | Fasig-Tipton

“She's lovely,” Mayberry said. “I really liked her. She looks like she has a little speed, which I like for a Medaglia d'Oro and she's just put together really well. She's a late foal, so I think she has a lot of good things to do moving forward. She will go to the races on the West Coast. She will probably go to John Shirreffs.”

Of the four-day auction with a catalogue of some 1,600 yearlings, Mayberry said, “I love this sale. It's a sale that you just have to work at it. They are there. And I like that. It's a lot of ground to cover, but you can find them.”

The post $725K Justify Colt Vaults to the Top as Action Heats up at Fasig-Tipton October Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Still incredibly strong at the top end at Keeneland. Book 7 and a Good Magic colt sells for $700k, looks to be the most expensive yearling to sell in the 7th session since 2015 pic.twitter.com/80jXsbKdq7

— Nancy Sexton (@nancygsexton) September 18, 2023

The post Good Magic Colt Hammers For $700K During Book 4 Opener at Keeneland appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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The Keeneland September Yearling Sale opened with a packed pavilion and plenty of bidding from a diverse buying bench ultimately producing eight seven-figure sales led by a $2.3-million daughter of Into Mischief. At the end of the session, numbers were largely in line with the figures from the opening session of last year's record-breaking auction.

“We were all biting our nails a little bit thinking about being measured up to last year's sale which was so phenomenal,” said Keeneland President Shannon Arvin. “But the numbers were very similar to last year's numbers.”

In all, 110 yearlings sold Monday for $55,330,000. The average was $503,000–up just slightly from last year's figure of $500,833. The median dipped 11.11% to $400,000.

From 191 catalogued yearlings, 148 went through the ring and 38 failed to meet their reserves for a buy-back rate of 25.68%. It was 20.83% last year.

“It is really, really good,” said Reiley McDonald, whose Eaton Sales sold a $1-million son of Into Mischief during the session. “It is running about 50% outs to buy-backs, but the other 50% are selling at 30% above what they would have in the last couple of years. The upper end is really good. Where we are really going to be tested is the middle end and the lower end because that's where I think the economy has been hit. This upper stuff is very strong.”

Sheikha Hissa made the session-topping bid in the name of the Shadwell Farm founded by her late father Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum, purchasing the $2.3-million daughter of Into Mischief from the Gainesway consignment. Shadwell had perennially been a leading buyer at the auction prior to Sheikh Hamdan's death in 2021.

“We are delighted to welcome her and her whole team back,” said Arvin. “Shadwell is about to embark on an exciting new stage and we love her passion for the sport and the horse. It was an honor to have her back with us.”

Monday's top 13-priced yearlings were purchased by 12 distinct buyers.

“I think that's very encouraging,” Keeneland Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy said of the diverse buying bench. “It's unhealthy if you have one or two entities coming in here and controlling the market. I think it's important that people come in here and feel they have a chance of getting something. Because they are spending quite a bit of money and they are able to gain some of the best bloodstock in the world.”

While the buying bench was deep, the stallion ranks were dominated by yearlings by Into Mischief and Uncle Mo, who combined to sire all eight of the session's seven-figure offerings and 11 of the top 13. The only other sires to make it into the top 13 was Into Mischief's GI Kentucky Derby-winning son Authentic and Constitution.

During the first session of @keenelandsales September Book 1, eight yearlings sold for $1,000,000 or more…

Five of the seven-figure yearlings were progeny of INTO MISCHIEF, while the other three were sired by UNCLE MO. All but the sale topper were colts.
A filly by Into… pic.twitter.com/yS5nPv1KeY

— TDN (@theTDN) September 12, 2023

Keeneland has made an effort over the last two years to make its elite Book 1 section an event and officials were gratified by the large number of onlookers who created a buzz in the pavilion Monday.

“There was a lot of energy and it was so fun to see all of the people here,” Arvin said. “There were many buyers and people participating and then there were a lot of people who were just interested in seeing the sales process. Which was fun to see. We work really hard to make sure the community understands how important our sales are as well as our industry. So it was really fun to have so many people out here.”

Donato Lanni made the session's second-highest bid when going to $2 million to acquire a colt by Uncle Mo on behalf of Amr Zedan.

“The atmosphere has been amazing,” Lanni said. “Every year it gets better and better. There is a lot of quality and you see it improve every year. It's good to see people happy to get a horse sold and happy to buy one and doing what they love to do, which is buy horses. There is a lot of passion and a lot of love for the game. And people are fighting for the horses they love. It's great to see that.”

In an unintended consequence to the packed pavilion, last year's leading buyer Mike Repole and his team were briefly shut out of their preferred rows in the pavilion. After spending some of the session in the first row, the group, which included Repole, trainer Todd Pletcher, agent Jacob West and advisor Eddie Rosen, were able to move back to their traditional middle rows and ended the session with 11 purchases for $3.945 million. Leading the way was a colt by Quality Road colt (hip 144) purchased for $725,000. Repole was the session's leading buyer.

While Repole and Vinnie Viola partnered to be leading buyers in 2022, Repole partnered on just one of the 11 yearlings purchased Monday, spending $600,000 on a colt by Tapit (hip 96) acquired with Spendthrift Partners. Viola's St Elias Stables was not on the results sheet Monday.

Session 1 leaderboard #KeeSept pic.twitter.com/3gqxstk1EW

— Keeneland Sales (@keenelandsales) September 11, 2023

Gainesway was the session's leading consignor with 12 yearlings sold for $9,610,000. In addition to the session topper, the farm also consigned two other million-dollar yearlings.

The second session of Keeneland September's Book 1 section begins Tuesday at 1 p.m. Book 2 sessions Wednesday and Thursday begin at 11 a.m. Following a dark day Friday, the 12-day auction continues Saturday at 10 a.m.

Into Mischief Filly Sparks 'Joy' for Aboughazale

In the horse racing business, the passing years often equate to a steady stream of blood, sweat and tears that, if one is among the fortunate, may culminate in dividends by virtue of the hard-earned experience. International Equities Holding's Oussama Aboughazale appears to have found the golden track, however, culminating with a filly (Hip 92) by Into Mischief that realized a session-topping $2.3 million from Shadwell on Day 1 at Keeneland September.

The filly was consigned by Gainesway, that sold 12 head Monday, including a trio over seven figures, leading all consignors with $9.6 million in gross receipts.

Gainesway's Brian Graves said, “I honestly thought she would bring every bit of $1.5 [million]. She's a top physical. She was one of the best-looking yearlings I saw this year. We thought that could happen. From the first time you looked at that filly, you thought that could happen. It's a pleasant surprise but not shocking.”

Session Topper for Day 1 of Book 1, @keenelandsales September: This lovely Into Mischief filly (Hip 92), consigned by @Gainesway, sold for $2.3 million to @ShadwellRacing! She is a half-sister to GII winner Window Shopping, out of Delightful Joy.

TDN Recap:… pic.twitter.com/iR7hfyy1QW

— TDN (@theTDN) September 12, 2023

Only moments after the gavel fell, Aboughazale, situated out back, remained visibly moved by the recent events.

“That was satisfying but I have conflicting feelings,” he admitted. “I am happy we sold her at this price, but I am sad because she is a queen. She is the best thing we've ever bred in many years.”

He continued, “I put a good [reserve] on her, but I would have been sad if she actually sold for that price because I [would have] wanted to keep her.”

Of the buyers, he said, “I wish the best of luck to Sheikha Hissa. [Sheikh Hamdan], God bless his soul, he was a good customer of mine because he bought horses from us. So that makes me feel a little bit better [to let her go].”

In addition to Monday's session topper, Shadwell also purchased Hip 20, a filly by Uncle Mo out of Grade I winner Angela Renee (Bernardini) for $750,000. She was consigned by Taylor Made.

Shadwell Farm manager Jonny Smyth, added, “We have the sister [by War Front] so we are excited to have purchased this filly as well. Sheikha Hissa is happy to be here and we expect to be active again tomorrow.”

Fit for a Queen…

The Feb. 20 session-topping filly is out of Grade III-scorer Delightful Joy (Tapit), a $105,000 OBSAPR purchase by Bradley Thoroughbreds, who was later picked up for $700,000 by Aboughazale at Keeneland January in 2017.

As a broodmare, the mare realized a quick return with a filly by War Front that brought $1 million from Shadwell at Keeneland September in 2019. Only two years later, the operation sold Window Shopping (American Pharoah)–a $700,000 buy for agent Steve Young–that would go on to win the GII Summertime Oaks. Out of GSW and GISP Graeme Six (Graeme Hall), Delightful Joy is a half-sister to GSW Cali Star (Street Cry {Ire}) and stakes winner Seymourdini (Bernardini).

“The dam is a lovely mare that has a lot of class,” Aboughazale continued. “And she is producing very nice horses.

“Thank God for us, she is very straightforward and is producing very beautiful babies.”

The operation is selling a total of 16 yearlings at Keeneland this year, including seven head in Book 1.

Anatomy of Success…

Relatively speaking, Aboughazale has developed a most enviable broodmare band in a fraction of the time that many others have taken to assemble their own band stateside. The native of Jerusalem spent much of his youth surrounded by horses, albeit of a different color. While Arabians occupied much of his initial connection to the horse, Thoroughbreds became his primary passion following a visit to Kentucky a quarter of a century ago. Bitten by the bug, he purchased the former Belvedere Farm in 2016, and it didn't take long for him to realize two important milestones: selling his first $1-million yearling in 2019 and breeding his first Grade I winner, courtesy of 2020 Del Mar Debutante S. heroine Princess Noor (Not This Time).

Oussama Aboughazale and Frances Relihan at a past sale | Keeneland

Aboughazale also enjoyed some of his earliest successes with a horse he bred, Protonico (Giant's Causeway), a four-time graded stakes winner and dual Grade I-placed for Todd Pletcher in 2014-16.

“We are evolving all the time because [bloodstock manager] Frances [Relihan] is very strict,” he said. “She cuts from the bottom, and I don't look at the prices that we sell the mares for because it makes me upset. But we're always trying to improve [the broodmare band]. We're trying to develop next generations. That's important to us.” @CbossTDN

Lanni Signs for $2-Million Uncle Mo Colt

With three-quarters of Monday's yearlings having already gone through the ring, the temperature skyrocketed with a string of seven-figure yearlings going through the ring in rapid succession. Earning the distinction as the top-priced colt of the day, a yearling by Uncle Mo realized a $2-million final bid from agent Donato Lanni, bidding on behalf of Amr Zedan.

“He is beautiful Uncle Mo and the boss loved him,” explained Lanni. “Zedan [Racing] and Bob [Baffert] have been very lucky with that sire.”

Uncle Mo is the sire of Zedan's 'TDN Rising Star' Arabian Knight, wire-to-wire winner of the GI FanDuel Racing Pacific Classic.

He added, “Bob loved him as soon as he saw him. He is a beautiful horse so we were happy to get him.”

#KeeSept Book 1 – Monday: Hip 154, a colt by Uncle Mo (@coolmoreamerica) out of Helena Bay – a half-brother to COLLECTED, sells for $2 million to @DonatoLanni, agent from the @runnymedefarmky consignment! pic.twitter.com/S6eQ8slVsV

— TDN (@theTDN) September 11, 2023

Consigned by Runnymede Farm, Hip 154 is out of Helena Bay (GB) (Johannesburg), the dam of GI Pacific Classic winner Collected (City Zip), who was also trained by Baffert. Additionally, the mare produced Helena's Triomphe (Arch), herself responsible for SW Artilena (Artie Schiller).

The colt was bred by a partnership of Runnymede Farm, Peter Callahan and Three Chimneys Farm.

Clearly overjoyed with selling the day's second-highest priced yearling, Runnymede's Romain Malhouitre said, “Imagine selling your horse for $2 million, there's no words for that. The horse has been awesome since he arrived on Thursday. He showed very well. We knew we had plenty of interest, but you never know. So, we are delighted that everybody believed in the horse and the breeders and the land.

“A few people told us that he was one of the best colts of the sale for day one. And we thought we had a good horse and they told us. But, you know, they won't tell you what they are willing to spend.”–@CbossTDN

Winchell Comes Out Swinging for Into Mischief Colt

No stranger to the winner's circle these days, owner Ron Winchell parlayed some of those winnings into new blood, extending to $1.4 million for Hip 145, a colt by Into Mischief.

Consigned by John Sikura's Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa, who also bred the colt in partnership with Matt Dorman, the Feb. 10 foal is out of the Ghostzapper mare Guarana, who earned over $1 million, annexing a trio of Grade I stakes during two seasons on the track. Guarana is a half to SW Beatbox (Pioneerof the Nile) and Grade II-placed Magic Dance (More Than Ready). The colt's third dam is GI Breeders' Cup Distaff heroine Pleasant Home (Seeking the Gold), a sister to MGSW and GISP Country Hideaway.

#KeeSept Book 1 – Monday: Hip 145, an Into Mischief (@spendthriftfarm) colt out of GUARANA – her first foal, sells for $1.4 million to Ron Winchell's Winchell Thoroughbreds! Consigned by @HillnDaleFarm. pic.twitter.com/8tunVZ1fL5

— TDN (@theTDN) September 11, 2023

“Obviously, he is the first foal out of an amazing racemare,” said Winchell. “We're the lucky or unlucky ones to be the last ones with our hand up. Dr. Lambert, with Equine Analysis, loved him and that's all I needed to hear.”

Regarding the obvious appeal of the pedigree, Winchell qipped, “Do I need to say anything about Into Mischief?”

According to Winchell, the colt will go to team Steve Asmussen.

Offered with this foal in utero at Fasig-Tipton November in 2021, Guarana was purchased by Hill 'n' Dale for $4.4 million.

“It's a great result for a great mare,” affirmed Sikura. “Into Mischiefs are obviously magical horses. No matter the sire, you have to meet the scrutiny of the buyers at the upper end. The horse moved very well. Has a lot of bone, looks sound. One of the astute guys in the business who has had great success bought him. I hope this is his next big horse. We're excited and happy.”–@CbossTDN

Sonson Continues Buying Spree

Chuck Sonson partnered with West Point Thoroughbreds to purchase his first yearlings last month at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale and got back into the action Monday at Keeneland, going to $1.35 million to acquire a colt by Uncle Mo (hip 94) in partnership with Woodford and West Point.

“We have a partnership that is killer,” Sonson said as West Point's Terry Finley signed the ticket on the youngster. “We think this colt is going to be a big winner. So we are very excited about him. We purchased six at Saratoga and we are looking to fill the barn up the rest of the way.”

Sonson's purchases at Saratoga were led by a colt by Twirling Candy (hip 140) acquired for $1 million.

Sonson, who owns an aviation company, was enjoying his first trip to Lexington.

“I love Lexington,” he said. “This is the first time I've been here. I am getting into the racing thing and enjoying it a lot.”

Hip 94 is out of Diva Delite (Repent), who is the dam of champion Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute) and this year's GIII Indiana Derby and GI Toyota Blue Grass S. runner-up Verifying (Justify). The yearling was bred by Hunter Valley Farm and David Fennelly's Mountmellick Farm, which purchased the mare for $1.2 million while she was carrying Verifying at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton November sale.

Back-to-back fireworks!

Hip 94, the Uncle Mo half-brother to Midnight Bisou & Verifying, sells to Sonson, Woodford, West Point, LEB, Agent for $1.35 million. Consigned by @HunterValleyKY #KeeSept pic.twitter.com/8oz0NRFXmm

— Keeneland Sales (@keenelandsales) September 11, 2023

“I am absolutely delighted,” Fennelly said of the result. “He was a stunning individual. And of course, his family speaks for itself.”

Hunter Valley and Mountmellick sold Verifying for $775,000 at the 2021 Keeneland September sale.

In foal to Gun Runner, Diva Delite RNA'd for $775,000 at last year's Keeneland November sale.

“She has a Gun Runner by her side and we decided not to breed her this year and give her a break,” Fennelly said. “We will catch her early next year.” @JessMartiniTDN

Uncle Mo Colt a Score for Christophersons

When Neal and Pam Christopherson's Bar-C Racing Stables sold a filly by Uncle Mo for $700,000 at the 2021 Keeneland September sale, the Oregon-based operation quickly reinvested the proceeds to purchase the unraced Forever for Now (War Front) in foal to the Coolmore stallion for $210,000 at that year's Keeneland November sale. The Christophersons were rewarded again when the mare's Uncle Mo yearling (hip 130) sold to M.V. Magnier for $1.35 million at Keeneland Monday.

“He was a very pretty, beautiful-moving colt,” John Penn, whose Penn Sales consigned the yearling on behalf of Bar C Racing Stables, said. “If he can run, he will make a stallion. He was born a smaller version of what he is. All we did was not get in his way.”

While Penn wasn't involved in the purchase of Forever for Now, who is a half to group-placed Carlisle Bay (Galileo {Ire}), he explained of the Christophersons, “They sold an Uncle Mo previously for a lot of money and needed to buy a mare and they bought this mare in foal to him.”

He continued, “Right now [the Christophersons have] two mares at my place and I think they have several in Oregon.”

M.V. Magnier goes to $1.35 million for an Uncle Mo-Forever for Now colt, consigned by Penn Sales for Bar C Racing Stables! #KeeSept @coolmoreamerica pic.twitter.com/C4q6k2IHa1

— Keeneland Sales (@keenelandsales) September 11, 2023

Penn Sales was making a rare Book 1 appearance Monday at Keeneland and was enjoying its first seven-figure sale.

“When you have a horse like this, it moves you up,” Penn said. “He would have moved anyone up. We are normally in the middle, but Keeneland was good enough to allow us to compete when we had the horse that would do it. And that's special.”

Magnier was making his first purchase of the Keeneland sale with hip 130.

“He is a very nice horse,” Magnier said. “[Longtime Coolmore adviser] Paul Shanahan really liked him when he saw him the other day. He is a nice athletic horse. He will stay here [in the U.S.] for the time being.” @JessMartiniTDN

A 'Grand' Day 1 at KEESEP

It didn't take long during the opening session of this year's Keeneland September Sale for things to hit full tilt with the sale of the first seven-figure yearling on the afternoon. A member of the Gainesway consignment, Hip 18, a colt by Into Mischief, realized $1.1 million from Robert Clay, bidding on behalf of Grandview Equine.

Gainesway's Brian Graves said, “That's a good way to get started. It was a little north of what we thought. There was a lot of drama leading up. There are always a lot of people with different opinions. It worked out on the pleasant side.”

He continued, “As an individual the horse, he was drop-dead gorgeous and by the right sire and out of a Grade I winner–a young mare who was precocious.”

#KeeSept Book 1 – Monday: Hip 18, a colt by Into Mischief (@spendthriftfarm) out of AMERICAN GAL, sells for $1.1 million to Robert Clay's Grandview Equine! Consigned by @Gainesway. pic.twitter.com/6GPJijTjbR

— TDN (@theTDN) September 11, 2023

The Mar. 31 foal is out of American Gal (Concord Point), a full-sister to SW and MGSP Americanize, who garnered just a tick under $1 million on the race track courtesy of five wins, headed by the GI Longines Test S. and GI Humana Distaff S. This represents the extended family of dual Grade I winner Seventh Street (Street Cry {Ire}) and G1 Golden Shaheen victor Reynaldothewizard (Speightstown).

The bay was bred by Mandy Pope's Whisper Hill Farm, who secured dam American Gal from the Hill 'n' Dale draft for $3 million at the Fasig-Tipton November Sale in 2018.

“There were a lot of top people on the horse and we thought something like that might happen,” said Graves. “It's good to see Mandy Pope selling million-dollar horses.”

The first foal to sell out of the 9-year-old mare was a colt by Curlin, who brought $500,000 at this venue last season. A family obviously replete with money, granddam GSP American Story (Ghostzapper) also made headlines in the sales ring, realizing $2.2 million at Fasig-Tipton November in 2017. An Into Mischief filly out of American Story (Hip 19) brought $575,000 shortly after American Gal's colt exited the ring.

“He is a really nice colt out of a great family,” Clay said, explaining the decision to extend on the colt. “He went for plenty of money, but he really checked all the boxes for us.”

And the yearling is exactly the type of horse that fits the Grandview program.

“We're looking for balance and athletic horses,” Clay said. “He's a picture.”

During Monday's session, Grandview also purchased Hip 35, a colt by Nyquist who bought $400,000.

When asked about the overall market thus far, Clay added, “I think the energy here is great. And I think it'll get stronger as the sale goes on. There are a lot of people here and plenty of money around. And that's the result of a really good catalogue.”

In 2013, Clay sold Three Chimneys to Goncalo Borges-Torrealba before returning five years later under the Grandview banner, for which he is the general partner and manager. Included in the enterprise are partners Cheyenne Stable's Everett Dobson and the Roth family's LNJ Foxwoods.

Despite its relatively recent appearance on the scene, Grandview has enjoyed a banner year in 2023 with this season's Kentucky Derby champion Mage (Good Magic).–@CbossTDN

Stewart Stocking Up

John Stewart, who made his first racehorse purchase at the September sale last year, came back to the auction in a big way Monday, ultimately purchasing seven yearlings. Stewart, the founder and managing partner at MiddleGround Capital, made his biggest purchase when going to $1 million for a colt by Into Mischief (hip 147) consigned by Eaton Sales. Out of Halo Humor (Distorted Humor), the bay is a full-brother to Practical Joke.

#KeeSept Book 1 – Monday: Hip 147, a colt by Into Mischief (@spendthriftfarm) out of Halo Humor – a full brother to PRACTICAL JOKE, sells for $1 million to Gavin O'Conner, agent for John Stuart.

Consigned by @EatonSales1. pic.twitter.com/1U6sqFk04z

— TDN (@theTDN) September 11, 2023

“Practical Joke has come on massively this year,” agent Gavin O'Connor said. “He's just come out with so many good horses–Practical Move and Ways and Means was second in the GI Spinaway S. a couple of weeks ago. He's had some really impressive winners. Into Mischief is a sire of sires, we got one earlier, we loved him and we loved this horse physically as well. We have a superstar colt that if he goes on to the top level, it's a huge opportunity.”

Once O'Connor was done extolling the yearling's virtues, Stewart asked, “Now, do you want the true story?

“The true story was this horse wasn't on the list,” Stewart admitted. “And Gavin was shipping our other horses and I texted him and said, 'Gavin, I just bought Practical Joke's brother for $1 million.'”

Bred by SF Bloodstock and Tuscany Bloodstock, hip 147 was purchased by Clover Leaf Stables for $350,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton November sale.

Stewart, alongside agent O'Connor and manager Chelsey Stone, had already acquired a son of Into Mischief earlier in the session when going to $800,000 to acquire hip 83.

“Just from the moment I saw him, I thought he was an amazing representation of the stallion,” O'Connor said of that yearling. “The one word I wrote down on the page was 'wow.' I have seen so many Into Mischiefs and there are one or two that really stand out like he did and you just know that they are a 'wow' horse. That price indicates the wow I felt at the time.”

The colt, consigned by Clearsky Farms, is out of graded winner Daisy (Blame) and is a half-brother to multiple stakes winner Botanical (Medaglia d'Oro).

“He looks like he has a stallion's pedigree,” O'Connor said. “He's a great big physical. We will be looking for an exciting future for him going into racing. He will most likely go to Michael McCarthy. We will keep him here in Kentucky with options to go west. We will keep open our channels to the Northeast and Florida, so we will have plenty of options.”

In addition to his two sons of Into Mischief, Stewart also purchased a colt by Constitution (hip 135) for $850,000; a colt by Curlin (hip 49) for $650,000; a filly by Uncle Mo (hip 45) for $350,000; a filly by American Pharoah (hip 129) for $350,000; and a colt by Omaha Beach (hip 177) for $350,000.

“We are starting our own farm,” he said. “We have a few more on the agenda. I have the easy part. Gavin and Chelsey do all the research. And I just buy them. We knew exactly what we were coming here for and what we would be leaving here with.”

Of his involvement in racing, Stewart said, “We bought our first filly here last year. I've been in Lexington for a long time and I've always wanted to get involved in the sport. I was married and my ex wouldn't let me get involved. We got divorced, so I got into horse racing.”

Last year, Stewart purchased Shiloh's Mistress (Vino Rosso) for $235,000.

Of his determined bidding style, Stewart said, “I'm not a bidder. I'm a buyer. Once I decide I'm going to buy a horse, I'm buying it. We are just trying to put bullets in the chamber because you got to have a lot of reps to potentially to get a horse in the Derby and that's what we are going to try to do.”

He added, “I do this everywhere I go. I was in Pebble Beach to buy a car and I bought 12. I don't do anything halfway.” @JessMartiniTDN

Curlin Colt a Sharp Purchase

George Sharp admitted he thought it was a bargain when he purchased a full-brother to GI Florida Derby winner Known Agenda (Curlin) for $280,000 at the Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale earlier this year. He was proven right when the yearling returned to the Keeneland sales ring Monday as hip 49 and sold for $650,000 to Gavin O'Connor, agent for John Stewart.

“The plan was to resell if I got the right amount of money,” Sharp said. “And I got the right amount of money. I can't complain about 120% in eight months.”

The yearling, who was consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, is out of Byrama (GB) (Byron).

Of the colt's appeal in January, Sharp said, “Obviously, the pedigree was outstanding. Curlins are probably the hottest things out there. He looks exactly like his brother–a 95% twin. At $280,000, I thought it was a steal. I was prepared to go to $400,000.”

Since January, the yearling, “has matured a ton and he still has some maturing to do,” Sharp said. “But he's grown. In the last six weeks, he's really come into himself. He is still a little immature. He has to get his mind a little straighter, but I would have no problem holding on to him.”

Sharp campaigns the likes of multiple stakes winner Front Run the Fed (Fed Biz), but admitted he had no problem letting the yearling sell Monday.

“No regrets,” he said. “I never regret making money.” @JessMartiniTDN

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Already well established south of the border, the Montreal-raised Lanni decided to forge a deeper stake into the Canadian industry over the last few years, first creating X-Men Racing and more recently, joining forces with childhood friends Mark Halloran and Rob Van Blokland to form Canuck Racing Club.

“I'm from Canada and I wanted to spend more time here and I've built a bigger presence here with X-Men horses since a lot of them are here,” explained Lanni. “So I've been trying to buy more Canadian-breds so I can run more in Canada.”

Placing Canada's first jewel of the Triple Crown-the Queen's Plate–squarely in his cross hairs, Lanni unearthed Moira (Ghostzapper) for X-Men Racing–in partnership with SF Bloodstock and Madaket Racing–from its initial group of acquisitions in 2020. With trainer Kevin Attard at the helm, she was a runaway winner in last year's Queen's Plate, concluding the 2022 season as Canada's Horse of the Year.

While unlikely to draw the kind of support Moira drew last year heading into Canada's 10-furlong Classic, Lanni returns, this time with Canuck Racing Club and Daniel Plouffe in tow, and will be represented by Enjoythesilent (Silent Name {Jpn}) in the re-named King's Plate, run as such for the first time since 1951.

“These are my friends from elementary school that run it with me,” explained Lanni. “The Club is basically all new guys from Canada that never owned horses and the first horse they bought is running in the King's Plate. It is so great for the game.”

Initially on the outside looking in, the Kevin Attard trainee drew in after a miscalculation of his earnings was announced early Saturday, thus pushing El Cohete (Society's Chairman) onto the A/E list.

A $37,000 weanling purchase at the Keeneland November sale in 2020, the Adena Springs bred was a runaway winner on debut going seven furlongs at Woodbine May 28 before finishing a close-up third stretching to a 1 1/16 miles against $40,000 optional claimers July 7. Favored in his latest start, the gelding just came up a neck short of the win against similar company July 30.

“He's taking a big step up in class going from Ontario-sired company to open Canadian-bred company, but he's a horse that I think the distance is going to help and will be well suited for him,” explained Attard, who has five runners in this year's King's Plate. “We are going to be adding blinkers to his arsenal.”

In his latest work, the dark bay breezed five panels in 1:00 2/5 (11/52) over Woodbine's Tapeta surface Aug. 12.

“He worked really well last week, so it's pretty exciting to see him get into the race,” added Attard. “He's been pretty consistent and all he needs to do is just take another step in the right direction. I think he's a key player.”

Also under Attard's tutelage, Canuck Racing Club recently tasted success with one of its 2022 purchases–Vandoo (Souper Speedy)–who went wire-to-wire in a five-furlong maiden over Woodbine's main track July 29. The 2-year-old filly was a C$22,000 Canadian Premier Yearling purchase.

“It was cool to have a recent winner with these guys,” said Lanni. “It is a great opportunity for these guys.”

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