“He was sent to Rood and Riddle yesterday morning to determine the exact cause of the ataxia,” said Elliott Walden, president, CEO, and racing manager of WinStar Farm. “He was responding well to treatment, but went to lie down in his stall, and fell awkwardly. As a result, he broke his right tibia, which could not be repaired.”

Improbable won three consecutive Grade I races in 2020, taking the GI Hollywood Gold Cup at Santa Anita, the GI Whitney S. at Saratoga and the GI Awesome Again S. at Santa Anita en route to Eclipse honors at season's end.

Undefeated at two, Improbable broke his maiden at first asking at 'The Great Race Place' in late September of 2018. He followed that up with a score in the Street Sense S. at Churchill Downs in early November, which earned him a 'TDN Rising Star' badge for the effort.

Improbable winning the Whitney | Sarah Andrew

Improbable's juvenile year ended with a five-length win going 1 1/16 in the GI Los Alamitos Futurity. His time of 1:41.18 was the fastest in over a decade.

A stakes winner each season from two to four, Improbable concluded his career with a runner-up finish in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic in 2020.

All told, he won seven starts, six of them stakes, and earned $2,729,520 for owners WinStar Farm, China Horse Club and SF Racing.

“These horses are our life, and we work every day to take care of them the best way we know how,” said Dr. Natanya Nieman, general manager and resident veterinarian at WinStar Farm. “The whole team is reeling. Improbable gave us many great moments to share with our partners, our team, and the whole racing community. It is tragic.”

Bred in Kentucky by St. George Farm and G. Watts Humphrey Jr., Improbable was acquired by Maverick Racing and China Horse Club for $200,000 out of the Taylor Made Sales Agency consignment at the 2017 Keeneland September Sale.

Out of the A.P. Indy mare Rare Event, the 8-year-old stallion was bred to 329 mares in his first two books and is represented by his initial crop of 2-year-olds this year, including a colt out of the stakes-placed Inaugurate (Empire Maker) that was purchased by trainer Jimmy DiVito, agent, for $475,000.

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Held in conjunction with Kentucky Derby 150 week celebrations Monday, Apr. 29 at Churchill Downs on Millionaires' Row, a silent and live auction including items such as 2025 Kentucky Derby and Oaks boxes, halters from Derby 150 contenders, sign Tebow items, horse racing art, etc., look to be the feature. Along with the keynote speaker, WinStar Farm's Elliott Walden and Hall of Famer Pat Day will host the evening events.

Race for Grace tickets are limited and sponsorships are welcome with more information available here.

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With stud fees set at $12,500 for Two Phil's and $10,000 for Country Grammer, Walden said he believes the future is bright for this pair and the breeders who are finding value in WinStar's newcomers.

“We've been very excited with how they've been received,” said Walden. “Both horses bring something a little bit different to the table. Country Grammer is a Seattle Slew-line horse through Tonalist and Tapit and he comes from a great Juddmonte family, so he brings stamina to mares that have a little kick to them and he's going to give a great physique. Two Phil's is a horse that people are really responding to. They know how good of a racehorse he was and for $12,500, when the other 3-year-olds in the crop are probably going to be standing for three times that, he provides great value.”

Trained by Chicago native Larry Rivelli, Two Phil's was the feel-good story of the Windy City as he claimed four stakes wins and earned over $1.5 million for fellow Chicagoans Philip Sagan and Patricia's Hope LLC, with Madaket Stables also joining the ownership group this year.

The son of Hard Spun came on WinStar's radar after his dominating score in the GIII Jeff Ruby Steaks, where his 5 ½ Ragozin figure ranked him at the top of the list of Kentucky Derby contenders. The colt's second-place performance on the first Saturday in May confirmed WinStar's belief in his ability.

“He was up close to a very fast pace,” Walden recalled. “To turn for home and take the lead, obviously he had to be exhausted because it was a very fast pace, but he just tried to hang on and fought Mage (Good Magic) all the way to the wire. Then when you look at the gallop out, he actually comes back and gallops out in front.”

In Two Phil's final career start in the GIII Ohio Derby, he recorded a near six-length win over Bishops Bay (Uncle Mo), a colt co-owned by WinStar that had finished second by a head to MGISW Arcangelo (Arrogate) in his prior start in the GIII Peter Pan S.

“That just shows the kind of quality that Two Phil's had as a racehorse,” said Walden. “He had form on multiple surfaces and on multiple racetracks. He also won a graded stake in the slop as a 2-year-old. He was just a racehorse.”

While Two Phil's racing career is reminiscent of his sire's–as Hard Spun also recorded two stakes wins as a juvenile and won the same Derby prep at three–it is the sire line in and of itself that Walden said made Two Phil's a good fit for their stallion program.

“We've been looking for a Danzig horse for a long time,” he explained. “Danzig is a horse that keeps giving in this industry. When you see Danzig in a pedigree–Uncle Mo, War Front, now Omaha Beach is coming on–you need to take notice. Hard Spun is a very underrated stallion and the thing that Two Phil's brings is that he's a very good-looking son of Hard Spun. He's well-balanced, has a great head and good topline and he's well-sprung on his hocks. I think he'll compliment mares just because of his size and his balance.”

Country Grammer ahead of his victory in the 2022 G1 Dubai World Cup | Dubai Racing Club

Country Grammer is another horse that Walden said has caught the eye of breeders visiting the stallions at WinStar.

“We did a showcase last summer of Life is Good, Nashville and Country Grammer and there were as many people that were as taken back with Country Grammer as they were Life Is Good and Nashville,” he recalled. “We know how popular Life Is Good and Nashville have been, so we're really excited about Country Grammer for 2024. He's a big, scopey horse that has a long, sloping shoulder. He's the kind of horse that you would expect to run two turns and I think he'll compliment mares because he'll help mares get the kind of physical that breeders would want at the sales.”

A $450,000 2-year-old at the OBS Spring Sale, Country Grammer started out in the Chad Brown barn and was originally campaigned by Paul Pompa. After breaking his maiden at two, the colt went on to claim the GIII Peter Pan S. the following year. He caught the eye of the WinStar team while spending time at the farm on a layoff. Following the passing of Paul Pompa, WinStar acquired the colt at the 2021 Keeneland January Sale.

From there, the son of Tonalist was sent to Bob Baffert and collected victories in the 2021 GI Hollywood Gold Cup S., the 2022 G1 Dubai World Cup over a field that included Life is Good, Midnight Bourbon and Hot Rod Charlie, and the 2022 GII San Antonio S. He also placed in four additional Grade I contests over his five-year career, including a runner-up effort in this year's G1 Saudi Cup.

“He ran at a high level on the East Coast, West Coast and the Middle East for a long time,” said Walden. “In this day and age when soundness and race record is important, I think he's a high-quality horse. He comes from a great Juddmonte family–the family of Obligatory (Curlin) and Bonny South (Munnings) that has been giving good runners for a long time. It's really exciting to have a horse like him at the price that we have him at for 2024.”

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“I am excited for Natanya to expand her opportunities here at WinStar. She is a very good horsewoman and having David as a mentor for the foreseeable future will give her the expertise needed to continue to grow here at WinStar,” said Walden. “While she has always been responsible for our horses through her expert veterinary care, Natanya can grow into a top General Manager while learning from one of the best.”

Hanley's new role will focus mainly on bloodstock, matings, and the development of young horses.

“David is a critical part of our team that helps us with developing our bloodstock, and the purchasing of our equine athletes at sales,” said Elliott Walden, CEO of WinStar. “This role will give David the opportunity to see more horses off the farm, while still keeping his eye on our young stock at home.”

Serving as General Manager since 2013, Hanley has helped the farm expand its band to over 150 broodmares and 18 stallions with Eclipse Awards for Breeding coming in 2016 and 2020.

On the administrative team, Jack Mullikin will be retiring as CFO at the end of 2023 and Michael Holmes will replace him. Mullikin came to work at WinStar in the first year after a stellar career at Castleton Lyons Farm. He has seen WinStar grow from 415 to 2400 acres.

“We will miss Jack tremendously here at the farm. His loyalty and dedication to WinStar has helped make the farm what it is today,” said Walden. “He has mentored Michael over the last nine years and we are blessed to welcome Michael onto our executive team. He will hit the ground running and do a great job. The future is bright here at WinStar.”

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“This is the best horse to retire in New York in a very long time,” said Rockridge Stud's Lere Visagie. “We all know we need top-class horses standing in New York to keep mares home. The winner of one of New York's most historic Grade Is for older horses is the way to do it. We can't wait to get started.”

Based on his Cigar Mile win, as well as wins in the New York-restricted Empire Classic H., Albany S., and New York Derby, Americanrevolution was named 2021 New York-bred Horse of the Year and champion 3-year-old male during the New York Thoroughbred Breeders Inc.'s annual awards ceremony in 2022. During his career, Americanrevolution also placed in the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup S., the GI Pennsylvania Derby, and the GII Stephen Foster S. The chestnut retired with a record of 12-5-2-1 and earnings of $1,286,810. Twice he registered Beyers of 108 and overall secured triple-digit Beyers five times.

“With Belmont being renovated, we feel it is time to re-enter the New York market,” said Elliott Walden, WinStar Farm's president, CEO, and racing manager. “WinStar Farm and CHC Inc. are staying in and committing 10 good mares to Americanrevolution to help launch his career in New York. We hope to breed another Funny Cide, one of the best New York-breds of all time.”

Bred by Fred Hertrich III and John Fielding in New York, Americanrevolution was acquired at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton New York-Bred Select Yearling Sale in Saratoga out of the Taylor Made Sales consignment for $275,000 by CHC Inc. and Maverick Racing. He hails from the same family as MGISW Stop Traffic (Cure the Blues), who produced GISW and sire Cross Traffic (Unbridled's Song).

Americanrevolution will stand as a partnership between WinStar Farm, CHC Inc., Rockridge Stud, Taylor Made Stallions, Mill Creek Farm, and Fortune Farm in a deal brokered by Matt Bowling of Bowling Bloodstock.

“We are thrilled to be a part of this exciting stallion prospect–probably the most exciting stallion to retire to New York in several decades,” said Ben Taylor of Taylor Made Stallions.

Former WinStar stallion and Breeders' Cup winner Tourist (Tiznow) stood his first New York season at Rockridge this year.

“I'm thrilled to see a Grade I winner sired by one of Kentucky's finest stallions retiring to New York,” said Fasig-Tipton's Boyd Browning. “This highlights the growing significance of the racing and breeding industry in the state. I'm eagerly anticipating the opportunity to sell his New York offspring at our Saratoga sales.”

Americanrevollution will stand his initial season for $12,500 S&N. He will be available for viewing at WinStar Farm in Kentucky throughout the November Sale and during stallion shows.

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“He ran good,” winning trainer Brad Cox said. “I was very proud of him. He got a good, clean trip today. [Jockey] Florent [Geroux] did a great job. He got away well. We had a bit of a rough trip in the Hopeful. I thought with a little bit of a cleaner run he maybe would have got to the wire first, but that's the way it goes. I'm very proud of the effort today. It was a huge win.”

Cox continued, “You obviously turn your attention to the Breeders' Cup [Juvenile] as it comes up first. We'll get him back to Kentucky and see how he comes out of it and let him tell us if we take a march towards Santa Anita. We'll enjoy this victory and go from there.”

Taking blinkers off for this after getting very eager while racing in tight quarters in the early stages of the Hopeful, the 9-2 chance traveled kindly in an inside fifth this time around as sharp second-out General Partner (Speightstown) sped through an opening quarter in :22.49 over the sloppy going. He set his sights on the pacesetter approaching the quarter pole and rolled down the center in the stretch to win going away by 4 1/4 lengths. General Partner was second; Dancing Groom (Vino Rosso) finished third.

'TDN Rising Star' Fierceness (City of Light), hammered down to 1-2 favoritism off a sensational debut score in the mud at the Spa Aug. 25, lunged at the start, and, after making a bold run at the leader on the far turn, tired in the stretch to finish a well-beaten seventh.

Favored in all three of his previous starts, Timberlake was a well-beaten sixth on debut behind subsequent runaway GII Saratoga Special S. winner Rhyme Schemes (Ghostzapper) at Ellis Park June 15. He romped by 9 1/4 lengths over future GIII Iroquois S. winner West Saratoga (Exaggerator) for 'Rising Star' status at Ellis July 21 prior to his aforementioned runner-up finish at the Spa on Labor Day. Timberlake was scratched out of Saturday's two-turn GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity S. at Keeneland in favor of this spot going a one-turn mile.

“We talked about it and thought this was a good spot,” WinStar's Elliott Walden said. “The Champagne is a great race, a stallion-making race. We're excited to win it, it's the first time we've ever won it.”

Walden added, “He's accomplished a lot in a short period of time. I think [two turns] will be good, but we'll see. He's a big strong horse with a beautiful pedigree, a two-turn type of pedigree.”

Pedigree Notes:

Timberlake becomes the 18th Grade I winner worldwide for his all-conquering sire. Into Mischief's Practical Joke won this same race in 2016. Lookin At Lucky is now the broodmare sire of six graded/group winners worldwide.

Timberlake's stakes-placed Irish-bred dam is a half-sister to G2 Hardwicke S. and G2 King Edward VII S. hero Thomas Chippendale (Ire) (Dansili {GB}). Timberlake's second dam MG1SP All My Loving (Ire) (Sadler's Wells) is a full-sister to G1 Irish One Thousand Guineas victress and GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf third-place finisher Yesterday (Ire). The winner's dam is also responsible for a yearling colt by Army Mule and a colt by Known Agenda of this year.

TIMBERLAKE, a 2YO by @spendthriftfarm stallion Into Mischief, said Bye, Bye, Bye to the competition with a win in the Grade 1 #WinAndYoureIn Champagne Stakes! @flothejock was up for trainer @bradcoxracing. pic.twitter.com/iC3hxEFjxw

— NYRA () (@TheNYRA) October 7, 2023

Saturday, Belmont The Big A
CHAMPAGNE S.-GI, $500,000, Belmont The Big A, 10-7, 2yo, 1m, 1:35.90, sy.
1–TIMBERLAKE, 122, c, 2, by Into Mischief
           1st Dam: Pin Up (Ire) (SP-Eng), by Lookin At Lucky
           2nd Dam: All My Loving (Ire), by Sadler's Wells
           3rd Dam: Jude (GB), by Darshaan (GB)
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN, 1ST GRADE I WIN. 'TDN Rising Star'. ($350,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). O-Siena Farm LLC and WinStar Farm LLC; B-St. Elias Stables, LLC (KY); T-Brad H. Cox; J-Florent Geroux. $275,000. Lifetime Record: 4-2-1-0, $375,600. Click for the http://www.werkhorse.com/free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–General Partner, 122, c, 2, Speightstown–Fleeting Humor, by Distorted Humor. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE, 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. ($250,000 Wlg '21 FTKNOV). O-Klaravich Stables, Inc.; B-Kenneth L. & Sarah K. Ramsey & Speightstown Syndicate (KY); T-Chad C. Brown. $100,000.
3–Dancing Groom, 122, c, 2, Vino Rosso–Snow Dancer, by Bernardini. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE, 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. ($37,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP; $60,000 2yo '23 OBSMAR). O-Eduardo Soto; B-Don Alberto Corporation (KY); T-Antonio Sano. $60,000.
Margins: 4 1/4, 6 1/4, 2HF. Odds: 4.90, 4.50, 37.25.
Also Ran: Gold Sweep, Air Cav, El Grande O, Fierceness, Sweet Soddy J.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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The 12-year-old is responsible for new fewer than 18 juvenile winners this season, led by Aspenite, impressive winner of the Kentucky Downs Juvenile Mile last month. The sire's current crop of yearlings proved extremely popular at the recently concluded Keeneland September Sale, with five horses sold in excess of $750,000, including a colt out of Solo Uno (Medaglia d'Oro), who was purchased by OXO Equine for $1.3 million. A son of Dothraki Sea (Union Rags) was hammered down to Mayberry Farm for $1.25 million at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale.

Life Is Good (Into Mischief), who covered a first book 192 mares this past season, will stand his second year at WinStar for $85,000 S&N, while perennial leading sire Speightstown (Gone West) will cover mares at $80,000. Outwork (Uncle Mo), sire of leading juvenile filly and the GI Darley Alcibiades S.-bound Brightwork, will stand for $10,000.

New additions to the WinStar roster include G1 Dubai World Cup hero Country Grammer (Tonalist, $10,000) and GSW and GI Kentucky Derby runner-up Two Phil's (Hard Spun, $12,500).

Stud fees for Audible and Always Dreaming, recently represented by GI Pennsylvania Derby winner Saudi Crown, will be determined based on the results of the coming months.

“We are very excited about our roster for 2024,” said Elliott Walden, president, CEO, and racing manager of WinStar Farm. “Constitution's 2-year-olds have him exactly where we thought he would be, and Life is Good is coming off a very promising start. We have four stallions–Improbable, Tom's d'Etat, Global Campaign, and Promises Fulfilled–whose progeny hit the track next year, and give a breeder a very nice upside if they are willing to take a chance. I have had top horsemen tell me they think Two Phil's is the best 3-year-old in the country, and he is priced right. Country Grammer's record speaks for itself. Our team can't wait to get started.”

WINSTAR FARM — 2024 STUD FEES

Always Dreaming (Bodemeister), TBA

Audible (Into Mischief), TBA

Constitution (Tapit), $110,000

Country Grammer (Tonalist), $10,000

Global Campaign (Curlin), $12,500

Good Samaritan (Harlan's Holiday), $5,000

Improbable (City Zip), $15,000

Independence Hall (Constitution), $10,000

Life Is Good (Into Mischief), $85,000

Nashville (Speightstown), $15,000

Outwork (Uncle Mo), $10,000

Paynter (Awesome Again), $5,000

Promises Fulfilled (Shackleford), $5,000

Speightstown (Gone West), $80,000

Take Charge Indy (A.P. Indy), $10,000

Tom's d'Etat (Smart Strike), $7,500

Two Phil's (Hard Spun), $12,500

Yoshida (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}), $7,500

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LEXINGTON, KY – With the very first horse through the ring bringing $1.3 million, the second session of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale was off to the races Tuesday and the action didn't slow down throughout the day as the second-to-last offering brought $1.25 million. In between, 13 other yearlings sold for seven figures, including a colt by Into Mischief who brought top price of $3 million from the partnership of Chuck Sonson, West Point Thoroughbreds and Woodford.

With eight million-dollar yearlings Monday, the two-session Book 1 section concluded with 23 yearlings bringing $1 million or more.

“It was a great day with lots and lots of different buyers, the partnerships were active, it was active from the domestic side as well as the international side,” said Keeneland President Shannon Arvin. “The 15 top prices were bought by 13 different buyers. And there was also a real diversity among the consignors, which was really nice to see. There were a lot of consignors who had a lot of success today.”

Figures for the marathon auction continue to track very closely with its record-setting 2022 renewal. In all, 221 yearlings sold during Book 1 this year for a total of $116,925,000. During last year's Book 1 section, 220 yearlings grossed $113,660,000 as the auction was well on its way to recording its first-ever gross over $400,000,000.

“Going in, I didn't think it would be fair for us to expect that we could replicate last year,” said Keeneland Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy. “But I think when you look at the numbers–obviously the median is down a little, the average is up a little bit–but overall the fact that the gross is up over $3.5 million from last year is incredible. When you look at the numbers through the ring that got sold, it's very, very comparable.”

The Book 1 average of $529,072 is up 2.41% from a year ago, while the median dipped 11.11% to $400,000.

From a catalogue of 392 yearlings, 302 went through the ring with 81 failing to meet their reserves for a buy-back rate of 26.82%. It was 21.99% a year ago.

“A lot of people don't have to sell,” Lacy said. “When you have a purse structure and people are enjoying it so much, they are happy to race.”

Gainesway was the book's leading consignor with 29 horses sold for $20,920,000. The farm sold eight of the book's 23 million-dollar yearlings, with five coming from Mandy Pope's Whisper Hill Farm broodmare band.

“We had high expectations coming in,” Gainesway's Brian Graves said. “I wasn't sure we had as many million-dollar horses to sell as we actually did. The market proved to be really strong. But we knew we had a really good group of horses for our clients. The market is alive and well.”

Mike Repole continued to lead all buyers at the auction. On his own, the New Yorker purchased 21 yearlings for $8,135,000, while in partnership with Spendthrift Partners, he acquired an additional two yearlings for $1.2 million.

In addition to his activity buying, Repole also bred and sold the section's $3-million topper through the Lane's End consignment.

Into Mischief continued to dominate the top of the market. The Spendthrift stallion had 11 seven-figure yearlings and a total of 31 head grossing $27,910,000. Coolmore's Uncle Mo, with four seven-figure yearlings, had 17 Book 1 horses sell for $12,495,000. The duo were represented by nine of the book's top 10 yearlings.

The Keeneland September sale continues with Book 2 sessions Wednesday and Thursday beginning at 11 a.m. Following a dark day Friday, the auction continues through Sept. 23 with sessions beginning daily at 10 a.m.

$3M Into Mischief Colt Heads Day 2

Continuing to underscore the sheer sire power of Into Mischief on this year's yearling market, Hip 261, a colt by the Spendthrift sire out GISP Nonna Mia (Empire Maker) landed a $3-million final bid from the partnership of West Point Thoroughbreds, Woodford Racing and Chuck Sonson.

“This is a beautiful colt. This is a young family [and] with Into Mischief, you don't have to say much. He was always in the hands of Lane's End, so we knew a little about his upbringing,” said Terry Finley, who handled the signing duties from inside the pavilion. “We are really excited and have a new group of partners who are in on him. We will try to get to the Derby in 2025.”

Terry Finley & Chuck Sonson | Keeneland

Of the session-topping yearling, Finley added, “I thought he'd bring a significant amount of money. You never know. After they bring $1.5-$2 million, you never really know where you're going to stop. I was just glad that we got to a point where I thought it was a 'reasonable' amount of money, if you can in fact call $3 million reasonable for a racehorse that has never had a saddle on his back.”

The buying partnership also combined to purchase Hip 220 and Hip 225, a pair of $800,000 colts by Candy Ride (Arg) and Quality Road.

The Feb. 11 foal was consigned by agent, Lane's End.

“When you bring an individual like him to this sale, you hope to be rewarded and that's what happened today,” said Lane's End's Allaire Ryan. “Over the past decade, of the horses we've raised at the farm, he is right up there. He's always been a forward individual from Day 1. He's been a special horse for us.”

She continued, “All the top players you think would be interested in a future stallion prospect like him. I'm just thrilled for everybody on the farm. To be entrusted to a mare like this for Mr. Repole means a lot in and of itself but to be able to raise a horse and bring him to an auction is rewarding for everybody.”

While showing moderate ability on the track, Nonna Mia has already proved her mettle in the breeding shed, producing GI Wood Memorial winner Outwork (Uncle Mo), in addition to SP Nonna's Boy (Distorted Humor).

Commanding the spotlight at $3 million!

Hip 261, an Into Mischief colt out of Nonna Mia and a half to Outwork, sells for $3 million to Sonson, Woodford, West Point, LEB, Agent. He was consigned by @LanesEndFarms. #KeeSept pic.twitter.com/ZCCmg0AP2a

— Keeneland Sales (@keenelandsales) September 12, 2023

Day 1 Leading Buyer Repole Returns Tuesday with Breeding Score

Mike Repole was busy spending through Book 1, purchasing 11 yearlings, alone or in partnership, for just a tick under $3.945 million. Recouping some of that cash during Tuesday's session, Repole sat front and center with his team when a homebred colt out of a horse he campaigned, Nonna Mia, lit up the board.

“She was named after my grandmother,” he said. “I named the horse in 2009. My grandmother passed away in 2020. So she's very special to me.”

A half-sister to MGSW Cairo Prince (Pioneerof the Nile), Nonna Mia was a $200,000 purchase by Repole from the Mill Ridge consignment at the 2008 renewal of the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale.

According to Repole, the 16-year-old mare currently resides at Lane's End.

“Nonna Mia is getting up in age, maybe she has one more in her, maybe not,” he said.

The pedigree received a significant bump at Saratoga when Repole homebred Fierceness (City of Light), a son out of Nonna Mia's daughter Nonna Bella (Stay Thirsty), blew the doors off to earn 'TDN Rising Star' status Aug. 25.

“She also gave me Outwork and a horse I think is the best 2-year-old, Fierceness, who is going to the GI Champagne S.,” he confirmed. “So, we're lucky to have her.”

Underscoring the importance of the recent update to the colt's catalog page, Finley added, “I was up at Saratoga when Fierceness ran. I was awestruck by that performance.”

During Tuesday's session, Repole was also an active buyer, securing an additional 12 yearlings, 11 alone and one in partnership, for a gross of $5,390,000.

“I want to be the leading buyer and leading seller one day,” he quipped. “But I am passionate about all aspects of this game. Stallions, stallion shares, broodmares, buying, selling, weanlings, yearlings, even claiming horses for $12,500.

“I just enjoy the game. I like to play it at every single level I can and try to as well as we can do. I enjoy winning.”

Asked whether he will be back for Book 2 and 3, Repole laughed, “We'll be buying today, tomorrow, and the next day. Don't forget, we bought [juvenile champion] Forte in [Keeneland's] Book 4. Winners can come from anywhere.”–@CbossTDN

Stewart Strikes for Uncle Mo Filly

John Stewart, who made a big splash during Monday's first session of the Keeneland September sale, took his biggest swing of the week when going to $2.5 million to acquire a filly by Uncle Mo (hip 337). While Stewart was at the sale in person during the first session, he left bidding Tuesday to agent Gavin O'Connor and farm manager Chelsey Stone.

“She's an unbelievable filly,” O'Connor said after signing the ticket on the yearling who was consigned by Denali Stud as agent for breeder, WinStar Farm. “Uncle Mo is the sire of incredible fillies.”

The yearling is out of Starship Warpspeed (Congrats) and is a half-sister to GI Kentucky Oaks winner Shedaresthedevil (Daredevil).

“I know the family personally,” O'Connor said. “I used to work for WinStar. I spent five years under Dave [Hanley] and Elliott [Walden]. So I have had babies out of the mare. They have a full-brother in training and he looks very promising as well.”

O'Connor, who was on the phone with Stewart during the bidding, admitted they had to stretch to get the filly.

“It was a little bit more than we wanted to go, but like we've said, John is a buyer,” he said. “I thought we were going to have her at $2.2 there, and then it went 3, 4, 5, and I thought, 'How far can we go here?'”

He added, “She's just an unbelievable broodmare prospect. She's an incredible filly. And the residual value is there. We just feel we have a safe asset at that price.”

Stewart purchased 10 yearlings during Book 1 for a total of $7,750,000. In addition to his $2.5-million acquisition, the Lexington financier also paid $1 million for a colt by Into Mischief (hip 147), a colt by Constitution (hip 135) for $850,000 and another son of Into Mischief (hip 83) for $800,000.

“We are done now,” O'Connor said. “We've got a really exciting stable of horses to go on with.” @JessMartiniTDN

All eyes on hip 337 as the Shedaresthedevil half sister by Uncle Mo sells for $2.5 million! Consigned by @denalistud for @winstarfarm, purchased by Gavin O'Connor for John Stewart. #KeeSept pic.twitter.com/L6AHvoVGUD

— Keeneland Sales (@keenelandsales) September 12, 2023

Into Mischief Colt Rewards St George Team

Archie and Michelle St George, along with pinhooking partners Tony and Roger O'Callaghan of Tally-Ho Stud, hit a home run Tuesday at Keeneland when selling a colt by Into Mischief (hip 283) for $1.8 million to Coolmore's M.V. Magnier. The team had acquired the dark bay for $550,000 at last year's Keeneland November sale.

“I'm kind of speechless at the moment,” Archie St George admitted as Magnier signed the ticket on the yearling. “We're just very fortunate to have a horse as good as him. It's a huge team effort, with everyone at home, Roger and his dad and my wife Michelle and all the lads. A lot of work has gone into the horse and this is a huge thrill.”

Arthur St George | Keeneland

The yearling is out of Princess Haya (Street Cry {Ire}) and is a half-brother to stakes winner and Grade I placed Lady Kate (Bernardini).

Asked about the nerves associated with buying a pinhook prospect for $550,000, St George said, “It's nerve-wracking, but it's high risk-high reward. It's the quality of the horse. It's a huge team effort. I'd like to thank Coolmore and their partners and wish them the best of luck.”

Magnier, who purchased a son of Uncle Mo for $1.35 million Monday, was making his second purchase of the Keeneland sale. Magnier later added a $1.25-million Gun Runner colt late in the session.

“He is a very good mover and Into Mischief is a very good sire and [his son] Practical Joke is doing really well [as a sire] at the moment,” Magnier said of hip 283. @JessMartiniTDN

$1.35M Not This Time Colt Gives Airdrie Sentimental Score

Offering a small but select group of yearlings in this year's Book 1, Airdrie Stud once again showed quality over quantity often wins the day when it comes to the sales. Underscoring that point this week, Hip 344, a colt by Not This Time, drew a tidy $1.35 million final bid from Jacob West, who was bidding on behalf of Robert and Lawana Low. Over the course of two days, Airdrie sold all three of the yearlings it offered, amassing $2,475,000 in gross receipts while averaging $825,000. Airdrie also sold a Nyquist filly (Hip 31) for $750,000 on Day 1 and a $375,000 colt (Hip 356) by Complexity Tuesday.

After selling its priciest yearling so far this season, Airdrie's Bret Jones, who also bred the colt, said, “Special is the right word. A little overwhelming. I'm feeling a little sentimental right now, thinking about dad [Brereton C. Jones] and thinking how many memories we get from these great horses, these horse sales, horse races.”

Bret Jones | Keeneland

The Mar. 8 foal is out of Street Mate (Street Cry {Ire}), dam of Grade I winner Bell's The One (Majesticperfection) and GSW King Cause (Creative Cause). The 15-year-old mare, who was a $35,000 purchase at Keeneland November in 2012, is a half-sister to GSW and GISP Tap Day (Pleasant Tap)

Jones continued, “The colt has always been beautiful. He is by the right stallion. And the mare has been incredible to us. It's a really special family. He has always lived up to that family. He is just so good looking and makes you think he can be a special horse on the racetrack. The horse vetted perfectly clean which is always nice.”

When asked about the reserve, Jones didn't miss a beat.

“[The bidding] went past his reserve as fast as I hope he passes horses in a Grade I.”–@CbossTDN

Best Packs $1.3M Punch to Land Constitution Colt

The name Into Mischief seemed to be on nearly everyone's lips following a buying blitz of the sire's offspring during the first two days of selling. And while not generating the same headlines, at least not by sheer volume, WinStar's Constitution paved a slightly more subtle road while still packing a punch with five yearlings realizing $2,980,000, yielding a robust $596,000 average on Day 2. Leading the fray Tuesday was Hip 324, a bay colt who realized a $1.3 million final bid from Larry Best's OXO Equine. The purchase was Best's sole purchase on the afternoon.

“I thought he was one of the best colts in the sale,” said Best. “I paid more than I would want to. This particular auction I've never seen one quite this strong. I knew he was going be around $1 million to get him. But he's a beautiful specimen of a Constitution. He looks very racey, very athletic.”

Bred by Kindred Stables, the Mar. 26 foal was consigned by Indian Creek. The bay is out of the unraced Solo Uno (Medaglia d'Oro), a half-sister to MGSW and GISP Tom's Ready (More Than Ready).

“When you buy colts it's a high risk game,” Best said. “And when you saw some of the other colts that I liked in the sale they went for $2-million plus. There is only so much money I want to invest in a colt. This was a good shot. We'll see how it works out.”

@CbossTDN

Serengeti Empress's First Foal in Demand

The first foal out of GI Kentucky Oaks winner Serengeti Empress (Alternation), a son of the omnipresent Into Mischief, was scooped up by the partnership of WinStar Farm's Maverick Racing, Siena Farm and CHC, Inc. for $1.2 million Tuesday at Keeneland.

“If he didn't break his ribs as a foal, he might have topped the sale,” said WinStar Farm's Elliott Walden. “We saw him on the farm and David [Hanley] and I both loved him. He's out of an Oaks winner on a Distorted Humor cross. Hopefully he can do some great things on the racetrack.”

Serengeti Empress was one of the first yearlings Joel Politi purchased when he decided to purchase young fillies with the goal of raising his own broodmare band from scratch. Politi and trainer Todd Amoss purchased the future Oaks winner for $70,000 at the 2017 Keeneland September sale.

After watching the mare's first foal go through the ring Tuesday, Politi admitted, “It was emotional watching him go through the ring. I had a lot of second thoughts in the back ring. I was thinking, 'My goodness, he is so good-looking.' But we set a price that we would be ok with him moving on. I am being practical about the whole thing. So you can't argue with it really. He's going to a great place. WinStar is a first-class operation. They will take good care of him and they will have him here in Kentucky and we can come visit him, so it's a win-win.” @JessMartiniTDN

A Racing Prospect for Hartley/DeRenzo

Randy Hartley and Dean DeRenzo are typically active in the pinhooking sphere, but with new partner Rich Mendez expanding his footprint in the industry, the Ocala horsemen acquired a racing prospect in a $1.2-million daughter of Into Mischief (hip 316). Also partnering on the yearling is John Bellinger and Brian Coelho's BC Stables.

Bred and consigned by Gainesway, the gray filly is out of Silver Colors (Mr. Greeley) and is a half to GI Alabama S. winner Eskimo Kisses (To Honor and Serve) and a granddaughter of GI Kentucky Derby winner Winning Colors.

Hip 316 Into Mischief–Silver Colors filly | ThoroStride

“For us, she was the pick filly of this book,” Hartley said. “It's just such a great female family and we just felt like if we put enough guys together, we could get her. To have a half-sister to a Grade I Alabama winner and the grandmother a Kentucky Derby winner, you just don't get those pedigrees that often. So she was a filly we thought we really needed to have in the barn.”

A Miami music titan, Mendez has been on both sides of seven-figure transactions this year. He purchased an Into Mischief colt for $1.3 million at the OBS April Sale. Now named Urban Legend, the juvenile is in training out west with Bob Baffert. Mendez was also involved in seven-figure pinhooks with Hartley/DeRenzo at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May sale and at last month's Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale.

Asked if the purchase of this well-bred filly indicated Mendez would consider getting into the breeding side of the business, Hartley said, “We are thinking about it for sure. This would obviously be one you'd want in your barn. My favorite saying is black cats have black kittens and she's a beautiful filly, so I think she would definitely have beautiful babies. It was just a pedigree that you very rarely get and we felt like we really had to stretch to get her. But we were taking her home.” @JessMartiniTDN

All Into Mischief, All The Time

Continuing the feeding frenzy for colts, specifically those by Into Mischief, a son of the Spendthrift sire joined the millionaire's club when reeling in a $1.2-million final bid from Team Coolmore at Keeneland Tuesday. Led by M.V. Magnier, the group held their customary spot out back, picking up their fourth purchase, also the fourth seven-figure buy, of Book 1. Offered as Hip 331, the flashy grey was consigned by Machmer Hall, who also bred the colt.

“I'm overwhelmed,” said Carrie Brogden, standing alongside her mother, Sandy Fubini. “I had no idea he was going to bring that much money. Personally, that is our most expensive yearling. We've sold 2-year-olds for more, but that is our most expensive yearling. We are overjoyed.”

Commenting on the price, she admitted, “Our reserve was well below $500,000. We're sellers and breeders. We're here to sell our horses.”

Sandy Fubini & Carrie Brogden | Keeneland

The Feb. 26 foal is out of Special Me (Unbridled's Song), who failed to distinguish herself on the racetrack, allowing Craig and Carrie Brogden to swoop in to secure the mare for a mere $6,000 at Keeneland January in 2009. Subsequent to that most fortuitous purchase, the mare produced GI Santa Anita H. winner Gift Box (Twirling Candy), MGSW and GISP Stonetastic and MGSW Special Forces. She is also responsible for GI QEII Challenge Cup S. heroine Gina Romantica (Into Mischief), herself a $1.025 million purchase at Keeneland September in 2020.

“We're never going to get another mare like her,” Brogden said. “We have a Twirling Candy filly for 2023 and it'll be a hard decision whether she comes up here or not because we can buy a lot of new broodmares for a million dollars. She is tough as nails. She is in foal to Flightline right now, but we might have to send her back to Into Mischief after this.”

Armed with both top-class runners on both the dirt and turf, Brogden admitted she doesn't see any limitations to what this colt will be able to do.

“I wouldn't be surprised if he is a great dirt horse or if he is a great turf horse,” she said.

Seeming to have the knack for coming up with pricey sales prospects out of inexpensive mares, Brogden explained Machmer Hall's overall breeding philosophy.

“We just try to go with the families we like and understand what we can afford,” she explained. “For example, I bought Stonetastic's daughter for $400,000 because I can afford that. I can't afford Stonetastic even though we bred her. You have to know the families you are dealing with.”

“And I have to thank Unbridled's Song once again. [Monday] we sold six yearlings, three of them out of Unbridled's Song mares.”

While the Machmer Hall team can credit hard work, commitment and diligence to much of their success, Brogden is quick to point out that sometimes the intangibles can also come into play.

“We had two yearlings struck and killed this year and [the Into Mischief colt] was in the same field with them,” she said. “And there were only 14 of them. We got lucky it wasn't him.”–@CbossTDN

Volatile Filly Sparks Three Chimneys' Day 

Three Chimneys Farm, which hit it out of the park with the fast-starting stallion career of Gun Runner, could have another stallion success in the making after a first-crop daughter of Volatile (hip 215) sold for $1.15 million to the bid of Mike Rutherford Tuesday at Keeneland.

“I don't think you could write it out any better than to have a $1.15-million filly in the first crop, but those are the kind of mares that we bred to him,” said Three Chimneys' Chris Baker. “That's the kind of confidence that we have in him.”

The filly, consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, was bred by Three Chimneys and is out of multiple Grade I winner Love and Pride (A.P. Indy).

“She was a spectacular filly,” Baker said of the yearling. “She deserved that kind of recognition. She is that special. We wish Mr. Rutherford all the luck in the world with her.”

Three Chimneys purchased Volatile (Violence) in partnership for $850,000 at the 2017 Keeneland September sale. The gray won the 2020 GI Alfred G. Vanderbilt H. and stood this season at Three Chimneys for $12,500.

“Volatile has consistently produced great physicals, horses with scope and substance that look fast,” Baker said. “And he was fast. It's really been pleasant to see how consistently he has race horse physical types. So we are as excited as we can be right now.”

Of the stallion's first seven-figure yearling, Baker said, “With a horse that started at his initial stud fee, it is a pleasant surprise–it's not shocking, but it's a pleasant surprise.”

Three Chimneys came right back with another seven-figure yearling when a colt by Into Mischief (hip 218), co-bred with Mandy Pope's Whisper Hill Farm, sold for $1.1 million to the SF/Starlight/Madaket partnership.

Consigned by Gainesway, the yearling is out of Magical World (Distorted Humor) and is a half-brother to multiple Grade I winner Guarana (Ghostzapper). Guarana's Into Mischief colt sold for $1.4 million during Monday's first session of the September sale.

“Nothing would have surprised me with him,” Baker said. “I think he is an exceptional colt. He's a great-moving colt with a great pedigree–by a top sire out of a top mare. So I think he is well sold and I expect to hear more about him in the future.”

Also Tuesday, Three Chimneys sold a filly by Munnings (hip 280) for $700,000 to Shadwell. The yearling is out of Princesa Carolina (Tapit). @JessMartiniTDN

Gun Runner Filly to Speedway

Marette Farrell, bidding on behalf of Peter Fluor and K.C. Weiner's Speedway Stable, went to $1.2 million to acquire a filly by Gun Runner (hip 222) from Jody and Michelle Huckabay's Elm Tree Farm consignment. The Huckabays were selling the youngster on behalf of Dell Ennis, who purchased the filly for $625,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton November sale.

“She is so athletic and so light on her feet and has an amazing demeanor,” Farrell said. “I believe she is a runner and I hope Peter and K.C. are lucky with her.”

The bay is out of Mama Yay (Mineshaft), an unraced full-sister to Dialed In and a half to Broadway Gold (Seeking the Gold). The yearling is a half-sister to stakes winner Empire House (Empire Maker).

“It is a pedigree that Peter Fluor himself loved,” Farrell said. “We now have three stallions–Collected, Roadster and Corniche–so we are trying to do things with a view towards buying fillies [to breed to them]. We were the underbidder on this filly when she sold as a weanling. So we followed her and saw her here.”

Ennis said the filly's pedigree was what attracted him to her at Fasig-Tipton last November.

“I loved her,” Ennis said. “I loved the pedigree. I love Miss Doolittle and I love Mama Yay.”

The filly was Ennis's lone pinhook of the year and the Virginian admitted to some pre-sale jitters.

“I woke up at 2:22 this morning and couldn't sleep,” he said. “She is so classy and confident in herself. You are going to be writing about her again.”

Tuesday's seven-figure transaction was an emotional one for veteran horseman Jody Huckabay.

“I've been doing this for 35 years and this was my first million-dollar horse,” a visibly moved Huckabay said after watching the filly sell. “We thought she was a very, very good filly and obviously a lot of people thought she was nice. But you never know.”

Huckabay and Ennis were enjoying their first collaboration at the Keeneland sale.

“Dell bought this filly and called me and said, 'I hear you raise a good horse,' and he sent her to me. I met him yesterday [for the first time]. So I didn't know him. But things worked out. It's a very exciting day.”

Of the decision to send the weanling to Elm Tree last November, Ennis said, “I interviewed several farms and at the time, [Huckabay] checked the boxes for us. He could take the filly right from the sale, so he checked the boxes. I have a very good rapport with several other farms in Kentucky and I love them as well. Jody and Michelle are very hands on and they pay attention to detail. And that's what it takes to get a horse in that ring from a weanling.”

This is not the first time the bay filly has rewarded her connections in the sales ring. She was bred by Mark Erlandson, who purchased Mama Yay for $20,000 at the 2020 Keeneland November sale. Erlandson sent the Gun Runner filly through the sales ring at Fasig-Tipton last year through the New Hill Farm consignment. @JessMartiniTDN

Into Mischief Continues Powerful Run Into Day 2

Picking up where he left off Monday, Into Mischief was represented by his first seven-figure yearling of the session when Hip 218 reeled in $1.1 million from agent Donato Lanni. Tom Ryan signed the ticket on behalf of prolific partnership of SF Bloodstock, Starlight and Madaket.

“There is no mystery about the stallion,” Ryan said. “It's a very unique pedigree. Just a fantastic piece of paper. And it's rare you have the opportunity to buy into that sort of bloodline. So we're glad to be involved.”

According to Ryan, the colt will go to Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert.

“Donato loved him and so did Bob. Our own team, John Moynihan was involved too. We're excited to have him.”

Whisper Hill Farm and Three Chimneys Farm bred the colt in partnership. The Apr. 20 foal is out of Magical World (Distorted Humor), most notably the dam of GI Acorn S. winner Guarana (Ghostzapper). The colt is also half to SW Beatbox (Pioneerof the Nile) and SW and GSP Magic Dance (More Than Ready). The family includes GI Breeders' Cup Distaff winner Pleasant Home (Seeking the Gold).

Following a lucrative streak, Mandy Pope's Whisper Hill, in partnership with Three Chimneys Farm, extended to $5.2 million to secure Magic World while carrying this foal at Fasig-Tipton November in 2021. Last term, the partnership dipped into the family again to purchase Magical World's colt by Quality Road for $1.1 million. Guarana herself was a $4.4-million purchase at Fasig-Tipton November in 2021.

The family had its desirability in full display Monday when a son of Guarana, also by Into Mischief, brought $1.4 million.

During Tuesday's session, Lanni also secured Hip 207, a colt by Into Mischief out of Late Night Pow Wow (Fiber Sonde) for $900,000 and Hip 243, a colt by Justify ($625,000) for the same partnership. —@CbossTDN

Seven-Figure Book 1 Parade for Pope

Mandy Pope, who has steadily been building a high-octane broodmare band, reaped the benefits of her investments during Book 1, selling five seven-figure yearlings over the two sessions. Leading the way was a $1.7-million son of Into Mischief (hip 162) who sold Monday. Pope got Tuesday's second session of the auction off to a quick start when the first horse through the ring, a daughter of Tapit (hip 202), sold for $1.3 million to the internet bid of Sinandigan Stable. Also Tuesday, Pope, in partnership with Three Chimneys Farm, sold a colt by Into Mischief (hip 218) for $1.1 million to the SF/Starlight/Madaket partnership; and a colt by Curlin out of champion Songbird (hip 325) for $1 million to Grandview Equine.

Mandy Pope | Keeneland

“It's been a lot of hard working buying the right mares,” Pope said. “We worked hard buying excellent race mares and trying to reproduce them. This has been an awesome day for us.”

Asked how the results in the sales ring matched up to her expectations, Pope said, “We thought a couple of them would sell that well. A couple of them were surprises for the better and one or two were not. The usual thing.”

Pope's Book 1 yearlings were at the forefront of a big two days for the Gainesway consignment.

“Mandy has invested a lot of time and a lot of money and it's starting to yield dividends,” said Gainesway's Brian Graves. @JessMartiniTDN

The post With $3M Into Mischief Topper, Keeneland September Sizzles from Start to Finish Tuesday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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“Anthony was a great partner,” said WinStar Farm President and CEO Elliott Walden. “He had bought in on most of our racehorses over the last few years. He was a man who was never satisfied with the status quo. He always wanted to improve things. He continued to press into difficult issues and that's what I'll remember most about him. He taught me an awful lot. He was a great mentor. The interesting thing about Anthony was, that while he was in his seventies, he was more technologically savvy than most people in their thirties. He continued to look toward the future with a zeal and an energy that made everyone around him better. ”

“This is a tough one for the game,” said Breeders' Cup President and CEO Drew Fleming. “He was one of the best. Anthony was officially on the Breeders' Cup Board for four years and as a member for more than that. He was always extremely supportive of the company and the business. Everyone will say that Anthony Manganaro was a visionary who had a passion for the game. That passion for the game went way above and beyond breeding and racing. He wanted to improve the sport as a whole as well as the people involved at all levels of the sport. Anthony had a passion for innovation and technology and wanted to introduce that to our sport to modernize it and make it available for new, future generations. The forward thinking he had was like nothing I have ever seen.”

Manganaro grew up in a blue-collar neighborhood just outside of Boston and attended Suffolk Downs with his father. He remained in Boston for his college career, graduating from Northeastern University.

Manganaro moved to Maryland in 1981, where he built a number of successful businesses. That list included Siena Corp., a real estate development firm, which Anthony and his son, Todd, used to turn ezStorage into one of the nation's largest regional self storage companies. Prior to that, Manganaro started and ran Boston Medical Corporation, making it one of nation's leading distributors of disposable medical supplies.

In 2007, looking for a new challenge, Anthony headed to Kentucky and found 220 acres of land in Paris on what he called a “rundown cattle farm.” Manganaro turned that tract of land into Siena Farm; a state-of-the-art boutique breeding operation that would normally have about 25 mares. His goal was nothing less than to breed the soundest and fastest race horses possible.

“Our goal at Siena Farm is simple: breed and raise superior, world-class racehorses by melding hundreds of years of traditional horsemanship with leading-edge technology,” reads a passage on the farm's website. Manganaro believed the result would be “happy, healthy horses ready to succeed in their racing and breeding careers.”

The Siena team includes General Manager Ignacio “Nacho” Patino and President David Pope.

“He was a big influence in my life and in my family's life,” Patino said. “We last talked on Friday and some of it was on business, but he was mostly asking me about my family. I was taking a bike ride the other day and for some reason I started thinking about Anthony and everything he had done for my family. He was a mentor to me and was just the type of person where you could talk to him about anything. He was always there to help you. Anything you needed, he would help you. I was shocked when I learned he had passed away. We were together here at the farm for 15 years. This is hard. You want to be able to talk to him, but you know that he is gone.”

Siena Farm hit the winner's circle almost immediately. The farm bred and owned Angela Renee (Bernardini), whose biggest win came in the GI Chandelier S. in 2014. At the 2015 Fasig-Tipton November Sale, she was sold for $3 million. A year later, the Siena homebred Isabella Sings (Eskendereya) won the GII Mrs. Revere S., one of four graded stakes she captured during her career.

Throughout his career in racing, Manganaro was always on the lookout for a good horse and didn't always rely on breeding to find them. Two weeks prior to the 2017 GI Florida Derby, Manganaro, along with Terry Finley of West Point Thoroughbreds, bought into Always Dreaming (Bodemeister). He would go on to win both the Florida Derby and the GI Kentucky Derby.

“There was buzz about Always Dreaming all winter because his works were so impressive,” Manganaro told the TDN. “Bodemeister ran one of the gutsiest races of the modern era in the Kentucky Derby, and there's significant stamina influence on the dam's side, so we're optimistic the colt will continue to blossom as the races get longer.”

His ties to West Point, which purchased Flightline for $1 million at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale, helped him get in on the ground floor of a horse who would go on to be regarded as one of the best to ever race. Siena Farm was one of five co-owners of the horse.

“Anthony Manganaro and his nephew Paul are great partners of mine,” bloodstock agent David Ingordo told the Daily Racing Form. “And Anthony has done things with Terry Finley at West Point on and off over the years. So Terry brought him in on [Flightline] on their end of it.”

“The only thing I thought about today was just how incredible a person he was and what a great family man he was,” Finley said. “He was big thinker, a creative thinker. I wished there were more Anthony Manganaro-like people in the world. This is a big loss. This is a tough one. He lived a full life and from what I've heard he was at the races Saturday. He lived life to the fullest and did so right up to the end.”

Siena continues to breed and race top-class horses. Along with WinStar Farm, Siena owns Emmanuel (More Than Ready), a winner of four graded stakes. Siena also bred and co-owned, along with Timothy Hamm, Dayoutoftheoffice (Into Mischief), the winner of the 2020 GI Frizette S. She would go on to be sold for $2,850,000 at Fasig-Tipton November. Other horses raced by Siena Farm alone or in partnership include Catholic Boy (More Than Ready), Bal a Bali (Brz) (Put It Back), Royal Ship (Brz) (Midshipman) and Queen Picasso (Kingman).

Tributes to Anthony Manganaro…

Nick D'Amore (Manganaro's Grandson and Managing Member, Cold Press Racing LLC)

“It's hard to put into words what my grandfather meant to me and those who had the privilege of meeting him. He was a problem solver and visionary always looking to solve the great puzzles in the world. He introduced me to racing when I was five and I fell in love with the horses, but he fell in love with the challenge, the challenge of breeding top-class horses with consistency. We got to share a passion for racing together and it meant the world to me. I've gotten to speak to many of those who knew him over these last 24 hours and what was clear is he made an impact on everyone he spoke to.”

Barry Weisbord, founder Thoroughbred Daily News

Last Monday I spent my morning enjoying a scheduled breakfast conversation at Anthony Manganero's newly built home in Saratoga, with just us two. He welcomed me on the porch. We shared bagels and smoked salmon (always great conversation food), and in that idyllic setting I relished all three hours of our sharing thoughts, as anyone who has had the pleasure of his company would attest. I was not prepared for that being the last meal we would share.

His family lost Anthony Sunday. The Siena Farm and Thoroughbred worlds, the Northeastern University world, and I'm sure many other worlds share this loss of a very special person, who was filled with joy, love, energy, intellect and philanthropy.

He was the most kind and caring a person could be. He was also the most interesting, inventive, and forward thinking a person could be. I'm sure the Dos Equis ad campaign of “the

most interesting man in the world” was modeled on him, beard and all. If you wanted to learn about the possible application of  AI technology to our industry, you called Anthony. He was always on chapters 4-5-6 when most had not even heard of the book.

He was about improving everything he had cared about, and about making the world a better place. He practiced his philosophy every day.

We spent the morning on a variety of subjects, as one always did with Anthony. Better organizing our industry especially from the Owner/Breeder/Horseman's perspective, possible new sources of industry revenue utilizing technology, and his computer research into predictive data in the bloodstock world, just to name a few. He had an insatiable appetite for learning that was always on display.

I am so thankful that he was a great friend to me and my family. I am so thankful that he enjoyed the Thoroughbred industry. He was truly irreplaceable. He had shoes impossible to fill. I hope some will join me in honoring his contributions by carrying on his legacies.

The post Siena Farm’s Anthony Manganaro Passes Away appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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“We have been looking for a Danzig-line horse that meets our standard of physicality, pedigree, and race record for some time now,” said Elliott Walden, president, CEO, and racing manager of WinStar Farm. “I think Two Phil's could have been the best 3-year-old in the country if his career had not been cut short after his dominant win in the Ohio Derby with a 5 Ragozin, 105 Beyer, and a negative 3/4 on Thorograph. However you look at it, he is top class.”

After a solid 2-year-old season which was highlighted by a win in Churchill's GIII Street Sense S., Two Phil's burst onto the national scene with placings in the GII Risen Star S. and GIII Lecomte S. prior to a dominant victory in the GIII Jeff Ruby Steaks at Turfway in March, which propelled him to the Kentucky Derby. Bred by Phillip Sagan and campaigned by Sagan, Patricia's Hope LLC, and Madaket Stables, Two Phil's just missed to Mage (Good Magic) in the Derby. Skipping the rest of the Triple Crown races, he was routed to the Ohio Derby at Thistledown, where he attained a third consecutive triple-digit Beyer Speed Figure (105). His Beyers in the Jeff Ruby and Kentucky Derby were 101 and 105, respectively.

“From the time he came into my barn at two, Two Phil's was a standout,” said trainer Larry Rivelli. “He is the best horse I have ever trained, and I look forward to his babies.”

Two Phil's retires with a record of 10-5-2-1 and earnings of $1,583,450.

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