The victory, on the back of an equally decisive score in the GII Risen Star S. at the Fair Grounds Feb. 17, sets up a titanic clash of 'TDN Rising Stars' in the $5-million GI Kentucky Derby in a month's time with Eclipse champion 2-year-old Fierceness (City of Light), a far handier sort possessed of a high cruising speed that can be difficult to reel in.

Sierra Leone was to be the last to load in gate 10, but he proved a bit difficult to handle, delaying the start of the Blue Grass by about three minutes. A bit easy in the market, having touched 6-5 before leaving the gates at odds just north of 8-5, the $2.3-million topper from the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale was perhaps a half-step slow to begin, but slid down to race one off the inside and last but one into the first turn as stablemate Top Conor (Twirling Candy)–himself a $1-million OBS March breezer–cut out sharp fractions of :23.15 and :46.48 while tracked intently by recent GIII Gotham S. runner-up Just a Touch (Justify). Unhurried and patiently handled at the tail by Tyler Gaffalione, Sierra Leone raced well out into the track while taking plenty of dirt down the backstretch and still had a double-digit gap to bridge as the Blue Grass field entered the final half-mile.

Wisely angled back down towards the inside for a two-path run around the far turn, Sierra Leone began pick off rivals and was steered outside of Be You (Curlin) and about five deep into the lane. Just a Touch hit the front in upper stretch as inexperience caught up with Top Conor, but the lead was short-lived, as Sierra Leone gathered him up with relative ease while lugging in a bit entering the final sixteenth of a mile and strode clear. Epic Ride (Blame), a latest runner-up in the John Battaglia S. Mar. 2 and trying the dirt for the first time in his five-race career, was a very good third, while Dornoch (Good Magic) failed to capitalize on a box-seat trip and was an even fourth, 6 1/2 lengths behind Sierra Leone, who he had famously beaten a nose in last year's GII Remsen S.

“He didn't break the sharpest, but it actually gave me time to get over and save some ground into the first turn,” said Gaffalione. “He took the dirt just fine. Down the backside he got into a great rhythm. From the five-eighths pole on, he was moving like a winner. I was able to save some ground into the second turn, pop him out, and he just has so much talent.”

Added trainer Chad Brown, winning a third Blue Grass: “We're just trying to maintain pretty much the way he's been his whole life, a special horse. I don't know if they ever fully figure it out, but he's only had a handful of starts. But there's such good chemistry with Tyler and Sierra Leone his last two starts. You can see he wants to lean in a little bit, but it's never too bad. He's still polishing off his experience and his skills, and I just think a mile-and-a-quarter won't be a problem going forward. We're looking forward to it.”

Trainer Danny Gargan is far from willing to give up on Dornoch, the full-brother to last year's Derby winner Mage.

“He went really well. He got in there behind,” the trainer said. “It's his first time really getting a lot of dirt like that, he resented it a little bit early, [jockey] Luis [Saez] said. He said he kind of ran away from the horses. Next time, we'll break him out of [the starting gate on the lead] and keep his face clean, and he'll run better next time.

Accorded 'Rising Star' status after overcoming an eventful journey to graduate over Aqueduct's one-turn mile at first asking on Breeders' Cup Saturday, Nov. 4, Sierra Leone looked all but home after a heroic rally in the Remsen, only to have Dornoch come back on him at the post. Opting for the long Fair Grounds stretch for his sophomore debut in the Risen Star, he was as many as 10 off the inside in upper stretch and powered home to best Track Phantom (Quality Road) and next-out GII Louisiana Derby winner Catching Freedom (Constitution) by a half-length with blinkers on for the first time.

Pedigree Notes:

Sierra Leone is the eighth elite-level winner for his leading fourth-crop sire and is the only winner from his dam, who carried the silks of breeder Debby Oxley to victory in this track's GI Darley Alcibiades S. in 2017.

Heavenly Love is a daughter of Darling My Darling, a $300,000 Keeneland September purchase by John Oxley in 1998 who won the Doubledogdare S. and Raven Run S. in Lexington while also placing in the GI Frizette S. and GI Matron S. Darling My Darling is also the dam of 2016 GII Santa Ynez S. winner Forever Darling (Congrats), whose son Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) is the top 3-year-old dirt horse in Japan and followed up on a narrow victory in the G3 Saudi Derby Feb. 24 with success in the Mar. 30 G2 UAE Derby for trainer Yoshito Yahagi, stamping his own ticket to Louisville. Sierra Leone's Grade I-winning third dam also produced Japanese Horse of the Year Zenno Rob Roy (Jpn) (Sunday Silence).

Heavenly Love foaled a colt by Nyquist in 2022 and produced a full-sister to Sierra Leone Feb. 11.

Saturday, Keeneland
TOYOTA BLUE GRASS S.-GI, $995,782, Keeneland, 4-6, 3yo, 1 1/8m, 1:50.08, ft.
1–SIERRA LEONE, 123, c, 3, by Gun Runner
1st Dam: Heavenly Love (GISW, $346,200), by Malibu Moon
2nd Dam: Darling My Darling, by Deputy Minister
3rd Dam: Roamin Rachel, by Mining
1ST GRADE I WIN. ($2,300,000 Ylg '22 FTSAUG). 'TDN Rising Star'. O-Peter M. Brant, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg and Brook T. Smith; B-Debby M. Oxley (KY); T-Chad C. Brown; J-Tyler Gaffalione. $581,250. Lifetime Record: 4-3-1-0, $918,000. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus* Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Just a Touch, 123, c, 3, Justify–Touching Beauty, by Tapit. 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. ($170,000 RNA Ylg '22 KEESEP; $125,000 Ylg '22 FTKOCT; $300,000 2yo '23 OBSAPR). O-Qatar Racing, LLC, Resolute Racing and Marc Detampel; B-Don Alberto Corporation (KY); T-Brad H. Cox. $187,500.
3–Epic Ride, 123, c, 3, Blame–Pick a Time, by Gio Ponti. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE, 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. ($160,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). O-Welch Racing LLC; B-Fred W. Hertrich (KY); T-John Ennis. $93,750.
Margins: 1HF, 3 3/4, 1 1/4. Odds: 1.66, 3.31, 51.37.
Also Ran: Dornoch, Mugatu, Top Conor, Seize the Grey, Be You, Lat Long, Good Money. Scratched: Encino.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

#10 SIERRA LEONE ($5.32) explodes down the stretch to win Keeneland's $1,000,000 Blue Grass Stakes (G1)!@Tyler_Gaff gave the son of @Three_Chimneys's Gun Runner a perfectly-timed ride for trainer Chad Brown. Congratulations to the connections! pic.twitter.com/giC8STcap4

— TVG (@TVG) April 6, 2024

The post Sierra Leone Stamps His Authority On The Blue Grass appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Even that lavish investor in the yearling market, Mike Repole, won the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile with a homebred. Except for a couple of European turf juveniles, the rest of the show was a parade of champions raised by “end users”: a couple apiece for Godolphin and Juddmonte, plus one each for the programs operated by Coolmore, Cheveley Park Stud and George Krikorian.

Now, to be fair, they all reached that coveted winner's enclosure with the help of stallions beyond most pockets, with Curlin the most radiant example. And, besides, we're obviously peering through a narrow and fairly random window on the overall state of the game.

That said, if this meeting is where we all want to end up, it would be very hard to look at this sample and conclude that the commercial market is functioning very effectively.

That won't bother most people, so long as they can keep eking out some kind of profit from a fiendishly precarious trade. But perhaps it's a useful context to remind ourselves of the fundamental equilibrium on which the whole market depends: namely, that you need to retain sufficient mystery for the little guy still to have a chance; but values meanwhile have to stand up enough for the big investors to feel as though they can get some kind of edge. Put it another way: if the sale-topper won the Derby every year, the whole business would collapse overnight; but if a Rich Strike won every year, well, the whole business would collapse overnight.

Anyway, the point is that every now and then the industry needs a 'TDN Rising Star' Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) to come along and make sense of what, in his case, was the second highest price paid at an American yearling auction in 2022.

His first three dams are, respectively, a juvenile Grade I winner, a dual Grade I runner-up (also at two) and a Grade I sprint winner; and, as luck should have it, he belongs to the third crop of what has meanwhile proved the most phenomenal young sire of recent times. When you spend $2.3 million on a colt that has never had a saddle on his back, you're obviously wagering primarily on a potential stallion career. And, with those Twin Spires taking tangible shape on the horizon, the partners who placed this particular bet are still very much in the game.

Sierra Leone was bred by Debby M. Oxley from her homebred GI Darley Alcibiades S. winner Heavenly Love (Malibu Moon), whose dam Darling My Darling (Deputy Minister) had been bought by Oxley's husband John for $300,000 as a Keeneland September yearling in 1998.

Darling My Darling's own mother, GI Ballerina H. winner Roamin Rachel (Mining), was sold in the same ring that November, to Nobuo Tsunoda for $750,000–a price vindicated the following summer when Darling My Darling (her second foal) won on debut at Saratoga before consecutive runner-up finishes at Grade I level.

Roamin Rachel had been sold carrying a Storm Cat filly, who managed a single start, but has since produced three group winners in Japan; Roamin Rachel, for her part, was sent for her next cover to Sunday Silence, and came up with Japanese Horse of the Year Zenno Rob Roy (Jpn).

Heavenly Love's half-sister by Congrats, herself Grade II-placed, has meanwhile given the family tree additional Japanese luster through her son Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}), who is about to try to give the family a second consecutive weekend in the sophomore spotlight in the G3 Saudi Derby.

Even without that later boon to his page, then, everything was in place for Sierra Leone on paper. Heavenly Love herself admittedly proved unable to build on her juvenile success, albeit she did manage third in the GIII Regret S.; while her first foal by Uncle Mo did little more than retrieve the covering fee. Sierra Leone must have been a very different physical proposition, then, to be topping the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale.

It had been prescient of his breeders, of course, to persevere with Gun Runner at precisely the point most commercial breeders back off from exposure by a stallion's first runners on the track. The Three Chimneys top gun would take the customary trim in fee the following year, from his opening $70,000 to $50,000, but his numbers held up throughout: 156 mares kept the faith in 2020, leaving Sierra Leone among 120 live foals in his third crop. These also include the fillies who consolidated another stellar weekend for their sire by finishing second and third in the GII Rachel Alexandra S. and first and second in the Sunland Park Oaks.

We have long since got over any surprise that Gun Runner's first crop should have been so precocious, making him not just champion freshman but leading sire of 2-year-olds, despite himself having thrived with maturity. As a result, however, fewer people remarked how his second crop actually made precisely the kind of tepid start that might have been readily indulged in their predecessors. In fact, as juveniles they didn't muster a single stakes success between them. Four, however, proceeded to win graded stakes as sophomores last year.

Gun Runner's third crop tilted the balance back the other way. Of 45 entering the gate as juveniles last year, four won graded stakes–including Locked, already his seventh Grade I winner and himself about to resume the Derby trail.

Sierra Leone missed becoming the crop's fifth juvenile graded winner by just a nose, in the GII Remsen S., but has now emulated his sire by winning the GII Risen Star S. off a layoff. Whether his focus was aided by blinkers, or he's simply becoming more professional with experience, he saw the race out rather better than when worried out of the Remsen, despite that wide sweep for home and runner-up Track Phantom (Quality Road) having controlled the tempo at his leisure.

Track Phantom had cost $500,000 at Keeneland September, where the third Catching Freedom (Constitution) was similarly found in Book 1, for $575,000. Given that Catching Freedom looked like a horse still learning his trade, this proved a race to give fresh credibility to the yearling market. Perhaps we don't have to tear up those catalogues just yet.

'Beach'-Combers Share Godolphin Success

As already acknowledged, breed-to-race programs are only so dominant because they tend to match their patienc–such a rare commodity in the commercial sector–with similarly uncommon financial resources. But they still need discipline, and the fatalism to accept that the culls essential even to the most lavish operations will occasionally convert years of work and expense into an overnight dividend for somebody else.

The Godolphin team's delight over the success of 'TDN Rising Star' Tarifa (Bernardini) in the GII Rachel Alexandra S. is presumably tempered somewhat by the fact that they sold her young dam Kite Beach (Awesome Again), carrying a full sister, just nine months after she had delivered this first foal. Mind you, a good deal more regret is doubtless being experienced by the people who bought Kite Beach at the Keeneland November Sale for $100,000, because just weeks later they “flipped” her for $115,000 at Fasig-Tipton February. That must feel like a pretty marginal gain now.

Ultimately Kite Beach was bought by Calumet, who sold Tarifa's sister at Fasig-Tipton last July for $105,000. While that sale nearly cleared their investment in one hit, congratulations must in turn go to purchaser Matthew Davis. Both he and Calumet, with their different stakes in her success, must be watching Tarifa's rise with due excitement.

Because for Kite Beach to produce a talent like this, at the first attempt, revives a rather dormant branch of an extremely famous family tree. She's a daughter of Tizdubai (Cee's Tizzy)–whose own mother Cee's Song (Seattle Song) must be counted one of the most remarkable producers of modern times.

Tizdubai was bought for Sheikh Mohammed as a weanling by John Ferguson for $950,000 at the 2001 Keeneland November Sale, a price that reflected her brother Tiznow's second consecutive success in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic just days previously. Cee's Song and Cee's Tizzy had already produced his brother Budroyale to finish second in that race, besides winning multiple graded stakes; and Tizdubai herself would duly proceed to win the GII Sorrento S.

Cee's Song was herself sold at the same November Sale as Tizdubai, for $2.6 million, inevitably in foal to Cee's Tizzy. The resulting filly, Tizamazing, never made the track but later produced Classic winner Oxbow. Unfortunately, the new owners of Cee's Song evidently decided that she was doing all this despite Cee's Tizzy, and not because of him, and instead favored her with serial $500,000 dates with Storm Cat.

These did not work out so well. Meanwhile another of the Song–Tizzy crew, Tizso, was sold for $625,000 despite an unproductive track career, and then produced Paynter to win the GI Haskell S. (Tizso also produced a couple of seven-figure yearlings so it was disappointing, shall we say, to see her sent into the ring at the age of 25 and sold for $62,000).

Tarifa | Hodges Photography

Both Paynter and Oxbow were by Awesome Again, and it was resorting to that ageing patriarch for Tizdubai's 2016 cover that produced Kite Beach. By then Tizdubai had come to seem a disappointing producer, despite serial elite covers.

Kite Beach did nothing to improve matters, being unraced, while her siblings that did make it to the racetrack showed little. One Shamardal filly did win on debut in England, but ended up struggling in a low grade and was sold for 45,000gns. Her son by Pioneerof the Nile is Cabo Spirit, latterly a dual graded stakes winner on turf in California, but Tizdubai's overall record as a producer makes it easy to understand why Kite Beach should have been culled.

But Awesome Again has served the Deputy Minister brand very well, as a broodmare sire; and of course Tarifa is by an outstanding such influence in Bernardini. So you'd have to be optimistic for Tarifa's prospects in her next career, as Mr. Davis can be about her sister.

Remarkable to see, meanwhile, that Calumet's first choice for Kite Beach was Paynter's son Knicks Go. The resulting colt, now a yearling, is inbred to an exceptional degree: his dam is by Awesome Again out of Tizdubai, and his grandsire is by Awesome Again out of Tizdubai's full sister Tizso. Plenty of egg in that pudding!

Patience Pays On Both Sides For Stronghold

As just noted, Awesome Again has contributed to a cluster of successful broodmare sires under Deputy Minister (himself sire of Sierra Leone's second dam). And among others to do so is his own son Ghostzapper, most conspicuously as damsire of Justify.

We have also credited Ghostzapper as one of those few sires to get a commercial yearling into the winner's circle at the last Breeders' Cup. So his prowess as a distaff influence must now augur well for the lady in question, Goodnight Olive, in her maiden cover by Not This Time (who sired Up to the Mark from a Ghostzapper mare).

Ghostzapper has now turned 24 but continues to rebuke the (largely self-fulfilling) mistrust among some breeders regarding older sires. Over the years he has also paid for a lack of precocity in his stock but nonetheless accounted for perhaps the most brilliant juvenile of last summer in Rhyme Schemes, unfortunately sidelined since.

Last weekend another member of the same crop, Stronghold, won the GIII Sunland Derby, the 100th worldwide stakes winner for Ghostzapper. Either way, how well he has steadied the ship after enduring some wild tides early in his stud career. Launched at $200,000 after one of the definitive speed-carrying displays of the modern breed, Ghostzapper was slashed from $125,000 to $30,000 (and soon $20,000) in one go after his first juveniles blew out. It was a long road back, but he fully merits a fee that has settled at $75,000, with career ratios that make him a very similar sire to Uncle Mo.

Stronghold himself is another of those homebreds to advertise the merit of playing the long game. Eric and Sharon Waller bought his fourth dam after she was a $12,000 RNA at Barretts in January 1998, and from her bred Swiss Diva (Swiss Yodeler) to win her first three starts including the California Breeders' Champion S. by eight lengths. Swiss Diva's first foal (a filly by Henny Hughes) was unable to race because of injury, but she would redress that misfortune as dam of Spectator (Jimmy Creed), winner of the GII Sorrento S. and twice Grade I-placed.

Spectator has now given the Wallers a run at the Derby with Stronghold, who managed to elude Bob Baffert in New Mexico and so elevated himself to fourth in the points board. He had previously counted the Risen Star runner-up and fourth among his pursuers when breaking his maiden over the Churchill surface.

Little Legacy Is On The Money

Marvin “Junior” Little was a man I would have loved to interview. He evidently knew plenty about the “real” world–never finished school, served in the Navy and was set for a factory job until a steel strike intervened–but proved a special talent when finding his way into our magical little one. Eventually he worked his way up to become manager of Newstead Farm, Virginia, until presiding over its $47-million dispersal in 1985. This was crowned by the homebred star Miss Oceana, in foal to Northern Dancer, at what was then a record price of $7 million.

Moving back to his native Kentucky, Little showed no less flair in managing his own, rather more modest program, which notably produced champion Hansel. And while he was sadly lost in 2017, his legacy of horsemanship endures through his children Marilyn, Jeff and Teresa. For they are listed as co-breeders with William Lynn of Money Supply (Practical Joke), who continued his transformation for Joe Sharp in the GIII Mineshaft S.

This horse achieved a good yield as a yearling, selling to Klaravich Stable for $400,000, but last summer he had reached a point where Chad Brown dropped him into a $32,000 claimer at Saratoga. For his new barn, Money Supply is now on a streak of five, reaching a new peak in a race that has lately drawn attention to others thriving with maturity in Olympiad and Maxfield.

As his original cost indicates, Money Supply was bred for this kind of caliber–even though co-breeder Lynn signed a docket of just $30,000 for his dam Evita's Sister (Candy Ride {Arg}) (in foal to the young Into Mischief) at the Keeneland November Sale of 2013. She owed her name to full-sister Evita Argentina, who had won the GI La Brea S., while their dam was out of an unraced half-sister to Trippi.

A few seams of gold there, then, for Practical Joke to be mining. Albeit aided by conspicuous volume, the Ashford sire is clinging to the slipstream of Gun Runner more tenaciously than the rest of their intake, earning a further hike to $65,000 this year. Money Supply is already his fourth stakes winner of the year, and watch out for another of them, the flying Skelly, in the desert this weekend.

A $5,000 Sire Showing Elite Potential

Having long recommended the horse, I make no apology for highlighting the fact that something really does seem to be afoot with Preservationist. Last weekend the Fair Grounds maiden winner Antiquarian, incidentally a $250,000 yearling off a $10,000 cover, became his ninth scorer since the turn of the year. Among second-crop sires, only Audible (12) has more–and they have respectively had 52 and 28 starters.

Preservationist had the commercial odds stacked against him, as a son of Arch who had won his Grade I at the age of six, but he has a sensational shape to his pedigree, posing fourth dam Too Chic opposite his sire's third dam Courtly Dee. Even so, only a farm as enlightened as Airdrie would have given him an opportunity, and his books have been on a predictable slide since he mustered 102 mares for his debut season.

So he had to make his one chance count, and he appears to be doing just that. An interesting template is In a Jam, who took as many as eight starts to break his maiden but posted a big number when doing so and again when following up in allowance company. It looks like people with the patience to let a horse gain a little maturity and experience are going to be very well rewarded, and they can now get to Preservationist for just $5,000.

He even has a filly on the Kentucky Oaks trail, with Martha Washington S. winner Band of Gold heading to the GIII Honeybee S. on Saturday. Her late breeder, Airdrie's founder Brereton C. Jones, was synonymous with that Classic. But he was also celebrated for producing top-class stallions somewhat out of left field–and perhaps we're already seeing that legacy being extremely well-“preserved.”

Band of Gold | Coady

The post Breeding Digest: High Stakes Paying Off With Sierra Leone appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Since then, the youngster's pedigree has grown even more impressive as his elder sister Tamara (Bolt d'Oro) won the GI Del Mar Debutante S. in jaw-dropping fashion. The 'TDN Rising Star' was the heavy favorite going into the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, but finished seventh and came out of the race with a small fracture in a hind splint bone.

In the meantime, Zedan Racing's $4 million purchase–who was the first of Beholder's babies to go to public auction–was sent to Eddie Woods Stables and has slowly been learning the ropes of the racetrack in sunny Ocala. The colt is now just days away from turning two and veteran Woods says that his charge is taking every step in the right direction.

“We've taken him through the paces slowly,” Woods reported. “He's now been galloping on the track about three weeks. He's jogging about half a mile and he's cantering a mile and we'll kind of keep it at that for a while. We're probably going to be giving him a little bit of a break here after a while just to get over the breaking process.”

The yearling earned a bit of a reputation in Saratoga when he was on his toes in the sales ring and put in one hair-raising rear, but Woods said that the colt has been nothing but straightforward in his demeanor. One only needs to watch as the young athlete steps through the gate without so much as batting an eye to agree.

“He was a little wiry one day in public so everyone just thinks that's the way they are and it's not always the case,” Woods said. “He's a good-feeling horse and he'll be on it a little bit, but he behaves himself well and he's good in traffic. He moves well and he's been a pretty straightforward kind of colt.”

Fans of this exciting prospect and his talented family will have to wait well into 2024 to see him near his debut.

“He's not a horse that is going to be running four-and-a-half or five furlongs or anything like that,” Woods said. “He won't run until probably Del Mar or something. You can put in a lot of unnecessary miles on him, so we'll just give him a chance to grow up and get over being broken and just be a horse.”

Woods has had plenty of sons and daughters of leading sire Curlin at his successful training facility and he's trained almost as many seven-figure yearlings, but he said this is the first foal from Beholder's impressive family that he has had the privilege of working with and added that this colt might have the highest price tag in his stable's history.

“We've had a lot of expensive horses, but we haven't had a $4 million one here before,” he noted. “So it's pretty cool. He's a lovely-looking horse.”

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The sometimes difficult-to-handle 4-year-old colt was outsprinted and settled in centerfield through the early exchanges, as Dominican Pioneer (Pioneerof the Nile) ensured that the nine-furlong event would be run at a genuine tempo. Stitched (Mizzen Mast), winner of the relocated GII Wise Dan S. over the summer, did his part to keep the pacesetter honest and John Velazquez aboard the 4-1 Smokin' T would have been plenty pleased with what was happening on the business end of things, as he settled his charge three deep with cover on the back of Injunction (Skipshot) down the backstretch. Angled out on the turn, just beating Harlan Estate (Kantharos) to a spot, Smokin T' swung out wide for the drive and had dead aim on the leaders, surged to the front inside the eighth pole and sailed clear as Harlan Estate and Siege of Boston (War Front) finished with gusto to fill the minor placings.

Smokin' T picked up his first win of 2023 in a second-level allowance going a mile here May 5 with Velazquez at the controls and was a narrowly beaten second in the May 27 Cliff Hanger S. at Monmouth ahead of a maiden black-type success in the Aug. 5 Lure S. at Saratoga. The bay couldn't quite seal the deal when defeated a half-length into third in the GIII Mint Millions S. at Kentucky Downs Sept. 2 and backed up on two weeks' rest, but was no better than third in the GIII BWI Turf Cup at Pimlico.

“He's always been a bit headstrong in the early part of his races. I think he did a better job relaxing today and not wasting as much energy,” assistant trainer Reeve McGaughey said. “We thought this distance would suit him better. It was also nice to see him finish well once he got in front. At Kentucky Downs two starts ago he sort of hung a little bit. He's had a solid year and likes this track here at Churchill.”

Pedigree Notes:

It has been another rock-solid season for the now 21-year-old War Front, whose sons Seal Team (GB) (GII Twilight Derby) and War at Sea (GIII Golden Gate H.) added to his tally last weekend. Overall, War Front is the sire of a dozen stakes winners in 2023, nine of which have come at the graded-stakes level. He is now responsible for 66 GSWs worldwide.

Wine Princess was campaigned by Becky Winemiller, who gave $475,000 for the daughter of Horse of the Year Azeri at the 2010 Keeneland September Sale. Trained by Steve Margolis, Wine Princess amassed a record of 5-5-1 from 13 starts including a win in the 2012 GIII Monmouth Oaks before closing her career with a defeat of that year's GI Breeders' Cup Distaff runner-up Don't Tell Sophia (Congaree) in this track's GII Falls City H. She was also third in the GI Juddmonte Spinster S. Wine Princess, a half-sister to Japanese MGSP Leukerbad (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), the latter's GSP full-brother Shirvanshah (Jpn) and GSP Arienza (Giant's Causeway), was purchased by DATTT Farm LLC for $3 million at the 2014 Fasig-Tipton November Sale, tied for the second-priciest offering behind GI Kentucky Oaks winner Princess of Sylmar (Majestic Warrior).

Also a 19th GSW produced by a daughter of Ghostzapper, Smokin' T has a yearling half-brother by Authentic that was purchased by Whitehorse Stables for $450,000 at Fasig-Tipton Saratoga this summer and a weanling half-brother by Charlatan.

Saturday, Churchill Downs
RIVER CITY S.-GIII, $289,858, Churchill Downs, 11-11, 3yo/up, 1 1/8mT, 1:50.66, gd.
1–SMOKIN' T, 121, c, 4, by War Front
1st Dam: Wine Princess (MGSW & GISP, $461,561), by Ghostzapper
2nd Dam: Azeri, by Jade Hunter
3rd Dam: Zodiac Miss (Aus), by Ahonoora (GB)
1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($295,000 RNA Ylg '20 KEESEP).
O/B-Dattt Farm LLC (KY); T-Claude R. McGaughey III; J-John R.
Velazquez. $174,150. Lifetime Record: 18-5-1-6, $700,460.
Werk Nick Rating: F. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Harlan Estate, 121, g, 5, Kantharos–Archerette, by Arch.
($39,000 RNA Ylg '19 FTKJUL; $90,000 2yo '20 OBSMAR;
$150,000 4yo '22 KEENOV). O-Graham Grace Stable; B-Tall
Oaks Farm (ON); T-D. Whitworth Beckman. $46,500.
3–Siege of Boston, 121, c, 4, War Front–Peinture Rare (Ire), by
Sadler's Wells. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. O-Joseph Allen LLC;
B-Joseph Allen, LLC & White Birch Farm, Inc. (KY); T-James J.
Toner. $28,250.
Margins: 1 3/4, NK, 3/4. Odds: 4.27, 15.05, 5.70.
Also Ran: Grand Sonata, Dominican Pioneer, Injunction, Rockemperor (Ire), Red Run, Kitodan, F Five, Cellist, Stitched. Scratched: Accredit, Beatbox, Street Ready. Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

GSW #66 FOR WAR FRONT

Smokin' T (4yo colt by WAR FRONT) flies home to take the G3 River City Stakes going 9 furlongs on the grass @ChurchillDowns.

Congratulations to owner/breeder DATTT Stable, trainer Shug McGaughey, and jockey @ljlmvel! https://t.co/TfoBLOIZYW

— Claiborne Farm (@claibornefarm) November 11, 2023

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Facing a field of mostly more experienced runners, the 3-1 shot had to contend with another million-dollar purchase in Change of Command (Into Mischief) from the inside along with the younger half-brother to dual GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner Cody's Wish in Hunt Ball (Into Mischief). A step slow from a middle gate, Sierra Leone was quickly outrun into the opening furlong and dropped back to beat only runner while taking dirt from nearly the entire field. Caught in tight quarters into the turn in this one-mile event, he had to back out and faced a wall of horses with a quarter mile to run. Jockey Manny Franco moved to angle his mount to the outside but Sierra Leone ducked out sharply on the wrong lead, lugged back in toward the rail and then drifted back out before finally swapping leads right at the furlong marker. Finally in the clear, he came sweeping past the inside leaders and won going away despite still needing to be straightened out when passing horses.

The second foal out of GI Darley Alcibiades S. winner Heavenly Love, Seirra Leone is from the extended female family of Japanese Horse of the Year Zenno Rob Roy (Jpn) (Sunday Silence) and from a third dam that also produced the dams of no fewer than three Group winners in Japan. The dam's yearling Nyquist colt brought $250,000 at last month's Fasig-Tipton October Yearling Sale and she returned to Gun Runner for a full-sibling to Sierra Leone in 2024.

7th-Aqueduct, $85,000, Msw, 11-4, 2yo, 1m, 1:36.94, ft, 1 1/4 lengths.
SIERRA LEONE, c, 2, Gun Runner
                1st Dam: Heavenly Love {GISW, $346,200},
                                by Malibu Moon)
                2nd Dam: Darling My Darling, by Deputy Minister
                3rd Dam: Roamin Rachel, by Mining
Sales History: $2,300,000 Ylg '22 FTSAUG. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $46,750. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
O-Mrs John Magnier, Michael B Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg, Rocket Ship Racing, LLC and Peter M. Brant; B-Debby M. Oxley (KY); T-Chad C. Brown.

SIERRA LEONE, the 2YO son of @Three_Chimneys stallion Gun Runner, breaks his maiden in Race 7 with @jockeyfranco aboard for trainer Chad Brown. pic.twitter.com/gpQnsZdPcx

— NYRA () (@TheNYRA) November 4, 2023

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Watch Hip 202 c. GUN RUNNER o/o Heavenly Love sells for $2,300,000 at The Saratoga Sale! Congratulations to all the connections!#FasigSaratoga @Gainesway @Three_Chimneys @coolmorestud @WhiteBirchFarm_ pic.twitter.com/7R8MJ4IKQG

— Fasig-Tipton (@FasigTiptonCo) August 10, 2022

5th-AQU, $85K, Msw, 2yo, f, 1 1/16mT, 2:00 p.m. ET
JUST JULES (Justify), a $1.05-million KEESEP yearling, is the latest to the races from the Grade II-placed juvenile Fully Living (Unbridled's Song), already the dam of MGSP Untreated (Nyquist) and Ballet Dancing (Medaglia d'Oro), last-out winner of the grassy GIII Santa Ana S. at Santa Anita. Fully Living is a half-sister to this year's GIII Canadian Derby victor Abeliefinthislivin (Arrogate, while champion and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies heroine Halfbridled (Unbridled) appears in the third dam. A $600,000 FTSAUG purchase, Hollywood Dream (Uncle Mo) is out of Miss Hollywood (Malibu Moon), a stakes-winning daughter of George Krikorian's MGISW Hollywood Story (Wild Rush), whose son Honor A. P. (Honor Code) won the 2020 GI Santa Anita Derby. Public Assembly (More Than Ready), a $100,000 in-utero purchase at KEENOV in 2020 before fetching $300,000 at KEESEP, is out of a full-sister to MGSW Csaba (Kitten's Joy) and SW & GISP Kitten's Queen. TJCIS PPs

7th-CD, $120K, Msw, 2yo, 7f, 4:55 p.m. ET
GIVE ME A REASON (Justify) draws the rail for this first trip to the races and is out of the Grade I-winner and outstanding producer Dream of Summer (Siberian Summer), whose offspring include Grade I-winning juvenile Creative Cause (Giant's Causeway), MGSW and GI Belmont S. runner-up Destin (Giant's Causeway), GISW Vexatious (Giant's Causeway) and GSP Summer Promise (Uncle Mo). Give Me a Reason cost $500,000 at Keeneland last fall. Godolphin's Knightsbridge (Nyquist), a homebred half-brother to GISW Speaker's Corner (Street Sense), is out of an unraced daughter of 2006 GI Breeders' Cup Distaff upsetter Round Pond (Awesome Again). TJCIS PPs

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From a catalogue of 337 head, 243 went through the ring with 87 failing to meet their reserves for a buy-back rate of 35.8%. That was up from last year's figure of 25.3%.

“It was very similar to the last few yearling sales,” Derek MacKenzie, whose Vinery Sales consigned four of the auction's nine six-figure horses, including the sale-topping weanling, said of the market in Saratoga Tuesday. “It was very polarized. The ones that the buyers covet and that jump through the hoops bring a lot of money. We are lacking a little bit of depth, obviously. The middle and the bottom is trickier than it has been in the last few years.”

Hip 251 is out of Popstar (Medaglia d'Oro) and is a half-brother to stakes-placed Lady d'Oro (Catholic Boy). Vinery consigned the youngster on behalf of his breeder, Richard Nicolai's Fortune Farm.

“He was a very fantastic physical and he had great size,” said Vinery's Derek MacKenzie. “He was a great mover with incredible presence. I thought he would top the sale, honestly.”

Of the sales record price, MacKenzie said, “Once you pass the $200,000 mark at this sale, you just never know. Because that seems to be the ceiling in the past, but [the price] didn't shock me.”

The sale-topping price produced a quick profit for Nicolai, who purchased Popstar with the colt in utero for $29,000 at the Keeneland January sale earlier this year.

“I was not involved with purchasing the mare, but I congratulated [Nicolai] on what was an incredible purchase,” MacKenzie said.

On behalf of Juddmonte, Sequel New York offered three mares in foal to Honest Mischief and the trio were the only broodmares to bring six figures during the auction. Glen Hill Farm purchased the highest-priced of the lot, going to $170,000 to acquire the unraced 4-year-old Bahama Banks (Arrogate) (hip 25).

“We had a busy morning because we sold a horse in the Arqana October sale and he made a nice price,” said Glen Hill's Craig Bernick. “So I was kind of excited and I went a little more on that mare than I was planning to. But we wanted to have her.”

The mare is a half-sister to multiple graded placed Millefeuille (Curlin). Her second dam is Grade I winner Honest Lady (Seattle Slew), who produced Grade I winner First Defence (Unbridled's Song), as well as graded placed Honest Mischief.

“It's a world-class pedigree,” Bernick said. “We've never been able to get something that we thought was good from that Toussaud, Honest Lady family. When they've sold out of that family, those horses usually make a huge price. So we were really excited to buy her. She is in foal to a horse that's in New York, but it's a horse that goes back to the same family. So you'd have to hope for a filly to be inbred to that family. We will bring her to Kentucky and figure out what stallion to go to. She will go to a good stallion.”

Honest Mischief, who stands at Sequel New York for $6,500, was well-represented by his first crop at the Fasig-Tipton New York-Bred Yearling Sale in August with five six-figure yearlings. But the New York stallion's presence as a covering sire might have saved Bernick some money, he said.

“If she was in foal to a $50,000 Kentucky stallion, I think she would have made $400,000 or $500,000,” Bernick said. “So the stallion maybe did us a favor. We like to race horses, so Honest Mischief, I wouldn't go looking for one, but from that family, especially if it's a filly, I would be excited to race her.”

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Just under two weeks after her yearling by Curlin lit up the ring at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale, champion Beholder (Henny Hughes) enjoyed another banner result when her 2-year-old daughter Tamara (Bolt d'Oro) was tabbed a 'TDN Rising Star' following her professional debut victory at Del Mar Saturday.

Sent off as the 3-1 second choice, Tamara bobbled slightly at the break from the inside gate, but rushed up along the rail beneath Mike Smith to sit just off pacesetting favorite Hope Road (Quality Road) through fractions of :22.53 and :46.11. She tipped out a path at the top of the lane, collared Hope Road–a dead-heat runner-up to recent GIII Sorrento S. third Dua (Arrogate) on her bow July 22–inside the final furlong before skipping clear to the wire to win by 2 1/4 lengths. It was another 5 1/2 lengths back to Desert Rhapsody (Cairo Prince) in third. The final time for the 6 1/2 furlongs was 1:17.37.

Tamara, named for late Spendthrift owner B. Wayne Hughes's daughter, is the fourth foal out of the operation's four-time champion Beholder. Her year-older half-sister Teena Ella (War Front) won the GIII Senorita S. in May, while her year-younger half-brother by Curlin topped the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale two weeks ago when selling for $4 million to Amr Zedan.

“[Late Spendthrift owner] Wayne [Hughes] insisted we breed Beholder to Bolt out of respect for our partner Mick Ruis,” Spendthrift's Mark Toothaker tweeted after the victory. “There was some debate, but Wayne would hear none of it. Beholder's groom taking care of her as well.”

Tamara's deeper female family needs little introduction. Beholder, a $180,000 purchase by Spendthrift at Keeneland September in 2011, was bred by Clarkland Farm, who purchased dam Leslie's Lady for $100,000 in foal to Orientate at the 2006 Keeneland November Sale. Just over a year later, Into Mischief made that decision look good when taking out the GI CashCall Futurity for Hughes and Richard Mandella. Into Mischief has since gone on to become one of the most successful sires in the world, with 133 black-type winners to date.

By the time Leslie's Lady's Scat Daddy colt sold to Coolmore for a sales-topping price of $3 million at Keeneland September in 2016, Beholder had won 10 Grade Is and three Eclipse Awards before adding to both totals when going out a winner in a memorable renewal of the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff. Mendelssohn became a Breeders' Cup champion in his own right in the 2018 GI Juvenile Turf–at Del Mar–and is also off to a promising start at stud. Leslie's Lady is also the dam of Clarkland's 'TDN Rising Star' Marr Time (Not This Time).

Barren to Gun Runner for 2023, Beholder was bred back to Spendthrift's Jackie's Warrior this year.

7th-Del Mar, $84,500, Msw, 8-19, 2yo, f, 6 1/2f, 1:17.37, ft, 2 1/4 lengths.
TAMARA f, 2, by Bolt d'Oro
1st Dam: Beholder (Ch. 2yo Filly, Ch. 3yo Filly, 2x Ch. Older Mare,
MGISW, $6,156,600), by Henny Hughes
2nd Dam: Leslie's Lady, by Tricky Creek
3rd Dam: Crystal Lady, by Stop the Music
Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $49,200. O/B-Spendthrift Farm LLC; B-Spendthrift Farm LLC (KY); T-Richard E. Mandella. *1/2 to Teena Ella (War Front), GSW, $128,740.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree, or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

Tamara & @mikeesmith10 win going away!

The daughter of Beholder is the spitting image of the Champion mare. pic.twitter.com/E9A8IGyPGp

— Del Mar Racetrack (@DelMarRacing) August 20, 2023

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SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY – The Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale of Selected Yearlings, which looked to have a tough task to live up to its record-smashing 2022 renewal, proved more than equal to that task and, when a fast and frenetic session concluded Tuesday night, the auction had once again set high-water marks for gross and average and tied its record median.

“We have experienced some magical nights in Saratoga in the past and you've heard me talk about the Saratoga magic, but we ain't seen nothing like tonight,” a jubilant Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning, Jr. said Tuesday night. “It was spectacular from the very first horse in the ring–or maybe the very first share in the ring–to the very conclusion of the sale. It just goes to show you what happens when you have the opportunity to sell exceptional physical horses that have outstanding pedigrees to an unbelievable group of buyers that love Saratoga.”

A total of 153 yearlings sold during the two-day auction for a record gross of $74,780,000. The average was $488,758–an increase of the record of $468,217 set last year–and the median was unchanged at $375,000.

With 50 horses reported not sold, the buy-back rate was 24.6%. It was 20.11% last year.

A colt with a sparkling pedigree–a son of champion Curlin out of champion Beholder–had been the most- discussed yearling on the grounds leading up to the sale and, during a dramatic star turn in the ring, the yearling became the highest-priced horse to sell at Saratoga since 2000 when Amr Zedan made his $4-million bid.

The Saratoga record for a yearling is a $4.6-million colt by Northern Dancer sold in 1984, the same year a son of Roberto sold for $4 million. In 2000, a son of Seattle Slew brought a final bid of $4.2 million.

Zedan, who has habitually made the top purchases at the 2-year-olds in training sales in the last three years, returned later in the session to purchase a colt by Into Mischief for $3.2 million.

“Obviously, I hope Mr. Zedan returns to Saratoga,” Browning said. “His first trip to Saratoga had quite an impact on the sale overall, but it wasn't a one-man show.”

In all, 10 yearlings sold for seven figures this year. There were 14 to hit that mark last year. Fifty-two yearlings sold for $500,000 or above this year, compared to 39 a year ago.

“The consistency of bidding throughout the night, particularly on the top-end lots–anything over $300,000–at times the auctioneers and the bid spotters had trouble keeping up with the bidding,” Browning said. “Not because they weren't doing their job, but because there were so many bids coming it was hard to keep up. It was an unbelievable energy, an unbelievable atmosphere and unbelievable results tonight.”

“You've heard me talk about the Saratoga magic, but we ain't seen nothing like tonight.”

Listen to Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning's closing remarks at the close of The 102nd Saratoga Sale #FasigSaratoga pic.twitter.com/99DoNyAU41

— Fasig-Tipton (@FasigTiptonCo) August 9, 2023

Fireworks for Beholder's Colt by Curlin

Amr Zedan, who has made a habit of buying high-priced juveniles at auctions in the last few years, was an ominiously quiet presence around the sales grounds during Monday's first session of the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale, but the Saudi businessman made plenty of noise during the auction's second session, going to $4 million to acquire a colt by Curlin out of champion Beholder (hip 165) and following up with a $3.2-million son of Into Mischief (hip 228). Zedan stood alongside trainer Bob Baffert and bloodstock agent Donato Lanni on the balcony overlooking the ring during the bidding on the colt, who was consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency on behalf of his breeder, Spendthrift Farm.

“It is very difficult to find these kind of bloodlines,” Zedan said. “It's a rarity to find them at auction. Coming in here and seeing that quality–it took some time to actually take a look at him and really appreciate who he is as an individual. We hope he makes us proud when he becomes a stallion. He could actually be as impactful as his predecssors–as his mother and his father. We are so blessed and privileged to have him and can't thank the boss [Baffert] right here enough.”

Baffert had a front-row seat to Beholder (Henny Hughes)'s historic racing career, which included four Eclipse championships and 11 Grade I victories for Spendthrift Farm and trainer Richard Mandella. When the mare's yearling son began rearing in the ring Tuesday night, Baffert saw some similarities.

“I was stabled next to Richard Mandella and I watched Beholder go by my barn every day and she was a handful,” Baffert said. “He is a handful, too, but with a pedigree like that you have to take a swing at it if you want to play at that top level, which is where Mr. Zedan wants to be. It's a lot of money for a horse who hasn't run, but he looks like an athlete and hopefully everything goes well. He's an outstanding individual. We loved him at the barn and we are excited to get him. He's headed to California.”

Zedan purchased the top two offerings at this year's OBS April sale, going to $2.2 million for a son of Gun Runner and $1.45 million for a colt by Arrogate. He had the top lot at the OBS March sale with Muth, a $2-million son of Good Magic, who became a 'TDN Rising Star' on debut in June.

“Spending that kind of money–it's a lot,” Zedan said of his latest sale-topping bid. “But from an operational standpoint, for the portfolio we've got, it's a well-hedged, well-calculated venture. It's not like we are shooting from the hip.”

Watch Hip 165 c. CURLIN o/o Horse of the Year Beholder sell for $4,000,000 at The Saratoga Sale!#FasigSaratoga @TaylorMadeSales @HillnDaleFarm @ZedanRacing @DonatoLanni pic.twitter.com/zo5qCRTvTH

— Fasig-Tipton (@FasigTiptonCo) August 9, 2023

On the racetrack, Zedan has been represented by Grade I winners Taiba, Arabian Lion and Princess Noor, as well as graded winner Arabian Knight, all 'TDN Rising Stars'.

“We have been blessed with successes–that's all Mr. Baffert,” Zedan said. “We do the easy part, he does the heavy lifting. We are so glad to have him on board.”

Spendthrift's Ned Toffey admitted the colt's final price tag, was no great surprise.

“We thought he would be in the $3-million to $4-million range,” Toffey said. “When we got to three, I was a little relieved and when we got to four, I was pretty happy. But that's a nice colt and that kind doesn't come along very often. A colt that looks the part with that kind of pedigree, he's a special horse. We are really happy that Amr Zedan got him.”

Toffey watched the yearling's antics in the sales ring from just a few rows back in the pavilion.

“I was very calm and relaxed,” he deadpanned when asked what he was thinking. “You saw the way the threw himself up there–he doesn't do anything casually. I am glad we had a good man on him in the ring. He did a great job handling him and keeping him in one piece. That was a little nerve-wracking, but the guy did a great job with him.”

Hear from Ned Toffey on Hip 165, a Curlin colt o/o Beholder, that sold for $4,000,000 at The Saratoga Sale! #FasigSaratoga @spendthriftfarm pic.twitter.com/CldT3ALe24

— Fasig-Tipton (@FasigTiptonCo) August 9, 2023

Just minutes after purchasing the colt, Zedan joined Toffey by his seat in the pavilion. Asked what was discussed, the Spendthrift manager said, “We've done a number of deals with him now. They have been great to deal with. So hopefully it will not be the last.”

Pressed if there was a possible partnership afoot on the colt between Zedan and Spendthrift, Toffey said, “Well, there might be.”

Taylor Made's Duncan Taylor put the colt's yearling price tag in context of his potential value down the road.

“I remember when we sold Mariah's Storm to Mr. Magnier for $2.6 million, I thought, 'Man, I can't believe he paid that much.' And [her son] Giant's Causeway probably produced $200 million worth of stud fees.

“That's the kind of horse this colt was. Taylor Made has never sold a yearling that had so much stallion power. Into Mischief, Beholder's half-brother, has been the leading sire in America four years in a row. So when you have that sire power and the father of the yearling is Curlin, who has had Cody's Wish, Elite Power, Malathaat, Clairiere and Nest all running in the same year and he still can't get ahead of Into Mischief, you know you have one yearling with a lot of stallion potential. If he wins a Grade I, it's a $75-million syndication. So it was a lot of money, but there can be a lot of return.”

Taylor concluded, “Hopefully, he will do great for Bob Baffert and Amr Zedan. And he's another picture up on the Taylor Made wall of another success story.” @JessMartiniTDN

Into Mischief Colt to Eclipse Thoroughbreds

A colt by Into Mischief out of Rachel's Valentina (Bernardini), a 'TDN Rising Star' Grade I-winning daughter of champion Rachel Alexandra (Medaglia d'Oro) (hip 135) brought a final bid of $1.5 million from Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners' Aron Wellman.

“He was an absolute standout all week long,” Wellman said of the colt. “He is by arguably the greatest sire of our generation in Into Mischief, he is out of a Grade I-winning mare, who is by Bernardini, one of the best broodmare sires of our generation. And she is out of Rachel Alexandra, who is arguably one of the best race mares of our generation. As far as his pedigree, it speaks for itself, but he has to match up physically. And he did that every which way.”

@FasigTiptonCo Saratoga Sale – Tuesday: Hip 135, a son of Into Mischief (@spendthriftfarm) out of GI winner Rachel's Valentina, sells for $1.5 million to @EclipseTBP from the @TaylorMadeSales consignment!

A grandson of Horse of the Year & Champion RACHEL ALEXANDRA. pic.twitter.com/3y1PYL9RRe

— TDN (@theTDN) August 8, 2023

The bay colt was consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency on behalf of his breeder, Barbara Banke's Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings.

“He is bred, not just the right way, but by the right people,” Wellman said. “They raise them incredibly well at Stonestreet. Every year they are turning out champions. It's an incredible operation.”

Banke sat a few rows behind Wellman during the bidding and walked up to congratulate him after the purchase.

“I just spoke to Barbara and she was certainly intrigued by the opportunity to stay in,” Wellman said. “We will discuss the details at some point. There are no other partners at this point, but Barbara will definitely stay in. We have partnered previously and there is no one better in the game than her from top to bottom. We are really honored to be associated with Stonestreet.”

The only question for Wellman came as he examined the ticket before signing for the yearling. It came in with the wrong price.

“I was astonished,” he said with a laugh. “It hung up there at $1.5 million for a while, the hammer dropped at $1.5 and she brought the ticket down at $1.6 million. Of course, Fasig-Tipton was very gracious in expeditiously correcting it.”

Aron Wellman signs the ticket for Hip 135, an Into Mischief colt, for $1,500,000 at #FasigSaratoga. @EclipseTBP pic.twitter.com/rDCQ4lojPn

— Fasig-Tipton (@FasigTiptonCo) August 9, 2023

Eclipse also bought a Denali Stud-consigned colt by Curlin–Mopotism (Uncle Mo) for $825,000 during Monday's round of bidding. Eclipse has campaigned Curlin's Grade I-winning fillies Curalina and champion Nest.

Tapit Colts Head Early Action at Day 2 at Fasig-Tipton

In contrast to Monday's opening session, it didn't take very long for the fireworks to light things up on the second day of Fasig-Tipton's Saratoga sale. A pair of Tapit colts reeled in seven-figure final bids, led by hip 129, who brought a cool $1.2 million. A son Plenty O'Toole (Tiznow), the Feb. 24 foal was purchased by Mandy Pope's Whisper Hill Farm. A $275,000 Keeneland November weanling purchase by Randy Hartley and Dean DeRenzo's AAA Thoroughbreds, the colt was consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency.

“I liked everything about him. He has a stallion-making pedigree. This was my pick of the sale,” said Pope.

Dam of MGSW and GISP Mr. Money (Goldencents) and SP Tizplenty (Speightstown), the 13-year-old Plenty O'Toole is from the family of UAE highweight Well Armed (Tiznow), victorious in the G1 Dubai World Cup in addition to the GI Goodwood S. stateside, as well as MGISW Cyberknife (Gun Runner).

“For what we were looking at, he fit the bill,” added advisor Todd Quast.

@FasigTiptonCo Saratoga Sale – Tuesday: Hip 129, a colt by Tapit (@Gainesway) out of Plenty O'Toole, sells for $1.2 million to @whisper_hill from the @TaylorMadeSales consignment!

A half-brother to MR. MONEY. pic.twitter.com/NmGVQKLNwO

— TDN (@theTDN) August 8, 2023

Whisper Hill has already tasted success courtesy of Tapit, led by Tapit Trice, winner of this year's GI Toyota Blue Grass S., and Charge It, who won the GII Suburban last month. Both colts are trained by Todd Pletcher.

Pope explained, “We're working on getting colts, and with the success of [Tapit colts] Charge It and Tapit Trice, we are trying to hit on that horse that is going to become the big stallion. That is what seems to make this business work. You have to find one of those and [develop] them. That's what you have to do.”

Only moments before, hip 123, another colt by Tapit, lit up the board to the tune of $1.1 million from the Gainesway draft. Holding the winning bid for the son of GISW Paola Queen (Flatter) was agent Mike Ryan.

“We put a syndicate together to buy him, and we'd like to keep that anonymous for the moment,” said Ryan. “He's a horse that we hope will be showing up on the big days. He has a great demeanor which is wonderful for a Tapit. He is an unbelievable stallion and a sire of sires, but you have to make sure you get the ones with the right character, personality and demeanor. He seemed to have all of that. Time will tell.”

Out of MSW and GSP Kadira (Kafwain), Paola Queen recorded her biggest career win on the track in the GI Test S. at Saratoga.

“He's a beautifully made horse with a great mind,” offered Ryan. “I'm familiar with the family. I bought the second dam, Kadira, for Carl Pollard and he bred Paola Queen. She was very brilliant the day she won the Test here. It was a fantastic performance. She was very, very impressive.”

A $180,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase, Paola Queen returned to the sales ring to bring $1.7 million from SF Bloodstock at Keeneland November in 2016 before realizing the same price from Don Alberto at that venue the following year.

“He's a beautifully made horse. He'll run at two, but he will get 1 1/8 miles,” Ryan continued. “Who knows if he will get 1 1/4 miles, but he gave us a good feel.”

He continued, “It's going to be a very strong sale, there are a lot of good horses here tonight and we knew we were going to have to stretch on this horse. That's what it takes for horses who have a chance of stallion potential after they run.”

The mare has proven to be nothing but a money-making machine, foaling an Into Mischief colt in 2020 who would go on to bring $2.6 million in Saratoga in 2021 and was duly followed by a filly, also by Spendthrift's premier sire, who brought $1.2 million at this venue last year. The latter, now named Mugen and trained by Steve Asmussen for Japanese owner Koji Maeda, was third to the promising Alys Beach (Omaha Beach) on Saratoga debut July 30 —@CBossTDN

Gainesway Hits With Another Seven-Figure Yearling on Day 2

Gainesway enjoyed a profitable run at Fasig-Tipton this week, headed by hip 77, a Quality Road colt who brought $1.1 million on Day 1 and hit the same mark Tuesday with Hip 123, a colt by Tapit out of Grade I winner Paola Queen.

Opting to bring only their highest-tier stock to Saratoga each summer, the operation's latest million dollar baby represents a family that has already proven profitable in seasons past. Over the past two seasons, Gainesway has consigned both of Paola Queen's seven-figure yearlings that have gone through the ring.

“We were thrilled with [the price],” said Gainesway's Brian Graves of Tuesday's Tapit colt. “[Paola Queen] throws beautiful foals with athleticism. That is the third million-dollar yearling out of that mare. This horse really fits in line as the third foal.”

He continued, “The price wasn't a surprise. The first time we saw him, we thought he could be a very high-profile sale horse. He was leggy, beautiful neck and just a beautiful mover. He was worth every penny. He can be another Constitution or Flightline. He can be anything.”

@FasigTiptonCo Saratoga Sale – Tuesday: Hip 123, a colt by Tapit (@Gainesway) out of GI winner Paola Queen, sells for $1.1 million to Mike Ryan, agent from the @Gainesway consignment! pic.twitter.com/xTT5g4THVi

— TDN (@theTDN) August 8, 2023

At the conclusion of the first day of selling, Gainesway sold all five members of its consignment, which also included an $850,000 Gun Runner filly (hip 33) secured by Lauren Carlisle.

On Day 2, Gainesway sold five of seven head offered, including a pair of colts by Not This Time (hip 122) who brought $900,000 and $725,000, respectively. Gross revenue for two days was $4.7 million, with an average of $671,429.

“We've always aim to bring as high caliber as we can here,” explained Graves. “We sift through them three, four or five different times throughout the year to determine what we will sell here. Every time we look, we keep clipping the bottom 20% of the group and we usually end up with a really select group here.”–@CbossTDN

Hartley/De Renzo Busy Buying and Selling

Ocala horsemen Randy Hartley and Dean DeRenzo stood alongside partner Rich Mendez under the auction stand out back to buy a colt by Not This Time (hip 122) for $900,000 from the Gainesway consignment.

“He was a colt that everybody in our team just loved… you don't get the opportunity to buy colts like that very often.”

Hear from Randy Hartley on the purchase of Hip 122, a Not This Time colt, for $900,000. #FasigSaratoga @HartleyDeRenzo pic.twitter.com/1MpvlUxThX

— Fasig-Tipton (@FasigTiptonCo) August 8, 2023

The team came back to the same spot just a few hips later, but this time it was to sell, not buy. Through the Taylor Made Sales Agency consignment, they sold a colt by Tapit (hip 129) for $1.2 million to Mandy Pope. The yearling had been purchased for $275,000 at last year's Keeneland November sale.

“He had a lot of bone and he has a hip,” DeRenzo said of the colt's appeal as a weanling. “Tapits are amazing. And when they have a hip, they are extra amazing. And he comes from a great family. It's a young family and it keeps getting better and better. So when we bought him as a weanling, he looked very immature, but we just knew he would develop.”

Hip is 129 is out of Plenty O'Toole (Tiznow) and is a half-brother to multiple graded winner Mr. Money (Goldencents) and to stakes-placed Tizplenty (Speightstown).

A few hips later, Hartley/DeRenzo enjoyed another pinhooking success with a filly by Authentic (hip 139), who was purchased for $260,000 at Keeneland November, and sold Tuesday for $800,000 to BC Stables. As the session drew to a close, the operation was represented by another seven-figure yearling when a filly by Gun Runner (hip 194), originally led out unsold, sold for $1 million to Randy Gullatt, as agent for Jackpot Farm, Whispering Oaks and Rick Ortyl. The filly had been purchased for $675,000 at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton November sale.

“It's part of our program,” De Renzo said. “We buy weanlings to go to the yearling sales and yearlings to go to the 2-year-old sales. We have several selling here and we have several selling in Kentucky, as well. Hopefully we will keep our pace up.”

As for the operation's lone purchase of the auction, hip 122 is out of Pammy Whammy (War Front). He was consigned by Gainesway and was bred by Rockingham Ranch.

“We know we have to stay in the upper end of the market,” De Renzo said of the colt who is expected to return to the sales next spring. “For us, it's easier because great horses do great things. And so, we will go to a 2-year-old sale and hope to do better.”

Asked if there was potential for profit with a $900,000 purchase, De Renzo said, “We have before. And we've always been known to get the upper-end horses to pinhook to the 2-year-old sales and they always work out well for us. I think I've got this secret ingredient, which is my partner Randy. He trains amazing, he is light on them, and keeps them sound and we get them to the 2-year-old sales without any issues. And our horses run. That's the great part–162 graded stakes winners, 20 Grade I individual winners. We've been blessed, let's put it that way.” @JessMartiniTDN

Sonson Gets in on the Action at Saratoga

Chuck Sonson has enjoyed success in racing partnerships, but decided to up his participation when, standing alongside West Point Thoroughbreds' Terry Finley, he made a pair of purchases at the Saratoga sale Tuesday. He made his first acquisition when going to $1 million for a colt by Twirling Candy (hip 140). Out of Rehearsed (Tapit) and a full-brother to stakes-placed Chasing Fireflies, the yearling was consigned by Lane's End and was bred by W.S. Farish. Sonson signed for the youngster, along with West Point.

“I actually think this horse is going to be big player in this business,” Sonson said, echoing Finley's assessment of the new owner himself. “He's by Twirling Candy and is from the best consignor in Lane's End. We are really, really excited about this.”

Watch Hip 140 c. TWIRLING CANDY o/o Rehearsed sell for $1,000,000 at The Saratoga Sale!#FasigSaratoga @lanesendfarms @westpointtbred pic.twitter.com/HayMnlHHtC

— Fasig-Tipton (@FasigTiptonCo) August 8, 2023

Sonson, who divides his time between Aspen, Colorado, and Virginia, returned later to acquire a colt by Authentic (hip 169) for $525,000. Out of multiple graded winner Southern Ring (Speightstown), the yearling was consigned by Scott Mallory on behalf of Determined Stud.

Sonson was part of the West Point partnership which saw Giant Game (Giant's Causeway) go postward in last Saturday's GI Whitney S. just across the street.

“We had some interests in other horses and we kind of got more into it,” Sonson said. “We just had a horse in the Whitney, so we are just continuing on. We hope [hip 140] is going to be a big winner. We have every confidence that he will.”

Sonson indicated Steve Asmussen had been tabbed to train the seven-figure yearling. @JessMartiniTDN

Explosive End to a Robust Day at Fasig-Tipton Saratoga

The crowd in the Humphrey S. Finney pavilion had noticeably thinned out by the time hip 228, a colt by Into Mischief, strode into the ring. Despite the mass exodus, those who remained in play for the final showdown of the evening gave spectators an epic show of determination. With Amr Zedan, flanked by trainer Bob Baffert and Donato Lanni, stationed upstairs outside Fasig-Tipton's VIP suite, a prolonged battled ensued. Directing the bid spotter of his intent, Lanni never wavered, signaling his intention with an unwavering nod. In the end, the team upstairs celebrated after haltering the yearling for $3.2 million.

@FasigTiptonCo Saratoga Sale – Tuesday: Hip 228, a colt by Into Mischief (@spendthriftfarm) out of All American Dream, sells for $3.2 million to @DonatoLanni, agent for @ZedanRacing. Consigned by @IndianCreekKy!

From the family of WIND FIRE. pic.twitter.com/BWn4AowtzQ

— TDN (@theTDN) August 9, 2023

“If you play the game and want to buy on the top end, you have to stretch. And we stretched,” said Lanni.

“The team wanted the horse. Bob wanted this horse. He was very adamant that we weren't going home without him. The first time he saw him, he was just blown away.”

He continued, “He had that look about him. Let's hope we are all right and we can all talk again a year from now.”

Consigned by Indian Creek and bred by Jeff Drown and Don Rachel, the Feb. 12 foal is the first foal out of All American Dream, a daughter of American Pharoah.

“This was a pretty exceptional horse,” affirmed Lanni. “He had the Into Mischief and American Pharoah look. Every time I walked by that barn, he was out for somebody. But he did everything right every time. He just never seemed to have a bad moment. It is really rare to find a horse that is that cool. We couldn't go home without him.”

All American Dream, a half-sister to MSW & MGSP Wind Fire (Distorted Humor), is a granddaughter of GI Test S. winner Dream Supreme (Seeking the Gold), herself the dam of GI Hopeful winner Majestic Warrior (A.P. Indy).

Zedan Racing also secured the sale's topper, hip 165, a colt by Curlin out of Beholder for $4 million. That colt was consigned by Taylor Made Sales.

“It was a beautiful day and a beautiful night, very electric,” said Lanni. “Fasig-Tipton did a very good job bringing a lot of good horses here. Everybody is here and there are plenty of good horses. It's good to see the market be as strong as it is.

“I think that horse people are probably the most resilient people in the world. After everything we've all been through and for the market to be as strong as it is, it's unbelievable.”–@CbossTDN

Fasig-Tipton Still Jumping Late with $1-Million Into Mischief Colt

Just when it seemed that things might begin to cool down following a rocking first half of Tuesday's session, Hip 208–a colt by Into Mischief–secured a $1-million final bid from WinStar's Elliott Walden. Bidding from the back of the pavilion, Walden signed on behalf a partnership including China Horse Club, Siena Farm and Maverick Racing.

Watch Hip 208 c. INTO MISCHIEF o/o Virginia Key sell for $1,000,000 at The Saratoga Sale!#FasigSaratoga @archiestgeorge @spendthriftfarm @Chinahorseclub @SienaFarmKY @WinStarFarm pic.twitter.com/4GPdV6jMOx

— Fasig-Tipton (@FasigTiptonCo) August 9, 2023

“He was a really nice colt,” said Walden. “We've had a lot of good luck with Into Mischief. So I thought he was one of those we wanted to take a shot on.

Among the top offspring by Into Mischief that have been campaigned by WinStar: GI Florida Derby winner Audible and four-time Grade I winner and 'TDN Rising Star' Life Is Good. Both stallions stand at the Versailles nursery.

“He is a big and strong Into Mischief and he looked like he could go two turns. He is well balanced and looked athletic. We've had really good luck with those kinds. And he being out of a Distorted Humor mare doesn't hurt.”

Consigned by St George Sales, the Feb. 24 foal is the second foal out of GSP Virginia Key (Distorted Humor). Produced by GSW Our Khrysty (Newfoundland), the 8-year-old mare us a half-sister to GI Del Mar Debutante winner and 'TDN Rising Star' Grace Adler (Curlin).

“Any time you sell a million-dollar horse it's special,” said Archie St George. “I am delighted for the breeders. I just played a small part.”

The colt was bred by Bonnie Baskin's Blue Heaven Farm, who offered homebred Virginia Key at Keeneland September in 2016 but found no takers at $90,000. That result proved fortuitous, however. Her first foal, a filly by Medaglia d'Oro named Distorted d'Oro, sold for $235,000 at Keeneland September last season and subsequently sold for $325,000 at OBS April. Virginia Key produced a colt by Curlin this season.

“He is a horse that has improved and showed immaculately up here,” added St. George. “He got better every day. He's just a nice horse and he's by an exceptional stallion, arguably one of the best in the world. Into Mischief just speaks for himself.”

Over the course of two days, St George Sales sold all five yearlings that were offered for an average of $529,000 and $2,645,000 in gross revenue.

“It's been really good for us. We sold every horse through the ring. It's been a really good market. We hope to see him down the road.”–@CbossTDN

Not This Time Share Opens Tuesday Session

Before bidding commenced for the second and final session of the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale, a share in leading Taylor Made stallion Not This Time (Giant's Causeway–Miss Macy Sue, by Trippi) was hammered down for an even $2 million. The share was purchased by D. J. Stable, BlackRidge Stables, Barry Fowler and John Cummins, according to Taylor Made's Mark Taylor. The sale of the share was coordinated by Taylor Made Sales and is subject to a 10-day match from the syndicate. Not This Time stands at Taylor Made Stallions in Nicholasville, KY.

It has been another banner season for Not This Time, the sire of five Grade I winners from his first three crops, including this year's Resorts World Casino Manhattan S. hero Up To the Mark. His Grade I winners on the dirt include sales-topping 'TDN Rising Star' Princess Noor, G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen hero Sibelius and GI Madison S. victress Just One Time. The leading fourth-crop sire of 2023, he is also responsible for Cogburn, who won the GIII Troy S. sprinting over the turf at Saratoga Aug. 5.

The share in Not This Time includes all the projected income from the just-concluded breeding season. Shareholders are entitled to one nomination annually plus the proportionate share of the excess book.

“It was a syndicate that we put together,” Taylor said. “Jon Green was the one who did the bidding, but we had three or four others partners that are going in with the Greens. Bill Daugherty and Barry Fowler and a few other people are going in with us.”

Kicking off the festivities Tuesday at @FasigTiptonCo Saratoga, a share in leading @TMStallions Not This Time (Giant's Causeway) was hammered down for an even $2 million, purchased by D. J. Stable, BlackRidge Stables, Barry Fowler and John Cummins. https://t.co/iVS69SyyGd

— TDN (@theTDN) August 9, 2023

Of Not This Time's rise in the stallion ranks, Taylor said, “It's been a real blessing for the Taylor family. When we bought Not This Time, somebody came in with more money right after Mr. Albaugh had agreed to sell to us and he stayed with his. So to see one share bring almost half of what we paid is just fulfilling. All of the credit goes to my brother Ben, who is the syndicate manager. He is not in the public eye like the rest of the brothers, but he's always there working. He does a great job.”

Of the investment in the share, Taylor said, “Not This Time started at stud when he was a 3-year-old and he's an improving stallion when he's nine, so I think the sky is the limit on what he can do. And, knock on wood, he has a good long life and it should be a good investment for everybody.”

Not This Time is governed by a 50-share syndicate. @JessMartiniTDN

The post $4-Million Curlin–Beholder Colt Leads ‘Magical Night’ In Saratoga appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Watch Hip 208 c. INTO MISCHIEF o/o Virginia Key sell for $1,000,000 at The Saratoga Sale!#FasigSaratoga @archiestgeorge @spendthriftfarm @Chinahorseclub @SienaFarmKY @WinStarFarm pic.twitter.com/4GPdV6jMOx

— Fasig-Tipton (@FasigTiptonCo) August 9, 2023

The post Another Into Mischief Colt Joins Parade of Seven-Figure Yearlings at Fasig-Tipton Saratoga appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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