Tag: George Sharp

$2.3M Into Mischief Filly Leads the Way at Keeneland September

by Jessica Martini & Christina Bossinakis

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Into Mischief Filly Sparks 'Joy' for Aboughazale

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Fit for a Queen…

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

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

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

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

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

Anatomy of Success…

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

Oussama Aboughazale and Frances Relihan at a past sale | Keeneland

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

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

Lanni Signs for $2-Million Uncle Mo Colt

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Winchell Comes Out Swinging for Into Mischief Colt

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sonson Continues Buying Spree

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Uncle Mo Colt a Score for Christophersons

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A 'Grand' Day 1 at KEESEP

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Stewart Stocking Up

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Curlin Colt a Sharp Purchase

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Sharp Tests the Resale Market

George Sharp, who made high-price horses of racing age purchases last year, will be in action as a seller at Wednesday's Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream Sale of Selected 2-Year-Olds in Training where he will offer two juveniles. The pair is part of a group of 12 yearlings he purchased at last year's Keeneland September sale.

“I took a shot last year that, if I bought enough yearlings, maybe I could sell a few of them to pay for the rest,” Sharp explained.

While he is reoffering horses he bought just last fall, Sharp eschews the term pinhooker.

“I hate the word because it makes me sound like a professional pinhooker,” Sharp said. “If it works out for me this year, I will do it again. If it doesn't work out for me this year, then I probably won't do it again. I wanted to see if I could pay for whatever 2-year-olds I keep by selling a few. Currently I own 23 2-year-olds. Nobody needs that many.”

Sharp's Gulfstream's duo are consigned by Niall Brennan. Hip 50 is a colt from the first crop of champion West Coast out of stakes-placed Runway Ready (Mr. Greeley), who is a half-sister to graded winners Corfu (Malibu Moon) and New York Central (Tapit). Sharp purchased the bay for $75,000 at last year's Keeneland September sale.

Hip 64 is a colt by Runhappy out of Sue's Good News (Woodman). The 2-year-old is a half-brother to Grade I winner Tiz Miz Sue (Tiznow) and stakes winner Bulletin (City Zip), as well as to the dam of Grade I placed Souper Sensational (Curlin). He was purchased for $125,000 at last year's Keeneland September sale.

“The West Coast is training out of his mind,” Sharp said. “As is the Runhappy. The Runhappy has some solid family behind him and, from what I understand, has been turning some heads at Gulfstream. Runhappys are making a bit of a comeback, as far as value, and–without mentioning any names–somebody told me this is one of the top three horses in the sale.”

Both juveniles enter the Gulfstream sale already named, with hip 50 named O T C Wiz and hip 64 now named Unhappy.

Of the second name, Sharp said with a chuckle, “I named him Unhappy because I thought it was cute. I couldn't believe it was available. It's not easy naming 23 2-year-olds. It took me like two weeks.”

Sharp, whose first involvement in racing came with Standardbreds in the late 1990s, went to a sale-topping $440,000 to acquire Front Run the Fed (Fed Biz) at last year's Fasig-Tipton July Horses of Racing Age sale. He purchased stakes winner Hello Hot Rod (Mosler) for $335,000 at the Fasig-Tipton February sale.

Following his Gulfstream offerings, Sharp will sell a further three juveniles at the OBS April sale next month.

The under-tack show for the Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream sale begins at 9 a.m. Monday. The auction will be held Wednesday in the track's paddock with bidding beginning at 2 p.m.

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Stakes Winners Front Run The Fed, Stilleto Boy Top Vibrant Renewal Of Fasig-Tipton July Selected Horses Of Racing Age Sale

Fasig-Tipton held two sales Monday at Newtown Paddocks in Lexington, Ky.: the inaugural July Breeding Stock sale, featuring the Far From Over/Fountain of Youth Dispersal, and a successful renewal of the July Selected Horses of Racing Age sale.

“I don't think there were any surprises today,” Fasig-Tipton president Boyd Browning said of the July Selected Horses of Racing Age sale. “It was a very active market with very competitive bidding throughout the day. [It had a] really vibrant feel to it.”

Front Run the Fed (Hip 647), a 5-year-old stakes winning son of Fed Biz, topped the sale when sold for $440,000 to George Sharp (video).

“I got tired of being outbid, and decided I was going to go to half a million on this one, because I want to go to the Breeders' Cup this year,” Sharp said. “I've got some nice 2-year-old fillies that I think I'll get there with, but this one is hopefully certainly going to get me there.

“We might race him once in Del Mar, almost certainly Kentucky Downs, and then the Breeders' Cup,” he continued.

ELiTE, agent consigned the five-year-old son of Fed Biz, who is a multiple graded stakes placed stakes winner with earnings of $392,150 to date. Front Run the Fed's current record stands at 4-4-2 in 13 career starts, including a win in the Better Talk Now Stakes at three and placings in the 2020 Grade 3 Runhappy Turf Sprint Stakes and 2021 G3 Poker Stakes behind Grade 1 winners Oleksandra (AUS) and Raging Bull (FR).

Recent Iowa Derby winner Stilleto Boy (Hip 557)  was the second-highest priced offering of the day, selling for $420,000 to Steve Moger (video).

Paramount Sales, agent consigned the 3-year-old Shackleford gelding, who has earned $249,675. Stilleto Boy has been in the money in all of his seven career starts, with a record of 2-2-2. Stilleto Boy is a half-brother to eight other winners out of 100-percent winner-producer Rosie's Ransom, including stakes winner Rosie My Rosie (Purge).

The top-priced filly was Josie (Hip 501) who got the sale off to a spectacular start when sold for $300,000 to KatieRich Farms as the first horse through the ring (video).

ELiTE, agent consigned the 4-year-old Race Day filly, who won the Iowa Distaff Stakes at Prairie Meadows on July 3 to increase earnings to $266,867. Josie has a record of 4-4-2 in 14 career starts, and is having a an excellent 2021, with three wins in four starts to date. Josie is one of seven winners out of the stakes winning Awesome Again mare Spirited Away, who has also produced Grade 2 winner/multiple graded stakes winner Prospective (Malibu Moon) and Malibu Cove (Malibu Moon), dam of Grade 2 winner/Grade 1 placed Kalypso.

In total, 79 horses of racing age sold for $5,905,500, up 16.4 percent from when 81 horses sold for $5,072,000 last year. The average rose 19.4 percent to $74,753 from $62,617 in 2020, while the median rose 66.7 percent to $50,000 from $30,000 last year. Fifteen horses sold for $100,000 or more, compared to 11 in 2020. The RNA rate fell to 24.8 percent. Full results are available online.

Jeweled Princess tops inaugural July Breeding Stock sale

Hip 448, Jeweled Princess, brought $225,000 at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton July Breeding Stock Sale.

Jeweled Princess (Hip 448), a stakes winning daughter of Cairo Prince, topped the July Breeding Stock sale when sold for $225,000 to Stoneriggs Farm (video).

Gainesway consigned the 4-year-old filly, who was offered carrying her first foal, by Horse of the Year and current leading first-crop sire Gun Runner. Jeweled Princess is out of a Scat Daddy half-sister to current stakes winner Miss Brazil, from the immediate family of Horse of the Year Military Attack, two-time champion Gladiatorus, and Grade/Group 1 winners Al Bahathri, Haafhd, The Hangman.

Colonial Creed (Hip 434), a multiple graded stakes placed daughter of Jimmy Creed, took the top broodmare prospect spot when sold for $175,000 to Andre Lynch, agent. South Point Sales Agency consigned the 5-year-old mare, who is a twice graded stakes placed winner who earned $223,881. Colonial Creed is half-sister to multiple graded stakes placed stakes winner Mo d'Amour (Uncle Mo), from the immediate family of Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf victor Line of Duty (IRE).

The most expensive broodmare with a foal-at-foot was multiple stakes winner Too Much Prada (Hip 421), who sold for $150,000 to The Elkstone Group with her 2021 Violence filly. Stuart Morris, agent for Far From Over/Fountain of Youth Dispersal consigned the 8-year-old Too Much Bling mare, who is a full sister to stakes winner Prada's Bling. Too Much Prada has a 2-year-old filly by Violence, which has not started, and a yearling colt by Violence. Her 2021 Violence filly was bred in Kentucky by BTSK Breeding and Racing.

“In the grand scheme of things, it was encouraging,” Browning said of the inaugural July Breeding Stock sale, which was a late addition to the sales calendar. “People (sellers) that tried it with an open mind were pretty well rewarded.”

During the breeding stock session, 44 fillies and mares changed hands for $2,012,000, good for an average of $45,727 and a median of $31,000. The RNA rate was 13.7 percent. Full results are available online.

Selling resumes tomorrow at 10 a.m. with the return of The July Sale.

The post Stakes Winners Front Run The Fed, Stilleto Boy Top Vibrant Renewal Of Fasig-Tipton July Selected Horses Of Racing Age Sale appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Vibrant Market At Fasig July HORA & Breeding Stock Sales

By Christie DeBernardis & Christina Bossinakis

LEXINGTON, KY–There was plenty of buzz at Newtown Paddocks Monday with a lively day of trade for Fasig-Tipton's July Breeding Stock and Horses of Racing Age Sales.

The popular Horses of Racing Age Sale was back for its ninth straight year and there was plenty of demand for promising or accomplished runners. Stakes winner Front Run the Fed (Fed Biz) topped the auction, selling to George Sharp for $440,000 off a third-place finish in the GIII Poker S. The second highest-priced horses was recent Iowa Derby romper Stilleto Boy (Shackleford), who brought $420,000 from owner Steve Moger, who did his bidding on the internet.

“This was as vibrant of a racehorse sale as we ever participated in,” said Elite's Brad Weisbord, who consigned the topper. “There is a lot of money and a lot of demand for active, in-form horses now. A horse like Front Run the Fed can top the sale. He was third in the [GIII] Poker [S]. For a 5-year-old to bring $440,000, that's top money. Top to bottom, this was a very, very good market and we found it as vibrant as we ever have.”

While six of the top nine sellers came from Elite's barn, those horses were also purchased by different entities, all of which were domestic, but spread from coast-to-coast.

“I had about 10-12 horses I was going to bid on, but it was difficult,” said Sharp. “By way of example, I won a race at Lone Star with a horse that I claimed for $20,000 in California. I won the race by 9 3/4 lengths and the horse that finished third that day brought $75,000 today. That was a little nutty because my horse was a $20,000 claim. That tells you all you need to know.”

A total of 79 racehorses changed hands Monday for a gross of $5,905,500. The average was $74,753 and the median was $50,000. There were 26 horses who did not meet their reserves for an RNA rate of 24.8%.

Last year at this auction, 81 head brought $5.072 million in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic and without the Fasig-Tipton July Yearling Sale, which typically follows. The average in 2020 was $62,617 and the median was $30,000. Thirty-eight horses failed to sell last term for an RNA rate of 31.9%.

“It was a very active market with very competitive bidding throughout the day,” said Fasig-Tipton President and CEO Boyd Browning, Jr. “It is the same story that the higher quality of horses, the more activity. There was good commerce and good trade. It was not crazy, but it had a very vibrant feel to it. There was a diverse buying group and was an encouraging start, or really middle part, to the July Sale market this year. I think the sale continues to have a real spot on the calendar. We are very encouraged by it.”

For the first time this year, the Horses of Racing Age Sale was preceded by the Fasig-Tipton July Breeding Stock Sale. The impetus for this new addition was the dispersal for Far From Over/Fountain of Youth, a group that purchased mares to support the recently deceased regional stallion Far From Over. All 15 members of the dispersal sold for a total of $666,000. The auction's topper was the 4-year-old filly Jeweled Princess (Cairo Prince), who brought $225,000 from Stoneriggs Farm while carrying her first foal by leading freshman sire Gun Runner.

Forty-four mares sold for a total of $2.012 million Monday for an average of $45,727 and a median of $31,000. Seven mares failed to find new homes for an RNA rate of 13.7%.

“I thought it was really interesting,” Browning said. “I was really surprised with how well some of the in-foal mares sold that were not part of the dispersal and how some of the broodmare prospects sold. I was a little surprised that some of the mares with foals at their sides did not bring a little more money. However, it is a big commitment to buy a mare who has had four of five foals. We have seen that be an area of weakness in the marketplace, whether it be at January, February or November. We all know the carrying costs are not cheap. Once again, it goes back to there needs to be a certain level of quality to attract significant attention.”

Action returns to Newtown Paddocks Tuesday for the Fasig-Tipton July Selected Yearling Sale. Bidding gets underway at 10 a.m.

Fed Biz Colt Tops F-T HORA Sale…

In the waning stages of Monday's Fasig-Tipton July HORA Sale, it was Front Run the Fed (Fed Biz) who stole the show with a sale-topping final bid of $440,000 from owner George Sharp.

Offered by Elite, Hip 647 earned his first black-type badge in Saratoga's Better Talk Now S. in 2019 for trainer Chad Brown and Klaravich Stables.

“I decided that I got tired of being outbid, and I decided to go to [$440,000] because I want to go to the Breeders' Cup this year,” explained Sharp. “This one is hopefully going to get me there. I'm very pleased with the purchase.”

He added, “This horse was the best one in the sale, bar none. This one vetted out perfectly and it showed in the price he brought. We're a little nervous, but pretty happy.”

On the board in half of four starts last season, including a win in a Belmont optional claimer, he kicked off 2021 with a close-up second behind next-out GI Jackpot Jaipur S. hero Casa Creed (Jimmy Creed) in the Apr. 24 Elusive Quality S. before coming home third last out in the GIII Poker S. June 20. A winner of four of 13 starts, the colt has earnings of $392,150 to date.

Sharp indicated the colt will join trainer Caio Caramori. Asked where Front Run the Fed will head next, Sharp said, “We're not sure yet. We might race him once in Del Mar and almost certainly Kentucky Downs. And then the goal is the Breeders' Cup.”

Out of Lawless Miss (Posse), the 5-year-old entire is from the family of multiple graded winners Lottsa Talc and Fort Loudon. A $65,000 KEENOV weanling purchase, the bay realized a $300,000 final bid from Mike Ryan at KEESEP.

Sharp previously made a splash at Fasig, going to $335,000 to secure stakes winner Hello Hot Rod (Mosler) at the Winter Mixed Sale in February.

The bulk of Sharp's horses reside in Lexington at the Thoroughbred Training Center, however, Sharp also has horses throughout the Midwest and in California. He also campaigns a few of the lower-level stock in his home state.

A horse owner since 1999, Sharp got his start racing Standardbreds before moving into the Thoroughbred game in 2015. A private mergers and acquisitions specialist, the Scottsdale, Arizona, resident is involved small company mergers and acquisitions with public companies. @CBossTDN

Stilleto Boy High Stepping at F-T July

There was little question that Stilleto Boy (Shackleford) would garner some attention at Monday's Fasig-Tipton July Horses of Racing Age sale. And that expectation turned into reality when West Coast-based Steve Moger, bidding online, was extended to $420,000 to secure the 4 1/2-length winner of the July 2 Iowa Derby at Prairie Meadows. The flashy chestnut was offered as Hip 557 by agent Paramount Sales on behalf of John and Iveta Kerber, Michael Coleman, Doug Anderson and Aaron Kennedy.

“He certainly deserved that price,” said Paramount Sales's Pat Costello. “He just won the Iowa Derby, so that's a big plus. He is obviously a very sound horse and has a lot of racing left in him, so I think that was his value.”

He added, “Physically, he is such a gorgeous horse and was such a good horse to be around for us.”

Bred by the Kerbers, the gelding is out of Rosie's Ransom (Marquetry), also responsible for stakes winner Rosie My Rosie (Purge) and stakes-placed Condo Closing (Offlee Wild). Earlier this season, he graduated going wire-to-wire going 8 1/2 furlongs at Oaklawn Apr. 17, defeating recent GIII Indiana Derby winner Mr. Wireless (Dialed In).

In regards to the timely catalog update, Costello said, “The timing of the sale was perfect for us. He won the Iowa Derby 10 days ago, so coming in to a sale like this with an update like that is huge. And this is a good market. With Del Mar coming up, I think the timing couldn't be better.”

Making his first purchase at the July HORA sale, Moger previously enjoyed success with Stormy Lucy, who was purchased privately in the spring of 2014 and turned over to Moger's brother, Ed Moger Jr. The filly went on to annex a pair of graded stakes for the brothers, including a 65-1 upset in the GI Matriarch S. the following season before topping this sale at $575,000 in 2016.

“I really liked the way the horse ran and we're going to ship him over to Del Mar and see what we can do with him there,” said Moger, who currently has 25-30 horses in training in California. “I was looking for a few horses to send to my brother, so we looked to see what we could pick up out east and see what happens.” @CBossTDN

Elite Gets Off to Fast Start at Fasig July

Brad Weisbord and Liz Crow's Elite Sales were quick out of the gate at the Fasig-Tipton July Horses of Racing Age Sale, selling the first horse through the ring, stakes winner Josie (Race Day) (Hip 501), to KatieRich Farm for $300,000.

“I like her for a broodmare prospect down the road and we might have a little more fun with her as we go,” said KatieRich's Larry Doyle.

Purchased by Crow for $170,000 at OBS March on behalf of Steve Landers, Josie kicked off this term with an allowance win in her first try at a mile at Oaklawn Feb. 28. Off the board next out in Hot Springs Apr. 8, the 4-year-old filly captured a one-mile event at Indiana Grand 20 days later and entered this sale off a career-high score in the Iowa Distaff July 3. Trained by Brad Cox, she currently boasts a record of 14-4-4-2 and earnings of $266,867.

“She is three-for-four routing and came in off a career-best performance,” Crow said. “She ran an 89 Beyer, a 1 Thoro-Graph, a 9 Ragozin. She showed she can step up to stakes level competition. That was her first attempt in stakes company and she won. It is great to bring a horse off a win like that into a sale like this. Brad Cox had her looking great. She showed very well. Everyone is looking for an in-form horse and she had black-type to back it up and good pedigree, so she has residual when she is done.”

Out of SW Spirited Away (Awesome Again), Josie is a half-sister to MGSW sire Prospective (Malibu Moon) and the dam of GSW and GISP Kalypso (Brody's Cause).

Elite sold 17 of the 19 horses in their consignment Monday for a gross of $2.192 million and an average of $128,941. They were responsible for six of the top nine hips sold, including $440,000 sales topper Front Run The Fed (Fed Biz). —@CDeBernardisTDN

Patience Pays Off For Bradshaw

Randy Bradshaw purchased Devils Sky (Into Mischief) (Hip 627) for $135,000 at this venue's 2019 July Yearling Sale. The colt did not make it to the 2-year-old sales, but rewarded Bradshaw back at Newtown Paddocks Monday, selling for $250,000 to Donato Lanni, who was acting on behalf of Joe Bucci. The colt will go to New York, but his new trainer has yet to be determined.

“We bought him here a few years ago,” said Bradshaw, who consigned the colt through Four Star Sales. “He was just an immature kind of colt that took a while to come around. He had the baby stuff, like shins. We were just very patient with him and we decided if he broke his maiden, my daughter [Ashley] would get to sell him. It just worked out very well. He is a very nice colt and has his best days in front of home.”

Trained by George Weaver, Devils Sky failed to fire when eighth after a troubled trip in his 7 1/2-panel debut on the grass at Gulfstream Apr. 24. The bay rallied from well back to graduate by a nose when extended to 8 1/2 furlongs over the Hallandale lawn June 6.

“His maiden race was impressive,” Lanni said. “He jumped through every hoop. He vetted good, he is by Into Mischief. We wanted some action for Saratoga and hopefully he will provide that action.”

A half-brother to GSP His Glory (Mineshaft), Devils Sky hails from the family of champion Classic Empire (Pioneerof the Nile). —@CDeBernardisTDN

Cairo Prince Mare Heads F-T July Breeding Stock Sale…

With only a handful of offerings left to go during the breeding stock session of the Fasig-Tipton July sale Monday, it appeared things might be winding down. That was until Jeweled Princess, offered as Hip 448, strode into the arena. Shooting quickly over the $100,000-mark, bidding slowed nearing the $200,000 mark, finally ending with a $225,000 bid from Stoneriggs Farm. A 4-year-old daughter of Cairo Prince out of Jersey Rules (Scat Daddy), she is a half-sister to stakes-winning Miss Brazil (Palace Malice). Consigned by Gainesway, the stakes winner sold in foal to Horse of the Year Gun Runner, already the sire of seven winners from his first crop to the races.

According to Gainesway's Brian Graves, the mare entered the sale with a $200,000 reserve Monday.

“It seems if you have something of quality by some of the top of the first-crop sires right now, they're going to buy them,” Graves said. “It doesn't matter if it's now or November.”

Explaining the mare's admission into the sale, he added, “I got a call about the mare and I was asked if this was something that I thought could sell well here and I thought, 'yes, she could.' With the popularity of [Gun Runner], I thought it was something that could work. I think if you have something of that quality, it has a chance for it to work in your favor.”

Also during yesterday's breeding stock session, Stoneriggs secured Hip 426, a daughter of Liam's Map for $45,000. Out of That Voodoo Youdo (Speightstown), the 4-year-old, who is a half-sibling to Grade III winner Opry (Declaration of War) and graded placed Candace O (Declaration of War), was consigned by agent Candy Meadows Sales. The grey was sold in foal to freshman sire Lord Nelson.

The 417-acre property Stoneriggs Farm, formerly Kilflynn Farm, was purchased in April by Florida businessman Robert Slack, founder of Robert Slack LLC, a Florida real estate brokerage.

Lynch Secures Colonial Creed…

Bloodstock agent Andrew Lynch took home the July Breeding Stock Sale's second highest-priced offering, the $175,000 Colonial Creed (Jimmy Creed) (Hip 434). The 5-year-old mare sold as a broodmare prospect.

“I bought her for a new client and hopefully she will be bred to Justify next year,” Lynch said. “I loved her race record. She is graded-placed. She is a fantastic individual with a great walk to her. Hopefully she will be a good broodmare.”

A three-time winner, Colonial Creed was third in both the 2019 GII Summertime Oaks and the GIII Megahertz S. earlier this term. She was third when last seen in the Golden Poppy S. at Golden Gate Apr. 24 and retires with a record of 17-3-4-4 and earnings of $223,881.

Out of the unraced Scat Daddy mare Neverthesame, Colonial Creed is a half-sister to SW & GSP Mo D'Amour (Uncle Mo). —@CDeBernardisTDN

Grant Jumps into the Fray Early at Fasig-Tipton July…

The action had barely gotten rolling at Monday's Fasig-Tipton July Breeding Stock session when Stuart Grant of The Elkstone Group went to $150,000 for Hip 421, a daughter of Too Much Bling out of stakes winner Kimbell's Prada (Authenticate). The bid represented the third-highest price of the breeding stock session. Consigned by Stuart Morris, agent for Far From Over/Fountain of Youth Dispersal, the 8-year-old mare was sold with her 2021 Violence filly alongside and is back in foal to the Hill 'n Dale sire.

“She had a really beautiful foal, that's what attracted me,” said Grant. “The foal really sold the mare. When a mare produces a foal like that, it can only help the mare.”

Grant, who indicated he owns shares in the hot young stallion, continued, “There is a Violence in her belly, and I own a couple of shares of Violence. If she keeps producing foals like this one, I'll be very happy.”

Asked if the price tag was what he had in mind, he said, “She was the one I really loved [in the broodmare session]. I thought she would bring less, I stretched to get her. If somebody had gone to $150-200,000, she would have been gone. So, that was top dollar for me.”

Earlier in the session, Grant purchased Hip 402, Medea (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), privately post sale for $40,000. A two-time Grade III winner, the 12-year-old mare is a half-sister to three-time Grade I winner High Yield (Storm Cat). Already responsible for a 2-year-old unraced colt by Classic Empire and a yearling colt by Mastery, she was sold in foal to Violence.

“I really like Violence, he stands for $25,000 so I thought she was good value.,” he said. “I definitely thought that one slipped through.”

Able to secure two out of three on his wish list during yesterday breeding stock session, Grant was pragmatic about the market on a whole.

“This is not the time that people sell broodmares, so it is a bit difficult to assess the market,” he opined. “I'm here trying to get some breeding stock and I was hoping a few would slip by, although I got pushed to my maximum on my top pick. So I guess even though people might not be here for breeding stock, if they see something they like then they'll take a shot.”

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