SEEKING GABRIELLE (17,  Forestry – Seeking Regina, by Seeking the Gold) to be bred to Gun Runner       

Seeking Gabrielle is the dam of Nyquist. She is a very special mare for us. She produces really attractive foals and they have sold well as yearlings. She just turned 17 and is in great condition, but with her advancing age we really want fillies. She has a newly turned two-year-old filly by Uncle Mo, making her a full-sister to Nyquist. We retained her to race and as a futurebroodmare. Her newly turned yearling is a filly by Curlin and we are considering keeping her too.

Seeking Gabrielle is currently pregnant to Constitution and is believed to be carrying a filly. In 2024 we will breed her to Gun Runner. Obviously he is one of the premier sires in the world. If we are fortunate enough to get a filly, we would hope to keep her. If she produces a colt, then we could have a sensational yearling sale prospect.

INDIAN BAY (13, Indian Charlie – Buy the Barrel, by E Dubai) to be bred to First Samurai

Indian Bay is a filly we bred–having bred and raced her dam Buy the Barrel. Due to an injury as a weanling, we were unable to sell or race Indian Bay. However, she has been a wonderful producer for us, being the dam of Shivaji, a graded stakes winner in Japan, and Tarabi, a stakes winner who is Grade I placed. Both are by First Samurai.

She is currently pregnant to Life Is Good. Indian Bay produces lovely foals. We have decided to breed her to First Samurai in 2024. While First Samurai is not viewed as a top-tier commercial stallion, he is a very solid stallion who gets runners and the cross has obviously worked well with Indian Bay. We hope to get a filly and keep her, but if we get a colt we believe he will be an attractive sales prospect because of the affinity Indian Bay has shown for First Samurai.

More Than Looks as a yearling at 2021 Keeneland September Sale | Joe DiOrio

LADIES' PRIVILEGE (10, Harlan's Holiday – Vanquished, by Empire Maker) to be bred to Flightline

We purchased Ladies' Privilege in November of 2019 carrying her first foal by More Than Ready. That foal is More Than Looks, a Grade III winner who ran third in the GII Hall of Fame S. last year. He ran an excellent race in the Breeders' Cup Mile, beaten only two lengths by Master of the Seas (IRE) (Dubawi {Ire}). He is trained by Cherie DeVaux and his connections are really excited about his prospects for 2024.

Her newly turned 3-year-old is a colt by Uncle Mo and her just-turned 2-year-old is a $525,000 American Pharoah filly. Her 2023 yearling is a colt by Gun Runner and she is pregnant to Upstart. She will be bred to Flightline in 2024. We think it is a great cross and based on the foals Ladies' Privilege has produced, we are hopeful that the resulting foal will be an excellent physical.

STAVE (9, Ghostzapper – Buy the Barrel, by E Dubai) to be bred to Forte

We bred and raced Stave. She was the last filly produced from Buy the Barrel, who we also bred and raced. Stave was a stakes placed winner of $285,000. Her first foal is Spirit's Mischief, a $350,000 colt by Into Mischief. He is with Wesley Ward and won as a 2-year-old last fall. He is a fast colt.

Stave had no foal in 2022, but she has a 2023 colt by Constitution who we will sell at Keeneland in September. She is currently pregnant to Not This Time and is booked to Forte for 2024. Having previously been bred to three very well-established and proven stallions, we felt like this would be a good time to breed Stave to a younger stallion. Forte is super attractive, was a seriously good racehorse, and his offspring will be sought after when they hit the sales ring.

REMEMBERED (14, Sky Mesa – Sister Girl, by Conquistador Cielo) to be bred to Not This Time

Remembered is the dam of Bowies Hero (Artie Schiller), a multiple Grade I stakes winner.  She is also the dam of Radio Days, a multiple graded stakes placed, winning filly by Gun Runner.

Remembered is pregnant to Jackie's Warrior and is booked to Not This Time for 2024. Not This Time has certainly proven himself to be a top-level sire and being a Grade I stakes producer, Remembered deserves to be bred to a top stallion. We believe the cross is excellent and provides a real opportunity to produce a good racehorse who is physically attractive.

WIN THE WAR (9, War Front – City Sister, by Carson City) to be bred to Good Magic

Win the War's $700,000 Into Mischief colt | EquiSport Photo

Win the War is a beautiful mare and is a stakes winner. We purchased her in 2020 when she was pregnant to Curlin. Unfortunately that filly, now named Jane Addams, did not race but will be bred to Practical Joke in 2024. Win the War's second foal was a $700,000 Into Mischief colt sold in September last year. Her 2023 foal is a colt by Quality Road and she is pregnant to Flightline for 2024.

Win the War will be bred to Good Magic in 2024. Good Magic has certainly proved himself capable of siring top-level racehorses. We think this is a great physical mating and believe he will add stamina to a speedy pedigree.

WEXX (7, Declaration of War – My Rachel, by Horse Chestnut {SAF}) to be bred to Elite Power

We bred and raced Wexx and she is the last daughter of My Rachel, who was a wonderful producer for us. My Rachel is now retired. Wexx was a stakes-placed winner. Her first foal, a colt, was a $400,000 Keeneland September yearling last year. She has a gorgeous 2023 Liam's Map filly and is pregnant to Justify for 2024.

In 2024 she will be bred to Elite Power. Elite Power was exceptionally talented and is a beautiful physical. We are delighted to have the opportunity to breed to him.

ORBOLUTION (9, Orb – My Rachel, by Horse Chestnut {SAF}) to be bred to Omaha Beach

Orbolution is a filly we bred and sold as a yearling to StarLadies Racing. She was a 2-year-old stakes winner at Saratoga. Upon retirement, we purchased her from Starlight. Her first foal is a colt by Curlin who sold for $1.1 million at Keeneland in 2022. He has not yet started. She produced a Nyquist colt in 2022 and an Into Mischief filly in 2023. She is currently pregnant to City of Light.

She will be bred to Omaha Beach, who certainly got off to a great start with his 2-year-olds in 2023. The female family has a real affinity with War Front and we are very excited to breed her to a War Front son.

NEW BOSS (6, Street Boss – Denali Dreamscape, by Corinthian) to be bred to Constitution

New Boss is a stakes-winning filly we bred and sold to Barry and Carol Conrad. Her dam, Denali Dreamscape, had gotten off to a great start as a broodmare for us, having produced two stakes horses from her first three foals to race. Unfortunately, Denali Dreamscape died in 2022. Upon New Boss's retirement, we were fortunate enough to be able to buy her from Mr. and Mrs. Conrad.

New Boss will be bred to Constitution in 2024. He is certainly a well-established and proven stallion. His 2-year-old crop of 2023 had an exceptional year. Breeding New Boss to a stallion the quality of Constitution gives her a real opportunity to jump start her broodmare career.

WHOA NESSIE (9, Square Eddie – Electric Daze, by Gilded Time) to be bred to Nyquist   

Whoa Nessie is an interesting mare who we purchased in November of 2022 in foal to Union Rags. Her sire Square Eddie, by Smart Strike, has proven to be an extremely useful stallion in California. Electric Daze is also the dam of Edwina E (Square Eddie), making Whoa Nessie a full sister to Edwina E. Edwina E has produced two stakes winners–Slow Down Andy, a Grade I winner of $1,276,600–and Team Merchants. Both are by Nyquist.

We purchased Whoa Nessie specifically to breed to Nyquist and she is currently pregnant to him. She is being bred back to Nyquist in 2024. Nyquist had a great 2024 and has proven himself as a quality stallion capable of siring top-level performers. The cross is a proven one and we are excited about the prospects.

MADAME DU LAC (19,  Lemon Drop Kid – Geisha Girl {GB},by Nashwan) to be bred to Oscar Performance

Madame Du Lac is an older mare but she has been a wonderful mare for us, being the dam of multiple Grade I stakes winner Divisidero, who is by Kitten's Joy. Divisidero's first crop of 2-year-olds raced in 2023 and, despite only having limited numbers, they performed well.

We are breeding Madame Du Lac to Oscar Performance in 2024. Oscar Performance's first crop has just turned four and he has proven himself to be a very capable stallion, having produced stakes winners on both dirt and turf. The cross has worked well in the past and we hope the mating will result in a filly as we will be very tempted to keep and race her, but if we get a colt he should be a nice sales prospect.

The post Mating Plans, presented by Spendthrift: Hinkle Farms appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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The Gio Ponti is one of three stakes on a packed Friday card, including the $200,000 Grade 3 Comely at nine furlongs for sophomore fillies and the $150,000 Forever Together in a 1 1/16-mile turf test for fillies and mares.

Trained by Cherie DeVaux, Monition hasn't put a foot wrong through two career starts under jockey Brian Hernandez. The English Channel gelding rallied to a professional three-quarters of a length debut win, advancing inside rivals on the turn and splitting the leaders in the final furlong to capture a one-mile maiden special weight over firm turf at Ellis Park in Henderson, Ky., in September.

“He broke mid-pack and had a nice turn-of-foot at the end,” DeVaux said. “He ran really well. You never know going long first time if they're going to need a race or not, so I was really pleased with him. He had always trained well, so it wasn't a huge surprise.”

Monition followed by demonstrating a new dimension, posting a gate-to-wire score when stretched out to nine furlongs over good going against older allowance company on October 9 at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky.

DeVaux credited Hernandez for the prominent trip.

“Brian made the decision. He saw there wasn't a lot of speed on paper and knew the horse could break sharp,” DeVaux said. “When he made the lead, he made the right decision and let the horse stay comfortable there. It was quite impressive.”

Monition has breezed back five times at Keeneland, including a half-mile in :48.60 on November 16. He will make his Big A debut under jockey Luis Saez from the outermost post 8.

DeVaux said Saez will have plenty of options with the versatile Monition.

“It's going to be up to Luis to play the break and see. If no one is going to go, it's definitely in his wheelhouse to do so,” DeVaux said.

WellSpring Stables' Queen's Plate-winner Safe Conduct, who competed in two-thirds of the Canadian Triple Crown, will make his racing return to New York for trainer Phil Serpe.

The Bodemeister colt enters from starts in the first and third legs of the prestigious Canadian series at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario, having won the 162nd running of the $1 million Queen's Plate at 10 furlongs on Tapeta in August ahead of an eighth-place effort in the 12-furlong Breeders' Stakes over yielding turf in October.

Safe Conduct, who sports a ledger of 8-3-1-0 with field-high purse earnings of $606,364, won a 1 1/16-mile optional-claimer over firm Belmont turf in May by 2 1/2-lengths in besting Public Sector, who has since developed into a multiple graded stakes winner.

Safe Conduct exited that effort to finish fourth in the off-the-turf G3 Pennine Ridge in May and faded to eighth in the G1 Belmont Derby Invitational in July over good going ahead of his Queen's Plate run.

The talented bay, bred in Ontario by Mitchell Kursner, breezed five-eighths in 1:02.25 November 7 over the Belmont inner turf and followed with an easy five-eighths over Big Sandy in 1:03.86 on November 18.

Jose Lezcano, aboard for the win at Belmont in May, has the call from post 7.

Repole Stable's multiple graded-stakes placed Never Surprised, by Constitution, boasts an all-turf record of 5-2-3-0 for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher.

The Kentucky-bred bay made his first two career starts last November at the Big A, winning a six-furlong maiden special weight ahead of a gate-to-wire score in the 1 1/16-mile Central Park.

Never Surprised has made his three sophomore starts in graded company, finishing second in each of the one-mile G3 Kitten's Joy in January at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla., the 1 1/16-mile G3 Saranac in September at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., and the nine-furlong G2 Hill Prince in October at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y. The latter two efforts were both won by Public Sector.

He worked a half-mile in :50.35 on November 19 over the Belmont dirt training track.

“He's training forwardly like he always does. He's a very eager horse in the mornings and he's a little bit that way in his races,” Pletcher said. “Hopefully, he can repeat his form here – he's 2-for-2 at Aqueduct and seems to like the course. Kendrick [Carmouche] has certainly had some success with him.”

Kendrick Carmouche, aboard for both wins and the last-out Hill Prince, retains the mount from post 6.

Thomas Albrecht, Vincent Fusaro, and James Klein's New York-bred Ocala Dream arrives from a close fifth, defeated just two lengths, in the seven-furlong Carle Place contested over firm footing on October 22 at Belmont.

Trained by Tom Morley, the Effinex chestnut captured the New York Stallion Stakes Series Spectacular Bid for eligible state-sired 3-year-olds going seven furlongs over the Widener turf at Belmont in June.

He exited that effort to finish off-the-board in the NYSSS Cab Calloway in July at Saratoga but made amends with a rallying nose score in an open 1 1/16-mile optional-claiming test ahead of the Carle Place.

Dylan Davis, who has piloted the colt in his last two starts, retains the mount from post 5.

Rounding out the field are Kygo [post 1, Manny Franco], a formerly French-based son of Adlerflug making his North American debut for trainer Mike Maker; the graded-stakes placed Original [post 3, Javier Castellano], who captured the one-mile Manila in July at Belmont for trainer John Terranova; and the Irish-bred Gussy Mac [post 2, Jorge Vargas, Jr.], who removes blinkers in search of his first win in North America for trainer Niall Saville. Boldish was entered for the main track only.

The Gio Ponti is slated as Race 8 on Friday's 10-race card. First post is 11:50 a.m. Eastern.

America's Day at the Races will present daily coverage and analysis of the fall meet at Aqueduct Racetrack on the networks of FOX Sports. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Aqueduct Racetrack, and the best way to bet every race of the fall meet. Available to horseplayers nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.

The post Monition Puts Perfect Record On Line In Friday’s Gio Ponti At Aqueduct appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Flagstaff, second choice in the wagering, finished third, with Eight Rings fourth in the field of nine sprinters going seven furlongs on dirt.

Ginobili, a 4-year-old gelding by Munnings out of Find the Humor, by Sharp Humor, completed the distance on a fast track in 1:22.36. He paid $12.80 for the win, his first in a stakes race in his 13th career start.

The win gave Ginobili an all fees paid spot in the starting gate for the G1 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, as part of the Breeders' Cup Win and You're In Challenge Series. This year's Breeders' Cup world championships will be held Nov. 5-6 at Del Mar.

Owned by Slam Dunk Racing, Jerry McClanahan, Michael Nentwig and trainer Ricard Baltas, Ginobili was a $35,000 purchase by Baltas at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, where he was consigned by his breeder, Hinkle Farms.

Brickyard Ride delayed the start by running off as horses were loading, then once loaded grabbed the early advantage, setting fractions of :22.05 and :44.38 for the opening half mile. Ginobili was on Brickyard Ride's right flank, then put that one away  on the far turn. Eight Rings pursued from third, with Flagstaff in fourth and C Z Rocket – the 2020 O'Brien winner – in seventh position with three-eighths of a mile to go.

Ginobili opened up a 3 1/2-length lead at the furlong pole, the six furlongs clocked in 1:09.36, and he was never seriously threatened down the lane.

The win was Ginobili's third from 13 career starts. His connections said they would point the gelding to the Dirt Mile.

The post Ginobili Slam Dunks Pat O’Brien Foes, Earning Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile Slot appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Saturday, July 24, 2021
1st-HAK, ¥9,680,000 ($88k), Maiden, 2yo, 1800mT
FIFTY CHEVY (c, 2, Tapit–Stopchargingmaria, by Tale of the Cat), a debut fourth going this distance at Tokyo June 13 (video, gate 2), attracted a final bid of $825K last fall at Keeneland September from Yuji Hasegawa, the same owner who gave $1.5 million for Vanishing Point, a full-brother to two-time Eclipse Award winner Unique Bella, at the same auction 12 months prior. Winner of the 2014 GI CCA Oaks and GI Alabama S. for owner Mike Repole, Stopchargingmaria was a $3.15-million buyback at that year's FTKNOV sale before being purchased privately by Louise and Kiki Courtelis' Town and Country Farms. Upset winner of the 2015 GI Breeders' Cup Distaff, the mare remained in training through her 5-year-old season and was knocked down to Three Chimneys for $2.8 million at FTKNOV in 2016. She was most recently acquired by Whisper Hill Farm for $4.4 million with this foal in utero at the 2018 FTKNOV sale. Three-year-old filly Stillchargingmaria (Pioneerof the Nile), a $1.9-million graduate of FTKNOV and her dam's first produce, won her maiden at Lone Star Park this past April. B-Three Chimneys Farm LLC & Whisper Hill Farm LLC (KY)

5th-HAK, ¥13,400,000 ($122k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1700m
POISON ARROW (c, 2, Arrogate–Crosswinds, by Storm Cat) fetched $750K at last year's Keeneland September sale, making him the most expensive of 41 of the late stallion (by Unbridled's Song)'s first-crop yearlings to sell (from 59 through the ring) in 2020. The Mar. 31 foal is a half-brother to $725K KEESEP grad Current (Curlin), a Grade III winner on turf as a juvenile, and to Weep No More (Mineshaft), who upset the 2016 GI Central Bank Ashland S. The chestnut's granddam is Juddmonte's Flute (Seattle Slew), winner of the 2001 GI Kentucky Oaks and GI Alabama S. and subsequently the dam of Filimbi (Mizzen Mast), a Grade III winner and four times placed in Grade I company on the grass. “We were really happy when he was so well accepted,” Hinkle Farms' Henry Hinkle told the TDN's Brian DiDonato after the colt's sale. “We got a lot of compliments on him. He's one of the nicest colts we've ever brought up here to sell.” Filimbi is also responsible for a member of Arrogate's first crop, the 2-year-old colt Calloway Peak, who is in training at Saratoga. B-Hinkle Farms (KY)

今朝のポイズンアロウです！
父はアロゲート

今週デビュー予定です！
鞍上は横山武史騎手 pic.twitter.com/SdSLqoi4AC

— 日刊スポーツ　まりえ (@mishima_marie) July 20, 2021

6th-NII, ¥13,400,000 ($122k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1200m
FUJIN SHOJO (f, 2, Speightstown–Big Raven {Ire}, by Fastnet Rock {Aus}), a $235K KEESEP acquisition, is sadly the lone produce of her dam, a daughter of GSW Devil By Design (Medaglia d'Oro), who produced GISW Competitionofideas to the cover of Speightstown in 2015. The progeny of the WinStar stallion have long been coveted in Japan, as he is the sire to date of 33 winners from 37 starters, including GISW mare Mozu Superflare; Matera Sky, a Group 3 winner at home, runner-up in the 2019 G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen and twice an unlucky loser of the Saudi Sprint; and three additional black-type winners. B-John D Gunther Eurowest Bloodstock & Tony Chedraoui (KY)

The post Notable US-Breds in Japan: July 24, 2021 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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In Thoroughbred racing, a strong debut victory can be the springboard into stakes competition that can last for the rest of a horse's career, and potentially into the breeding shed. The sport is built on catching lightning in a bottle, and when the world sees what it thinks is a flash, it can be potentially life-changing.

On this edition of INQUIRY, we ask the folks on the sales grounds to recall a rookie sensation with the question, “What is the most impressive debut win you've ever seen?”

Chris Knehr – WinStar Farm

“The one that sticks out is probably Maclean's Music. That was a freakish performance.”

Carl McEntee – Ballysax Bloodstock

“Maclean's Music. That first out of his, running the 106 Beyer was insane. That was something special.”

Scott Mallory – Mallory Farm

“A filly named Promise Me More. She was entered in a stakes race for her very first race, and she ended up winning by five when she trailed the field the whole time. That was pretty impressive, and it gave me my first win as a breeder.”

Tom Hinkle – Hinkle Farms

“Back in the early '80s, we owned a filly named Romper, and she won here at Keeneland. It was the first race we won at Keeneland, and she won by 15 lengths in 1:09 and change.”

Marc McLean – Crestwood Farm

“We bred Xtra Heat, so to us, that was a big deal when she won her first start.”

The post INQUIRY Presented By Iowa Thoroughbred Breeders And Owners Association: Most Impressive Debut Victory? appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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LEXINGTON, KY–A Tapit filly out of GISW Embellish the Lace (Super Saver) topped the opening session of Keeneland’s September yearling sale on a $1.25-million bid by Claiborne Farm’s Bernie Sams. The bay was consigned to the auction as hip 149 by Bluewater Sales LLC, Agent XVI, on behalf of breeder China Horse Club.

While stringent COVID-19 protocols put in place to allow the world’s largest yearling sale to be held at all may have dulled some of the electricity typically felt in the building when high-dollar horses are changing hands, competition for the top lots remained intense, with five transactions reaching the seven-figure mark and 23 offerings selling for $500,000 or more. In total, 109 head changed hands for gross receipts of $40,680,000 at an average rate of $373,211 and median of $330,000. With 62 horses led out unsold, the RNA rate was 36.26%.

Because last year’s sale featured a three-day Book 1 versus a two-day Book 1 this time around, year-to-year comparisons will be inexact until Book 3. It worth noting, however, that there were seven $2-million-plus sellers during Book 1 last year and none on Sunday. Perennial leading buyers Godolphin and Shadwell were absent from the results sheets. Two horses were signed for on behalf of Coolmore’s M.V. Magnier.

“We were so happy to have an opening day of the September yearling sale–it was great to have people on the grounds; it was great to have trade; it was great to see people following protocols so we can continue to have trade. It was a good day overall,” said Keeneland’s President Elect Shannon Arvin.

In addition to offering online bidding and increasing its capacity for phone bids, Keeneland added another bidding area in the far back walking ring, which seemed popular with buyers.

“Having multiple [bidding] locations was a concern going in–having [bidding from] the back walking ring, and from the telephone and internet, we were concerned it would slow down the whole day. [But] it didn’t seem to cause any delay,” said Keeneland’s Director of Sales Operations Geoffrey Russell. “We had multiple bidders on the internet, and sold five horses that way. The first buyer was domestic and the rest were international. It worked very well… Telephone bids worked too. Having it spread out in the three locations on site probably took away a little bit of the atmosphere, but it’s COVID and we’ll take what we get.”

As for how trade on Sunday compared to expectations, Russell said, “Just to have a sale meets our expectations. We’re very happy that it’s September and we’re at Keeneland and we’re having a horse sale. So, going into it, that would be the first thing. To have competitive bidding at all levels of the market, I thought it was very rewarding.”

The second of two Book 1 sessions of the 12-day auction begins Monday at noon. For more information, visit www.keeneland.com.

A KEESEP Topper for Tapit

A Tapit filly out of the 2015 GI Alabama S. heroine Embellish the Lace (Super Saver) caught the attention of a number of high-end buyers, and was ultimately landed Sunday by Claiborne Farm’s Bernie Sams, who was bidding on behalf of an undisclosed client of the storied nursery. The bay was consigned to the sale by Bluewater Sales as hip 149 and offered on behalf of her breeder, China Horse Club.

“He’s bought a couple mares and he bought a nice yearling filly last year,” Sams said of the buyer. “He’s trying to buy a couple more fillies and build a broodmare band over the next few years and we will see where we go. He wanted a Tapit filly, so there we go.”

He continued, “She’s a pretty filly and very athletic. A nice family out of a young mare that could run. It’s a good cross. We had hoped she would be cheaper.”

Bluewater’s Meg Levy said hip 149 had been plenty popular back at the barn and in the repository.

“It’s a strange year, 2020, and this was the first horse we were bringing to the ring in Book 1. So, while we expected that she could be in that range, you just never know,” Levy offered. “It seemed like all the right people were on her. She’s been nothing but a queen, and she put all the pieces together. The market is increasingly physically demanding and there were just no holes. She had the page and the physical. She was vetted about 14 times, and it seemed like everyone showed up, so fair value.”

Embellish the Lace was a $320,000 buy here in 2013 by Alex and JoAnn Lieblong. The half-sister to 2010 GI Travers S. Winner Afleet Express (Afleet Alex) RNA’d for $1.9 million at the 2015 Fasig-Tipton November sale and brought $2.4 million from China Horse Club a year later while in foal to Uncle Mo. Her now 2-year-old filly Classique (Pioneerof the Nile) was a $700,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga grad of last year, and Embellish the Lace produced a filly by red-hot Into Mischief this term.

While China Horse Club founder and chairman Teo Ah Khing was unable to travel to Kentucky due to the coronavirus pandemic, he stayed up until 4 a.m. local time to watch hip 149 sell from his home in Singapore.

“We couldn’t be more pleased with this result,” he said. “The mare is class. She’s putting down beautiful stock, just what we hoped for when purchasing her. She was well raised by both WinStar and Bluewater and it’s a privilege to offer fillies like her, although always sad to see them go.”

As for the market dynamics in these uncertain times, the international businessman said, “It’s about keeping confidence in the market. You can’t look at the micro. It’s a long-term view and it’s about keeping conviction in the industry. These times will pass–it’s a matter of just getting on with it under the environment we face. We aren’t immune, but we are doing a great job under the conditions.”

Half-Sis to Constitution First to Seven Figures

A Medaglia d’Oro half-sister to leading second-crop sire and MGISW Constitution (Tapit) was the first to reach the seven-figure threshold during Sunday’s opening session of the Keeneland September sale when garnering a top bid of $1.1 million from Mandy Pope’s Whisper Hill Farm. Consigned by Denali Stud, Agent LIX as hip 58, the Mar. 21 foal was bred in a partnership between Bridlewood Farm and Don Alberto Corp. The powerful co-breeders paid a sale-topping $3.5 million for group-placed dam Baffled (Distorted Humor) in foal to Tapit at the 2016 Fasig-Tipton November Sale. Don Alberto subsequently bought out Bridlewood for $1.8 million while Baffled was carrying a full brother to hip 58 at last year’s renewal of that same sale.

“It was a little over; it was about what we expected, though,” said Pope’s bloodstock advisor Todd Quast. “It was a little more than we wanted to spend, but you are not going to get a bargain on a filly of that quality, even in this sale right now. We were super happy with her physical. We think she is a racehorse, but obviously she will be a broodmare later… [Pope] is a commercial breeder, but we race too and we are happy to have a good physical to race and when you have the pedigree side to go with it, it is a win-win.”

By Sunday, Whisper Hill had already sent another well-pedigreed filly back home–Pope made the decision to scratch hip 400, the first foal out of champion Songbird by the late superstar Arrogate. She paid $9.5 million for the mare.

“We didn’t really have a good Fasig sale,” Quast noted. “We love this filly and compare her to Songbird, so we just thought why sell her? She is already back in Ocala.”

Hip 58 is also a half to English Group 2 winner Boynton (More Than Ready) and American dirt GSW Jacaranda (Congrats). She hails from the deep female family of highest-level winners like Emcee and Awesome Humor.

“This filly was bred in partnership with Bridlewood,” noted Don Alberto’s Fernando Diaz-Valdes. “We have some foals out of her [together], including a filly who is at the farm. We’re very excited. She did what we wanted her to.”

Benvenutta, the 3-year-old Tapit filly who Baffled was carrying when Bridlewood and Don Alberto made their big buy, remains unraced and last breezed in October of 2019. Baffled’s 2-year-old Tapit colt Constitutional Law worked on Saturday for trainer Todd Pletcher (5f, 1:02.21, 16/30 over the Belmont training track). Baffled produced a full-brother to hip 58 this year and is carrying a Curlin filly. —@BDiDonatoTDN

Stellar Day for Stone Farm

The Hancock family’s Stone Farm had an excellent day, or to be more precise an excellent 10 minutes, at Keeneland Sunday with a pair of homebreds selling back-to-back with Hip 97 bringing $620,000 and Hip 98 hitting $1.05-million. Hip 97, a son of Quality Road, was purchased by Donato Lanni on behalf of SF/Starlight/Madaket and Hip 98, a War Front filly, was bought by Mike Ryan.

“That was a little stressful [selling 97 and 98 back-to-back],” Lynn Hancock said with a laugh of relief. “We are very happy. We knew coming up here we had two very nice individuals and people might like them. You breed them, raise them and do the best you can and hope for a good result. So, obviously, we are very happy with both of those.”

Stone Farm principal Arthur Hancock purchased Hip 98’s MSP dam Chatham (Maria’s Mon) for $190,000 back in 2009 at this venue’s November Sale. She has proven to be quite a bargain with her past yearlings bringing prices ranging from $70,000 to $535,000 and now a seven-figure filly. Hip 98 is a full-sister to Irish Highweight and MG1SW Air Force Blue, whose first-crop of 2-year-olds are making an impression at the races.

“She is obviously a full-sister to Air Force Blue,” Lynn Hancock said. “He was a champion. She is a lovely filly. She has been a queen from Day 1. We brought her up here and she has just continued to blossom and show well.”

Ryan, who did his bidding by the back show ring, purchased the filly on behalf of an undisclosed client.

“This filly will probably go to Europe and start out there,” Ryan said. “Being a full sister to champion Air Force Blue, you’d have to think she will love the turf. She looked to me like a filly that could run in the States on the dirt. She looks more to me like a dirt horse, but we know she’ll handle grass very well.”

He continued, “I thought she was an exceptional physical when I saw here at Stone Farm three weeks ago. She is a May foal. She is very well grown for her age. She’s not lacking size or scope. They raise a great horse out there with Air Force Blue and three Kentucky Derby winners.”

Hip 97’s dam Chapel (Pulpit) is a third generation Stone Farm homebred. Her now-3-year-old daughter Gingham (Quality Road), a stakes winner and recently third against older females in the GIII Rancho Bernardo H., was purchased by Sarah Kelly for $420,000 at this auction in 2018. Hip 97’s second dam is MGSW Owsley (Harlan).

“The colt is obviously by Quality Road. It is a great family, great page,” Hancock said. ‘Gingham is very live on the track. We love that colt. My dad [Arthur] always says, ‘That’s a racehorse!’ In this market, we weren’t really sure what to expect going in. The 97, 98 back-to-back was a little bit stressful, but we are thrilled.” —@CDeBernardisTDN

Chus Add Another Filly to Stable

Susan and Charles Chu added another high-priced filly to their stable when going to $1 million to acquire a filly by Quality Road (hip 67) from the Gainesway consignment at Keeneland Sunday. The bay yearling is out of graded placed Beloveda (Ghostzapper) and was co-bred by Gainesway’s Antony Beck and Brian Graves, as well as Michael Hernon. Susan Chu, flanked by trainer Bob Baffert and bloodstock agent Donato Lanni, did her bidding in the new back show ring bidding area.

“She was very beautiful,” Chu said of the half-sister to stakes placed Mistress of Love (Scat Daddy).

Asked if she was surprised by the filly’s seven-figure price tag, Chu admitted, “A little bit. But the beautiful ones, everybody wants. Bob and I looked at each other and we just kept going.”

The Chus’ Baoma Corporation was represented last year by three-time Grade I winner Bast (Uncle Mo), who is now in foal to Justify and may or may not be sold this coming November.

The couple also purchased a filly by Distorted Humor for $700,000 at this year’s OBS Spring sale. Now named Varda, she was a first-out winner at Del Mar Aug. 30.

“She is doing great,” Chu said of Varda. “We really cannot wait to see her future success.”

Of their focus on fillies, Chu explained, “Bast has good broodmare potential and we hope this one does too. We have a broodmare band and buying fillies will make it easier for me to look ahead to their second careers.”

After signing the ticket on the filly, Lanni said of the yearling, “She was super cool, a laid-back, classy filly by the right sire and from a great female family. She was raised right. Even with a down market, they are still bringing good money. We are very happy to get her.”

Beck, Graves and Hernon purchased Beloveda for $205,000 at the 2013 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky February sale. The trio sold Mistress of Love for $1 million at the 2017 Keeneland September sale. The mare’s Tapit colt sold for $500,000 at the 2018 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale and a full-sister to hip 67 sold for $450,000 at last year’s Saratoga sale.

“Brian, Antony and I all liked her,” Hernon said of Beloveda’s appeal in 2013 while he took a break from shopping on behalf of his newly formed bloodstock agency Sunday. “She is a daughter of top racehorse and proven sire Ghostzapper–broodmare sire is critical to the equation in mare selection. I was at Fasig and the phone call came in and she was running along nicely up to $200,000 and I made one bid at $205,000 and we got the mare. She has been a cash cow.”

Of the yearling, Hernon added, “This filly is a chip off the old block in the female form of Quality Road who is a superior sire of fillies. This filly had size and scope and balance. She was strong, but kind and a very willing filly. She floated to the top.”

Graves added, “She’s been great to us. The most exciting thing about this is that Bob Baffert is going to train this filly. That would make anybody excited about their mare.”

Of the filly’s final price tag, one of two seven-figure offerings from Gainesway Sunday, Graves added, “It’s always a surprise when you get a million for a horse. We thought she was the best filly on the farm, but we didn’t know what we would get for her, especially in a year with COVID. The market has been a little thin, so it’s a pleasant surprise for everyone.”

Beloveda is currently in foal to Street Sense and has an Empire Maker weanling filly. —@JessMartiniTDN

Best Goes Back to Into Mischief

Larry Best’s OXO Equine has plenty of experience with offspring of Into Mischief and he added another yearling by the leading sire to his roster Sunday at Keeneland, going to $1 million to acquire a colt (hip 121) from the Gainesway consignment.

“I love an Into Mischief,” Best admitted after signing the ticket on the yearling. “I was looking for a good colt–I seem to collect the fillies.”

Among the Into Mischiefs Best has campaigned are GII Best Pal S. winner Instagrand (Into Mischief), multiple Grade I placed Rowayton, multiple graded placed Center Aisle, stakes winner Mundaye Call, and ‘TDN Rising Star’ Clivetty.

“The sire is unreal,” Best said. “I just put Instagrand into stallion duty, so I’m betting big on Instagrand. I didn’t sell him–I had offers to sell him. I put him to stud because I believe he has the potential to be an elite sire son of Into Mischief. So I’m obviously one of the biggest fans of what Spendthrift has done with Into Mischief, and my luck with Into Mischief has been good, starting with Instagrand. I have a horse named Rowayton who’s a Grade I performer. I do have other sires in my portfolio for this [upcoming] 2-year-old crop, but I didn’t have any Into Mischiefs. I had some Practical Jokes. So I felt I wanted to get at least one or two colts. But I’m a big fan of Into Mischief. I think he’s probably one of the best sires ever.”

Hip 121 is out of graded-placed Curlina (Cuvee) and is a half-brother to multiple graded placed Sine Wave (Big Brown). Brandon Garrett purchased the colt for $550,000 at the 2019 Keeneland November sale.

“He belonged to someone else who was kind enough to let me take the horse home,” Gainesway’s Brian Graves said after sending the colt through the sales ring. “I loved the horse when I was bidding on him in November and I just told the successful bidder that I thought he had a chance to be a million-dollar yearling. Into Mischief had a great year and the horse came back and sold well. He was a quality horse, a very correct horse, bought by a very smart guy who has done well with Into Mischiefs.”

Hip 121 was Gainesway’s second million-dollar sale of the opening session of the September sale. Asked if he was surprised by the seven-figure sales considering all the uncertainties in the market, Graves said, “I didn’t think that was going to happen this morning, so today is a great day.”

Later in the session, Best purchased a daughter of Into Mischief (hip 208) for $525,000 from the Woodford Thoroughbreds consignment. —@JessMartiniTDN

Fully Living Continues to Provide for Ashview Farm

Ashview Farm-bred Fully Living (Unbridled’s Song) has been a gift that keeps on giving for the nursery and they scored their latest success with the mare Sunday when her daughter by Medaglia d’Oro (Hip 174) summoned $800,000 from Ben McElroy, acting on behalf of Coolmore’s M.V. Magnier.

“She was a beautiful filly with a lot of presence,” said McElroy, standing alongside the filly’s future trainer Simon Callaghan. “She is by a good sire of fillies and raised at a good farm.”

Sold to Spendthrift for $425,000 at the 2011 renewal of this auction, Fully Living was bought privately by Ashview in partnership with Old Oak Farm after her GSP juvenile season and went on to place in a few more black-type events. Her first foal brought $650,000 from Stonestreet Stables and the next summoned $425,000 from Steve Young. Her now 2-year-old Nyquist colt was a $550,000 KEESEP purchase by Pete Bradley last term. Fully Living hails from the family of champion Halfbridled.

“Physically, she has been a queen since the day she was foaled,” said Ashview’s Gray Lyster. “She has been really straight-forward and is really athletic. She was on her toes the first day and on her toes when the sale started. She made us a little nervous, but in the end she acted really well. We are thrilled. It was a good way to start, especially in a year where we didn’t even know if we were going to have a September Sale.”

Sunday’s auction started off slow, but had picked up a head of steam by the time Hip 174 went through the ring with five yearlings hitting the $1-million mark.

“I am happy I wasn’t selling early,” Lyster said. “That is always the case in a sale no matter what, but especially when you have your best horse, you want to see things warmed up. Once people get outbid a few times, they tend bid quicker, faster and more often.” —@CDeBernardisTDN

More Magic for Ryan

Bloodstock agent Mike Ryan paid $1 million to acquire a colt by Curlin on behalf of Bob Edwards’s e 5 Racing at the 2016 Keeneland September sale. That youngster, campaigned by e 5 and the colt’s breeder Stonestreet, went on to become champion 2-year-old Good Magic. Ryan only had to go to $800,000 to secure the champion’s yearling full-brother (hip 181) for Edwards Sunday at Keeneland.

“They are very alike, this horse is just a little bigger and a little stronger and deeper. He’s just a little bit bigger horse all around,” Ryan said when asked to compare the two. “They have the same demeanor. Good Magic had a great personality, he was a very focused horse, very professional, and this guy is the same way. He was a duplicate of Good Magic, just a little bigger version. If he is half as good, we’ll be delighted.”

Good Magic won the 2017 GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and the following year’s GI Haskell Invitational. He was runner-up in the 2018 GI Kentucky Derby.

Of the yearling’s final price, Ryan said, “In the marketplace, you always want to buy them right. You hope you buy them right and you hope they prove you right. I thought he was one of the best colts in the sale. Obviously we had a biased opinion because the brother was so good to us. He looks like he will run as a 2-year-old like Good Magic did. We are very, very pleased to get him and he comes from a really top farm in Stonestreet. They breed a lot of top horses.” —@JessMartiniTDN

Dilger Legacy Continues at September

Gerry Dilger passed away in March and his absence has left a gaping hole in the fabric of the September sale where he annually enjoyed a bevy of pinhooking successes, but the veteran horseman still made his presence felt with pair of standout results Sunday at Keeneland.

Dilger’s Dromoland consignment sold a colt by Nyquist (hip 99) for $300,000 to Centennial Farms Sunday. The yearling had been purchased for $130,000 at last year’s Keeneland November sale.

Nyquist was a stallion Dilger knew well, having teamed with Pat Costello and Ted Campion to pinhook the future GI Kentucky Derby winner in 2014.

“It was very emotional to have the horse come full circle,” admitted Dromoland manager Peter Conway. “From being purchased by Gerry, Pat and Ted to come back here and sell a nice Nyquist like that for Gerry and his family, it was a fantastic result. We really hope he performs well for his new owners. We would like to thank them immensely for that. I know I can speak for myself that I’m very grateful and I know that [Dilger’s wife] Erin and her children are extremely grateful as well.”

Later in Sunday’s session, Dromoland sold a colt by Gun Runner (hip 185) for $270,000 to bloodstock agent Mike Ryan. The yearling had been purchased for $190,000 at this year’s Keeneland January sale.

“We were delighted with him,” Conway said. “Gerry always loved him as a foal. He saw great potential in him and he grew up to be a nice horse.”

Ryan, who purchased the colt on behalf of William Warren, was a longtime friend and business partner of Dilger. The two men co-bred 2017 GI Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming (Bernardini).

“It’s very emotional because he and I were so close,” Ryan said after signing the ticket on the yearling. “It breaks my heart. I haven’t come to terms with that he’s not here. We bred a Derby winner together.”

Conway said the two yearlings were typical of Dilger’s successful pinhooking prospects.

“They were two very nice colts,” Conway said. “They were well-grown and strong with big walks and fairly correct. They just suited his program. When he purchased them, he could see a lot of potential in them. They weren’t the finished model, but he had his perception of how they would turn out. I hope we did a good job bringing them to the sale the way he would have wanted to. I hope he is looking down on us and his family and he’s happy with how things we went today.”

The future of the Dromoland consignment is still up in the air, according to Conway.

“I know we are consigning through September and after that, I can’t be too sure what is going to happen,” Conway said. “I know the September sale is a big sale and his family wanted to keep the banner flying here for the September sale under his name and under his colors. We are thankful they gave us the opportunity. All the guys on the farm worked extremely hard this year and we really hope the horses looked as good as they would have if Gerry was there.”

Conway has spent the last seven years working at Dromoland.

“I can attribute 99% of everything I’ve learned about horses and horsemanship to Gerry and his operation,” the Irishman said. “He was a great mentor to me and to many young people over the years. He was a fantastic individual.” —@JessMartiniTDN

‘Avengers’ Keep Busy at Keeneland

The partnership of SF, Starlight and Madaket, dubbed ‘The Avengers’ by their trainer Bob Baffert, were on a buying spree at Fasig, purchasing nine yearling, and were still busy shopping at Keeneland Sunday. The powerhouse group, who purchased recent GI Kentucky Derby hero Authentic (Into Mischief) at this auction two years ago, bought eight youngsters Sunday, topped by a $775,000 son of Into Mischief (Hip 78).

“He is by Into Mischief who is now proven as an elite stallion,” said SF’s Tom Ryan. “Authentic demonstrated that Into Mischief is capable of siring a horse who can win at the highest level at the Classic distance.”

He added, “We had to reach to buy him, but he was a horse we felt suited our program very well.”

Wayne Hughes’s Spendthrift Farm, which stands Into Mischief, purchased Hip 78’s GSW dam Bouquet Booth (Flower Alley) for $190,000 at the 2017 KEENOV sale carrying a foal by Union Rags. This is the family of Horse of the Year Havre de Grace and MGISWs Riskaverse and Tonalist. Hip 78 was consigned by Four Star Sales.

Offspring of Into Mischief were in high demand at Fasig -Tipton and that trend continued at Keeneland Sunday with nine of his yearlings (from 11 through the ring) bringing $4.835-million with an average of $537,222. —@CDeBernardisTDN

Crosswinds Continues to Reward Hinkles

Tom, Henry and Anne-Archer Hinkle’s Hinkle Farms has done pretty well at Keeneland over the years off of the $140,000 they paid for maiden mare Crosswinds (Storm Cat) at the 2009 November sale. They had sold $1.68 million in yearlings out of her before Sunday, and have seen her foals Weep No More (Mineshaft) and Current (Curlin) annex the 2016 GI Central Bank Ashland S. and 2018 GIII Dixiana Bourbon S. here, respectively.

This year it was hip 116‘s turn to add to the ROI, with the chestnut son of Arrogate garnering a $750,000 winning bid from Japan’s Yuji Hasegawa, who did his bidding over the internet.

“We’re very pleased,” said Henry Hinkle. “We had a lot of really great buyers on him and we were really happy when he was so well accepted. We got a lot of compliments on him. He’s one of the nicest colts we’ve ever brought up here to sell.”

Current was a $725,000 seller here three years ago, and now 2-year-old filly No Ordinary Time (Frosted) brought $600,000

12 months ago. The latter, now a member of Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey’s stable, set the pace before checking in fourth on debut over the Keeneland turf Sept. 7 in the colors of Allen Stable, Inc.

Hip 116 sports Juddmonte influences top and bottom–she’s by Khalid Abdullah’s star-crossed superstar, and a granddaughter of 2001 GI Kentucky Oaks and GI Alabama S. heroine Flute (Seattle Slew). Flute is the dam of GSW and MGISP Filimbi (Mizzen Mast).

“Color wise, [he’s different], but body type-wise, the Juddmonte folks commented that he had a very similar body type,” Hinkle said when asked of the similarities, or differences, between hip 116 and his sire. “We’re very pleased, and I know he’ll be in good hands. The mare has been a great producer–she had those two chestnut graded stakes winners and I hope he’ll follow in their footsteps.” —@BDiDonatoTDN

New Partnership Forms for Dame Dorothy Colt

A son of Grade I winner Dame Dorothy (Bernardini) inspired a new partnership Sunday with the powerhouse trio of Juddmonte, Bridlewood Farm and Winchell Thoroughbreds joining forces on the $650,000 Medaglia d’Oro colt (Hip 124).

“Having been around Ron [Winchell] the last few years, going back to when we were in Dubai a few years ago and Arrogate won, I found him to be a good guy,” Juddmonte’s Garrett O’Rourke said. “I have known George [Isaacs] for years as well. They were involved with Arrogate and bred to him. We discussed that if we came across something we all liked, we would go into a partnership, so it just fell into place today.”

Hip 124 was bred by celebrity chef Bobby Flay, whose colors Dame Dorothy carried to a trio of graded victories, including the GI Humana Distaff S. Her first foal is the now 3-year-old filly Spice is Nice (Curlin), who brought $1.05-million at this auction two years ago and has gone on to earn ‘TDN Rising Star’ status and a Grade II placing.

“He is a big horse and maybe that put some people off, but I had seen Medaglia d’Oro at Bobby Frankel’s as a 2-year-old and had the same thoughts,” O’Rourke said. “God, he was a big, beautiful horse. The good Medaglia d’Oros have also been big racehorses, like Bolt d’Oro and Rachel Alexandra. I feel like the really, really good Medaglia d’Oros are that type. Then you have Dame Dorothy and she was exceptional as well. He was a fine, sound-looking horse, very correct with good limbs. He had a little bit of extra class about him, I thought. Dr. [John] Chandler [of Juddmonte] always uses the phrase, ‘Does the horse speak to you?’ And, I guess, this horse spoke to us. Nice horse and he looked like a racehorse.”

Juddmonte’s ill-fated champion Arrogate is represented by his first yearlings this term and they have proven to be quite popular. Seven of the four-time Grade I winner’s offspring went through the ring Sunday for a gross of $2.205-million and average of $315,000. The top seller was a $750,000 colt (Hip 116) purchased by Yuji Hasegawa.

“We are delighted they are selling like that,” O’Rourke said. “We bought one today as well for $300,000 (Hip 164). We are happy with that and obviously have plenty at home. The sweet will be the opportunity to race them over the next couple of years and the bitter is obviously we won’t have the horse we thought we’d have for 15 more years. Obviously, he was one of the greatest dirt horses we have seen in modern times and we would like to have filled some of our broodmare band with his genes. Hopefully, we will have one good one to replace him.” —@CDeBernardisTDN

Hunter Valley Takes a Bow with Curlin Filly

Adrian Regan and Fergus Galvin of Hunter Valley Farm acquired a weanling filly by Curlin for $250,000 on behalf of a pinhooking partnership at last year’s Keeneland November sale. The two horsemen were so impressed by the youngster, they plucked her dam Applauding (Congrats) out of the Keeneland January sale two months later for $360,000. Both purchases looked prescient when the mare’s full-sister Starship Warpspeed became the dam of GI Kentucky Oaks winner Shedaresthedevil (Daredevil) 10 days ago. The Curlin filly sold for $625,000 during Sunday’s first session of the Keeneland September sale.

“At the time we just thought she was a very elegant filly, maybe a tad immature at the time,” Regan said of the weanling’s appeal last November. “But we loved her action and her balance. She had lots of quality and a great demeanor.”

Applauding, in foal once again to Curlin this past winter, was originally led out unsold in January.

“When we got that foal home, she was the pick of what we brought back that year,” Regan continued. “Fergus and I thought she was all quality. And we loved the mare in January. She was in early enough in January and she didn’t make her reserve because it was a bit more than we wanted to give. But we had a partner who wanted us to give it a go and we are very happy to have her now.”

Applauding herself had a nice update beneath the Twin Spires Sept. 4.

“She went one time to Into Mischief and she’s not in foal, but she has another lovely Curlin by her side,” Regan said of the 11-year-old mare.

Applauding has made a habit of rewarding breeders. Imagine Bloodstock purchased her in foal to Curlin for $100,000 at the 2016 Keeneland November sale and sold yearlings for $475,000 (Curlin filly) and $400,000 (Distorted Humor colt) out of her before putting her through the ring in January.

“I saw the [Distorted Humor colt] in Florida this year as well,” Regan said. “He’s in training with Kenny McPeek and I know Kenny has a high opinion of the colt.”

Following the Fasig-Tipton Showcase and the early start of Keeneland September sale, Regan said, “I think it’s been well spoken about in the past few days, it’s a picky market. We’ve been lucky at the two sales so far to have two horses that everybody really wanted, our Tiznow at Fasig and the Curlin filly here. You know, if you can’t sell the likes of that filly, we’re really in trouble. We have a long way to go and hopefully we can pick up a bit more momentum in Book 2.” —@JessMartiniTDN

Clay Strikes For Medag Colt

Former Three Chimneys owner Robert Clay, who now operates as Grandview Equine, made some noise early in Sunday’s opening session, going to $600,000 for a Medaglia d’Oro colt out of Grade I winner Angela Renee (Bernardini) (Hip 40).

“We liked everything about him,” said Clay, who did his bidding in the back show ring alongside advisors Alex Solis and Jason Litt. “We loved his physical. If he can run, he is a stallion prospect.”

A Grade I winner at two and Grade I-placed at three for Todd Pletcher, Angela Renee is a daughter of SW Pilfer (Deputy Minister), who is also the dam of MGISW sire To Honor and Serve (Bernardini) and SW & GISP Elnaawi (Street Sense). This is the deep family of Summer Wind Farm’s blue hen Misty Hour (Miswaki), which includes MG1SW and Keeneland September grad Mozu Ascot (Frankel {GB}) and MGSW India (Hennessy).

Don Alberto purchased Angela Renee for $3-million at the conclusion of her sophomore campaign at the 2015 Fasig-Tipton November Sale and turned her over to Chad Brown. She won one of three starts for them, capping off her career with a victory in the Lady’s Secret S. Her first foal is a 2-year-old colt named Act of Honor (Empire Maker), who was a $225,000 RNA here last year.

“We bought her as a broodmare and racing prospect and sent her to Chad Brown,” Don Alberto’s Fernando Diaz said. “She won a stake for us with Chad and had a little something, so we retired her. She gave us a great foal by Empire Maker. He is a beautiful horse, but had a little issue so we kept him at the farm. This is the second foal and he is a lovely colt. Now she is in foal to Curlin. We are excited for what the future will bring.”

He added, “Robert Clay is such a revered horseman here in this country, so we are very glad to have him as the buyer.” —@CDeBernardisTDN

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