Ivanna Dempsey

I was awarded a scholarship with the Gerry Dilger Equine Scholarship Foundation in March 2023. This was a fantastic opportunity to travel to Lexington, Kentucky, to further my education, knowledge, and passion for the horse industry, which was part of my Equine Science placement with UCD. Tara Carroll and I spent the summer at Springhouse Farm, where I had to assist with the concluding phase of the foaling season and the preparation of the yearlings for the upcoming sales.

We felt an integral part of the team throughout our time at Springhouse Farm. Gabriel (Spider) Duignan and farm manager Dermot Joyce provided invaluable guidance that will significantly benefit me in the future. They shared their knowledge on various aspects of horsemanship, including developing an eye for assessing horses, understanding the confirmation of the horse, and handling critical tasks like scanning mares and assisting foals during and after birth. They stressed the importance of meticulous attention to detail with yearling preparation. The entire team at Springhouse were eager to share their knowledge, including the veterinarians and chiropractors.

During the July sale, we had the opportunity to shadow buyers looking at horses. We learned invaluable sales knowledge working with Paramount Sales, and a massive thanks to Pat Costello and the entire team there. We worked the September yearling sale in Keeneland and the Saratoga Yearling sale in New York and also got the opportunity to attend the races in Saratoga.

Our highlight was attending the 149th Kentucky Derby and the Oaks at Churchill Downs. What an incredible experience! On our Sundays off, we traveled to Nashville, Red River Gorge, the Railbird Festival in Lexington, and a Reds baseball game in Cincinnati. We also got the opportunity to ride out on numerous occasions in Keeneland Racetrack with Andrew McKeever, and what an experience that was.

A special thanks to everyone at Springhouse, especially Spider and Aisling Duignan, for their generosity, dedication and support throughout the summer in developing our knowledge of the global Thoroughbred industry and providing a working environment dedicated to excellence in their operation.

I cannot put into words how grateful I am to the Dilger family for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be the recipient of the Gerry Dilger Scholarship. Throughout the summer, Erin, Claire, Grace and Joseph offered support, lots of fun and assistance whenever I needed it. Whenever Gerry's name was mentioned, I could not help but be inspired by the numerous remarkable stories about his generosity and mentorship to young individuals. His legacy lives through his family, who continue to carry forward his commitment to supporting young people in the industry.

Elle Sorenson

The Gerry Dilger Scholarship afforded me the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to undertake my nine-month placement with Hunter Valley Farm in the heart of Kentucky. This experience proved to be transformative, allowing me to significantly expand my knowledge, skills and passion for the Thoroughbred industry.

My time in Hunter Valley was filled with invaluable experience that enriched my understanding and love for this industry. I had the privilege of participating in sales work in Fasig-Tipton and Keeneland in Kentucky and even had the remarkable opportunity to work the Fasig-Tipton Select sales in Saratoga, New York. Additionally, I was fortunate to attend the prestigious Kentucky Oaks, which was truly a highlight of my time.

Working on the farm provided me with a wealth of knowledge and eye-opening experiences. I was involved in various aspects of the industry, including foaling, yearling prep and shed runs during breeding season where I was able to see the most prestigious Thoroughbred stallions.

The memories, experiences and friendships I forged during my time in Kentucky are treasures that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. This incredible journey not only deepened my passion for the Thoroughbred industry but also expanded my horizons in ways I could have never imagined.

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Bred by Elizabeth Merryman and raised on her farm in Coatesville, Pennsylvania, Caravel is heading to the breeding shed after she RNA'd for $2.4 million at the Keeneland November Sale.

“The ownership group has very much kept me in the loop and it's been a lot of fun enjoying her successes,” said Merryman, speaking to Cavalieri. “I'm so glad that she's at Hunter Valley because I know the way she has wintered there the last few winters. She's loved it there.”

Caravel earned nearly $2 million as a 15-time winner, which included her longshot performance in the 2022 Breeders' Cup at Keeneland. The ownership group decided to race her as a 6-year-old this year, and she rewarded them with three more stakes wins, including another Grade I victory against the boys at Belmont Park in the Jaipur S.

“Caravel always has been a little bit of a freak of nature,” Merryman told Cavalieri. “She's incredible. She puts so much into her racing but from day one she had so much personality and talent. She's a once in a lifetime horse.”

Her dam Zeezee Zoomzoom (Congrats) was also set to be sold at the same Keeneland November, but Merryman couldn't part with her life-changing mare.

“It might not be the best business plan, but it was the right move for me,” Merryman told the publication. “The mare owes me nothing and she is really, really happy where she is. I didn't want to put her through the stress of shipping somewhere new. I was worried she might not take it that well and it might be really hard on her. I promised her a good life and didn't want to go back on it.”

The 11-year-old is currently in foal to Justify and has also produced the MSW Witty (Great Notion), who is bred, owned and trained by Merryman.

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

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

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

Jesse Longoria | Fasig-Tipton

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

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

Justify Colt to Kiehne and Brunson

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

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

Hip 1023, the Justify topper | Fasig-Tipton

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

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

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

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

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

Lynch, Durtschi Score with Justify Colt

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

Andre Lynch and Pat Durtschi | Fasig-Tipton

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

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

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

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

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

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

Practical Joke to Eurton

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

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

Hip 1194 | Fasig-Tipton

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Curlin Colt Kick Starts Wednesday Session

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

Hip 809 | Fasig-Tipton

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

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

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

Lanni Doubles Up on Curlins

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

Donato Lanni | Fasig-Tipton

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

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

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

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

Medaglia d'Oro Filly Heads West

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

April Mayberry | Fasig-Tipton

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

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

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“Both Adrian and I are delighted to be selling such a unique package on the same day,” Fergus Galvin of Hunter Valley said. “We feel both will complement each other well. Obviously Caravel is a world-class turf sprinter, and her dam, Zeezee Zoomzoom, is in foal to Justify, who is having a phenomenal year. We're delighted to be selling this pair.”

Campaigned by Qatar Racing, Marc Detampel and Madaket Stables, Caravel scored a half-length victory against the boys in the 2022 GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Keeneland during a five-race win streak that began a few weeks earlier on the same track in the GIII Franklin S. Earlier this year, the 6-year-old mare defeated males again in both the GII Shakertown S. and the GI Jaipur S. at Belmont Park.

“Keeneland is excited to welcome back a star the caliber of Caravel, who turned in some of her most memorable performances here and, as a three-time stakes winner, raced into track history,” Keeneland Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy said. “Both Caravel and her dam, Zeezee Zoomzoom, will attract global attention from owners and breeders.”

Caravel is the first foal out of 11-year-old Zeezee Zoomzoom, who scored her maiden victory on the turf at Saratoga. The mare, who also produced multiple stakes winner Witty, by Great Notion, has four winners from four starters.

“She's not a big mare herself,” said Caravel's breeder, Elizabeth Merryman, about Zeezee Zoomzoom, “but she throws very big foals that are very correct, lovely, good movers – she's a really good mover. They all get a lot of natural speed from her. Some of them want to go long, and some want to sprint. They're really talented, smart, lovely horses that are well put together. I love the nick to Justify; I think it's just right for her.”

The catalog for the November Breeding Stock Sale will be posted Oct. 3.

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6th-SAR, $136K, Msw, 2yo, 6f, 4:00 p.m.
Switching to the Spa main, a pair of colts are set for their maiden trips. As a weanling, Change of Command (Into Mischief) went for $570,000 at the Fasig-Tipton November Mixed Sale before fetching $1.05-million less than a year later at the Keeneland September Sale. The Shug McGaughey trainee, who will have Jose Ortiz aboard, is out of a dam who is a full-sister to MGSW Mrs McDougal (Medaglia d'Oro).

Also entered is Kaleem Shah's Billal (Street Sense), a $725,000 '22 Keeneland September grad from Bill Mott's shedrow, who will be ridden by Florent Geroux. Dam Bambalina (Bernardini) was purchased by Repole Stables at the '20 Keeneland November Mixed Sale for $270,000 with Billal in-utero. She's out of Champion grass mare Perfect Sting (Red Ransom), who is also responsible for GSW Smart Sting (Smart Strike). TJCIS PPS

4th-DMR, $82K, Msw, 2yo, 6 1/2f, 7:29 p.m.
Heading out to Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, a competitive group of 2-year-olds will be looking to strut their stuff. Indispensable (Constitution) for trainer John Sadler was a $825,000 buy at the Keeneland September Sale and his extended female family includes MGSWs Gulch Approval (Gulch) and Rusty Slipper (Lemon Drop Kid). His dam High Performer (Candy Ride {Arg}), a full-sister to SW Chocopologie, was purchased by Hunter Valley Farm while in-foal–yielding a colt–to Omaha Beach for $130,000 at the '21 Keeneland November Mixed Sale and she was bred back to that sire, which produced a filly Mar. 15.

Bob Baffert has a pair of firsters ready to fire in Wynstock (Solomini), who initially sold as a yearling for $50,000 at the Keeneland September Sale before going this past spring for $700,000 during OBS April. The New York-bred is his dam's first offspring. Last but certainly not least, is Don Alberto homebred Ultra Power (Curlin), who is out of dual Champion female Unique Bella (Tapit). She is the daughter of GI Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic heroine Unrivaled Belle (Unbridled's Song), who is also responsible for her full-sister Vanishing Point, a $1.5-million purchase at the '19 Keeneland September Sale by Yuji Hasegawa. TJCIS PPS

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“The traffic has been outstanding,” consignor Dave Anderson outside his Barn 3. “Coming in with the economy being a little suspect, it was hard to know whether we would attract the usual suspects, but they are all here. Everybody is in good spirits, so I am expecting a good sale.”

Adrian Regan of Hunter Valley echoed Anderson's comments.

“We are delighted with the activity at the barn,” Regan said. “There's been a lot of showing. People look to be working it hard and from what we are hearing so far, people are saying that there are a good group of horses here.”

The boutique Saratoga catalogue attracted its usual array of sire power and glitzy pedigrees. Gun Runner who had two million-dollar yearlings, including the $2.3-million sale topper at last year's auction, has 12 yearlings in the auction this year. Curlin, who had three seven-figure yearlings in 2022, has seven in the catalogue in 2023, including a son of champion Beholder (Henny Hughes). That mare's half-brother, super-sire Into Mischief, who was represented by four million-dollar sales a year ago, has 12 to be offered in this year's catalogue.

The Saratoga sale is held just across the street from the historic racecourse, giving the power-packed catalogue that extra bit of bling.

“I think with the racing, it is as good as it gets,” Anderson said. “It gets people excited. And the wives and the husbands and the families come and they turn it into a mini-vacation. And when the weather cooperates, Fasig-Tipton knows how to put on a great party and a great show. People bring the product and it's really a special place.”

The atmosphere encourages buyers to attend the sale in person, rather than simply having agents acting on their behalf. That, too, adds to the success of the auction, according to Doug Arnold of Buck Pond Farm.

“This is what's great about coming up here,” said Arnold. “When you can put your hands on things, it kind of changes your mind on what you will and won't do.”

Buck Pond's consignment at Saratoga this year includes just one horse, a filly by Not This Time, and Arnold said horses at the boutique auction face plenty of scrutiny in the days leading up to sale time.

“The buyers have a long time to look at these horses, so they can talk themselves out of things,” Arnold said. “If you have something that is sticking out that they don't like, they will find a way not to buy. We would normally bring more than one up here and it was one of those years that we had a lot of May foals and I kept looking at them and thinking maybe this horse will work for Saratoga, but I am really happy I didn't. Everyone seems to love this filly.”

Tim and Nancy Hamlin's Wynnstay Sales is making its first appearance at the Saratoga sale with a four-horse consignment.

“We've sold horses up here, but we've never brought our own consignment,” Tim Hamlin explained. “One of our customers wanted to do it and Fasig wanted us to do it and we decided to do it.”

Hamlin continued, “I am hoping it's going to be a good sale. You have to have one that has the pedigree and by a hot sire and vets, you've got to jump through all of the hoops. But these are some of the best horses in Lexington, so I think the best ones will have a home.”

After a series of out-of-the-park results last year, the yearling sales season got off to a quieter start at last month's Fasig-Tipton July Selected Yearlings Sale.

“I am a glass is half-full kind of guy, but I think we've got to realize what is going on with interest rates and the economy in general,” Anderson said of a possible correction in the market. “The yearling market has to soften at some point here and that's a good thing, it probably needs to happen.”

While economic conditions might deter many buyers in the middle market, the top-end of the market targetted by Saratoga sellers seems to remain competitive.

“I don't think [the economy] is going to impact this sale,” Anderson said. “This is a boutique sale and buyers are coming here expecting to see some of the best horses in the United States and Canada. They are prepared to buy them at whatever cost it takes.”

Despite the dips and turns at yearling sales to come this fall, Regan feels confident bidding will be strong Monday and Tuesday in Saratoga.

“To be honest, I was a little bit cautious coming up here,” he said. “But we have seen the top end is where everybody wants to be at the moment. So with the group of horses that Fasig has here, I would be very positive about how the sale is going to go.”

Last year's Saratoga sale set records for gross, average and median as 14 yearlings sold for $1 million or over. A total of 135 head grossed $55,155,000 for an average of $408,556 and a median of $350,000.

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“It was a terrific afternoon and early evening of horse sales today,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning. “The horses of racing age marketplace was just dynamite. I think that virtually everyone in attendance–both buyers and sellers, and I can tell you the sales company officials–were a little surprised by how strong the market was and how robust and how consistent the bidding activity was literally from start to finish.”

At the sale's end just around 8 p.m., 142 had sold for a gross of $13,982,000. The average was $98,465 and the median was $62,500. With 28 horses reported not sold, the buy-back rate was 16.5%.

A year ago, 129 horses grossed $10,814,000 for an average of $83,829 and a median of $62,500. The buy-back rate was 19.4%.

“Three horses brought $500,000 or more,” Browning said. “But not only that, we had a lot of horses that got sold with modest reserves that were bringing significantly more than the reserves. So it was a great start to the July sale and I am very, very pleased. Once again, it's a tribute to the people who bring the quality horses to us and give us the opportunity to sell them. It sure worked well today.”

Bloodstock agent Steve Young purchased the co-sale topping Malleymoo (English Channel) from the Gainesway consignment, while Chad Schumer matched that $550,000 price tag later in the auction when acquiring Free Look (Tapit) from the Elite consignment. The final horse through the ring, Crypto Mo (Mohaymen), supplemented to the sale just hours after winning the GIII Iowa Oaks at Prairie Meadows Saturday night, sold to Hunter Valley Farm for $500,000.

In addition to the co-topper, Elite consigned six of the day's top 10 priced horses.

“It's been a terrific sale for us tonight–probably our best July sale ever,” said Elite's Brad Weisbord. “We started here in 2017 and the racehorses and broodmare prospects are our specialty. We've sold 34 of 37 today and we have post-sale offers on two of the three that the clients are considering. It was a terrific marketplace.”

Weisbord said he was finding buyers at every level of the market.

“We rarely sell under $100,000, but we had clients with horses that were going to sell for less than that, so we took them,” he said. “So we sold horses from $35,000 to $550,000, which is a big range for us. But there were buyers at all levels. We have always found that, unlike the yearling or 2-year-old sales where the middle market might be thin, at racehorse sales there are buyers at all levels because you can send them to your pick of trainers and they can go earn pretty quickly.”

Young Back in Action at July
Bloodstock agent Steve Young, whose Fasig July purchases include subsequent GI Breeders' Cup F/M Sprint winnter Wavell Avenue (Harlington), went to $550,000 to acquire stakes-winning Malleymoo (English Channel) (hip 444) Monday at Newtown Paddocks. The 3-year-old filly, consigned by Gainesway, won the Penn Oaks in her most recent start for Rockingham Ranch, David Bernsen, Talla Racing and JWS Racing.

“She is going to Todd Pletcher,” Young said. “She will go to Saratoga and look to go in one of the 3-year-old grass filly stakes there later in the meet.”

Malleymoo broke her maiden at Dundalk before finishing second in the Wait a While S. at Gulfstream last December. She was off the board in the GIII Sweetest Chant S. and GIII Herecomesthebride S., as well as a Keeneland turf allowance in April before her front-running victory in the June 2 Penn Oaks.

“She is a beautiful filly,” Young said. “She had a couple of rough trips at Gulfstream and has improved basically every start of her life. She's a nice horse. And we think she'll get better as she gets older.”

Young, who made the highest bid at last year's July sale, also purchased Lord Zed (Lord Nelson) (hip 437) for $15,000 Monday, Two Minute Lick (Connect) (hip 520) for $27,000 and late in the sale he paid $135,000 for Delta Tau Chi (hip 637), a colt by Practical Joke.

“This is a place to get horses of all classes for people who want to go to Saratoga or Del Mar or Ellis Park,” Young said of the July auction. “I think the results have been very good for a sale that's only been in business for 10 years.”

Free Look to Join Blue Diamond Band
While her racing future is still undecided, Free Look (Tapit) (hip 596) will eventually be joining the broodmare band at Imad Alsagar's Blue Diamond Stud in the UK after selling for $550,000 Monday at Fasig-Tipton. Bloodstock agent Chad Schumer signed the ticket on the graded stakes-placed filly, who was consigned by Elite.

Free Look | Sarah Andrew

“She's a beautiful mare,” Schumer said. “Tapit is a leading broodmare sire, she was graded stakes placed at two, she has beautiful conformation–she's is an absolute cracker of a physical. And it's a fantastic family. What more can you ask for? She has everything you would look for in a broodmare for the future.”

The 3-year-old filly is out of the unraced Wild Mint (Medaglia d'Oro), a full-sister to Violence. A $300,000 Keeneland September purchase in 2021, she was second in the 2022 GII Miss Grillo S. and ended her juvenile campaign with a fifth-place effort in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. She was most recently third in a Belmont allowance May 13 for trainer Chad Brown and Klaravich Stables.

Of immediate plans for the filly, Schumer said, “Plans are fluid because she's a 3-year-old filly and she's OK to race. But we also think she's very valuable as a broodmare. That was the primary focus when we bought her. I think what we will do is let the dust settle and figure it out and come up what we think is the best plan for her and go from there.”

Blue Diamond enjoyed Classic success last year with Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who won last year's G1 French Oaks.

“Imad is an old friend and Nancy Sexton, who I work with a lot, she is one of his bloodstock advisors,” Schumer said. “They found her in the catalogue. I am just doing the easy stuff here. They are the ones that picked her and I went and looked at her, inspected her.”

Klaravich Stables was also represented in the sales ring Monday by Power in Numbers (Girvin), who sold for $400,000.

Crypto Mo to Join Cox Barn
Saturday's GIII Iowa Oaks winner Crypto Mo (Mohaymen) will be joining the barn of trainer Brad Cox after Adrian Regan and Fergus Galvin of Hunter Valley Farm purchased her, in partnership with Qatar Racing, for $500,000 Monday evening at Fasig-Tipton. Crypto Mo was winning her third straight race Saturday in the Iowa Oaks. She captured a Prairie Meadows allowance by 17 3/4 lengths in May and added the Panthers S. in June. “She won very well Saturday night,” Galvin said. “She's a filly on the up. She's a beautiful physical and she was very classy here in the back ring. She never turned a hair. She is definitely improving, so hopefully there is bigger and better on the horizon for her.”

Asked if the filly had been on the team's radar before her win at Prairie Meadows late Saturday night, Galvin admitted, “Not really, no. The race was run Saturday night, so obviously when she was advertised, we looked her up and she won it pretty easily and got a good number. We are hopeful we will take her to Saratoga and maybe look at some races up there. Nothing is set in stone yet.”

Hunter Valley was represented by its first Grade I winner when A Mo Reay (Uncle Mo), purchased for $400,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton November sale, won the GI Beholder Mile at Santa Anita in March. Qatar Racing has had its own success buying fillies of racing age with MGISW Caravel (Mizzen Mast).

“We've had a good year with A Mo Reay and a few others and it's boosted our confidence a little bit,” Galvin said of the decision to purchase the filly. “And she caught our eye.”

Galvin said he wasn't surprised by the filly's $500,000 price tag.

“She is an improving 3-year-old filly,” he said. “There are a host of races for those in the next couple of months. They are always in high demand.”

From Prairie Meadows to Fasig-Tipton, Crypto Mo Stars at July
When Crypto Mo (Mohaymen) (hip 645) hit the wire first in the GIII Iowa Oaks at Prairie Meadows late Saturday night, her owners made the last-minute decision to enter in the horses of race age sale and the partners were rewarded when the sophomore filly–the final horse through the ring at Fasig-Tipton Monday–sold for $500,000 to Hunter Valley Farm. She was consigned by Taylor Made Sales. Trainer and co-owner Travis Murphy, whose wife Cindy rode the filly Saturday night to her milestone 2,000th victory, and co-owner Brendon Valentini were on hand at Fasig-Tipton Monday to watch their prize filly sell.

Murphy purchased the filly for $20,000 at the 2021 Keeneland September sale and Valentini admitted they would celebrate her sale Monday the same way they celebrated her purchase nearly two years ago.

“We bought her for $20,000 as a yearling and we went to Malones,” he said. “We sold her for a half-a-million today and we are going back to Malones.”

“It's emotional,” Murphy said. “We keep a smaller stable and buy horses in our partnership group. We get attached to them. So that part is difficult.”

Valentini added, “We are excited about her future. We want her to go on and do great things. I think she is going to be a multiple graded stakes winner.”

Murphy trailored the filly the nine hours from Prairie Meadows to Lexington himself.

“Brook Ledge had a van at Prairie Meadows with some of the other ship-in horses, but they were leaving at 4 a.m.,” Murphy said. “We hadn't made any preparations for the sale yet because we wanted to see how she competed and I wanted to see how she came back from the race. So that left her getting here in a very short window.”

Harrison Ups the Quality with Redifined
Perry Harrison, along with trainer Michelle Lovell, came to the Fasig-Tipton July sale specifically for one filly and the Texan went home happy when securing the stakes-placed Redifined (More Than Ready) (hip 481) for $450,000.

“I had a team with me and we looked her over pretty thoroughly and vetted her and she fit a lot of what we are trying to accomplish,” Harrison said. “She's a nice filly.”

Redifined, out of Mrs. Boss (Brz) (Wild Event), was consigned by Lane's End. Racing for trainer Tony Dutrow and his Team D partnership, the 3-year-old filly broke her maiden at Belmont last June. She was third in the Bolton Landing S. and a narrowly beaten second in the GIII Matron S. before ending her juvenile campaign with a runner-up effort in the Stewart Manor S. She captured a Belmont allowance June 3 in her most recent start. She was a $150,000 Keeneland September purchase.

Harrison campaigned the hard-knocking mare Change of Control (Fed Biz), who won the 2021 GIII Intercontinental S. He said he currently has about 10 horses in training, as well as a small broodmare band.

“We typically breed about five to eight and then we race usually about the same,” Harrison said. “This is kind of step outside of our comfort zone, but we feel like she is well worth it.

She had both ends of it–we want to look at the breeding aspect as well as the racing. And she's only a 3-year-old and she has a lot of promise and a lot of upside.”

As for plans for the filly, Harrison gestured to Lovell and said, “I am going to talk to Michelle about it. I will let her decide. I'm not going to try to put her words in her mouth on that.”

Of the filly's final price tag, Harrison said, “It was where we thought she would go. Did we hope she'd bring less? Yes. But for quality, you are going to end up paying for.”

Mawaka Makes First Purchase

Scott Mawaka, who has been a racing fan and minority partner in some horses for two decades, made his first purchase at auction Monday at Newtown Paddocks, going to $445,000 to acquire Catiche (Arrogate) (hip 551) from the Elite consignment. Mawaka was sitting alongside bloodstock agent and advisor Marette Farrell when he signed his first ticket.

“She has a tremendous pedigree and still potentially some life on the track,” Mawaka said. “I think we will come out of the excitement of the sale and re-gather and determine what her future looks like. At this point it looks like we might see her back on the track short term and certainly in the broodmare in the future.”

Scott Mawaka, Marette Farrell at the HORA Sale 2023 Fasig-Tipton July Sale

Mawaka said no trainer had been determined for the 4-year-old filly.

Racing for Augustin Stables and trainer Jonathan Thomas, Catiche was runner-up in last year's GIII Selene S. and Bourbonette S. She most recently finished second in a May 12 Woodbine allowance.

Of the filly's final price, Mawaka said, “I thought it was a good deal. I anticipated a little more, so I was pleasantly surprised that we were able to get her there.”

Based in Ohio, Mawaka is CEO of the insurance company Fleet Response. Among the horses he has been co-owner of is Fingal's Cave (Carpe Diem), runner-up in last year's Raven Run S. at Keeneland.

“I've owned horses in minority partnerships for a long time and this is my first introduction to the sale,” he said. “I am just looking to expand more than anything. I love the game. I've been involved as a fan and an owner for probably 20 years. And it's a time in my life now that I can invest more energy and finance into the game.”

As he looks to build a broodmare band, Farrell said Mawaka's plan will be to breed mostly to race, while selling some foals to finance his stable.

Asked if he has plans for any more purchases, Mawaka laughed and said, “Hard to say. We will see. It depends on these prices.”

Lanz Continues Saudi Buying Spree
Pedro Lanz, who was active buying on behalf of King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Sons's KAS Stables at the Keeneland April sale a few months ago, continued buying horses of racing age to send to Saudi Arabia Monday in Lexington. The agent went to $400,000 to acquire Power in Numbers (Girvin) (hip 470) and came back just a few hips later to purchase Rebellious Stage (Justify) (hip 479) for $200,000. Both 3-year-old colts were consigned by Elite.

“I am buying for Saudi Arabian clients and they are looking for horses to run Classic distances,” Lanz said. “They are trying to get the best horses for stakes races there, so they love these sales.”

A $200,000 Fasig-Tipton July purchase in 2021, Power in Numbers has won three straight races this year for Klaravich Stables and trainer Chad Brown. He most recently captured the June 25 Tale of the Cat S. at Monmouth Park.

“This horse is a 3-year-old, lightly raced, with good numbers and improving with every race,” Lanz said of Power in Numbers. “The horse is sound and he's by Girvin and they are doing very good.”

Lanz topped the Keeneland April sale when purchasing the debut-winning 2-year-old Commissioner Dan (Commissioner) (hip 120) for $500,000. Also at that horses of racing age auction, he purchased Carmel Road (Quality Road) for $260,000 and Naval Aviator (Tapit) for $170,000.

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“Adrian and another partner on the farm, John Wade, they both went out,” Galvin, who enjoyed Saturday's victory from his home in Kentucky, said. “But it was great. It was fantastic. We had a couple of near-misses with Family Way (Uncle Mo), she had a great campaign with Brendan Walsh for two years, showed up in a lot of the Grade I races, but to actually have one get a head in front in our own colors is fantastic. And it was made even better with Adrian and John out there to enjoy it all. Really at the end of the day, that's what it's all about, to be able to enjoy the big days. Everybody works hard in the business and you've got to be able to enjoy the big days.”

A Mo Reay was third in the 2021 GI Frizette S., but had yet to win a stakes race when she went through the ring at Fasig-Tipton last fall. Having spent most of her career on the main track, she came into the sale off a pair of efforts over the turf, finishing third in the Aug. 25 Riskaverse S. and fifth in the Sept. 18 GIII Pebbles S.

“She is a lovely physical,” Galvin said. “Adrian and I were talking and we were saying if she could just win a listed race to go along with her Grade I-placing, it would help her broodmare value down the road.”

A Mo Reay was sent to trainer Brad Cox's Fair Grounds base and duly delivered for the team with a three-length victory in the Dec. 31 Pago Hop S.

“Not long after she went down there, Brad was starting to speak in pretty glowing terms about her,” Galvin said. “So we were getting more and more confident with her as time went on.”

The group's optimism in the filly continued to grow when a trip to Oaklawn Park resulted in a late-closing half-length victory in the Feb. 4 GIII Bayakoa S. Shipped across the country, A Mo Reay was sent off at 7-1 in the Beholder Mile. She rolled up to engage Fun to Dream (Arrogate) at the top of the stretch, only to have the even-money favorite scamper clear. Undeterred, A Mo Reay closed relentlessly to just get her head in front on the line.

Of the dramatic stretch run, Galvin said, “I can't say I was confident, but the way she has finished in her two prior races with Brad, she has done her best work in the last furlong. So I knew she would definitely finish up. It was just a matter of if she could catch Baffert's filly and it was really nail-biting as she just kind of got her at the final jump.”

Hunter Valley came close to Grade I glory a few times last year with Family Way, a filly Galvin purchased on behalf of the farm, Marc Detampel and Debra O'Connor for €150,000 at the 2020 Arqana December sale. The mare was on the board in three Grade I races last term, including a runner-up effort in the GI Rodeo Drive S. in October before selling for $1.45 million at the 2022 Fasig November sale.

Could A Mo Reay's Grade I victory mean a return to the sales ring this coming November?

“It's a bit too early to say,” Galvin said. “She has obviously become a very valuable proposition. We do know that she will definitely race this year and we haven't really discussed anything beyond that. Everything is open at this stage. We just want to enjoy her racing career this year and come up with a plan later on.”

Hunter Valley has been involved in several high-profile purchases of racing age fillies who succeed for their partners both at the track and then again in the sales ring. In addition to Family Way, the operation purchased Caravel (Mizzen Mast), who went on to win last year's GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, for $500,000 at the 2021 Fasig November sale, as well as Shedaresthedevil (Daredevil), who was purchased for $5 million at that same auction before adding another graded victory and a pair of Grade I placings to her resume before reselling for that same figure last year.

“If you do get lucky enough to stumble across the likes of an A Mo Reay or a Family Way, the prize money structure if they are good enough to compete at that level is really fantastic,” Galvin said. “Especially with fillies, you have the residual value. Whether or not she succeeded for us back at the racetrack, we knew A Mo Reay had plenty of broodmare value. It's nice to have a fallback when you buy them with black-type, or Grade I-placing, in her case. She wasn't cheap at $400,000, but at the same time, she had already X amount of broodmare value as it was. There is less risk involved with fillies, and certainly well-bred fillies.”

As for where A Mo Reay may start next, Galvin said, “She came out of [the Beholder] good and she will fly back to her Fair Grounds base the middle of the week. I haven't really had much time to chat with him, but you really don't have to get in Brad's way too much as far as race planning. He is always about two steps ahead of everybody.”

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“I thought there was fair trade and there was lots of activity, certainly on the short yearlings,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning. “There was lots of vetting and activity on those that were perceived to be of higher quality. The mares in foal and the broodmare prospects that you would turn down the page when you went through the catalogue sold well.”

Still there remained a fall-off for offerings that did not meet the criteria of the buyers.

“There are some horses that the marketplace is extremely critical of,” Browning said. “It is not as robust as some people would like, but that's a sign and a trend that we've seen for many, many years. I think we've seen a continuation of the marketplace that we saw for much of 2022. It's healthy, it's not exuberant, it's rational, but you better also have an understanding of what you're offering and how the market is going to receive your horse.”

That polarization was also evident to Matt Bowling, who was active both as a buyer and as a seller through his Vinery Sales.

“We are getting a ton of views,” Bowling said. “The people are here. I think if you are bringing the right stuff over, they are paying you a fair value for it. But if you've got some dings or you don't have the pedigree, or a bad produce record, it's definitely a lonely place. But the right horses are bringing the right money.”

A total of 13 horses sold for six figures Monday, compared to 15 hitting that mark during the opening session in 2022. Leading the way was Munny Spunt, who was purchased by Nebraska native Judy Pryor from the Hunter Valley Farm consignment.

Browning expects activity to pick up during Tuesday's second session of the auction, which will feature an offering of supplemental entries with plenty of current form.

“The quality and composition of the catalogue in a sale like this changes from year to year,” he said. “And I think we've got a little stronger catalogue tomorrow as opposed to today just the way it flows with the supplemental entries in the addendum.”

Bidding for Tuesday's second and final session of the sale begins at 10 a.m.

Pryor Strikes Late for Munny Spunt

Following the legalization of casino gaming at racetracks in Nebraska in 2020, Nebraska native Judy Pryor is determined to build up the breeding and racing program in the Cornhusker State. She started by acquiring stallions Court Vision and Giant Expectations ahead of the 2021 breeding season and has now turned her focus to acquiring broodmares. She made her biggest splash in the Thoroughbred auction scene Monday at Fasig-Tipton when going to a session-topping $340,000 for Munny Spunt (Munnings) (hip 293). The 9-year-old mare, in foal to Triple Crown winner Justify, was consigned by Hunter Valley Farm on behalf of David Fennelly's Mountmellick Farm.

“I purchased Court Vision and Giant Expectations a couple of years ago,” Pryor said after signing the ticket alongside Martha Jane Mullholand and Lexis Hennings. “We want to help Nebraska grow in racing to get back to the Ak-Sar-Ben days. I am brand new in racing. I don't know what I am doing. But I love a good horse.”

Pryor does have plenty of experience in the Quarter Horse show world and maintains the 400-acre Pryor Ranch.

“In the Quarter Horse world, we have raised many, many world champions,” Pryor said. “This is a brand new thing for me and I am kind of doing it because my aunt and uncle were race trainers and they have always wanted me to do racehorses. But I thought it was for the Sport of Kings, not for peanut butter lovers. So I ate enought peanut butters to do this today.”

Munny Spunt won the GIII Torrey Pines S. during her racing career. Her filly by Mendelssohn sold for $425,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale. She also has a yearling colt by Authentic.

“She's a little taller than most Munnings,” Pryor said of the mare's appeal. “She is perfectly smooth and correct for breeding purposes. She has a nice walk and she's in foal to Justify. And I wanted to go home with a famous horse.”

Asked if she thought the in utero foal might become the Triple Crown winner's first Nebraska-bred, Pryor said, “I hope to hell it is.”

With Munny Spunt's expected foaling date fast approaching, the Nebraska-bred designation might have to wait. Pryor purchased Ardita (Bernardini) for $92,000 at the Keeneland January sale. That mare recently foaled at Mulholland Springs.

“Nobody thought I should haul her home because she was due to foal,” Pryor said of Ardita.

Of Monday's session-topping bid, Pryor said, “I have no idea what I was thinking. I was just going to buy that damn horse.”

Of her client, Mulholland said, “Judy has been playing at hte top of the Quarter Horse show industry for decades. We are lucky to have her join us here in the Thoroughbred industry. We are going to have fun. We either going to sell them well or we're going to run them. But we're going to have fun.”

Hunter Valley Farm's Fergus Galvin admitted Munny Spunt's session-topping price exceeded the team's expectations.

“We knew she was probably one of the highlights of the day,” Galvin said. “She's graded stakes winner by Munnings and in foal to the right stallion. And her produce, we're still waiting for that runner, but she's got a good sales history. I think they got a good buy. She's a really good mare.”

Mountmellick Farm purchased Munny Spunt for $325,000 at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton November sale.

“David Fennelly is just downsizing a little bit,” Galvin said of the decision to sell the mare this year. “He's not getting out of the business, he's just cutting down his numbers. Justify is looking like he's the real deal. So he thought this was just a good opportunity to sell.”

Pryor credits her aunt and uncle, Merle and Marilyn Heldt, who were trainers on the midwest circuit, for her interest in Thoroughbred racing. And she has a goal for the couple's son, Derron Heldt.

“[The Heldts are a huge reason I am doing this,” Pryor said. “They have been doing this their entire lives. Their son, Derron Heldt, is the head racing director at Prairie Meadows. And I want that kid to give me a trophy.”

Watch Hip 293 MUNNY SPUNT i/f Justify sell for $340,000 at Kentucky Winter Mixed!#FasigKY @HunterValleyKY @coolmoreamerica pic.twitter.com/w0TbLaqFFA

— Fasig-Tipton (@FasigTiptonCo) February 6, 2023

Heiligbrodts Go Back-to-Back

Susan Montanye, bidding on behalf of Bill and Corinne Heiligbrodt, went to $250,000 to acquire the broodmare Bubala (Candy Ride {Arg}) (hip 61) and wheeled right back to take the mare's short yearling colt by Audible (hip 62) for $200,000 for the same clients Monday in Lexington.

The 7-year-old Bubala, who sold in foal to Not This Time, is a half-sister to stakes-placed Island Reward (Street Boss) and Harmonic (Congrats).

The Colorado-based Scott Issel, vice president of Cherry Creek Mortgage Company, purchased Bubala for $50,000 at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton February sale and Issel's Arapahoe Thoroughbreds bred the yearling. Both were consigned by Tom Evans's Trackside Farm Monday.

“The mare was big and pretty and looked like she had all the parts,” said Montanye. “And of course, she's in foal to Not This Time, who is doing outstanding. She joins Heiligbrodt Racing and will go to Taylor Made and hopefull being successful in the breeding process.”

Watch Hip 61 BUBALA i/f Not This Time sell for $250,000 at Kentucky Winter Mixed!#FasigKY @TMStallions pic.twitter.com/xV413rLQ7e

— Fasig-Tipton (@FasigTiptonCo) February 6, 2023

Montanye said the team's initial interest was in the yearling.

“We looked a the yearling first,” Montanye said. “And credit to Bill, I didn't even pick out that the mare was in the sale. He had me go back and look at the mare. That's what started the whole process.”

On plans for the yearling, Montanye said, “We'll see. There is no rush. We will see what he wants to do with him. They will be both go on to Taylor Made for now. We will take it over from there.”

The Heiligbrodts added another mare to their band a little later in Monday's session, going to $130,000 to acquire Fly on Angel (Palace Malice) (hip 159). The 6-year-old mare, consigned by Bluewater Sales, sold in foal to Yaupon, who won the 2021 GI Forego S. in the couple's colors.

Hits Pricey Legacy to Clearsky Farm

Graded-stakes winner Hits Pricey Legacy (Den's Legacy) (hip 202) will be joining the broodmare band at the Cleary family's Clearsky Farm after selling for $230,000 to the bid of Vinery Sale's Matt Bowling. The 4-year-old, who sold as a racing or broodmare prospect, was consigned by Zach Madden's Buckland Sales on behalf of her owner/breeder and trainer C.R. Trout.

“We bought her for Clearsky Farm, so she'll join their broodmare band,” said Bowling. “We haven't made any mating plans yet, we're just glad to have her. She's a pretty, big-walking filly and a very good racehorse. She's the kind of filly they like to add to the broodmare band there.”

Hits Pricey Legacy is a four-time stakes winner who captured the GIII Remington Park Oaks last September. She hit the board in all but one of her 10 starts and won five times. She retires with earnings of $339,935.

“Any time you get a graded stakes winner on the market, they are hard to find, so we tend to find over them,” Bowling said of the mare's final price tag.

Hits Pricey Legacy is out of High Price Hit (Concord Point), who is a half-sister to multiple stakes winners Imahit (Whywhywhy) and Hallelujah Hit (Mr. Nightlinger), all of whom were also bred, raced and trained by Trout.

“I am just trying to cut back on the amount of broodmares I have,” Trout said. “I breed primarily in Oklahoma and I just thought this was a good time to sell this filly while she was still in good, peak form. She is fit and sound as a dollar.”

Asked if it was an emotional decision to sell the graded stakes winner, Trout said, “It is. But I just turned 78 and it's time to start doing some estate planning.”

This isn't the first time Clearsky has added a member of the family to its broodmare band.

“Clearsky Farm had bought a mare from me before from the same family,” Trout said. “They had called and wanted to buy her privately, but I already had her in the sale.”

High Price Hit, who is one of 12 mares currently in Trout's broodmare band, has produced fillies that last two years, a daughter of Flat Out in 2021 and a daughter of Cloud Computing this year. The 13-year-old mare is in foal to Volatile.

“We will make up our mind whether we will breed [High Price Hit] back in Oklahoma and sell her baby,” Trout said. “We are kind of up in the air right now.”

Of what Monday's results for Oklahoma's breeding industry, Trout said, “It means so much for Oklahoma. We don't have a big breeding program, but it's building.”

Watch Hip 202 HITS PRICEY LEGACY sell for $230,000 at Kentucky Winter Mixed!#FasigKY @BucklandSales @ClearskyFarm pic.twitter.com/NPNJIby9Ks

— Fasig-Tipton (@FasigTiptonCo) February 6, 2023

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