Vekoma Weanling Back On Top, Munnings Filly Shares Top Spot

During Tuesday's session of the Keeneland November Sale, a pair of horses secured final bids of $130,000 to top the ninth day of selling. After a pair of weanlings by Vekoma led sessions earlier in the week, a colt by the Spendthrift stallion once again headed the leaderboard Tuesday. Christina R. Jelm, agent, purchased Hip 3178, who was consigned by Eaton Sales, agent. The grey is out of Gypsy Grey (Giant's Causeway), and from the family of Grade I/Group 1 winners Chief Honcho and Poet's Voice and Grade III-winner Gemswick Park.

Hip 3369, a winning-daughter of Munnings, equaled the mark yesterday. Purchased by River Bend, Souper Munnings was consigned by Warrendale Sales, agent for Live Oak Stud. Out of the winning Mylitta (Sky Mesa), the filly is a half-sister to Grade III-placed Judge Davis. She hails from the family of Canadian Horse of the Year Alywow and graded winners Century City and Wow Me Free.

Eaton Sales also consigned the dam of Tuesday's weanling topper–Gypsy Grey–in foal to Midshipman. The second highest-priced mare of the session, Hip 3177 was purchased by Kildare Stud Farm for $90,000. The 8-year-old is out of SP Sheraton Park (Cozzene).

The highest-priced weanling filly Tuesday was Hip 3358, a daughter of Instagrand, whose is represented by his first crop of weanlings this year. Offered by Greenfield Farms, agent for Sierra Farm, the Feb. 26 foal was purchased by Taproot Bloodstock, agent.

With one session remaining, 2,091 horses have sold for $208,879,800, up 7.41% from last year's $194,463,100 for the comparable period when 2,239 horses sold. The average of $99,895 is 15.02% higher than last year's $86,653, and median of $40,000 equals last year.

During Tuesday's session, a total of 265 horses sold for $3,183,200, a 19.02% decrease from 2021, when total receipts were $3,931,400 for 289 horses. The average was $12,012 and the median $7,000, a 22.22% drop from last year's $9,000.

Wednesday, the final day of the November Breeding Stock Sale, begins at 10 a.m. ET. While on Thursday, Keeneland will present the November Horses of Racing Age Sale, beginning at noon.

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Not This Time Leads 2023 Taylor Made Stallions Roster at $135K

Runaway leading third-crop sire Not This Time (Giant's Causeway) will stand for $135,000 S&N in 2023 as the headliner of the Taylor Made Stallions roster, the farm announced Monday.

The leading freshman sire of 2020 by number of winners and black-type winners, and the leading second-crop sire of 2021 in all key statistical categories, Not This Time once again finds himself at the top of the heap this season. In 2022, he boasts a crop-best 12 stakes winners, 25 black-type horses, five graded stakes winners, a pair of Grade I winners and progeny earnings on the year of $10,633,215 thus far. He is the second-ranked sire of 3-year-olds by earnings, behind only Gun Runner, and top sire in North America by percentage of black-type winners for the second consecutive year at 8.3%. His top performer on the track this season is leading 3-year-old Epicenter, winner of the GI Travers S., GII Jim Dandy S., GII Louisiana Derby, GII Risen Star S. and Gun Runner S. He also finished second in the GI Kentucky Derby and GI Preakness S., amassing earnings of $2,800,100 in his sophomore campaign.

Taylor Made will further bolster its roster in 2023 with the arrival of Grade I winner Idol (Curlin), winner of the 2021 Santa Anita H. and a full-brother to multiple Grade I winner Nest who will stand his initial season at stud for $10,000 S&N as a Repole Stable/Taylor Made Stallions Venture.

Knicks Go (Paynter), Horse of the Year, Champion Older Male and Longines World's Best Racehorse of 2021, will stand his second season at stud for $30,000 S&N. A gate-to-wire winner of the $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Del Mar–just two clicks off the 18-year-old track record set by Candy Ride (Arg)–Knicks Go recorded a 112 Beyer in the victory. A two-time track record-setter and a Grade I winner at two, four, and five, Knicks Go banked over $9.2 million in his sensational racing career.

Tacitus (Tapit), a multiple graded stakes winner and earner of more than $3.7 million out of Champion Older Female and five-time Grade I winner Close Hatches, will stand for $10,000 S&N, the same fee he stood for during his first season at stud a year ago. The Juddmonte Farms homebred won or placed in 10 graded stakes, including five Grade Is and two Classic races.

Instagrand (Into Mischief), a $1.2 million Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream Sale acquisition and 'TDN Rising Star', will stand for $7,500 S&N. Instagrand welcomed first foals in 2022 and his initial book of mares included GI Breeders' Cup Distaff champion Blue Prize (Arg). A precocious juvenile, Instagrand led wire-to-wire to win the GII Best Pal S. by 10 3/4 lengths after breaking his maiden by 10 lengths in his debut. He also placed in the GIII Gotham S. and GI Santa Anita Derby.

Instilled Regard (Arch) also saw his first foals arrive this year, and he will stand the upcoming season for $7,500 S&N. During his racing career, Instilled Regard won the GI Manhattan S. and earned $983,240. He hails from a prolific family–his second dam is champion mare Heavenly Prize, the dam of Pure Prize.

Rowayton (Into Mischief), a multiple Grade I-placed juvenile by Into Mischief, returns for his second season at stud and will stand for $7,500 S&N. A debut maiden special weight winner, Rowayton was runner-up in the GI Del Mar Futurity and also placed in the GI American Pharoah S. behind subsequent Champion 2-Year-Old Colt Game Winner. Rowayton is out of a half-sister to two-time Canadian Champion Miss Mischief and descends from the family of champions Letruska and Proud Spell.

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Breeding Stock on Tap at Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Fall Sale

The focus switches to breeding stock with the return of the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Fall Sale, which will be held at the Humphrey S. Finney Pavilion today. A total of 236 broodmares/broodmare prospects and New York-bred weanlings have been cataloged for the single-session sale, which gets underway at 10 a.m. To view the catalog, click here.

After being KO'd by COVID in 2020, the sale returned in 2021, generating $3,657,800 in revenue for 163 head sold. Heading last season's sale was a filly by Catalina Cruiser, that realized top price of $195,000.

“This is an important sale for those that actively participate in the New York-bred program,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning. “Saratoga Fall annually offers the highest concentration of New York-bred weanlings of any mixed sale in North America. This year we have 175 weanlings catalogued–all of which are New York-bred.”

Added Browning, “There are also good opportunities in the broodmare portion of the sale, with a number of mares in foal to promising young sires.”

Among this season's young stallion roster with first weanlings or yearlings up for grabs Monday are Instagrand, Leofric, Solomini, Global Campaign, Fog of War, Honest Mischief, King for a Day, Sun to Run, Complexity, Higher Power, Maximus Mischief, Yoshida, Killybegs Captain, Frank Conversation, Mr. Monomoy, Gunnevera, Flameaway, Audible, Country House, Vekoma, Honor A.P., Vino Rosso, War of Will, Gift Box and Tom's d'Etat.

Once again providing strong New York-bred representation, RFHF Bloodstock offers up 21 head–19 youngsters and a pair of in-foal broodmares. Often found among the leading consignors at this venue, RFHF sold the sale-topping weanling, a colt by Practical Joke, for $160,000 during the 2019 renewal of the sale.

“We are going in there with a slightly smaller group of horses this year,” said RFHF's Chris Bernhard. “We had a few April and May babies, and pushing them for an October sale didn't really seem fair to them. I feel we often leave money on the table with them, so I tried to go over there with the horses that are going to fit. Although we have a few less horses than we normally do, the quality and sire power is still there.”

In regard to the positioning on the sale's calendar, he continued, “I always try to have a significant number of horses for this sale. I feel like a lot of the Florida and Kentucky pinhookers have put it on their calendars.”

“I think it's a great opportunity for breeders to sell horses in their own backyard. For me, it's nice to do it at home and be able to sleep in my own bed and then go back at it the next day.

I've always been one of the biggest supporters of the sale and will continue to do so.”

Among RFHF's leading prospects this year is Hip 200 by Honor A.P. out of Italian Highweight juvenile filly Omaticaya (Bernstein), purchased by the operation in foal to the Lane's End sire for $30,000 at Keeneland last November. The Jan. 29 colt is from the family of Irish highweighted router Muhtarram.

“He's a standout,” he said. “He's just really beautiful.”

Bernhard is equally high on Hip 105, a colt by Taylor Made stallion Instagrand out of EZ Passer (Southern Image).

“I like our first year horses which is what I try to program,” he explained. “We go over there with proper horses that are proper physicals and have some pedigree behind them. And try to be the first of that sire's offspring to go through the sale.”

Of the pair of colts, Bernhard added, “They are both big, scopey, pretty individuals. We thought this was a good opportunity here. They both have lovely pedigrees.”

Another colt on offer representing first-season sire War of Will is Hip 209. The colt's dam Parol (Mizzen Mast) was secured in foal to the Claiborne sire for $102,000 at Keeneland last November. The March foal hails from the female family of Pulpit.

“I have intentionally put in first-season sires in this sale because between Taylor Made, Lane's End and Claiborne, they each have their own following in this business and I feel it's strategically a smart place to put them. Hopefully, the individuals can shine and we can top the sale again this year.”

Additionally, Empire State-based sires also can be found on the pages of this season's consignment, including a pair of weanlings by Fog of War (War Front), who stands at Bernhard's Hidden Lake Farm in Stillwater, New York. The GI Summer S. winner is represented by his first crop of weanlings in 2022.

Heading the duo is a colt bred by Hidden Lake, Hip 117. The Feb. 4 foal is the fifth offspring out of Fujiana (Fusaichi Pegasus), a half-sister to GSW Josh's Madelyn (Quiet American) and Party Silks, dam of MGSW and MGISP Upstart (Flatter) and SW Practice Squad (Malibu Moon). RFHF also presents Hip 23, a Fog of War colt out of SP Sweet Sugaree (Tiznow).

“They are intentionally put into this sale,” he said. “I have talked to a few people that are keen on [the stallion's first foals] as well. I am excited to see how his progeny fare at this sale and we have a few more that we'll offer over the next couple of months.”

He continued, “I have seen about 70% of [Fog of War's] offspring and I've been really pleased with them as individuals. They have a lot of leg, and are big, stretchy horses with a real powerful shoulder. They are very pretty, balanced and look fast and early.”

According to Bernhard, partner Chris Larsen's 3C Stable has made a concerted effort to improve his broodmare band in an effort to support his New York program. As a result, several of the resulting foals secured in utero over the past year have made their way to the sales ring this fall.

“We bought a couple million dollars worth of mares–about 60 mares over the course of the last two years–to support his investment in Fog of War and Galilean [standing in partnership with West Point],” he explained. “So, these are the first couple of weanlings that are coming out of that group, which includes our War of Will and Honor A.P. colts”

“[From those mares] we have a lot of those babies are nicely sired Kentucky horses and we'll have another group of horses that will go to Keeneland. We'll probably hold back 60 or 70 weanlings to look at for the August sales in Saratoga.”

“Basically, we were looking to get our initial investment back from the 22 foals out of the mares we purchased and can also give [Fog of War and Galilean] a proper opportunity to be bred to nice mares.”

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Mating Plans: OXO Equine

With the 2022 breeding season right around the corner, we will feature a series of breeders' mating plans over the coming weeks. Today we have Taylor Made's Katie Taylor Whalen on behalf of Larry Best, owner of OXO Equine.

Best retired two stallions to Taylor Made–GISW Instilled Regard (Arch) and GSW/GISP Instagrand (Into Mischief)–for their first seasons last year, with both represented by their first foals in 2022. A majority of his broodmare band, over 50 strong, will go to one of the two and are expecting foals by either of the young sires this year, but Best also supports another former runner who also entered stud last year in MGISP Rowayton (Into Mischief) at Diamond B Farm in Pennsylvania. He also uses a number of outside stallions.

With his first recorded start as an owner in 2017, Best has amassed a large and stellar group of broodmares in a short time, and said, “OXO has three priorities. 1, Quality. 2, Quality. 3, Quality.”

“OXO Equine has collected an unbelievably accomplished, well-bred, and beautiful group of mares,” said Taylor Whalen. “It is a joy to work with such an exceptional group. Larry has done a wonderful job of identifying young mares with active families. Breeders should pay close attention to the depth of his support for Instilled Regard and Instagrand. Both Instilled Regard and Instagrand were precocious accomplished racehorses, and they are receiving a caliber of mares that many stallions don't see until they are well established. Great things are in store for both OXO stallions and mares.”

With an addition of 18 maiden mares currently lined up for this season, in 2021 Best bred 33 mares he boards at Taylor Made. All but one of them went to Instagrand, Instilled Regard, or Rowayton. Every one of his maiden mares in 2022 is going to either Instagrand or Instilled Regard and all but 10 of his other mares will also stay with one of his own stallions.

Said Taylor Whelan, “Though OXO is excited and committed to support their own well accomplished stallions, they see the value in rotating top mares to interesting outside stallions. Essential Quality and Practical Joke both fit the mold. They were accomplished on the track, from the top two most powerful sire lines (Tapit/Into Michief) and have racing and commercial upside. We also learn from what goes well! We are taking Hung the Moon back to Quality Road. Her exceptional yearling colt by Quality Road was purchased last summer at Saratoga by Maverick Racing.”

Following is a selection of some of the biggest names in Best's broodmare band and their plans.

BEAU RECALL (IRE) (m, 8, Prancealot {Ire}–Greta d'Argent {Ire}, by Great Commotion), to be bred to Instagrand

Best acquired this MGSW for $350,000 at the 2020 Keeneland November sale. She went to Instilled Regard for her first season last year and will visit Instagrand this year.

BLUE PRIZE (ARG) (m, 9, Pure Prize–Blues for Sale {Arg}, by Not For Sale {Arg}), to be bred to Practical Joke

Best purchased the 2019 GI Breeders' Cup Distaff winner for a sales-topping $5 million at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton November Sale. He sent her to Into Mischief for her first foal, now a yearling filly. The MGISW and $2.6-million earner is due to Instagrand this year and will be bred back to Practical Joke. Taylor Whalen said the farm is very high on Blue Prize's yearling by Instagrand's sire.

CAMBIER PARC (m, 6, Medaglia d'Oro–Sealy Hill, by Point Given), to be bred to Instagrand

Out of Canada's 2007 Horse of the Year who has since produced four graded winners, Cambier Parc was a $1.25-million buy for Best at the 2017 Keeneland September sale and turned into a MGISW for him while under the tutelage of Chad Brown. The mare's first foal is due this year–an Instilled Regard foal–and she will be sent to the court of Instagrand.

CONCRETE ROSE (m, 6, Twirling Candy–Solerina, by Powerscourt {GB}), to be bred to Essential Quality

Another GISW in the OXO broodmare band, Concrete Rose was a $1.95-million acquisition by Best at the 2020 Keeneland November sale. The mare recently made headlines again when she delivered her first foal, which also happened to be one of the first reported foals by Instagrand.

FINITE (m, 5, Munnings–Remit, by Tapit), to be bred to Instagrand

Picked up at Fasig-Tipton November just two months ago for $2.2 million, Finite is a MGSW out of a full-sister to MGSW Tapiture. She is one of the maidens headed to Best's Instagrand.

INDIAN MISS (m, 13, Indian Charlie–Glacken's Gal, by Smoke Glacken), to be bred to Practical Joke

A $1.9-million buy by OXO at the 2020 Keeneland November sale, Indian Miss is the dam of 2019 champion sprinter Mitole (Eskendereya) and additional GISW Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow), who is slated to contest the G1 Dubai World Cup Mar. 26. The oldest and most accomplished broodmare to date in the OXO broodmare band, Indian Miss is currently in foal to Instagrand and will go back to Practical Joke. Best also has her yearling colt by Into Mischief.

Let us know who you're breeding your mares to in 2022, and why. We will print a selection of your responses in TDN over the coming weeks. Please send details to: garyking@thetdn.com.

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