Tag: Jacob West

Munnys Gold Carries Big Dreams Into Saratoga

While her connections were hoping for a good showing on debut, no one really quite foresaw the performance 'Hagyard TDN Rising Star' Munnys Gold (Munnings) put on when she ran off the screen June 17 against Monmouth Park maidens, stopping the clock in a scorching :56.60 for five furlongs. Jacob West, advisor to the filly's owners, Robert and Lawana Low, was watching the race from his phone in the midst of a round of golf and admits he initially lost her in the shuffle after the break. By the time she found her way to the front, the first quarter was put up in :22.41 and she'd rolled through a 'touch crazy' second split of :45.22, but was doing it easily. Not long after she coasted in and the final time went up, the congratulatory text messages began flooding in.

“We didn't expect that from her first race–you never do–but we were pleasantly surprised,” West said in a phone interview Monday. “We always believed in her.”

A few days after the fact, and West reports that no news is good news, the filly having come out of the eye-catching effort in great shape. The current plan is to ship Munnys Gold up to Saratoga, get her settled in and on a routine, before deciding which race is next on her radar; the $175,000 GIII Schuylerville S. July 14 and the $200,000 GIII Adirondack S. Aug. 7 are the most likely targets. Where she goes will solely depend on how she's doing when it comes time to make the decision.

When he purchased her for $300,000 from the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Select Yearling sale in July of 2021, it was the filly's physical which stuck with West the most vividly.

“The July sale produces many athletic and precocious horses, and they had this filly in a great spot. She was a well-made, beautiful horse,” West replied, when asked what encouraged him to spend the fourth highest amount paid for a filly at the auction last year. “Her pedigree was a little light at the time, but I prefer an athletic conformation over pedigree.”

He did add that, while her page wasn't heavy with black-type, it wasn't lacking, either. Champion 2-year-old Anees makes an appearance under the fourth dam and the filly's sole older half-sibling was placed in his two starts. Four broodmare sires in her female line all impart a heavy influence of stamina: Medaglia d'Oro, Distorted Humor, Unbridled, and Alydar. Combined with the speed on top from her sire Munnings, and it bears very advantageous fruit when it works out. Early reports from the farm provided their first inkling of budding talent, and by the time they were loading the filly onto a truck bound for the track, the anticipation was clear.

West gives Todd Pletcher and his crew a lot of the credit when it comes to providing seamless transitions from the training farm to racing careers. It's an operation known for its ability to get the best out of young horses and the results tend to speak for themselves. When Munnys Gold shipped up to Monmouth Park, a move with no external meaning beyond stall availability and being able to race in her own backyard, assistant trainer Anthony Sciametta was quick to get hands on her and the filly is thriving. The move north to New York is anticipated to be just as smooth.

Of course, the process is always made easier with enthusiastic owners, and Lawana and Robert Low are the epitome of the word. The former is rumored to be an eagle-eyed handicapper and a trip to the races is always a family affair. West was generous in praise he maintains the owners richly deserve after decades of patience and faith in the sport. He described them as two of the most humble and 'down to earth' people in the room.

“The Lows don't take anything for granted, so when a special horse comes along, they get very excited. For them, it's love the animal, first, and a career, second. Hopefully, Munnys Gold will be another exciting runner for them.”

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Strong Opener to Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Sale

TIMONIUM, MD – The Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale got off to a strong start Monday in Timonium as it looks to follow up on a record-setting 2021 renewal.

“It was a very solid opening session to the sale,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning. “There was diverse bidding activity literally from buyers all around the world participating today. This has become a really solid marketplace where you can sell a quality horse, you can sell a state-bred horse. There was lots of activity at really all price ranges.”

A total of 172 juveniles sold Monday for a gross of $15,755,700. The average of $91,603 dipped slightly from the opening session of 2021, while the median was up 11.1% to $50,000.

Last year's record-setting auction concluded its two-day run with its highest average–$94,375–and highest median–$50,000.

With 59 horses reported not sold, the buy-back rate Monday was 25.5%. It was 19% during the first session of the 2021 auction.

Bloodstock agent Donato Lanni, bidding on behalf of Michael Lund Petersen made the day's highest bid when going to $725,000 to acquire a filly from the first crop of GI Haskell Invitational winner Girvin. Monday's session topper was consigned by Paul Sharp.

“It's been tough all year,” Lanni said of the 2-year-old market. “It's been a crazy year. Good horses bring a lot of money and it doesn't matter who they are by, if they perform and they look like a racehorse. People want a racehorse. It's good to see the market be so strong.”

Sharp said the traditionally deep buying bench in Timonium can reward sellers.

“This sale has always been like that,” Sharp said. “If you have a horse that's kind of risen to the top, people are very excited about them. And it's a good buyer base. I like to bring meat and potato horses here, they seem to get looked at and do well here.”

The Midlantic sale continues with a final session beginning at 11 a.m. Tuesday.

Girvin Filly to Lund Petersen

Donato Lanni, bidding on behalf of Michael Lund Petersen, signed the ticket at $725,000 to acquire a filly from the first crop of GI Haskell Invitational winner Girvin (hip 88). The filly was consigned by Paul Sharp on behalf of Baltimore native John Davison. Erin Wismer purchased the filly on Davison's behalf for $90,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton July sale. She is out of Sweet Pistol (Smart Strike), a daughter of multiple graded stakes winner Pomeroys Pistol (Pomeroy) and a half-sister to multiple graded winner Thousand Words (Pioneerof the Nile).

“She was just a really cool filly,” Lanni said. “She had a lot of class. She did everything they asked her to do and she stayed pretty cool all the way through. I liked her a lot. I showed her to [trainer] Bob [Baffert] and Bob liked her as well.”

Girvin, who stands at Ocala Stud for $6,000, has had a solid spring of results in the sales ring with a half-dozen six-figure juveniles led by a $300,000 colt at the OBS Spring sale.

“I have been impressed by the Girvins I've seen,” Lanni said. “They look like they have speed and they look like they want to go two turns. This is a tough year for freshman sires because there are a lot of really good freshman sires. So he's against Justifys and Bolt d'Oros, but I've been impressed by what I've seen from him.”

Sharp agreed with Lanni's assessment of the offspring of Girvin he's seen.

“They kind of seem to have some class with some precocity,” Sharp said. “They are good-looking horses. They have some scope and look like they can get some distance, too.”

Lund Petersen purchased the top lot at the Midlantic sale in 2019 and 2020. He purchased champion Gamine (Into Mischief) for $1.8 million in 2019 and a $1.1-million son of Uncle Mo in 2020.

“Michael lives down the road and this sale has been lucky for him,” Lanni said. “He likes to be here and it's been fun to have him come to the sale. It's nice to see him be here in his backyard.”

Sharp admitted the filly's final price tag exceeded expectations.

“I had no idea she would bring that much,” Sharp said. “Coming in, we had pegged her at the $300,000 mark, after that we are only guessing. It's a guessing game about who feels the most passionate about the horse. There were several underbidders. And we are definitely thankful for them. Only one person can win, but they definitely never get enough credit, but I like to thank the underbidders.”

 

 

 

Wismer, Davison Form Winning Partnership

Bloodstock agent Erin Wismer and John Davison have turned a chance meeting at Fasig-Tipton a few years ago into a profitable partnership, never more so then when Davison sold a filly by Girvin for $725,000 Monday in Timonium. Wismer had picked the youngster out for Davison, paying $90,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton July sale.

“We met a couple years ago at Fasig-Tipton when we were both bidding on the same horse,” Wismer recalled. “We kept in touch for a couple of years. He is very passionate about the industry, but didn't know a lot about buying horses, so he asked if he came to the sales if I would teach him. He came to the sale and we just started looking at horses and I showed him what I like and what I don't. And he decided he was ready to buy one.”

The partnership's initial investment was a filly by Twirling Candy who was purchased for $40,000 at the 2020 Keeneland September sale. Returned to the ring last spring in Timonium, the filly (hip 468) sold for $200,000.

Hip 88 was Davison's second pinhooking prospect and Wismer admitted the filly's $725,000 exceeded all expectations.

“His wife calls it serendipity,” Wismer said of the partnership. “Because it was ironic that we met and it's ironic that we kept a friendship going, because he's from Baltimore and I'm from Lexington. It's kind of funny how it all happened.”

Asked what she liked about hip 88, who was bred by Airdrie Stud's Brereton Jones, last summer, Wismer explained, “My husband [Troy] works for Airdrie and I love buying Airdrie horses. I love the way they raise them. I had never seen this filly before the sale, but she just walked out and she was so classy and she seemed very intelligent. She had a lot of presence and she was a phenomenal mover.”

Wismer and Davison will be back in action Tuesday with a pair of pinhook prospects.

“We have a Good Magic colt (hip 384) and a Classic Empire filly (hip 556) in tomorrow,” Wismer said. “I love both of them, too.”

While Davison is new to the pinhooking game, his family has been breeding Thoroughbreds in Maryland for three generations.

“His grandfather and his mother have been racing in Maryland for a very long time,” Wismer said. “He is very passionate about Maryland racing.”

Spendthrift, Fletcher Team Up for Bolt Colt

The new partnership of Spendthrift Farm and Frank Fletcher, shut out at OBS last month, officially got started Monday in Timonium with the purchase of a colt by Bolt d'Oro (hip 30) for $675,000.

“He will probably go to [trainer] Brad Cox,” Spendthrift's Ned Toffey said. “We tried to get one or two down at OBS and couldn't get anything, but we are always looking for people to partner up with on colts. Frank is a quality guy who has been doing this for a long time. We are really honored to do something with him. We think we have the right colt.”

The partnership was quick to add a second juvenile to its roster when going to $340,000 to acquire a colt by GI Belmont S. winner Tapwrit (hip 47).

Hip 30 turned in a bullet :10 flat during last week's under-tack show and he is out of Shine Softly (Aldebaran), a daughter of champion Soaring Softly (Kris S.). He was consigned by Pike Racing and was purchased by Al Pike for $90,000 at last year's Keeneland September sale.

Monday's result continued the hot start to the stud career of Spendthrift's Bolt d'Oro, who has been in demand in the sales ring this spring and who has already been represented by a pair of winners on the racetrack.

“This is as good a start as you could ask for from a young sire,” Toffey said. “It is really remarkable how well they've been received, how they have performed at the sales so far, how they are already performing on the track. It's one thing to do it here, but he's got two winners already. You couldn't ask for him to get off to a better start.”

Toffey said hip 30 was typical of the Bolt d'Oros he has seen so far.

“They tend to have some stretch to them and stand over a lot of ground,” he said. “But they are just very athletic, that's the bottom line. We see athletes come in all shapes and sizes, these are big beautiful classy horses. But the things that you are seeing most of all is ability. This track will separate them a little bit. So if they are doing :10 flats, it's pretty strong.”

 

 

 

WinStar Gets Into Mischief

WinStar Farm's David Hanley signed the ticket at $600,000 to acquire a colt by Into Mischief (hip 70) from the de Meric Sales consignment at the Midlantic sale Monday. Out of multiple stakes winner and graded placed Stormy Regatta (Midshipman), the juvenile is a half to stakes winner Bay Storm (Kantharos). He was purchased by the de Merics for $250,000 at last year's Keeneland September sale and worked a furlong at the under-tack show in :10 1/5.

“He is a beautiful horse and I thought his breeze was one of the best breezes,” Hanley said of the colt's appeal. “He has beautiful balance, he's a beautiful mover and he's full of class. Elliott [Walden] really liked the videos on the horse, so we took a shot on him.”

Hanley signed the ticket on the colt on behalf of the partnership of WinStar's Maverick Racing, Siena Farm and Commonwealth.

“It's been strong right through. I think nothing has changed with that,” Hanley said of the 2-year-old market this spring. “But he's by a proven sire with a nice page, with A.P. Indy and Storm Cat down there, and out of a nice young mare. We were very happy to get him.”

West Strikes Early for Always Dreaming Colt

Bloodstock agent Jacob West struck early in the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic sale Monday morning, going to $550,000 to acquire a colt from the first crop of GI Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming (hip 11) on behalf of Robert and Lawana Low. The juvenile was consigned by Top Line Sales on behalf of Marc Tacher's Elusive Thoroughbreds, which purchased him for $40,000 at last year's Keeneland September sale. He worked a quarter-mile during last week's under-tack show in :21 2/5.

“I think at the end of the day, he was one of the most talented horses that we've seen in quite some time,” West said of Always Dreaming. “For him to have done what all he did in a short amount of time speaks to the merit of the racehorse he was. And this horse reminded me of him physically. And I thought his breeze was outstanding. He is a big horse that breezed really quick on a small track. He handled it very well. Historically speaking, if you look at the front and back covers of this catalogue, the horses that breeze well here and gallop out are the ones that live up to that hype. I am just hoping he is the next one to make the catalogue.”

Hip 11 is out of stakes winner Saritta (Indygo Shiner) and from the family of graded winners Called to Serve and Behrens.

West made his winning bid just minutes into the first session of the Midlantic sale, but he was expecting action at the auction would heat up quickly.

“I actually told Mr. Low we were going to have to strike early and strike hard because I think, as this sale picks up later today and tomorrow, we are going to see some fireworks. There are some very nice horses here and there is plenty of money walking around. The market has been strong all the way through. I know some people have gotten shut out on top horses. This was a top horse. We were happy to get him.”

Monday's bang-up result continued a strong spring of sales for Tacher.

“It was exactly what you saw today,” Tacher said when asked about the colt's appeal as a yearling. “Physically, he was very impressive and a correct colt. He is a big scopey colt who looks like a two-turn colt who looks like he can go on and do good things.”

Of the colt's yearling price tag, Tacher added, “I was surprised to get him for that. I thought he was going to go much higher. I was happy to get him for $40,000 because I'm always thinking about the 2-year-old sales.”

Asked how his pinhooking has gone this spring, Tacher said, “Fantastic. This has been a great year. Probably my best year.”

 

 

 

Ransom the Moon Colt Tops Big Day for Brewer

Robert Brewer enjoyed a string of pinhooking successes Monday in Timonium, led by a colt by Ransom the Moon (hip 94) who sold for $375,000 to B-4 Farms, LLC. The Texan had purchased the dark bay colt for $55,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton October sale.

“It was a good lick,” Brewer said of the result. “But with all the action that was on him, I thought he might bring more. I thought he could bring $300,000 to $500,000.”

Brewer also sold a colt by Good Samaritan (hip 135), purchased for $27,000 at Fasig October last fall, for $150,000 to Chad Schumer, as well as a filly by Cross Traffic (hip 270) for $150,000 to August Dawn Farm. Paul Neatherlin signed for the filly at $18,000 at last year's Keeneland September sale.

Brewer purchased a colt by Bolt d'Oro (hip 272) for $35,000 at the Fasig October sale and sold him Tuesday for $250,000 to Harmash Racing.

“I was excited when I was seeing how the Bolt d'Oros were selling,” Brewer admitted. “I knew I had a good one, so I knew I would do well with him.”

When Brewer is shopping for yearlings, he said the individual is paramount.

“An athlete,” he said succinctly when asked what he looks for in pinhooking prospects. “[The pedigree] kind of matters on the price, but I don't open my book until I find a horse.”

Asked to assess his Monday in Timonium, Brewer said, “It was good. I RNA'd a couple that shocked me a little bit, but I am getting them sold.”

 

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Brilliant Cut Shines at Fasig-Tipton February Sale

LEXINGTON, KY–Recent GI La Brea S. runner-up Brilliant Cut (Speightstown) (hip 541) was as popular as many expected her to be, topping the Fasig-Tipton Winter Mixed Sale at $750,000. Japan's Katsumi Yoshida was the winning bidder over the internet.

A total of 431 horses changed hands during the two-day auction for a gross of $17,245,500 with an average of $40,013 and median of $16,000. There were 56 horses led from the ring unsold for a very low RNA rate of 11.5%.

That was a significant increase over last year's auction, where 425 Thoroughbreds grossed $12,506,700 over two sessions with an average of $29,428 and a median of $10,000. There were 99 horses who did not meet their reserves last term for a RNA rate of 18.9%.

“Tremendous horse sale,” Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning said. “There was great activity on all types and levels of horses, unlike a few years ago when it was all or nothing at the top. The encouraging thing was the depth of the marketplace for yearlings, racing/broodmare prospects and mares in foal. People had money to spend and orders to fill. There was a tremendous clearance rate. From our perspective, February has clearly established itself as a meaningful sale on the calendar that people should point horses to the in the future.”

During Wednesday's session, 233 head brought $10,646,700 with an average of $45,694 and median of $18,000. With just 18 horses failing to sell, the RNA rate was 7.2%.

In the equivalent session last year, 218 horses summoned $8,550,400 with an average of $39,222 and median of $11,000. Forty-two horses missed their marks for an RNA rate of 16.2%.

In addition to the sale-topping Brilliant Cut, Japanese buyers also took home Tuesday's top purchase, and the second highest-priced offering of the sale, Bodhicitta (GB) (Showcasing {GB}), who brought $450,000 from K I Farm.

Fred Hertrich, John Fielding and City of Light were responsible for the session-topping yearling for the second day in a row, selling a $180,000 colt by that young Lane's End stallion. Rob Tribbett was also a co-breeder on hip 337, who was purchased by Four Star Sales. The breeders sold a $260,000 colt by that sire Tuesday, who was the auction's top-priced yearling.

Champion freshman sire Gun Runner continued to make a strong showing at Fasig, with two more mares in foal to the Horse of the Year bringing six-figures. The Three Chimneys resident was represented by three other six-figure sellers Tuesday, one yearling and two in-foal mares, all of which were sold by Pennsylvania-based owner/breeder Christian Black.

There was a deep buying bench at the February sale, with the top 12 horses all going to different buyers. On the seller end, Taylor Made accounted for seven of those 12.

“It's tough,” bloodstock agent David Meah said of the February market. “I think this is the new normal and we all have to just get used to it. Realistically, if you think a horse is worth $250,000, you better have $300,000 or $325,000. If you think it is worth $50,000, you better have $75,000. I don't think it is just a now market. I strongly believe it is the new normal. This is the way it is going to be moving forward and I think it has been that way for the last 12 months now.”

Jacob West–whose new outfit with partner Jill Gordon known as Highgate Sales sold topper Brilliant Cut in their inaugural consignment–echoed Meah's thoughts on the market.

“It is strong,” West said. “I had orders to try to buy everything from yearlings to maidens to pregnant mares and I bought one horse. There are quality horses in here and they have been selling well across the board. The results speak for themselves with the median and average from [Tuesday] and the gross total. Today I am sure they are blowing it out of the water. Quality products are bringing quality money and it looks like it is going to be that way for the foreseeable future.”

The Fasig-Tipton Winter Mixed Sale marks the end of the breeding stock sales season and the auction scene will transition to Florida with the OBS March Sale, which is quickly followed by Fasig-Tipton's Gulfstream Sale.

Highgate Sales Off to 'Brilliant' Start

Jill Gordon and Jacob West's Highgate Sales came out of the gate running with their inaugural consignment, selling all 10 of its mares, including $750,000 sale topper Brilliant Cut (Speightstown) (hip 541). The GI La Brea S. runner-up was purchased by Japan's Katsumi Yoshida, who did his bidding online.

“To roll out our banner for the first time and be able to have a sale topper here at the Fasig-Tipton Winter Mixed Sale, it's hard to put into words,” said Gordon, the emotion clear in her voice. “We have the utmost gratitude to this ownership group. They have been very good to me and I can't possibly say thank you enough for what they've done for us. This filly has been a class act from the day she got to the sales grounds. She was out over 150 times and gave the exact same show every time she was out of her stall. We are so proud to have represented her and followed her up to the ring.”

Brilliant Cut was claimed by trainer Doug O'Neill and owners Boom Racing, ERJ Racing, Dave Kenney and William Strauss for $50,000 out of her fourth-out graduation at Del Mar in November of 2020. The chestnut was third behind La Brea heroine Kalypso (Brody's Cause) in last term's GII Santa Ynez S. and checked in fourth in the GIII Las Virgenes S. Switched to the grass, she completed the exacta in an Arcadia optional claimer last March, after which she was sent to the sidelines.

Resurfacing in the Unzip Me S. on the Santa Anita lawn in October, Brilliant Cut checked in fourth that day and was sent back to the main track, where she returned to winning ways in an Oct. 30 starter optional claimer. Dismissed at 20-1 when jumping up the class ladder for the Dec. 26 La Brea, Brilliant Cut pressed from second most of the way and stayed on to fill the place spot.

Brilliant Cut has the pedigree to back up her track record, starting with her year-younger half-sister Lemeiux (Nyquist), who won a stakes last year at two and is back in training. Her dam is a half to MGISW Diamondrella (GB) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}), who is the dam of GSW Spectropscope (Medaglia d'Oro); SW Highest Honors (Tapit); and SW & MGISP Bonnie Blue Flag (Mineshaft), who is the second dam of GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile romper and impressive GI Pegasus World Cup winner Life is Good (Into Mischief).

“Given the interest that we had in here both pre-sale and on the sales grounds, we were hoping she might get to $500,000 or a little more,” Gordon said. “To walk up and have a result like this, especially off of a $50,000 claim, it's hard to describe.”

Highgate's initial consignment consisted of a mix of 10 in-foal mares and racing/broodmare prospects. They had a 100% clearance rate with a gross of $1.216 million and an average of $121,600.

“We are pleased to report that we went 10-for-10 at our inaugural sale,” Gordon said. “We had a great group of clients supporting us and we can't thank them enough. It couldn't be a better way to start and we are both very excited.”

West added, “Jill has really taken the bull by the horns here. We wanted to come in here with some quality product and make our presence felt. She spearheaded all of that and I couldn't be happier for her. I know how much blood, sweat and tears went into this. I am happy for her and our whole team. The guys at the barn were incredible. We wouldn't be anything without our clients and the horses they gave us.”

Meah Strikes for Lady Edith

Bloodstock agent David Meah had two fillies in mind for the partnership of Bing Bush's Abbondanza Racing and Omar Aldabbagh. He decided to focus his efforts on recent stakes winner Lady Edith (Street Boss) (hip 350) and that paid off early in Wednesday's session when he secured the 4-year-old filly for $370,000. She will be sent to California-based conditioner and Meah's former boss Richard Baltas.

“This was the one filly that we knew we could probably afford,” Meah said. “The other one [we were looking at] was [GISP] Brilliant Cut (Speightstown), but we know she is probably going to go for a lot of money. So, we focused in on this filly. With Santa Anita racing from five to 6 1/2 furlongs on the grass now, it gives us a lot of options. We think she can go over there and probably pick up some graded stakes wins, hopefully. She will run all year and then they will decide whether they want to bring her back here in November to sell again or, since she just turned four, they may run her for a couple of years.”

Bred by the late J. David Richardson and Sandra New, Lady Edith was consigned by Hermitage Farm, acting as agent for Richardson's estate. Out of stakes winner Lady Grantham (Yankee Gentleman), she captured the Mamzelle S. sprinting on turf at Churchill Downs in May and came from the clouds to take the Wishing Well S. on synthetic at Turfway Jan. 29 for trainer Tom Drury.

“She has the pedigree where she is worth quite a bit of money as she stands, even if she never ran again,” Meah said of the filly's appeal. “She just turned four and just won a stakes race at Turfway. Horses don't generally come from off the pace there and she was 14 lengths back after about 25 jumps, so she did it really well. She swung five or six wide in the stretch, mowed them down and galloped out pretty well. That last race sealed the deal for us. It showed she has a big turn of foot. They just don't come from that far back at Turfway. We are excited to get her on the grass in California. Horses with a turn of foot like that really do well there.”

Black & Gun Runner Continue to Succeed

Owner/breeder Christian Black has enjoyed plenty of success in the sales ring over the past six months thanks to leading freshman sire Gun Runner. The principal of Blackstone Farm and Forgotten Land Investments sold a colt by that Horse of the Year for $550,000 at Fasig-Tipton's Saratoga sale. The duo continued to succeed at the February sale when Black sold a Gun Runner filly for $225,000 (hip 38) and a pair of six-figure mares in foal to the Three Chimneys stallion during Tuesday's session.

The fun didn't stop there. Black traded two more mares in foal to Gun Runner Wednesday, selling one for $330,000 to Gracie Bloodstock (hip 369) and one for $205,000 to Imaginary Stable and Glen Ellis (hip 377).

“I have always been a big fan of Gun Runner,” Black said. “I have been breeding to him from the first year. Three Chimneys has been very, very nice to me and always let me do what I thought was the right thing to do. They have been very supportive and I am very appreciative of that.”

The first of the two to go through the ring Wednesday was Lucky Draw (Lookin At Lucky) (hip 369), who never made the races, but is a half to stakes winner Killer Bird (Summer Bird). Black picked up the now 7-year-old mare for just $10,000 at the 2018 KEEJAN sale. He kept her first foal, the recently turned 3-year-old filly You Look Cold (Frosted), and races her in partnership with Kinsman Stable. She has won two of her four starts, including the Finest City S. at Presque Isle in September, with lifetime earnings just shy of $100,000 thus far. Black sold her 2020 filly by More Than Ready for $100,000 at FTKOCT and she had a More Than Ready colt last April.

“We were lucky enough that the first foal out of her became a stakes winner,” Black said. “That filly just turned three. She will go on and be a stakes horse this year hopefully, and maybe even a graded stakes horse. She is a young mare with a lot of upside to her, so I think people saw that and were willing to put a value on her that reflected that.”

The second mare is a Blackstone Farm homebred, Malibu Surprise (Malibu Moon) (hip 377). Out of the Ghostzapper mare I'm Surprised, she is a half to stakes winner She's a Big Winner (Bellamy Road). The 7-year-old mare's first foal is a now-yearling colt by Distorted Humor.

“She was born on a Southern Hemisphere season,” Black said. “I always liked the mare. We raised her and she was a decent racehorse. The Gun Runner was in her and I thought that was a good physical match, so we brought her to market and were rewarded. Gun Runner and Three Chimneys have been very good to us. That's for sure.”

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Highgate Sales Hopes for ‘Brilliant’ Debut

Jill Gordon and Jacob West's new venture Highgate Sales looks to get off to a strong start with its first consignment at the upcoming Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Winter Mixed Sale. They have a very good chance to do so thanks to the 10-horse consignment's star, GI La Brea S. runner-up Brilliant Cut (Speightstown) (Hip 541).

“We couldn't be more excited to be offering her on behalf of this ownership group [Boom Racing, ERJ Racing, Dave Kenney and William Strauss],” Gordon said. “They are a fun group of guys and I have had some luck in the past selling some fillies off the track for them. They don't breed, so we thought we would cash in while the iron's hot. On the buyer's perspective, you have limitless possibilities. You can run her for the rest of the year or you can take her directly to the breeding shed. She is by a leading broodmare sire in Speightstown. You combine her looks, her pedigree and her race record and she is the complete package for buyers.”

Brilliant Cut was claimed by these connections and trainer Doug O'Neill for $50,000 out of a winning effort at fourth asking at Del Mar in the fall of 2020. Third to La Brea winner Kalypso (Brody's Cause) in the GII Santa Ynez S. last winter, she was fourth next out in the GIII La Virgenes S., after which she was switched to the turf, finishing second in a local optional claimer last March.

Given a brief freshening, Brilliant Cut returned in the grassy Unzip Me S. in Arcadia Oct. 3, finishing fourth. Getting back on dirt, she returned to wining ways in an Oct. 30 starter optional claimer. Dispatched at 20-1 in the La Brea, she tracked pressed from second most of the way and stayed on to complete the exacta.

“We toyed with the idea [of selling her] a little bit before the La Brea and after that effort, it was clear [selling in a breeding stock sale] made the most sense for those guys and what their goals are,” Gordon said. “She shipped to Kentucky the very first week of January and she has been sales prepping at Nick Drion's farm since then. I am really appreciative for all of the hard work that he puts in. He does a wonderful job and she couldn't be in better hands.”

Brilliant Cut has a pedigree to match her ever-improving race record and lovely physical. Her year-younger half-sister Lemieux (Nyquist) captured a stake at Gulfstream last term and is gearing up for her 3-year-old season. Their dam Polish a Diamond (The Factor) is a half to SW & MGISP Bonnie Blue Flag (Mineshaft), who is the dam of one of the most exciting horses in training, GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner and recent GI Pegasus World Cup romper Life is Good (Into Mischief). Polish a Diamond is also a half to MGISW Diamondrella, who is the dam of GSW Spectroscope (Medaglia d'Oro), and to SW Highest Honors (Tapit).

“It is a family that is just exploding top to bottom,” Gordon said. “Life is Good obviously gave us a really good update over the weekend. Her 3-year-old half-sister Lemieux was a stakes winner last year and is back on the worktab for [Mark] Casse. It is a family that seems to have a new update every week.”

Gordon and West announced the launch of their new sales and bloodstock agency just before Christmas and this February consignment will be their first under the Highgate banner. Gordon brings plenty of experience to the consignment from her previous roles at Claiborne Farm and Warrendale Sales.

When asked about what led to this new venture, Gordon said, “It was something I thought about for quite a while. I sat down with Jacob West, who is obviously a very successful agent and a very good friend of mine. We decided to just jump in and do it. We have skill sets that are very complimentary and we work well together. I have sold horses for him in the past. We decided to just take the leap of faith. I have a good group of clients who are going to support me and Jacob brings a lot to the table.”

The Highgate banner will make an appearance at the major yearling, racehorse and breeding stock sales this season.

“We will do breeding stock, racehorses and yearlings,” Gordon said. “We will do the April sale at Keeneland, [Fasig] July, hopefully a [Fasig] Saratoga consignment and then we will roll right into September at Keeneland.”

While Brilliant Cut may be the star of Highgate's shedrow, the remaining nine mares also have plenty to offer potential clients.

“We have a really exciting consignment top to bottom,” Gordon said. “We feel like every horse we are bringing over has something to offer in terms of appeal. We have Vacay (Not This Time) (Hip 501). She is an exciting filly. She was a stakes winner at two and a multiple stakes-placed at three. She is by Not This Time, who couldn't be having a better couple of months.”

She added, “We have mares in foal to red-hot covering sires, like Munnings, Maclean's Music and Connect. We also have an Into Mischief broodmare prospect [Speeding (Hip 502)] with a lot of appeal. She was a winner herself and her recently turned 3-year-old brother was stakes-placed as a 2-year-old and is back on the worktab for Arnaud Delacour.”

As to be expected when starting a new business, Gordon heads into her first sale with Highgate with a mix of nerves and excitement.

“I think anytime you start something new there are a certain amount of nerves associated with that,” she said. “We have a great team around us. I have a guy Jose Vaquera who is going to run the barn with me. He has come with me from place to place, so having him there with me is a big comfort. We are excited to get started. This is something we have been brainstorming and working on for a while. We are excited to bring what we think is a really quality group of horses over for our first sale.”

The Fasig-Tipton Winter Mixed Sale, which was delayed a day due to a winter storm in Lexington, runs Feb. 8-9 with each session beginning at 10 a.m.

The post Highgate Sales Hopes for ‘Brilliant’ Debut appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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