“Planning matings is always fun, putting all the tools you have available to make the best decision for your mare in hope of breeding the next champion,” said Barry, a long-time advisor to the late Josephine Abercrombie and now serving the farm's current owners, Jim and Dana Bernhard. “As a team, we sit around the table and make the best decisions we can to help our mares achieve the best outcome. Here is a sample of our choices.”

SWEET SAMI D (8, First Samurai–Treaty of Kadesh, by Victory Gallop)

She is a young graded-stakes mare and earner of over $250,000. Her first foal is now a yearling by Gun Runner, and she is currently in foal to Flightline. She will return to Gun Runner in 2024, as the yearling is very nice and the cross has already produced two Grade I winners in Echo Zulu and Gunite.

Welcome to the world, little one! Sweet Sami D foaled this Flightline (@LanesEndFarms) colt last night. #FoalFriday #Foalsof2024 pic.twitter.com/GdE5wbakGU

— Pin Oak Stud (@PinOakStud) February 9, 2024

QUERELLE (8, Violence–Orbital Affair, by El Corredor)

A very attractive young mare by Violence who earned $187,000, she has a very racy yearling filly by Constitution and is in foal to Tapit. We plan to send her to Street Sense this year. The team thinks the size and substance of Street Sense will help this mare–what a solid sire he has become, and he gets a top horse yearly. The cross has produced four stakes winners in 16% with a Grade III winner in First Mission.

OMA THE GREAT (5, Tapit–Rise Above, by Violence)

We bought this mare in foal to Candy Ride (Arg) at Keeneland November ($60,000). She is a winning daughter of Tapit from the family of Grade I winner Twilight Eclipse and Grade III scorer Grand Contender. She will visit the very underrated sire, American Pharoah. A very similar mating has produced the Grade I-winning filly Harvey's Lil Goil, and the American Pharoah over Tapit cross is yielding 30% stakes winners.

MIND OUT (7, Tapit–Kid Majic, by Lemon Drop Kid)

She is another Tapit mare that we bought in 2021 ($1.2m KEENOV). A 'TDN Rising Star', she is half-sister to graded stakes-placed Miss Mischief and is multiple stakes-placed herself. The mare seems to have a lot of her family coming through and needs some refinement and athleticism. That is the reason we have chosen Gun Runner for her in 2024 and look to illuminate the success of Gun Runner with Tapit mares (Grade I winner Society, Grade II winner Wicked Halo).

GLITTER AND GOLD (9, Bodemeister–Expo Gold, by Johannesburg)

A winning half-sister to champion and GI Preakness S. winner Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil), her first foal is now a 2-year-old by Curlin named Cajun Curls who is pre-training at the farm. She has an excellent Tapit yearling colt, so that is the main reason for Glitter and Gold to visit Tapit again this year.

DIAMOND SPARKLES (7, War Front–Diamondsandrubies {Ire}, by Fastnet Rock {Aus})

She is a winning graded stakes-placed mare from an amazing prolific family–that of Group 1 winners Diamondsandrubies, Quarter Moon (Ire) and Yesterday (Ire). We have had a nice update in the 3-year-old half-sister with Aidan O'Brien named Pearls and Rubies (No Nay Never), showing a lot of promise (second in the 2023 G1 Cheveley Park S.) and will be one to watch this year. The mare will visit the sire of the moment, Not This Time. She looks a lot like her sire, War Front, and we believe this mating will offer her some size and scope. There are four very amazing broodmares up close in this mating: Mariah's Storm, Miss Macy Sue, Starry Dancer and Quarter Moon.

CORE VALUES (6, Honor Code–Sweet Awakening, by Street Cry {Ire})

A very attractive daughter of Honor Code (a broodmare sire of the future), she is a multiple stakes and graded stakes-placed winner of over $220,000 and half-sister to Are You Kidding Me, a champion in Canada with earnings over $1 million. The mare is currently in foal to Curlin and will visit Candy Ride (Arg) this year. This cross has produced 20 stakes winners to date, including Grade I winners Game Winner, Ollie's Candy and Mastery.

COMPETITIVE SPEED (6, Competitive Edge–Shopped Out, by Mineshaft)

A nice, young stakes-winning and graded stakes-placed mare of $191,000, this mare was purchased in November 2022 and produced a Maxfield colt last year. She is in foal to Justify and will visit Constitution this year as the cross has produced two Grade I winners. The team at Pin Oak really likes the sire; we have a 3-year-old, 'TDN Rising Star' Parchment Party, that is 2-for-2, and we bought two yearlings in September that we like a lot and are pre-training at the farm.

BROADWAY LADY (7, Constitution–Livi Makenzie, by Macho Uno)

She is a young Grade III-placed mare we purchased in 2022 ($500,000 KEENOV) from the family of GIII Ohio Derby winner Tawny Port and Grade II winner Surf Cat. She will visit Candy Ride (Arg) this year. Constitution is a young broodmare sire, so we are hoping his sire's Tapit's affinity for Candy Ride comes into play.

Broadway Lady | Keeneland

SUMMERTIME MAGIC (5, Carpe Diem–Tap Softly, by Tapit)

We purchased this mare in November ($225,000 KEENOV). She is a stakes winner in Canada and from the family of Silver Prospector, winner of the GII Kentucky Jockey Club. She is currently in foal to the exciting young sire Jackie's Warrior and visits Twirling Candy in 2024. A similar cross has produced Grade I winners Pinehurst and Rombauer.

CHECKERED EMPIRE (6, Empire Maker–Checkered Past, by Smart Strike)

This young mare is a recent purchase and is a very elegant filly by Empire Maker with size and substance. She is the full sister to multiple Grade II winner and Grade I-placed Messier. She will visit Twirling Candy and this mating has inbreeding to the great mare Toussaud. We are hoping we can have some of that Juddmonte magic rub off on her.

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Through both sessions of Book 4, Keeneland sold 606 yearlings for $46,078,000. The book average of $76,036 declined 5.0% from last year, while the median dipped 8.3% to $55,000.

During last year's Book 4 section, 609 yearlings sold for $48,726,500. The section's average was $80,011 and the median was $60,000. The book's top price was $600,000, one of seven to sell for $400,000 or over during the two sessions. Just two hit that mark this year.

With just 55 horses reported not sold Tuesday, the session buy-back rate was 15.45%.

Paramount Sales, which sold the session topper, was the session's leading consignor with 26 head sold for $2,529,000.

“We had a fantastic day,” said Paramount's Pat Costello. “I think we only had three or four RNA's, you can't beat that. It's a great sale, all in all, really. And it's still coming on. I didn't think it would be this strong, but it is.”

The Keeneland September sale continues through Saturday with sessions beginning daily at 10 a.m.

Candy Grab for Pin Oak

A colt by Twirling Candy (hip 2555) was a clear standout Tuesday at Keeneland, attracting a host of admirers from around the grounds before selling for $925,000 to Jim and Dana Bernhard's Pin Oak Stud. The operation has already enjoyed top-level success with a son of Twirling Candy's sire, Candy Ride (Arg).

“He's a big two-turn looking Twirling Candy with a standout physical,” the Bernhards' advisor Matt Weinmann said of th yearling's appeal. “We've had good luck with the Candy Ride line so far in Geaux Rocket Ride and we want to find 10 more just like him. This colt fits that bill and we're thrilled to have him.”

Geaux Rocket Ride (Candy Ride {Arg}) was one of the Bernhards' first Thoroughbred purchases when they acquired the colt for $350,000 at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton July Sale. He won this year's GI Haskell S. and was second in the GI Pacific Classic.

Bred by Alice Bramford and Highfield Investment Group, hip 2555 is out of Hiking (First Defence) and he was consigned by Paramount Sales.

“Our expectations were high for him,” said Paramount's Pat Costello. “He was a nice individual. He passed everybody and most of the grounds were on him. We were delighted for the breeders and delighted Pin Oak got him.”

Of the colt's final price tag, Costello said with a laugh, “That was on the upper side of our expectations, being honest.”

Also Tuesday, Pin Oak purchased a colt by Oscar Performance (hip 2481) for $105,000. Through eight sessions, the operation has acquired 19 yearlings for $8,835,000.

Belladonna Stays Busy at Keeneland

Trainer Cherie DeVaux continued to add yearlings to the Belladonna Racing partnership into Book 4 at Keeneland, purchasing the top-priced filly of Tuesday's session when going to $275,000 to acquire a daughter of Not This Time (hip 2631)  from the Paramount Sales consignment.

“David [Ingordo] goes out and scouts at the farms,” DeVaux said. “And he had seen this filly out prior to the sale last month and marked her down as a horse to keep an eye on. He waited for her today.”

Also Tuesday, the partnership purchased a colt by Twirling Candy (hip 2159) from Warrendale Sales for $240,000 and a son of Collected (hip 2593) for $80,000.

“You hope it gets more reasonable,” DeVaux said of the market as the Keeneland sale moved into its second week. “But these days, the way the sales have been throughout the last two years, it's been really strong throughout and you have to buy when there is a horse that you like that fits whatever your parameters are. If you try to wait to get more in the later books, it doesn't necessarily translate.”

Through eight sessions, Belladonna has now purchased 18 yearlings for $4,917,000. Leading the way was a Quality Road half-brother to GI Pacific Classic winner Arabian Lion (Uncle Mo) (hip 41) acquired for $500,000 during last Monday's opening session of the auction.

“We are just trying to get the best athlete with some pedigree for what we pay,” said DeVaux. “Some we knew we would have to stretch on, we know, but we were really just trying to stay where we evaluated them.”

Belladonna was represented last season by graded-stakes performers Coastana (Kitten's Joy), third in the GIII Fasig-Tipton Waya S. and the GII Flower Bowl S., and Bout Time (Not This Time), who won the Goldwood S.

“We started out with only getting fillies for the first four years just because that was less risk with having some residual value,” DeVaux said of the evolution of the partnership. “We introduced colts in the last couple of years buying predominately from the yearling sales instead of the 2-year-old sales. And it's gotten a lot bigger. The first group had six and it had four the third year, it continues to evolve in the numbers and the budget.”

The sixth edition of the partnership will continue its shopping next spring.

“We still have some [of the budget] left for the 2-year-old sales,” DeVaux said. “The budget really isn't that much different from last year, it's just our average per horse is less this year than it was last year.”

The post $925k Twirling Candy Colt Stands Out at Keeneland’s Book 4 Finale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Pin Oak has now purchased 19 yearlings at the auction for a total of $8,835,000.

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LEXINGTON, KY – The Keeneland September Yearling Sale's first Book 2 session continued right on from where the auction's elite Book 1 section concluded, producing strong results largely in line with last year's record-setting renewal.

During Wednesday's session, 209 yearlings sold for $64,024,000. The session average of $306,335 and the median was $255,000. During last year's Book 2 opener, 219 head grossed $66,695,000 for an average of $304,543 and a median of $250,000. With 83 horses reported not sold, the buy-back rate was 28.42%. It was 26.01% a year ago.

“We've got to be very happy with the way the day turned out, obviously, being on par with last year's figure,” said Keeneland Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy. “Early in the day it was a little slower, but it picked up and charged on very strongly right to the end. It was great to see the active trade. Buyers are finding it very competitive. It bodes well for tomorrow.”

Wednesday's opening session of Book 2 produced an additional five million-dollar yearlings, led by a $1.2-million son of McKinzie who is a half-brother to GI Kentucky Derby winner Mage. The yearling, purchased for Lee and Susan Searing's CRK Stables, was consigned by Runnymede Farm, which also consigned the day's second highest-priced offering, a colt by Gun Runner who sold for $1.15 million to Repole Stable and Spendthrift Partners. Through three sessions, 28 yearlings have sold for seven figures. Thirty yearlings reached that threshold at the entire 2022 auction.

Thirty-nine horses that brought $500,000 or more Wednesday, while 29 horses reached that mark a year ago.

“That's a significant increase,” Keeneland Director of Sales Operations Cormac Breathnach said of that comparison. “And we are up half-a-million ahead of the gross this year compared to a record sale last year. RNAs are just a touch higher than we would want and we are cognizant of that, but the activity is all there. The median and average are just a couple percent higher than they were last year, so it's an extremely good sale. The soft spot is just probably in the buy-back rate and we would like to see that come down. But it's a competitive market and people have good horses that they are willing to protect.”

While the top of the market remains strong, demand underneath those elite offerings remains a major question mark as the Keeneland sale moves into its later books.

“The market has been very strong,” Spendthrift's Ned Toffey said. “The big question is, how long does this hold up? Obviously, you're starting to see a little bit of a tail-off [Wednesday], but it's still strong. When we get into Books 3 and 4, down to the real meat and potatoes, those numbers are very important. They'll say a lot about the market moving forward. But it's been strong so far, beginning in [Fasig-Tipton] July and to a greater degree Saratoga. Fasig put together a great catalog, and now Keeneland with Book 1, which was very strong. But it'll be interesting to see what happens later on in this sale.”

Book 2 concludes with a Thursday session beginning at 11 a.m. Following a dark day Friday, the Keeneland September sale continues through Sept. 23 with sessions beginning daily at 10 a.m.

Kiddos always welcome! #KeeSept pic.twitter.com/ykOC8aqy18

— Keeneland Sales (@keenelandsales) September 14, 2023

McKinzie Half to Mage Brings $1.2 Million

A colt by McKinzie, who is a half-brother to GI Kentucky Derby winner Mage (Good Magic) (hip 669), attracted a final bid of $1.2 million from Dottie Ingordo on behalf of Lee and Susan Searing's CRK Stable. Ingordo, sitting alongside April Mayberry, signed for the colt in the name of Mayberry Farm.

“He's a very athletic colt and we would like to have a nice colt,” Ingordo said. “And obviously, there's a fabulous pedigree, and a young mare, so it has a lot of positives. And you always want one with a lot of presence, and he has that.”

The yearling was consigned by Runnymede Farm on behalf of his breeder, Grandview Equine. He is out of stakes winner and graded placed 'TDN Rising Star' Puca (Big Brown), who is a half-sister to Grade I winner Finnegans Wake (Powerscourt {GB}).

Grandview Equine, a partnership led by Robert Clay which also includes Everett Dobson and the Roth family of LNJ Foxwoods, purchased Puca for $475,000 at the 2018 Fasig-Tipton November sale. The group sold Mage for $235,000 at the 2021 Keeneland September sale and he re-sold for $290,000 at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May sale. His 2-year-old full-brother, Dornoch, sold for $325,000 at Keeneland last September and was most recently runner-up in the Sapling S. at Monmouth Park Aug. 26 after finishing second on Saratoga debut July 29.

“We didn't know what to expect,” Clay admitted after watching the mare's yearling colt sell Wednesday. “We knew he was going to sell well, but we didn't know how far they would go. We had a couple of really interested parties. We are thrilled with that result.”

Puca herself has an upcoming date with the Keeneland sales ring.

“She is in the sale in November,” Clay said of the 11-year-old mare who is carrying a full-sibling to the Derby winner. “We kept the filly, but she is in the sale. She's never going to be worth more than she is right now, so we are going to try to take some chips off the table and see if we can do it again.”

Grandview retained Mage's half-sister Gunning (Gun Runner), who RNA'd for $70,000 at the 2020 Keeneland September sale and is now twice stakes-placed.

Grandview was selling its first yearling at the Keeneland sale Wednesday, but the group purchased three colts, going to $1.1 million for a colt by Into Mischief (hip 18); $1 million for a son of Curlin out of Songbird (hip 325); and $400,000 for a son of Nyquist (hip 35).

“It's hard to buy,” Clay said of the market. “This was the only one we sold, so it was a good sale.”

Hip 669 completed a trio of seven-figure sales for Runnymede Farm, which sold a $2-million son of Uncle Mo (hip 154) Tuesday and a Gun Runner colt (hip 614) for $1.15 million earlier in Wednesday's session.

“The sense of gratitude is just tremendous,” said Brutus Clay. “We feel so blessed to have the team we have–all the grooms, assistant managers. For me, we have this land that has been in the family, so I can't take credit for that. To be a good steward of that is incredible.”

Sold! A McKinzie colt out of Puca, the dam of Kentucky Derby winner Mage, commands $1.2 million in the ring! @runnymedefarmky consigned, Mayberry Farm purchased.

Look for Puca, selling at Keeneland November with @caseclay1 #KeeSept pic.twitter.com/4RGzlP6uaZ

— Keeneland Sales (@keenelandsales) September 13, 2023

Repole, Spendthrift Team for Gun Runner Colt

The partnership of Mike Repole and Spendthrift Partners made its biggest purchase of the Keeneland September sale so far when going to $1.15 million to acquire a colt by Gun Runner (hip 614) Wednesday.

“I was bidding on the wrong horse,” Mike Repole quipped when asked what he liked about the chestnut colt who was consigned and co-bred by the Clay family's Runnymede Farm.

Repole smiled before continuing, “In my opinion, he was the best colt of the day. The team liked him. He was the only one that we liked a lot. We thought he would go for a little bit less, like we always do. But I think the right people were on him. Sometimes when you get a couple of the right people on them, you pay a little bit more than you want. But he's a nice horse and we love Gun Runner. We will see.”

The colt is out of Margate Gardens (Speightstown), a full-sister to graded winner Bridgetown.

“He is a perfect mover, very efficient on his feet. He is a very good cross between Gun Runner and Speightstown,” Runnymede's Romaine Malhouitre said. “He has the power of Speightstown and the quality of Gun Runner. He was an early May foal and he was always compact with that beautiful walk. We knew he would come here and show himself quite well, but we didn't expect he would go that high.”

The mare was purchased by Runnymede and Peter Callahan for $240,000 at the 2016 Keeneland November sale.

“The mare is owned in partnership with Peter Callahan who has more than 30 years with the Clay family and Runnymede,” Malhouitre said. “We've been investing in mares quite a bit the last 10 years. For him to be rewarded like this is special.”

Repole teamed with Spendthrift to purchase three yearlings Wednesday. In addition to hip 614, the partners scooped up a pair of colts by Into Mischief: hip 573 for $650,000 and hip 506 for $300,000. Through three sessions, the group has acquired five yearlings for a total of $3.3 million.

“I think it might be cheaper if I buy half of Spendthrift [Farm],” Repole joked. “I have to ask Eric and Tamara [Gustavson] and maybe they'd consider it.”

Spendthrift is already home to Repole runners Vino Rosso and Mo Donegal and the New Yorker hinted that pair of Grade I winners could soon have company.

“I am enjoying being partners with Spendthrift,” Repole said. “They have Vino Rosso on the farm, they have Mo Donegal on the farm and, I don't know, maybe one day they will have one of my good 3-year-olds on their farm.”

On his own account, Repole has now purchased 26 yearlings for $9.8 million. @JessMartiniTDN

A big sale is deserving of a big hug!

$1.15 million for hip 614, a Gun Runner colt out of Margate Garden. It marked the second seven-figure yearling for @runnymedefarmky this week. #KeeSept pic.twitter.com/gcZ4Wleamr

— Keeneland Sales (@keenelandsales) September 13, 2023

D.J. Stable 'Zigging When Everyone is Zagging' for a Tapit Filly

The narrative surrounding much of the top-tier yearlings in Keeneland's Book 1 was dominated by a pair of stallions and buying entities and partnerships looking for the Classic-type colt. The tide appeared to start to shift with the onset of Book 2. Well into Wednesday's session, D.J. Stable extended to $1.1 million for Hip 589, a daughter of Tapit. Jon Green, seated in the pavilion alongside his father Len and trainer Mark Casse, signed the ticket on the Gainesway-consigned filly, who ended the session as the top-priced offering of her sex on the day.

“We went out in the rain and actually looked at her and it was just one of those fillies that, when they come out of the barn, you hope that it is the one that you asked for,” said Jon Green. “She had all the right parts in all the right places. I don't get enamored with too many horses…certainly this filly took my breath away. Mark Casse, our trainer, went to go look at her independently from us and we compared notes and there was no doubt that she was the No. 1 filly on both of our lists.”

He continued, “I really have to hand it to my father on this one. This is a filly that we all really liked, and I get nervous spending a lot of money on a horse because they're fragile animals and you don't know how they'll react to training and racing, but he had all the confidence in the world in her. From the word go, whenever we were talking about horses, he would say 'well how does that compare to that Tapit filly'. Obviously, he was very enamored with her. He put his money where his mouth is and we're all very excited.”

The Feb. 19 foal is out of dual graded-stakes winning Lady's Island (Greatness), who was purchased by Gainesway for $310,000 at Fasig-Tipton Winter Mixed Sale in 2021. The 9-year-old mare also produced a colt by the Gainesway sire earlier this season. Gainesway also realized a significant score later in the session with Hip 717, a filly by Karakontie (Jpn), who brought $525,000. Her dam, Smart Emma (Smart Strike), was secured by Gainesway for $95,000 at Fasig-Tipton's Winter Mixed sale in 2020.

“I've never seen a horse change as much in the last 90 days,” said Gainesway's Brian Graves of the bay filly. “She just really started shaping up, developing, and growing the right way. All the trainers really loved her. She got vetted a ton. She developed at the right time. It's been one of the best sales we've had in a very long time.”

In a market where many of the big money-driven entities were fighting it out for the same yearlings by the 'now' stallions, Team Green has opted to take a slightly different approach.

“Our program, we can't outspend people,” Green said. “We have to look for trends and zig when they're zagging, so thankfully, we helped set a trend by having an Into Mischief champion [Eclipse Award-winning juvenile filly Wonder Wheel]. But now, everybody is after the Into Mischiefs. You forget that there are really great stallions out there like Tapit, that are now 'under the radar' even almost forgotten about because they're not hot and sexy and new. So, that's why we're leaning more into those kinds of horses. You know earlier on we bid on a Candy Ride and got her, we bought a Quality Road , and these are just great sires for colts and fillies.”

D.J. purchased three additional yearlings at Keeneland: in Book 1, Hip 242 ($300,000, Candy Ride {Arg}); and during Book 2, Hip 463 ($525,000, Quality Road) and Hip 614 ($425,000, War Front

More 'Mischief' to Kick Off Book 2

In an ongoing embarrassment of riches, another colt by Into Mischief realized the first seven-figure sum of the afternoon to launch Book 2. West Point Thoroughbreds' Terry Finley handled the signing duties on behalf of an undefined partnership, that included several of the group's buying partners from earlier in the sale.

“He's really athletic and had a great mind,” said Finley. “I think he has a huge amount of upside.”

Consigned by breeder Clearsky Farms, Hip 521 is out of Grade III winner Ever So Clever (Medaglia d'Oro), a daughter of MSW and MGSP Foxy Danseur (Mr. Greeley), and was hammered down for $1.1 million.

$1.1 million from @westpointtbred for an Ever So Clear colt by Into Mischief! From the Clearsky Farms consignment. #KeeSept pic.twitter.com/dOGkNaMM1n

— Keeneland Sales (@keenelandsales) September 13, 2023

Commenting on the colt's late foaling date, Finley explained, “He is a June 1 foal. My analogy is kind of like he's a kindergarten kid out on the playground with second and third graders. I'd love to see him in a couple of months to compare and contrast.”

On Wednesday, West Point also went to $600,000 for Hip 540, a colt by Tapit who was consigned by Gainesway; and Hip 681, a colt by Gun Runner purchased in partnership with Talla Racing for $675,000.

Asked about the current atmosphere in the sales and racing markets, Finley explained, “Partners are attracted to our game, especially at the top level, it is intriguing to a lot of people,” he said. “Obviously, we are in the partnership business, and our business is to attract new people. I think they see that our industry is trying to get better, and that is very, very important. And the vast majority are trying to get better. I see other partnerships, trainers and agents are getting new people to the game. Our game can't do anything but improve for people that come in and are treated fairly and they have a shot at the big time.” —@CbossTDN

Spendthrift Lends Support to Sire Lineup, Enjoys Dream Run at Keeneland

Headed by kingpin Into Mischief, the yearlings by Spendthrift Farm's stallions offered at this year's Keeneland September sale have been attracting plenty of attention through the first three days of selling. Among the youngster's gaggle of pursuers, Spendthrift has been stepping up to expand its own personal stock, headed by several yearlings by its own sire roster.

“We probably focus a little bit more on our stallions,” said Spendthrift's Ned Toffey. “We like to partner up and we also buy a number of horses with the colt's group. We are willing to partner on other colts and fillies by other stallions.”

He continued, “We don't buy horses by our stallions just for the sake of it. They need to be the kind of physical and meet up to the standards for any horse we would buy. It's a credit to our stallions that we are able to buy a number of them, horses that are meeting those standards.”

After buying six head–alone or in partnership–through Book 1, the operation collected five more on the opening day of Book 2.

Leading the way was Hip 614, a colt by Gun Runner who was purchased in partnership with Repole Stable for $1.15 million  Wednesday.

“We're just looking for pedigree and athleticism,” he said. “We like that residual value, that individual that we'll keep in our broodmare band at the end of the day. And hopefully the colts achieve enough that it'll be something we want in our stud barn.”

Wednesday's acquisitions, however, were largely dominated by yearlings by Spendthrift resident stallions, including the most expensive member of the group, Hip 427, a colt by Omaha Beach, who brought $675,000.

Consigned by Pope McLean's Crestwood Farm, the May 3 foal is out of SP American Queen (Quiet American), making him a half-brother to Honey I'm Good (Shackleford). This represents the family of Grade I winner Classy Cathy.

Freshman sire Omaha Beach enjoyed a recent boost on the racetrack with an impressive Del Mar score by the fleet filly Sandy Bottom at Del Mar Aug. 10.

“He has some really nice athletes,” said Toffey. “He's got horses that are breaking their maidens at the right kind of tracks. He's getting a beautiful animal and they are showing what kind of athletes they are. With his ability and pedigree, he's starting to live up to people's expectations of him.”

In partnership with Repole Stable Wednesday, Spendthrift also secured a pair of colts by Into Mischief (Hip 506 and Hip 573) after haltering a colt by the supersire Tuesday (Hip 314, $600,000).

“This year, he's now up to 15 $1-million plus yearlings,” Toffey said of Spendthrift's marquee sire. “I think his [best quality] is his mental toughness. You probably have to start with ability, but that doesn't mean anything if they don't want to try. His offspring try, they are mentally tough and like to compete and to train. They are blue-collar workers in the elite athlete arena.”

Spendthrift's Book 1 purchases was led by a colt by Not This Time, secured in partnership with BSW/Crow Colts Group for $650,000.

“It's very competitive bidding out there, and partnering up seems to be the trend out there right now, and it spreads the funds out a little bit,” he said. “It's very tough to buy two or three horses and think that you are going to get the kind of results that we're looking for. So you have to give yourself plenty of chances.”

Flying solo, Spendthrift also snapped up a trio of yearlings by Authentic through the first three days–Hip 32 (filly, $300,000); Hip 71 (colt, $250,000) on Day 1 and Hip 706 (colt, $375,000) on Day 3.

“This is one of the most select sales in the world, so for a first-year stallion to get the quality mares is one thing, but they still have to get the type of physical that the buyers are looking for,” he explained.

Setting the bar at Keeneland for the stallion thus far, Authentic was represented by Hip 168, who realized a $900,000 final bid from BC Stables on Day 1.

He said, “Authentic has shown through the sale season so far that he's absolutely doing that. By the number and the sales average that you're seeing. He's getting it done.”

Toffey also remains bullish on resident first-season sire Vekoma (Candy Ride {Arg}), who has 10 yearlings catalogued at Keeneland this year, and Thousand Words (Pioneerof the Nile), who will be represented later this sales season.

In Book 1, Vekoma had two sell, headed by Hip 369, who brought $240,000. The Grade I winner's 2023 fee is $15,000, while Thousand Words stands for $5,000.

“We're very excited about Vekoma, he is just a lower price point. You're going to start to see his yearlings come out here now,” he said. “And then later on, at a lower price point, you'll start to see Thousand Words, who is also a first year horse. He's a beautiful animal and was a $1-million yearling himself and he's producing horses that look just like him. The superlatives on the Vekomas have been extraordinary. We expect for those two to sell extremely well. So you should see some really nice example of all of those horses moving forward.”–@CbossTDN

Uncle Mo Colt to Pin Oak

Jim and ana Bernhard's Pin Oak Stud, which has enjoyed top-level success this year with GI TVG.com Haskell S. winner Geaux Rocket Ride (Candy Ride {Arg}), acquired a colt by Uncle Mo (hip 528) for $1 million Wednesday at Keeneland.

“He's a beautiful Uncle Mo colt,” the Bernhards' advisor Matt Weinmann said. “He had really nice physiology. Uncle Mo is having a pretty incredible sale next to Into Mischief, so we knew he would cost.”

He continued, “Obviously, Book 1 was very, very strong. Probably the strongest Book 1 I've seen in my lifetime anyway. I think you are going to pay when there is a good one. And we are hoping this is a good one.”

The yearling was bred by Andrew Black's Chasemore Farm and was consigned by Hunter Valley Farm. He is out of Flighty Almighty (GB) (Elusive Quality), a half-sister to group winner Boomer (GB) (Kingman {GB}).

“It's fantastic; a great price for the horse, well above our expectations,” said Hunter Valley's Adrian Regan. “He's a lovely colt; very straightforward, very typical of Uncle Mo. I wish them the very best of luck.”

Pin Oak returned later in Wednesday's session to purchase a colt by Tiz the Law (hip 668) for $550,000, a colt by Munnings (hip 643) for $225,000, a colt by Medaglia d'Oro (hip 733) for $175,000, a colt by Hard Spun (hip 738) for $150,000, and a colt by Volatile (hip 757) for $400,000. @JessMartiniTDN

Searings Find a 'Bargain' Into Mischief

After a bevy of $1-million Book 1 yearlings by Into Mischief, Dottie Ingordo agreed it felt like a bargain to get a daughter of the super sire (hip 451) for $875,000 early in the first Book 2 session Wednesday at Keeneland.

“We rated her at $900,000 to a million,” Ingordo said after signing the ticket as Mayberry Farm on behalf of Lee and Susan Searing's CRK Stables. “That was right within the scope, so Lee said I got a deal.”

Ingordo, along with her husband, trainer John Shirreffs and April Mayberry and Lisa McGreevy, have been working the Keeneland sale and all agreed this was the filly they wanted.

“She's a big, strong-looking filly and we love Into Mischief,” Ingordo said. “She had a nice pedigree. John was here and we were doing the inspections and he just thought she was a wow and everybody agreed.”

The bay filly is out of multiple stakes winner and Grade I placed Belle of the Hall (Graeme Hall) and is a half-sister to multiple graded winner Share the Ride (Candy Ride {Arg}). She was bred by Seclusive Farm and was consigned by Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa.

“She was shown almost 200 times,” Hill 'n' Dale's Jared Burdine said. “She's the belle of Book 2. Everybody loved her. She's a beautiful filly who did everything right.” @JessMartiniTDN

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“Jim and Dana Bernhard are on cloud nine,” Pin Oak's Clifford Barry said Monday. “I think they can't believe it. I have spoken to them multiple times and they are some kind of excited.”

While Barry would not commit to the newly minted Grade I winner standing at Pin Oak, he did admit the sophomore was an extremely attractive option to stand in Kentucky.

“He's a very, very important young horse at this point, there's no doubt about it,” Barry said. “He's a son of Candy Ride out of an Uncle Mo mare, he's such an outcross to a lot of mares here in Central Kentucky right now. Obviously, he's a horse with lots of speed, breaks his maiden going six furlongs, second in the GII San Felipe and then comes back and wins the Haskell in his fourth start in what was probably one of the strongest Haskells in several years.”

While the Bernhards, advisor Matt Weinmann and trainer Richard Mandella are still to discuss options for the colt's next race and how best to get to the GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita in November, Barry said the current plan is to race Geaux Rocket Ride at four.

“I think the plan is to race him in his 4-year-old year, just talking to Jim and Dana this morning,” Barry said. “He's a lightly raced horse at this point and you hope he's got a really, really bright future ahead of him on the racetrack.”

As for his future beyond that, Barry said, “I think it would be premature to say he will stand at Pin Oak. I think it would be unfair on the horse to say that. But definitely Jim and Dana have had dreams of standing stallions here for sure. I think when they bought the farm, that was very much a focus on what they were thinking. Obviously, Pin Oak stood stallions–Maria's Mon, Peaks and Valleys, Sky Classic. We are very well known for standing stallions, so it won't be anything unusual to stand stallions here and it won't be unusual to take in partners at that time. We had some very loyal partners in all our stallions here.”

Barry added, “We're just excited that we even have a horse to be thinking in that way for sure. I don't think anybody was thinking to come up with a horse this quickly. Two years ago, Geaux Rocket Ride was bought as a birthday present and lo and behold, here we are after winning the Haskell. Everybody dreams those things, but you know how dreams in this game don't always turn out.”

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“It was a really hard decision to leave Michael. He is a true horseman and I am grateful for all the knowledge he passed along to me,” Saville said. “I consider myself very lucky to have spent so long working alongside him, his fantasic team and some really nice horses. Now, I am really looking forward to starting this next chapter of my career with Jim and Dana Bernhard. I'm excited to join a great team of people who all share a passion for producing quality horses. I'm very thankful to the Bernhards for putting their faith in me to train and educate their young horses at such a historical facility.”

“Joss comes highly recommended and we are very fortunate and happy to have him arrive at Pin Oak,” the Bernhards said in a statement. “He brings with him a wonderful world of experience and we hope to provide him with a top-class training and rehab center where he can turn our yearlings into nice 2-year-olds ready to ship out in the spring. We welcome Joss and his lovely wife, Jo, in making Pin Oak their new home.”

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BROADWAY LADY (m, 6, Constitution–Livi Makenzie) booked to Munnings
This mare, purchased late last year, is a very attractive daughter of Constitution who happens to be a half-sister to MGSW Tawny Port (Pioneerof the Nile). She is from the family of Surf Cat, and the mare will visit Munnings this year. This mating has an interesting breeding connection to Holy Bull.

COMPETITVE SPEED (m, 5, Competitive Edge–Shopped Out) booked to Justify
A MGSP daughter of Competitive Edge, who was third in the GII Gulfstream Park Oaks and GII Davona Dale S. with earnings of $190,000. She just foaled a nice colt by the exciting young stallion Maxfield and will visit Justify this year.

CORE VALUES (m, 5, Honor Code–Sweet Awakening) booked to Curlin
This young daughter of Honor Code has all the breeding in the world to be a quality broodmare sire. She's a half-sister to MGSW Are You Kidding Me (Run Away and Hide), and was a SW under trainer Vicki Oliver with earnings of $222,000. We plan to have her visit Curlin this year, and this is a cross that has already produced MGISW Malathaat and MGISW Nest.

DIAMOND SPARKLES (m, 6, War Front–Diamondsandrubies) booked to Uncle Mo
A very attractive daughter of War Front from a deep family that has produced the likes of G1SW Quarter Moon (Ire) (Sadler's Wells) and her full-sister, G1SW Yesterday (Ire), is out of Diamondsandrubies. She who won the G1 Sea The Stars Pretty Polly S. at The Curragh, and is currently in foal to Quality Road. Our plan is to have her visit Uncle Mo this year.

GLITTER AND GOLD (m, 8, Bodemeister–Expo Gold) booked to Essential Quality
A winning daughter of Expo Gold, who produced the Eclipse Champion 3-Year-Old Filly Swiss Skydiver. We currently have a nice yearling filly called Cajun Curls (Curlin). Glitter and Gold is in foal to Tapit and will visit the exciting young stallion Essential Quality here in 2023.

MIND OUT (m, 6, Tapit–Kid Majic) booked to Curlin
A big and strong daughter of Tapit from the family of GISW J P's Gusto and MGISW Letruska. She is half-sister to GSW Miss Mischief, who won the Sovereign Award in 2015 for Champion Female Sprinter. The mare is currently in foal to Into Mischief, and we know that are a pair of GSW underneath the first dam by him. So, it is safe to say that this family has an affinity for Spendthrift's number one. The mare will visit Curlin this year.

QUERELLE (m, 7, Violence–Orbital Affair) booked to Tapit
A stunning GSP daughter of Violence, hails from the family of the phenomenal Seattle Meteor. Currently in foal to Constitution, she will go back to Tapit this year.

SWEET SAMI D (m, 7, First Samurai–Treaty of Kadesh) booked to Flightline
This strapping daughter of First Samurai was GSP with earnings of over $250,000. She is currently in foal to the stallion of the moment, Gun Runner. On a very similar mating that has produced some of his best runners from in-breeding to Storm Cat, you cannot argue with the success of MGISW Echo Zulu and GISW Gunite. She will visit newly-minted Horse of the Year Flightline this coming season. It's very exciting to be a part of his first book. And, you can only imagine what that is going to look like.

Interested in sharing your own mating plans? Email garyking@thetdn.com.

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“Leaving WinStar was a difficult decision and I want to thank Kenny and Lisa Troutt for all they have done for me over the past nine years,” said Danford. “I am excited about this new opportunity and am thankful to Jim and Dana Bernhard for trusting me with the duties at Pin Oak. Pin Oak has such a great history and it is an honor to be part of this new chapter.”

Prior to his time at WinStar, Danford had also been at Overbrook Farm, Starwood Farm, Margaux Farm, and Crestwood Farm. Originally from Southern Illinois, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture from Missouri's Truman State University.

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