liz crow | Horse Racing Free Tips

TDN’s ‘Let’s Talk’ Debuts

The TDN kicks off 'Let's Talk'–a new podcast series featuring TDN's Christina Bossinakis and TVG's on-air analyst Gabby Gaudet. The series offers candid discussion on personal, and sometimes difficult, topics that are often uncomfortable for many to speak about in an open forum.

The inaugural edition presents a trio of successful horsewomen who have made a name for themselves in the game, while simultaneously starting and raising families–TVG Host and Racing Analyst Christina Blacker; principal partner in BSW/Crow Bloodstock and co-owner of Elite Sales Liz Crow; and Anna Seitz Ciannello, Fasig-Tipton's client development and public relations manager.

Long considered a male-dominated industry, horse racing has seen that change through recent times. In fact, many of the sport's highest offices are now occupied by women, and while that is certainly something to celebrate, it all poses challenges to those that aim to have a dynamic career while still trying to start and build a family.

“Both of my sisters don't work, and they stay at home with their children and my mother did not work when we were growing up. I'm the first woman in my immediate family to have a career, and it's definitely been trying,” offered Seitz, who cut her teeth at her family's Brookdale Farm in Versailles, Kentucky growing up and later spent several years as a member of Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher's team. “I didn't really know where I fit in. I love being a mom but I also love working. When the kids are really little, it's hard and you feel like something has to give in your career because you can't do everything. You can't be super focused at work when you haven't slept.”

And while 'having babies' is a tale as old as time, many women still find themselves put under an increased scrutiny and all to often face judgement for trying to 'have it all.'

“I always say our industry is a little behind the rest of the world,” said recent first-time mother, Liz Crow. “I feel like in this next generation, there are a lot more women coming up through the ranks right now so I think having a kid will be a little more normalized.”

There is no doubt that the hurdles can be high, and sometimes precarious, for many women trying to find the delicate balance of having a family and continuing to pursue their dreams in racing, however, women continue to do what they have done throughout history, finding the path that works best for them and for their own individual lifestyle and family.

“Having kids was always a non-negotiable,” asserted Blacker, also a mother of three daughters. “I was going to be a mother. Children and being a mom [has always been] one of my major goals in life. And it's never perfect–it's not easy. I cry about it all the time because I feel like I'm failing at something. I either end the day and feel like I've been a great mom or I've been a really good employee. Sometimes I feel like I've done both.”

And despite many of the challenges faced by women in the industry along the way, women continue to forge a way to create a profitable career while simultaneously offering their families stable and nurturing environments to flourish.

“The horse business is such a family…everybody does just really pitch in and help out,” added Blacker. “As hard as it is with the travel, I cry when the plane takes off every time, and you also can't get rid of that morbid fear of what if something happens now and now I'm going on this trip. But once they can start coming with you, it's something that a lot of other kids can't experience. People can't take their children into the office but our office is so exciting. They can be there and participate and watch and enjoy what we do as much as we do.”

To listen to the audio only version of 'Let's Talk,' click here.

The post TDN’s ‘Let’s Talk’ Debuts appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Buyers, Sellers, Sales Companies Talk COVID-19 and the Fall Sales

The daily number of U.S. deaths from the Covid-19 virus neared 1,000 per day last week, the highest level the country has seen since February. The seven-day moving average of Covid-19 cases reported by the CDC, is at 149,263, and continues to rise.

There are currently four variants circulating in the United States; Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Gamma, with Delta making up over 99% of all cases.

It seems like every day, someone we know in racing has contracted Covid, from trainer Todd Pletcher to the TDN's own Christina Bossinakis, and many of the people surveyed below. At no time is the demand to travel and circulate with others for our jobs in racing greater than it is for the fall sales period.

The TDN talked to a number of buyers and consignors about how they feel about traveling to the sales, what precautions they'll take, and what sales companies can do to make them feel safe.

We start off our conversation with Keeneland's President and CEO Shannon Arvin, who talked about sales protocols.

Shannon Arvin
First and foremost, the health and safety of our clients, staff and equine stock is Keeneland's primary focus. COVID-19 has presented us with many challenges these past 18 months, but by working together, we have successfully navigated a constantly changing world to create a stable and steady market. And I believe we will do that again this fall sales and racing season.
Looking ahead to the September Yearling Sale, Keeneland will follow the guidance of health and government experts to create the safest environment possible for our sales participants. And just like last year, we ask for the continued support and cooperation of our customers and their staffs.

Shannon Arvin | Keeneland photo

We strongly encourage those who have not yet been vaccinated to do so. Vaccination offers the best protection possible from COVID-19.

Most of us are extremely aware of the risk presented by COVID-19 and take the proper precautions where necessary.

At Keeneland, we have reinstated a mask mandate for all employees, both vaccinated and unvaccinated, while working indoors. Our unvaccinated employees are required to be tested weekly.

Consistent with current CDC guidelines, we strongly recommend that all sales participants wear a mask when indoors. This is an added layer of defense that keeps you and those you come in contact with safe.

Our facilities at Keeneland will undergo a deep cleaning following each sales session, and we've located hand sanitizing stations throughout the Sales Pavilion and grounds.

We also will continue to offer online bidding and phone bidding for buyers unable to attend the September Sale in person.

The Keeneland team looks forward to welcoming our friends and customers from around the world to Central Kentucky this fall. A silver lining of the pandemic is the resiliency and optimism of horsemen that always seem to carry the industry through challenging times. We are confident the market will continue to be buoyed by enthusiasm at the sales and a keen passion for racing.

Price Bell, Mill Ridge
I'm so glad you all are doing this story on the vaccine and protocols. I think it's important. Considering that last year Keeneland and Fasig-Tipton conducted multiple sales, and quite frankly kept our industry going, I know we can stay safe through this sales season as well. I think the key is keeping activity inside limited and being respectful of people and the variant.

Price Bell | Mill Ridge photo

I'm vaccinated, and look forward to the booster. I will wear a mask indoors and in the back ring, where I hope it is crowded. I do feel comfortable going because I thought they did a phenomenal job last year. They created a wonderful environment to conduct business utilizing so much of their outdoor space and I would expect they do something similar this year. I think we have learned from our friends who got sick in Saratoga that the vaccine is not bulletproof and the variant is real.

As for our team, we have worked hard to make everyone aware of the benefits of the vaccine and nearly every team member has been vaccinated. We will provide masks to co-workers and opportunities for us to not gather in the tack/warm rooms.

Liz Crow, BSW Bloodstock
I will feel comfortable but I will also be a little hesitant because I have a 6-month-old baby who is not vaccinated. My concern is always how can I keep her safe. For that reason, I will be a little nervous. I will be wearing a mask and will be careful. I will probably only wear the mask when I am inside. When I look at horses, I generally am not super close to a lot of people except for my team. They are all fully vaccinated, which makes me feel safer.

As for protocols, that's above my paygrade so far as all the thought that has to go into that. I do think there should be a mask mandate for inside. That's probably the right thing to do.

Justin Casse
I won't mind going. I've gotten my vaccinations. I had Covid and I got it when I was in Newmarket last year for the yearling sales. Covid changed my life in regards to the amount of traveling I want to do. To be honest with you, my time at horse sales going forward is going to be less than usual. In regards to fear of getting the disease, that's not on my mind. But so far a what it has done to me and my values in life, it's made me step back and look at what might be more important. I want to spend more time enjoying life and my family.

I won't wear a mask unless prompted and told to do so.

I know it's a pain in the butt, but I do feel that proof of vaccination is nice and if not proof of vaccination then you should have to show that you have tested negative. It should be one of the two. I went to the Grateful Dead concert in Saratoga last week and to get into the area of the pit you had to show that you had been vaccinated. To get into the concert, you had to have a negative test or the vaccination. That's like 20,000 people in an outdoor setting and they did their best to make sure that we were at event that would not turn into a super spreader event.

Jon Green | Courtesy DJ Stables

Jon Green, General Manager, DJ Stables
I personally attended the Saratoga sale and was surprised more people were not wearing masks, especially inside the sales pavilion. The number of people who caught some type of illness directly stemming from the sales and/or races was not surprising in my mind–COVID in particular is just that contagious. Since my parents are older, and more susceptible to the negative consequences of any virus, we have opted not to attend the September Sales. Like last year, we have assembled a great team of short listers, trainers and veterinarians to provide us with the information required to make our decisions from afar. Keeneland has done an outstanding job of establishing and improving their digital platform, and we have the utmost confidence bidding on their site. Hopefully the CDC figures will improve over the coming weeks so we can return to Kentucky in November.

J.R. Boyd
I feel very comfortable because I had COVID and I have the antibodies and according to the doctors the antibodies last up to 90 days. I got it at the very end of July. The doctors and nurses told me that 99% of the people in the hospital were not vaccinated and I was not vaccinated either. I definitely regret not getting vaccinated. My wife had it about six months before I did and I was around her the whole time and I never caught it. It's not that I was against the vaccination. I just thought I didn't need it. That was a mistake.

I worry that there's not a lot anyone can do. If you're going to get it you're going to get it. I won't say that I won't go inside the pavilion, but I'm going to try to keep my distance from other people. Everyone should definitely have the Germ-X sanitizer in their pockets and should keep their distance when they can. Having said that, I would feel more comfortable if everyone were vaccinated.

I don't plan on wearing a mask. That's because every doctor has told me I have full-blown antibodies and for 90 days I cannot get COVID and I cannot carry it. I don't feel like I can receive it or give it to anyone. If they want me to wear a mask in certain areas, I will not mind. I'm not against masks by any means.

Doug Cauthen
I feel comfortable going to the sale. I will take precautions like trying to keep my distance from others. Thankfully, most of it takes place outdoors. I won't be going inside the pavilion unless people are masked.

Masking indoors is a no-brainer. We've seen how well that woks and it especially works when everybody does it. I'll definitely wear a mask indoors. When I'm out looking at horses I'll probably have one around my neck and if somebody comes up to me I'll pull it up and talk to them. Thankfully, I am vaccinated. I know I can still get COVID, but my preference is obviously to not get sick.

Meg Levy, Bluewater Sales
Mike and I actually just got over Covid. We both had been vaccinated. We were in Saratoga and the Delta variant was going around, we got it and we're over it and we've been re-vaccinated. Personally, I will feel comfortable.

Meg LEvy | Bluewater Sales

I just assumed they were going to go back to protocols similar to what they did last fall when they had badges and temperature checks. That seemed to be easy and seemed to go well.

I will wear a mask when I am near people. I think that's only fair the best way to keep others safe. I'm not worried about myself, but it's kind to do the right thing when it comes to others.

Pete Bradley
I feel comfortable going because I have been vaccinated. At this point, life is going on in the world. Going to the sale wouldn't bother me any more than going to a restaurant. I wear masks indoors and usually outdoors I don't.

I see no reason not to wear masks, especially in indoor situations. That's me personally. Outdoors, I don't think it really helps. I don't know how much a mask helps, but it certainly can't hurt.

Craig Bandoroff, Denali Stud
I feel comfortable going. I am vaccinated and if I can get the booster before the sale I will. On protocols, that's a tricky one. What I have been seeing at various places is that when you go inside you have to wear a mask. I don't think that's unreasonable. If you're going to be inside the pavilion, perhaps you should have to wear a mask, that is unless things start to change.

I don't think I will wear a mask outside. But I am 66 and in a more vulnerable group, so I probably will wear a mask inside. I understand it's hard to get into the country and the Japanese have either had a hard time coming or are reluctant to come. They are a big part of our market. It will be disconcerting if they don't or can't come.

Conrad Bandoroff, Denali Stud
We're doing some simple things that we started last year. We made some changes that we thought would help. As far as protecting our staff, most of our staff have been vaccinated. There's going to be one person responsible for taking down someone's card and rather than have a buyer or agent fill out a card there will be somebody there to do that. That way you'll have fewer touch points. Most likely, we will not be requiring our staff to wear masks, but we will have masks available for our crew if they chose to wear one. Our feeling is that we are outside.

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There’s No Cooling Off Sub-Zero’s Jim Bakke

Owner Jim Bakke's experience in horse racing has been fairly typical. He started off with a small stable, didn't have much success and waited for his day to come. It looks like he's not going to have to wait any longer.

Along with Gerald Isbister, Bakke is the co-owner of 'TDN Rising Star' Jack Christopher (Munnings), a Chad Brown-trained colt who brought down the house Saturday with an 8 3/4-length maiden win at Saratoga. Jack Christopher, who is named for Bakke's six-month-old grandson, will head to the GI Champagne S., which could be a springboard to the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile. Bakke is also the owner of Girl With a Dream (Practical Joke). She broke her maiden impressively on July 24 at Ellis Park and will make her next start in Sunday's GI Spinaway S. for trainer Brad Cox. The hope is that she will earn her way to the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies.

Jack Christopher earned a 92 Beyer figure, just one point less than the leader among 2-year-olds, Big City Lights (Mr. Big).

Bakke is the president and CEO of Sub-Zero, a luxury refrigeration company based in Madison, Wisconsin that has been in the Bakke family since 1945. A longtime racing fan who attended many a running of the GI Kentucky Derby, he decided to get involved in ownership in the late nineties, but did so on a small scale.

“I started out really small with my brother-in-law, Fred Schwartz,” Bakke explained. “He's the one who introduced me to ownership back then. We had been going to the Derby forever and then we decided to buy some horses about 1998, 1999. We were buying just one or two a year, very modest horses. They were all claimers.”

Bakke enjoyed his first taste of real success when Mr Freeze (To Honor and Serve) came around in 2018. Trained by Dale Romans, he earned $1,595,000 and won the 2018 GIII West Virginia Derby, the GIII 2019 Ack Ack S., the 2020 GII Gulfstream Park Mile S. and the 2020 Hagyard Fayette S. He was also second in the 2020 GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational.

Mr. Freeze, a $75,000 Keeneland September purchase, was part of a plan. Bakke was ready to spend a bit more on horses, building up quantity and quality. Mr Freeze is also co-owned by Isbsiter, who is a distributor for Sub-Zero.

“This has been about my love of the game,” he said. “I was hoping to have a little more luck and the way you do that in horse racing is to increase your numbers, the amount of horses you buy every year and who you have buying them for you.”

Bloodstock advisor Bradley Weisbord signed on to work for Bakke and was told to go find more horses like Mr Freeze.

“I have picked really great partners,” said Bakke, whose stable at this time of year usually numbers from 10 to 12. “Chad Brown is the trainer of Jack Christopher and Bradley Weisbord and his team did a tremendous job finding Jack Christopher.”

Bakke said he offers little, if any, input on picking out the horses, but there is a budget. Liz Crow chose Jack Christopher for $135,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall yearling sale, and Girl With a Dream for $115,000 at Keeneland September. That's his price range.

“Potentially, I could buy more expensive horses,” he said. “Over the years, I have bought a few in the 300 to 350 range. But when those horses don't turn out so well, it hurts. Buying them where I'm at right now, if they don't work out we can reload and try again. I have had tremendous luck buying horses in that price range, starting with Mr. Freeze, who I got for $75,000. If you employ people who know what they are looking for and are good at it, I think you can buy a little bit down market and be successful. Let's face it, you need a lot of luck in this game. And even if you do have a successful horse, keeping them sound is another issue. They are so fragile. When you start buying in those upper-price ranges and if your horse doesn't do well or does well and gets hurt, that's just a big bite out of you.”

Bakke is so hands off that he never once spoke to Brown prior to Jack Christopher's debut.

“I think they also appreciate that I don't micro-manage things,” he said. “I don't call them up and ask them how a horse is doing even on a weekly basis. I might call them before a big race or every once in a while. But I don't keep track of the horses on a daily basis. I still have my job back in Madison, so I've got plenty to do on a daily basis.”

Yet, he knew the colt had potential.

“With Jack Christopher, I think Chad was going to wait for the horse to run and let Jack Christopher do the talking,” he said. “I knew he was enthused about the horse because I was getting positive reports.”
While he is optimistic about Jack Christopher's future, Bakke says he tries not to get too carried away with his young horses. With Jack Christopher and Girl With a Dream, that may be hard to do.

“It's great to have these kind of quality 2-year-olds,” he said. “Once in a while, I've hit on a few, but probably nothing like this. Both of them will be running in Grade I's over the next 30 days. We'll see where it goes. It's been a great ride and I'm looking forward to the ride continuing in the future.”

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Vibrant Market At Fasig July HORA & Breeding Stock Sales

By Christie DeBernardis & Christina Bossinakis

LEXINGTON, KY–There was plenty of buzz at Newtown Paddocks Monday with a lively day of trade for Fasig-Tipton's July Breeding Stock and Horses of Racing Age Sales.

The popular Horses of Racing Age Sale was back for its ninth straight year and there was plenty of demand for promising or accomplished runners. Stakes winner Front Run the Fed (Fed Biz) topped the auction, selling to George Sharp for $440,000 off a third-place finish in the GIII Poker S. The second highest-priced horses was recent Iowa Derby romper Stilleto Boy (Shackleford), who brought $420,000 from owner Steve Moger, who did his bidding on the internet.

“This was as vibrant of a racehorse sale as we ever participated in,” said Elite's Brad Weisbord, who consigned the topper. “There is a lot of money and a lot of demand for active, in-form horses now. A horse like Front Run the Fed can top the sale. He was third in the [GIII] Poker [S]. For a 5-year-old to bring $440,000, that's top money. Top to bottom, this was a very, very good market and we found it as vibrant as we ever have.”

While six of the top nine sellers came from Elite's barn, those horses were also purchased by different entities, all of which were domestic, but spread from coast-to-coast.

“I had about 10-12 horses I was going to bid on, but it was difficult,” said Sharp. “By way of example, I won a race at Lone Star with a horse that I claimed for $20,000 in California. I won the race by 9 3/4 lengths and the horse that finished third that day brought $75,000 today. That was a little nutty because my horse was a $20,000 claim. That tells you all you need to know.”

A total of 79 racehorses changed hands Monday for a gross of $5,905,500. The average was $74,753 and the median was $50,000. There were 26 horses who did not meet their reserves for an RNA rate of 24.8%.

Last year at this auction, 81 head brought $5.072 million in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic and without the Fasig-Tipton July Yearling Sale, which typically follows. The average in 2020 was $62,617 and the median was $30,000. Thirty-eight horses failed to sell last term for an RNA rate of 31.9%.

“It was a very active market with very competitive bidding throughout the day,” said Fasig-Tipton President and CEO Boyd Browning, Jr. “It is the same story that the higher quality of horses, the more activity. There was good commerce and good trade. It was not crazy, but it had a very vibrant feel to it. There was a diverse buying group and was an encouraging start, or really middle part, to the July Sale market this year. I think the sale continues to have a real spot on the calendar. We are very encouraged by it.”

For the first time this year, the Horses of Racing Age Sale was preceded by the Fasig-Tipton July Breeding Stock Sale. The impetus for this new addition was the dispersal for Far From Over/Fountain of Youth, a group that purchased mares to support the recently deceased regional stallion Far From Over. All 15 members of the dispersal sold for a total of $666,000. The auction's topper was the 4-year-old filly Jeweled Princess (Cairo Prince), who brought $225,000 from Stoneriggs Farm while carrying her first foal by leading freshman sire Gun Runner.

Forty-four mares sold for a total of $2.012 million Monday for an average of $45,727 and a median of $31,000. Seven mares failed to find new homes for an RNA rate of 13.7%.

“I thought it was really interesting,” Browning said. “I was really surprised with how well some of the in-foal mares sold that were not part of the dispersal and how some of the broodmare prospects sold. I was a little surprised that some of the mares with foals at their sides did not bring a little more money. However, it is a big commitment to buy a mare who has had four of five foals. We have seen that be an area of weakness in the marketplace, whether it be at January, February or November. We all know the carrying costs are not cheap. Once again, it goes back to there needs to be a certain level of quality to attract significant attention.”

Action returns to Newtown Paddocks Tuesday for the Fasig-Tipton July Selected Yearling Sale. Bidding gets underway at 10 a.m.

Fed Biz Colt Tops F-T HORA Sale…

In the waning stages of Monday's Fasig-Tipton July HORA Sale, it was Front Run the Fed (Fed Biz) who stole the show with a sale-topping final bid of $440,000 from owner George Sharp.

Offered by Elite, Hip 647 earned his first black-type badge in Saratoga's Better Talk Now S. in 2019 for trainer Chad Brown and Klaravich Stables.

“I decided that I got tired of being outbid, and I decided to go to [$440,000] because I want to go to the Breeders' Cup this year,” explained Sharp. “This one is hopefully going to get me there. I'm very pleased with the purchase.”

He added, “This horse was the best one in the sale, bar none. This one vetted out perfectly and it showed in the price he brought. We're a little nervous, but pretty happy.”

On the board in half of four starts last season, including a win in a Belmont optional claimer, he kicked off 2021 with a close-up second behind next-out GI Jackpot Jaipur S. hero Casa Creed (Jimmy Creed) in the Apr. 24 Elusive Quality S. before coming home third last out in the GIII Poker S. June 20. A winner of four of 13 starts, the colt has earnings of $392,150 to date.

Sharp indicated the colt will join trainer Caio Caramori. Asked where Front Run the Fed will head next, Sharp said, “We're not sure yet. We might race him once in Del Mar and almost certainly Kentucky Downs. And then the goal is the Breeders' Cup.”

Out of Lawless Miss (Posse), the 5-year-old entire is from the family of multiple graded winners Lottsa Talc and Fort Loudon. A $65,000 KEENOV weanling purchase, the bay realized a $300,000 final bid from Mike Ryan at KEESEP.

Sharp previously made a splash at Fasig, going to $335,000 to secure stakes winner Hello Hot Rod (Mosler) at the Winter Mixed Sale in February.

The bulk of Sharp's horses reside in Lexington at the Thoroughbred Training Center, however, Sharp also has horses throughout the Midwest and in California. He also campaigns a few of the lower-level stock in his home state.

A horse owner since 1999, Sharp got his start racing Standardbreds before moving into the Thoroughbred game in 2015. A private mergers and acquisitions specialist, the Scottsdale, Arizona, resident is involved small company mergers and acquisitions with public companies. @CBossTDN

Stilleto Boy High Stepping at F-T July

There was little question that Stilleto Boy (Shackleford) would garner some attention at Monday's Fasig-Tipton July Horses of Racing Age sale. And that expectation turned into reality when West Coast-based Steve Moger, bidding online, was extended to $420,000 to secure the 4 1/2-length winner of the July 2 Iowa Derby at Prairie Meadows. The flashy chestnut was offered as Hip 557 by agent Paramount Sales on behalf of John and Iveta Kerber, Michael Coleman, Doug Anderson and Aaron Kennedy.

“He certainly deserved that price,” said Paramount Sales's Pat Costello. “He just won the Iowa Derby, so that's a big plus. He is obviously a very sound horse and has a lot of racing left in him, so I think that was his value.”

He added, “Physically, he is such a gorgeous horse and was such a good horse to be around for us.”

Bred by the Kerbers, the gelding is out of Rosie's Ransom (Marquetry), also responsible for stakes winner Rosie My Rosie (Purge) and stakes-placed Condo Closing (Offlee Wild). Earlier this season, he graduated going wire-to-wire going 8 1/2 furlongs at Oaklawn Apr. 17, defeating recent GIII Indiana Derby winner Mr. Wireless (Dialed In).

In regards to the timely catalog update, Costello said, “The timing of the sale was perfect for us. He won the Iowa Derby 10 days ago, so coming in to a sale like this with an update like that is huge. And this is a good market. With Del Mar coming up, I think the timing couldn't be better.”

Making his first purchase at the July HORA sale, Moger previously enjoyed success with Stormy Lucy, who was purchased privately in the spring of 2014 and turned over to Moger's brother, Ed Moger Jr. The filly went on to annex a pair of graded stakes for the brothers, including a 65-1 upset in the GI Matriarch S. the following season before topping this sale at $575,000 in 2016.

“I really liked the way the horse ran and we're going to ship him over to Del Mar and see what we can do with him there,” said Moger, who currently has 25-30 horses in training in California. “I was looking for a few horses to send to my brother, so we looked to see what we could pick up out east and see what happens.” @CBossTDN

Elite Gets Off to Fast Start at Fasig July

Brad Weisbord and Liz Crow's Elite Sales were quick out of the gate at the Fasig-Tipton July Horses of Racing Age Sale, selling the first horse through the ring, stakes winner Josie (Race Day) (Hip 501), to KatieRich Farm for $300,000.

“I like her for a broodmare prospect down the road and we might have a little more fun with her as we go,” said KatieRich's Larry Doyle.

Purchased by Crow for $170,000 at OBS March on behalf of Steve Landers, Josie kicked off this term with an allowance win in her first try at a mile at Oaklawn Feb. 28. Off the board next out in Hot Springs Apr. 8, the 4-year-old filly captured a one-mile event at Indiana Grand 20 days later and entered this sale off a career-high score in the Iowa Distaff July 3. Trained by Brad Cox, she currently boasts a record of 14-4-4-2 and earnings of $266,867.

“She is three-for-four routing and came in off a career-best performance,” Crow said. “She ran an 89 Beyer, a 1 Thoro-Graph, a 9 Ragozin. She showed she can step up to stakes level competition. That was her first attempt in stakes company and she won. It is great to bring a horse off a win like that into a sale like this. Brad Cox had her looking great. She showed very well. Everyone is looking for an in-form horse and she had black-type to back it up and good pedigree, so she has residual when she is done.”

Out of SW Spirited Away (Awesome Again), Josie is a half-sister to MGSW sire Prospective (Malibu Moon) and the dam of GSW and GISP Kalypso (Brody's Cause).

Elite sold 17 of the 19 horses in their consignment Monday for a gross of $2.192 million and an average of $128,941. They were responsible for six of the top nine hips sold, including $440,000 sales topper Front Run The Fed (Fed Biz). —@CDeBernardisTDN

Patience Pays Off For Bradshaw

Randy Bradshaw purchased Devils Sky (Into Mischief) (Hip 627) for $135,000 at this venue's 2019 July Yearling Sale. The colt did not make it to the 2-year-old sales, but rewarded Bradshaw back at Newtown Paddocks Monday, selling for $250,000 to Donato Lanni, who was acting on behalf of Joe Bucci. The colt will go to New York, but his new trainer has yet to be determined.

“We bought him here a few years ago,” said Bradshaw, who consigned the colt through Four Star Sales. “He was just an immature kind of colt that took a while to come around. He had the baby stuff, like shins. We were just very patient with him and we decided if he broke his maiden, my daughter [Ashley] would get to sell him. It just worked out very well. He is a very nice colt and has his best days in front of home.”

Trained by George Weaver, Devils Sky failed to fire when eighth after a troubled trip in his 7 1/2-panel debut on the grass at Gulfstream Apr. 24. The bay rallied from well back to graduate by a nose when extended to 8 1/2 furlongs over the Hallandale lawn June 6.

“His maiden race was impressive,” Lanni said. “He jumped through every hoop. He vetted good, he is by Into Mischief. We wanted some action for Saratoga and hopefully he will provide that action.”

A half-brother to GSP His Glory (Mineshaft), Devils Sky hails from the family of champion Classic Empire (Pioneerof the Nile). —@CDeBernardisTDN

Cairo Prince Mare Heads F-T July Breeding Stock Sale…

With only a handful of offerings left to go during the breeding stock session of the Fasig-Tipton July sale Monday, it appeared things might be winding down. That was until Jeweled Princess, offered as Hip 448, strode into the arena. Shooting quickly over the $100,000-mark, bidding slowed nearing the $200,000 mark, finally ending with a $225,000 bid from Stoneriggs Farm. A 4-year-old daughter of Cairo Prince out of Jersey Rules (Scat Daddy), she is a half-sister to stakes-winning Miss Brazil (Palace Malice). Consigned by Gainesway, the stakes winner sold in foal to Horse of the Year Gun Runner, already the sire of seven winners from his first crop to the races.

According to Gainesway's Brian Graves, the mare entered the sale with a $200,000 reserve Monday.

“It seems if you have something of quality by some of the top of the first-crop sires right now, they're going to buy them,” Graves said. “It doesn't matter if it's now or November.”

Explaining the mare's admission into the sale, he added, “I got a call about the mare and I was asked if this was something that I thought could sell well here and I thought, 'yes, she could.' With the popularity of [Gun Runner], I thought it was something that could work. I think if you have something of that quality, it has a chance for it to work in your favor.”

Also during yesterday's breeding stock session, Stoneriggs secured Hip 426, a daughter of Liam's Map for $45,000. Out of That Voodoo Youdo (Speightstown), the 4-year-old, who is a half-sibling to Grade III winner Opry (Declaration of War) and graded placed Candace O (Declaration of War), was consigned by agent Candy Meadows Sales. The grey was sold in foal to freshman sire Lord Nelson.

The 417-acre property Stoneriggs Farm, formerly Kilflynn Farm, was purchased in April by Florida businessman Robert Slack, founder of Robert Slack LLC, a Florida real estate brokerage.

Lynch Secures Colonial Creed…

Bloodstock agent Andrew Lynch took home the July Breeding Stock Sale's second highest-priced offering, the $175,000 Colonial Creed (Jimmy Creed) (Hip 434). The 5-year-old mare sold as a broodmare prospect.

“I bought her for a new client and hopefully she will be bred to Justify next year,” Lynch said. “I loved her race record. She is graded-placed. She is a fantastic individual with a great walk to her. Hopefully she will be a good broodmare.”

A three-time winner, Colonial Creed was third in both the 2019 GII Summertime Oaks and the GIII Megahertz S. earlier this term. She was third when last seen in the Golden Poppy S. at Golden Gate Apr. 24 and retires with a record of 17-3-4-4 and earnings of $223,881.

Out of the unraced Scat Daddy mare Neverthesame, Colonial Creed is a half-sister to SW & GSP Mo D'Amour (Uncle Mo). —@CDeBernardisTDN

Grant Jumps into the Fray Early at Fasig-Tipton July…

The action had barely gotten rolling at Monday's Fasig-Tipton July Breeding Stock session when Stuart Grant of The Elkstone Group went to $150,000 for Hip 421, a daughter of Too Much Bling out of stakes winner Kimbell's Prada (Authenticate). The bid represented the third-highest price of the breeding stock session. Consigned by Stuart Morris, agent for Far From Over/Fountain of Youth Dispersal, the 8-year-old mare was sold with her 2021 Violence filly alongside and is back in foal to the Hill 'n Dale sire.

“She had a really beautiful foal, that's what attracted me,” said Grant. “The foal really sold the mare. When a mare produces a foal like that, it can only help the mare.”

Grant, who indicated he owns shares in the hot young stallion, continued, “There is a Violence in her belly, and I own a couple of shares of Violence. If she keeps producing foals like this one, I'll be very happy.”

Asked if the price tag was what he had in mind, he said, “She was the one I really loved [in the broodmare session]. I thought she would bring less, I stretched to get her. If somebody had gone to $150-200,000, she would have been gone. So, that was top dollar for me.”

Earlier in the session, Grant purchased Hip 402, Medea (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), privately post sale for $40,000. A two-time Grade III winner, the 12-year-old mare is a half-sister to three-time Grade I winner High Yield (Storm Cat). Already responsible for a 2-year-old unraced colt by Classic Empire and a yearling colt by Mastery, she was sold in foal to Violence.

“I really like Violence, he stands for $25,000 so I thought she was good value.,” he said. “I definitely thought that one slipped through.”

Able to secure two out of three on his wish list during yesterday breeding stock session, Grant was pragmatic about the market on a whole.

“This is not the time that people sell broodmares, so it is a bit difficult to assess the market,” he opined. “I'm here trying to get some breeding stock and I was hoping a few would slip by, although I got pushed to my maximum on my top pick. So I guess even though people might not be here for breeding stock, if they see something they like then they'll take a shot.”

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