Tag: Peter Pugh

$700,000 Sebago Lake Charges Keeneland January Tuesday

by Jessica Martini & Stefanie Grimm

LEXINGTON, KY – During a session dominated for much of the day by the short yearlings, the supplemented broodmare Sebago Lake (Tapit) jumped to the lead in the final hips when selling for $700,000 to Mandy Pope's Whisper Hill Farm. Overall, through two days of the four-day auction, 430 head have grossed $31,596,700 for an average of $73,481 and a median of $30,500. With continued strength at the top of the market, the Book 1 average dipped just 3.39% from a year ago, but the median is down 23.75%.

“It started off very healthy,” Keeneland's Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy said of Tuesday's session. “Through the day, there were some spots where it got a little slower, but it ended up really strong. Again, quality was to the fore. You saw some of those young mares, bred to some exciting new stallions were selling extremely well. Farms are reloading again. We saw the same pattern that we saw yesterday.”

The two-day buy-back rate is 27.97%. It was 26.92% a year ago.

Three short yearlings sold for $400,000 or over during Tuesday's session, with a colt by Not This Time and a filly by Candy Ride (Arg) sharing the day's top price of $430,000.

“Foals that were by the right stallions, had the right physicals, vetted, there was a very strong, competitive environment for them,” Lacy said. “There is a lot of confidence out there. Speaking to the sellers, they felt like it was a really good market. The buyers found it to be very competitive to try to buy the stock they were interested in. I don't think it's inflated at all, I don't think it's depressed in any way. I think it feels like a very healthy, fair environment. If you bring the right stock to market, you are going to get rewarded for it. Today was just a continuation of the momentum we saw yesterday.”

With 424 head catalogued for Tuesday's session, only 275 went through the ring.

“It's sort of a factor of the time of year we are in,” Keeneland's Director of Sales Operations Cormac Breathnach said of the large number of outs. “It's a time of year when weanlings-into-yearlings are changing a lot. They don't always vet the way people intend them to vet and they are happy to wait until September in some cases. We did have more outs than we were expecting. They kind of came in early, though, so going into yesterday, we already had a lot of outs, and more than we would have had last year, and we had a couple dozen more during the session.”

With close to 130 outs coming Monday evening, and not during Tuesday's session, Lacy said the scratches might not reflect a lack of interest from would-be buyers.

“A lot of people don't have to sell,” Lacy said. “If they have something they think is in sort of an awkward stage or if they are sitting on an update, if there is something active in the family potentially, they hit pause. That's the time of year we are in. People weren't scratching, necessarily, for lack of action. They were scratching a little earlier for various reasons. It didn't feel in any way that there was concern from sellers.”

Breathnach admitted the decrease in median during the January sale's two-session Book 1 could be a reflection of the polarization of the market.

“The average is fairly close [to the 2023 figure],” Breathnach said. “The median is down 20+% and that's what we watch. That maybe reflects some of the polarization in the market. The top of it is doing well, keeping the average up, but there is some selectivity in the middle to lower levels. It might reflect what brings a premium and what is tougher to sell.”

The Keeneland January sale continues through Thursday with sessions beginning daily at 10 a.m.

Sebago Lake a Late Highlight at Keeneland

Sebago Lake (Tapit) (hip 831), in foal to Justify, sparked a bidding battle late in Tuesday's second session of the Keeneland January sale when selling for $700,000 to the phone bid of Mandy Pope's Whisper Hill Farm.

Hip 831 in the ring | Keeneland

The 5-year-old mare, a half-sister to graded winner Family Way (Uncle Mo) and from the family of Caravaggio, was well beaten in a pair of racetrack appearances in September of 2021 for her co-breeder, Adam Bowden's Diamond Creek Farm.

Eaton Sales consigned the gray mare to the sale on behalf of Diamond Creek.

“She was probably one of the best mares in the sale, in my opinion,” said Eaton's Reiley McDonald. “She's a beautiful mare in foal to the right horse. She's by Tapit and looks like a Tapit. And I also think it helped that there is limited supply at the upper level.”

Sebago Lake, whose first foal is now a short yearling colt by Uncle Mo, was a supplemental entry to the auction.

“I think it was a late decision just to put her in,” McDonald said. “She was the real thing and that's why she sold well. They didn't pay too much and everybody came out of it with a win.” @JessMartiniTDN

Pugh Strikes for Not This Time Colt

Peter Pugh went to $430,000 to acquire a short yearling by Not This Time (hip 685) from the Warrendale Sales consignment Tuesday at Keeneland.

“All of the top people were on the horse coming up here,” said Warrendale's Hunter Simms. “He was very well received. We are honored to sell a horse like that and wish the connections the best of luck.”

Simms continued, “The horse was very straightforward. Good bone on him, very correct, walked well. He was a very nice horse.”

Bred by Petaluma Bloodstock, the bay colt is out of Dalsaros (Unbridled's Song), a daughter of Grade I winner Ask the Moon (Malibu Moon).

Bloodstock agent Kerri Radcliffe signed the ticket at $325,000 to acquire Dalsaros, in foal to City of Light, at the 2020 Keeneland November sale. The in utero City of Light colt went on to sell for $300,000 at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton November sale. The mare's Tiz the Law filly sold for $300,000 at last year's Keeneland September sale.

Of the colt's placement in the January sale, Simms explained, “There were a lot of foals in November and we figured he would stand out here. He is probably the second-highest priced foal that is going to sell at this sale, so we always try to concentrate on placement with horses and finding the right sale and finding the right book to put them in. Whether it's November, January, February, wherever, we try to find the right spot where they will stand out.”

Peter Pugh | Keeneland

After initial confusion about who had actually purchased the colt, who had already been led out of the ring, bidding was opened again and ended at $430,000 with Pugh, signing under the Cherry Knoll Farm banner, as the winning bidder.

“It's always confusing,” Simms said. “There are a lot of people in every doorway and every nook and cranny and trying to be secretive. And it happens. They opened it back up and we were able to get $430,000, which is a nice price for that horse. It all worked out in the end.” @JessMartiniTDN

Candy Ride Filly to Stewart

John Stewart, active at the top level at the auctions last fall, got back into action at Keeneland Tuesday, purchasing a short yearling by Candy Ride (Arg) (hip 497) for $430,000 under his operation's new name, Resolute Bloodstock. The filly was consigned by Stone Farm.

“She was absolutely stunning,” said Stewart's advisor Gavin O'Connor. “She had great size. She just ticked all the boxes for a Candy Ride, especially being a May foal. She was balanced with great conformation and she was squeaky clean. Just a high quality, classy filly. We will probably keep her and play the long game with her. She screams race horse. She is just a fabulous filly.”

The chestnut filly is out of Rags Pauline (Union Rags), a half-sister to graded winner Keen Pauline (Pulpit).

“She came up here and showed great,” said Stone Farm's Lynn Hancock. “She didn't turn a hair and was very popular. She has a great walk and moved well and showed well. I think she got all the right people on her.”

Rags Pauline, with the filly in utero, sold for $80,000 to Jack Hirsch at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton December Digital sale. The yearling was bred by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Spearmaco.

“A client of ours bought her,” Hancock said of Rags Pauline. “I haven't spoken to them yet, but I assume they are happy. It's hard not to be happy with that result.”

Lynn Hancock | Keeneland

The 8-year-old broodmare was bred back to Army Mule last year.

Through two sessions of the four-day auction, Resolute Bloodstock has purchased seven horses for $905,000. In addition to hip 497, the operation acquired stakes-placed 4-year-old filly Smokie Eyes (Nyquist) (hip 134) for $140,000 and Indian Mound (Medaglia d'Oro) (hip 768) for $250,000.

O'Connor said the move of horses into Stewart's new farm in Midway was well under way.

“So far, so good,” he said. “We are over there now. Some of the big girls are over there–[newly acquired broodmares] Puca, Pizza Bianca, and Lenni Girl–and we have a few more coming there this week. We have eight babies over there as well. So we are slowly transitioning the stock from where they are at the moment and getting established.” @JessMartiniTDN

O'Callaghan Goes to $400,000 for Justify Colt

A strong opening bid of $275,000 from the back wasn't enough to scare off P B Bloodstock and Jenny O'Callaghan, who went to $400,000 to purchase Hip 594, the only yearling son of Justify in the sale.

“He's a beautiful horse from the first time we saw him at the barn,” said O'Callaghan. “We knew we had to have him–he was our star horse for the day.”

Hip 594 | Keeneland

The colt, bred in Kentucky by Justice Stables, is a half to GSP Conquest Babayaga (Uncle Mo) and to SP Sorrentina Lemon (Lemon Drop Kid) and out of a half-sister to Canadian champion 2-year-old filly Neligee (Northern Afleet).

“He's by Justify who is an exceptional stallion on turf, dirt, with colts and fillies. We're hoping there will be a big market for him next year. That's the most expensive horse that we bought but we have full confidence in the stallion and he's just a natural horse that possesses so much natural athletic ability. We'll bring him back [to Keeneland] again as a yearling next year.” @SGrimmTDN

Music Street Brings $210,000 Off Falls City Second

Music Street (Street Sense) (hip 449) brought a final bid of $210,000 from Blanco Bloodstock early in the session Tuesday at the Keeneland January Horses of all Ages Sale, capping a racing career for Kim Valerio who initially bought the mare as a yearling at Keeneland in 2020. Campaigned for Valerio along with partners Prakash Sham Masand and Grandview Equine, Music Street finished her career with a second to Xigera (Nyquist) in the GIII Falls City S. at Churchill Downs Nov. 23.

“I love Street Sense and I love [second dam] Xtra Heat,” said Valerio on buying the filly as a yearling. “And she's so pretty. She's such a sweetheart. It's bittersweet really, I didn't want to sell her but I had partners and she's turning five. But I just love her and I'm super happy with where she's going. They take great care of their mares.”

After earning over $295,000 on the track, Music Street sold as a broodmare prospect only to Blanco Bloodstock Tuesday. @SGrimmTDN

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$825K Cancel This Tops ‘Realistic’ Book 2 Opener at Keeneland November

by Jessica Martini & Christina Bossinakis

LEXINGTON, KY – The first of two Book 2 sessions of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale saw marked polarization, as the demand for the perceived quality remained strong, but fell off for the less desired offerings.

“It's been a realistic, selective market today,” said Keeneland Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy. “I think it was pretty evident throughout the day, people knew what they wanted and they were very specific about what they were willing to invest in. Speaking to a lot of sellers, they were very pragmatic about the market. They saw, if a mare was young and was well-bred, you were in pretty good shape. I think any mares that were a little older probably have been exposed a little bit and were a tougher sell. And from the consignors we spoke to, there was an acknowledgment that that's where the market is at the moment. So a little bit of softening, but again, that's to be expected in certain areas.”

For the session, 213 head grossed $34,428,000. The session average of $161,634 fell 9.21% from a year ago, while the median fell 14.29% to $120,000.

The 4-year-old racing/broodmare prospect Cancel This (Malibu Moon), consigned by Four Star Sales, was the session's top-priced lot when selling for $825,000 to Larkin Armstrong on behalf of Helen Alexander.

Competition for the top weanlings continued to be strong Thursday, with a colt by Constitution selling for top price of $525,000 from Cherry Knoll Farm. The weanling was one of five to sell for $400,000 or over during the session. There were two to reach that level in the same session last year.

“The market has been really strong and on a bull run for some years,” said Keeneland Director of Sales Operations Cormac Breathnach. “We had a great September sale and yearling market this year. I think that's reflected in strong foal sales.”

The Keeneland November sale continues through Nov. 16 with sessions beginning daily at 10 a.m.

Cancel This Shines at KeeNov Opener

Well into Thursday's session, Cancel This (Malibu Moon) (Hip 601) broke to the fore with a session-topping $825,000 bid from Helen Alexander, bidding from her customary place in front of the media stand at the back of the pavilion. Consigned by Four Star Sales, she was offered as a racing or broodmare prospect.

Kerry Cauthen, Larkin Armstrong, and Helen Alexander | Keeneland

“We [initially] thought maybe we should put the whole budget on one mare, but we got blown out of the water [at Fasig-Tipton Tuesday]. So we decided to divide it up instead,” said Larkin Armstrong, signing on behalf of Alexander. “We were waiting for this one. [She was good enough to] have sold in any sale.”

Alexander also signed for a pair of mares in Keeneland's Book 1: Candy Raid (Candy Ride {Arg}) (Hip 206), who brought $425,000 and Weekend Away (Malibu Moon) (Hip 166), a $400,000 purchase. Both mares were consigned by Taylor Made Sales.

“[Alexander] went into the sale wanting to buy some nice young mares for her breeding program, so I feel like we got horses that we're really excited about,” added Armstrong.

The 4-year-old filly was sold by Corey Johnson, whose CJ Thoroughbreds secured the filly for $180,000 at Keeneland September in 2020.

“When Dale Romans picked her out, I remember thinking that she was one of the most athletic, well-balanced yearlings we had ever bought,” said Johnson, obviously reveling in the moment following her sale. “That was three years ago. Our plan was to buy yearlings, race, and then sell them as broodmare prospects. I would say this one worked out very well.”

The bay made 20 starts over three seasons on the track, winning only once but hitting the board on 11 other occasions, including a runner-up effort in Presque Isle's Satin and Lace S. in July. She entered the sale with earnings over $240,000.

“She had really a good, solid racing career,” said Johnson. “And then, of course, we get a little lucky where the pedigree really booms up. It would be very difficult to expect something like that. We just figured the market would take her as far as it would go. We're very excited.”

 

Out of MSW Catch My Fancy (Yes It's True), the filly is a half-sister to SW and GSP Dubini (Gio Ponti), SW What a Catch and full-sister to Catch the Moon, dam of GI Haskell Invitational winner Girvin (Tale of Ekati) and Grade III scorers Midnight Bourbon (Tiznow), who also finished second in the GI Preakness S. and GI Travers S., and Cocked and Loaded (Colonel John). To add some extra luster to the page, Cancel This is also a full-sister to Clarendon Fancy, dam of this summer's GI Spinaway S. winner Brightwork (Outwork).

“We sold her for some really great clients, Corey Johnsen. It's always great to win for friends,” added Kerry Cauthen.  “I think that was beyond our expectations by quite a number, but when you bring out the best-looking filly of the day, you're going to get rewarded.”–@CbossTDN

Finley Strikes Late for Exotic West

Unbeaten GI Breeders' Cup Classic winner Flightline took Terry Finley and his West Point Thoroughbred partners on the ride of a lifetime last year and Finley was keen to acquire Exotic West (Hard Spun) (hip 667), in foal to the champion, Thursday at Keeneland. Finley purchased the 5-year-old mare, the second to last horse through the ring during the second session of the November auction, for $650,000.

“David [Ingordo} really liked the mare. She was a beautiful mare,” Finley said. “The Flightlines have been selling really well, but we thought with her placement in the sale, we might get a little lucky. And I think we were–either people were tired or they went to dinner. Obviously, the appetite for Flightline is really over the top–better than we expected and we had high expectations. Anytime you can get one in a belly with a young mare like that, you're going to take a shot.”

Consigned by Grovendale Sales, Exotic West won the 2022 Top Flight Invitational and was second in the GII Allaire DuPont Distaff S. after being claimed by Louis Lazzinnaro for $40,000 at Saratoga in 2021.

Seven mares have sold in foal to Flightline for $6,625,000 through two sessions of the Keeneland November sale. Leading the way were the $1.65-million Dalika (Ger) (Pastorius {GB}) and $1.45-million Champagne Lady (Uncle Mo).

“Our outlook is we can't get enough of them,” Finley said. “We are really happy with [Flightline's] first book of mares and the second one is shaping up really well already. If you can't get excited about owning a piece of Flightline and having a shot to have his babies and the expectation of having them hit the track in a couple of years, you probably don't need to be in the game.”

Lady Scarlet Brings $625K On Day 2

Early in Thursday's Book 2 opener at Keeneland, Lady Scarlet (Union Rags) (Hip 338) brought $625,000 from Thirty Year Farm. The Saratoga-based farm's Kristen Esler handled the signing duties on the GIII Miss Preakness S. winner.

Kristen Esler | Keeneland

“We loved her,” said Esler, who operates Thirty Year Farm with her husband, Matt. “She was our first pick. She was in my heart from the moment I saw her. She's beautiful and she's everything we looked for in conformation. She was an A+. She carried herself really well. I like to look them in the eye and spend some time. She is one that we wanted to bring to our farm.”

Consigned by Lane's End, the 4-year-old is a daughter of Exclude (GB) (Include), a daughter of SW Soldera, herself responsible for MGSW Exhi (Maria's Mon) and SW Diluvien (Manduro). The daughter of Polish Numbers is also a sister to Soldata, dam of Group 2 scorer Alignement (GB) (Pivotal {GB}).

A $200,000 purchase at this venue in January, the mare visited Flightline before returning to Keeneland Thursday.

Thirty Year Farm also made a purchase in Book 1, buying Hip 163 Walking Miracle (Into Mischief) for $525,000.

“This is the one that was our highest priority. We had one that we got yesterday and we were happy with that purchase, so we may be set, but we don't know yet.” —@CbossTDN

Muths Flip a Lady

Chip Muth and his sons, always on the lookout for young mares to buy, put in foal and return to the market, purchased Lady Scarlet (Union Rags) (hip 338) for $200,000 at the Keeneland January sale earlier this year. Covered by champion Flightline, the mare returned to the Keeneland sales ring Thursday and sold for $625,000 to Thirty Year Farm.

“We needed a couple of mares and we went through looking at young stakes mares,” Muth said. “That mare kind of caught our eye. And we got lucky and got her for the right kind of money.”

Lady Scarlet | Keeneland

The 4-year-old Lady Scarlet won last year's GIII Miss Preakness S. and Cicada S.

Muth admitted he thought the mare might have brought more money Thursday.

“To be honest, we all felt like the mare would bring more,” he said. “We sold two mares out here last year almost back to back for $750,000 and one for $700,000.”

Also Thursday at Keeneland, Muth sold Miss Mattie B (Tonalist) (hip 373) for $425,000. The 4-year-old, who was third in last year's GII Santa Ynez S., sold in foal to Quality Road.

“That's pretty much what we do,” Muth said. “We buy mares and put them in foal to the right horses. We restock 24/7. We are always on the prowl. We very seldom buy on the open market–just when we have a need for one and haven't been able to find something to fill a need.”

Asked what the family looks for in mares to buy with an eye towards resale, Muth smiled and said, “Can't tell you our secrets.”

But he added, “Physicals. Young mares, nice American fillies by name brand stallions. And they have got to be drop-dead gorgeous kind of mares.”

Muth said he generally sells about 20 mares a year.

“We concentrate on November,” he said. “We bring mares here in the fall and in January we will bring some that got in our program a little later and might be carrying a later foaling date.”

Constitution Colt Tops Thursday's Weanlings

South Carolina horseman Peter Pugh purchased Thursday's top-priced weanling when going to $525,000 to acquire a colt by Constitution (hip 286) from the Nursery Place consignment.

Hip 286 | Keeneland 

“He was super well-balanced and a real good mover,” said Pugh, who purchased the weanling in the name of Cherry Knoll Farm. “Every time we saw him, he was the same.”

Asked if the plan was to pinhook the dark bay colt, Pugh said, “For now. Obviously you want to hit the home run, but I have a partner on him also, we discuss all of this stuff as time goes on.”

The weanling is out of Gone to Town (Munnings) and was bred by Nursery Place and Dicken Equine. Nursery Place purchased the mare for $240,000 at the 2019 Keeneland November sale. She RNA'd with the Constitution colt in utero for $190,000 at last year's Keeneland November sale.

 

“We try to bring a handful of weanlings every year to Keeneland–a very select few,” said Nursery Place's Griffin Mayer. “They have to be really, really nice with pedigrees and by the right sires. He checked all the boxes and honestly, he's probably one of the better colts that we've raised in the last 10 years. He's very special. He's a homebred for my dad and one of his partners, John Dicken of Dicken Equine.”

Cherry Knoll has purchased three weanlings at Keeneland so far this week and acquired two colts at the Fasig-Tipton sale Tuesday, going to $500,000 for a son of Into Mischief (hip 268) and $270,000 for a colt by Not This Time (hip 61).

“It's the same old, same old,” Pugh said. “The better horses bring the money. You have to pay for them.”

Klaravich Enjoys Strong Results at November Sales

Ranking as the nation's second-leading owner in earnings so far this season, Klaravich Stables capitalized on that racetrack success with the sale of a trio of its stable stars in the select sessions of this week's most important breeding stock auctions. Among the headliners at Tuesday's Fasig-Tipton November sale was GI Acorn S. winner Search Results (Flatter) (Hip 179), who sold for $3.6 million to Katsumi Yoshida.

Turning its focus on Keeneland in Book 1, the Seth Klarman-led operation also followed up with the sale of four-time graded winner and Grade I-placed Technical Analysis (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) (Hip 145), who sold to Japan's J S Company for $1 million in addition to black-type producer Strong Incentive (Warrior's Reward) (Hip 264), who realized $2.15 million from Alpha Delta Stables. She sold in foal to hot sire Good Magic.

Klaravich had GII Mother Goose S. winner Gerrymander (Into Mischief) also entered at Fasig-Tipton earlier this week, but opted to withdraw her and retain her for a 5-year-old campaign.

“[Klarman] really likes racing and he wanted to run her as a 5-year-old,” said Klaravich's bloodstock agent Mike Ryan. “If they are sound, they have talent and they still have the desire, then you can run them. Many of them are really not at their best until they're about five anyway. And with turf horses, it can be older than that. There is so much opportunity, you don't have to run them frequently. You know what they are. You pick your spots, five or six races and they can be very successful.”

Technical Analysis | Sarah Andrew

All consigned by Elite, the trio of mares were campaigned throughout their careers by Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown, whom Ryan credits with much of the team's success on the track.

“Chad is a huge part of the success,” said Ryan. “We understand each other very well now. When I tell him I really like something, he listens. And I know what he likes. We have a great dialogue and a tremendous trust between us. That's important.”

The most accomplished of the trio, Search Results, a daughter of Co Cola (Candy Ride {Arg}), was bred by Machmer Hall. In addition to the Acorn, she also won five more black-type races, including the GII Ruffian S. and GIII Gazelle S. She also hit the board in six Grade I tests, headed by the Kentucky Oaks.

Search Results, who brought $310,000 at the 2019 Keeneland September Sale, led that season's Book 4 opener.

Ryan recalled, “She was an exceptional-looking filly. I remember when I bought her [at KEESEP] it was very late in the sale and I said 'this filly will top the sale today. We need to buy her.' And she did. I remember saying at the time that I thought she could win the Spinaway. She was really special. And she is by a sire that I really like and out of a mare by Candy Ride, who is starting to show up prominently in pedigrees. She was a magnificent physical all her life.”

He continued, “From a physical perspective, it was very hard to fault her. She reminded me of [champion turf female] Rushing Fall [More Than Ready]. Very elegant, had size and substance and class. She had the whole deal.”

Through four seasons on the track, Technical Analysis accounted for eight wins, six at the stakes level, including her latest trip to the winner's circle in the Athenia S. last month. She also placed in the GI QEII Challenge Cup S. and the GI Diana S. The daughter of Sealife (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who realized 200,000gns at the 2019 Tattersalls October Sale, sold at Keeneland as a racing or broodmare prospect.

“When we bought her in Newmarket, there was no black-type in the first two dams,” recalled Ryan. “We thought we just bought a nice filly at the time. Kingman was starting to roll on pretty good. But she really made her own pedigree. She proved to be a very successful filly, just a notch below Grade I. I thought she was going to bring a little bit more than she did, to tell you the truth, but I think the fact she was the only black-type under the first two dams might have had something to do with it.”

Also showing stakes prowess on the racetrack albeit lightly raced, Strong Incentive collected her only taste of black-type in Woodbine's Jammed Lovely S. in 2015 before retiring to the breeding shed. The mare proved to be of greater value in her latter career, producing Grade III winners Highly Motivated (Into Mischief) and Surge Capacity (Flintshire {GB}).

Ryan went to $200,000 on behalf of Klarman and William Lawrence at the OBSAPR sale in 2014, and was back to secure the filly for Klarman at Keeneland November in 2018 after the Klaravich partners decided to part ways. Her son, Highly Motivated, was also sent to the sale's ring that season, bringing $240,000.

“Both Strong Incentive and Highly Motivated went to the sale that year to dissolve the partnership,” said Ryan. “She was open at the time she sold. She was a big, beautiful mare and didn't have any black-type at that time, but she was a gorgeous mare and there was so much going for her. I told [Klarman] he needed to keep this mare. For only $40,000, she's proven to be a steal.”

Underscoring the point, Strong Incentive's most recent foal to race, Ways and Means (Practical Joke), finished runner-up in this summer's GI Spinaway S. And according to Ryan, the 'TDN Rising Star' could be the crowning jewel of the mare's produce thus far.

“Highly Motivated was very good, but I think the best one might be Ways and Means,” he opined. “She missed the Breeders' Cup with a bit of an issue, but she is very, very good. Three top horses out of three different sires. That's impressive for any mare.”

Given Klaravich's latest success in the sales ring, Ryan is quick to give props to the patience and commitment of Klarman, who is likely to find himself once again among the finalists for leading owner of the 2023 season.

Ryan said, “It is great to see him rewarded because he invests a significant amount of capital every year to buy yearlings and 2-year-olds and racing is his passion. He's a great owner. Really loves the game. And he deserves all the success.” —@CbossTDN

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$550k Evocative on Top as Late Fireworks Propel Keeneland January to Strong Opener

LEXINGTON, KY – The Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale, which began sluggishly Monday morning, built up steam throughout the day and ended with a trio of firework offerings and figures largely in line with the auction's 2022 renewal.

“The beginning of the day was definitely slower than we probably expected,” said Keeneland's Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy. “It was a little sluggish. But as the day went on, it became more promising.”

At the close of business Monday, 224 head had sold for $16,261,900. The average was $72,598 and the median was $40,000. During last year's opening session, 248 horses sold for $17,989,200. The average was $72,537 and the median was $39,500.

The session RNA rate was 31.29%. It was 25.75% a year ago.

“The RNA rate was a little higher than probably we would have been expecting at the beginning of the day,” said Lacy. “However, quality was selling and selling well. The major buyers were here. The domestic market was strong. It's a follow-on from November. You could see a trend that was continuing on. Overall, you have to be very content with how it went. And it ended up very even with last year in many metrics.”

While the RNA rate might have been high for horses walking out of the ring, there was still active trade back at the barns.

“Our yearlings have done well,” said Frank Taylor of Taylor Made Sales Agency, which sold a colt by Gun Runner for $400,000 midway through the day. “We've had a few RNAs, but we've sold several of them after the sale. The aftermarket is pretty good. If you've got a good one, they sell well.”

Bloodstock agent Kerri Radcliffe, bidding on behalf of an undisclosed client, made the day's highest bid when going to $550,000 for Evocative (Pioneerof the Nile), while Jacob West secured that mare's first foal, a short yearling by Quality Road, for $450,000 on behalf of Robert and Lawana Low. Becky Thomas secured Ack Naughty (Afleet Alex), dam of recent GII Los Alamitos Futurity winner Practical Move (Practical Joke), for $500,000 on behalf of Chester and Mary Broman.

The Keeneland January sale continues through Thursday with sessions beginning each day at 10 a.m.

Evocative and Daughter Cause Late Fireworks at Keeneland

The first session of the Keeneland January sale produced its three biggest results late in the day and, just before the auction headed into its supplemental section, the main catalogue's fireworks were created when the 6-year-old mare Evocative (Pioneerof the Nile) (hip 399), a half-sister to Justwhistledixie (Dixie Union), sold for $550,000 and was followed immediately into the ring by her yearling daughter by Quality Road (hip 400) who brought a final bid of $450,000 from bloodstock agent Jacob West.

Bloodstock agent Kerri Radcliffe signed for Evocative, who sold in foal to Quality Road.

“She's been bought for a commercial breeder and she'll stay in America,” Radcliffe said. “She was beautiful. And look at that pedigree. Then you just saw the foal sell for $450,000–that was beautiful, too.”

Justlewhistledixie is the dam of GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner New Year's Day (Street Cry {Ire}), as well as multiple graded stakes winner Mohaymen (Tapit).

Evocative, who was bred by SF Bloodstock, RNA'd for $375,000 at the 2018 Keeneland September sale. She failed to hit the board in three starts in the SF colors in late 2019 and early 2020 before RNA'ing for $575,000 at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton February sale, for $725,000 while in foal to Tapit at the 2020 Keeneland November sale and again for $460,000 while in foal to Quality Road at the 2021 Keeneland November sale.

After slipping in 2021, her short yearling filly by Quality Road, also bred by SF Bloodstock, is the mare's first foal. West acquired the bay filly on behalf of Robert and Lawana Low.

“She's by Quality Road–he doesn't really need an introduction to anybody,” West said. “She was an outstanding physical and outstanding athlete. From a short yearling perspective, she had one of the best walks I'd seen around here. She's well-bred, but she's a first foal out of a young mare. You'd assume they will breed her to top stallions behind her, so the pipeline can be loaded for the foreseeable future.”

Both broodmare and daughter were consigned by Bedouin Bloodstock.

“We felt good about both of them coming in here,” said Bedouin's Neal Clarke. “We weren't expecting this much obviously. This was a great result. We've had a lot of Evocative sisters and Evocative we foaled ourselves. So it was kind of nice having both the mare and foal that came from the farm. It's a little bittersweet, a little sad to see them go, but they are going to great homes. So we couldn't be happier. It's a great day.”

Bromans Strike for Ack Naughty

Ack Naughty (Afleet Alex) (hip 420B), who was supplemented to the Keeneland January sale after her son Practical Move (Practical Joke) won the Dec. 17 GII Los Alamitos Futurity, will be joining the broodmare band of Chester and Mary Broman after bloodstock agent Becky Thomas signed the ticket at $500,000 to acquire the 11-year-old mare.

“We like that she was a Grade II producer,” Thomas said with a laugh when asked about the mare's appeal. “I bought her for Chester and Mary Broman, who are, of course, leading breeders in New York who I've been so delighted to train for for so many years.”

The mare, who was owned by trainer Chad Brown and Sol Kumin's Head of Plains Partners, was consigned by Elite. She sold in foal to Upstart.

While Thomas said no definite mating plans have been discussed, she added, “Mr. Broman has one of the original breeding rights in Into Mischief, so I have a feeling she might be going to Into Mischief.”

Longtime New York breeders, the Bromans, in what has been termed “estate planning” have been a major force selling from their families in recent years, notably selling the $3.55-million topper at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May sale.

“Mr. Broman has a phenomenal farm manager in Greg Falk and, in Mr. Broman's planning, as long as we can continue to operate the farm and can keep on going like we are going, he's good to go.”

However, Thomas admitted Ack Naughty did break some of the usual rules she's been given when shopping for broodmares.

“Normally, I'm not allowed to buy anything that old or in foal to only certain stallions,” she said. “[Ack Naughty] falls out of every criteria I've been given. I told him that this was a sidebar action.”

Gun Runner Colt Draws a Crowd

David Wade came out best at $400,000 to acquire a colt by Gun Runner (hip 270) from the Taylor Made Sales Agency consignment Monday. The short yearling, bred by the Gun Runner Syndicate and Sun Valley Farm, is the first foal out of Willa (Will Take Charge). The mare is a half-sister to stakes winner and graded-placed Abby's Angel (Touch Gold) and Group 1-placed Miss Jean Brodie (Maria's Mon).

“He seemed like he was the whole package,” Wade said after signing for the colt in the name of Sycamore Hall Thoroughbreds. “He had a tremendous presence to him, a great walk. It doesn't get any better than Gun Runner and it's a really nice family. It seemed to us like a no-brainer to go after him.”

As for plans for the colt, Wade said, “It's up in the air. A horse like him, you could race him or pinhook. We tend to pinhook horses like this, but we will see what happens. We will digest it and go back and think about it.”

The final price tag was no surprise to Taylor Made's Frank Taylor.

“It's exactly where we thought he would be,” Taylor said. “He was just a beautiful colt. He's the kind of horse that looks like he could be a Derby horse; a two-turn horse. You can't beat the sire. He has a lot of class–a beautiful eye, good walk, a really good mind. He has it all. He was entered in the November sale and got a little virus that set him back. We just thought we'd give him time to catch back up.”

Williamses Building a Broodmare Band

Pete Williams and his daughter Martha, sitting alongside bloodstock agent Alistair Roden, got the Keeneland January sale off to a quick start Monday when adding Good Fairy (hip 19) to their fledgling broodmare band with a final bid of $330,000.

Consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, the unraced mare who was bred by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings, sold in foal to Maclean's Music. She is out of Glinda the Good (Hard Spun) and is a half-sister to champion Good Magic (Curlin).

“She's from an exceptionally good family and she's a very good-looking mare,” Roden said. “She is a young mare carrying her second foal. She has got a foal by Munnings, who is a proven sire, and is in foal to Maclean's Music on an early cover.”

Pete Williams, a real estate developer now based in Alys Beach, Florida began fulfilling a longtime dream when he started buying Thoroughbreds just last year.

“It was a passion,” Williams said. “I always knew I was going to get involved. I was just waiting on the right time to invest and enjoy this game.”

Good Fairy is the fifth broodmare purchased by the Williamses' MKW Racing and Breeding. They purchased Runnin Ruby (Tapit) (hip 149) for $450,000 at last year's Keeneland November sale, while at the Fasig-Tipon February sale, they acquired Ladhiyah (Kitten's Joy) (hip 348) for $85,000 and Minetta (Khozan) (hip 569) for $70,000.

Among a group of five yearling purchases last year, they acquired a filly by Street Sense (hip 80) for $275,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale and a filly by Twirling Candy (hip 273) for $190,000 at the Fasig February sale.

MKW also purchased a 2-year-old last spring, going to $350,000 for a daughter of Uncle Mo (hip 118), now named Mo Town Mayhem, at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May sale.

“Our focus is on breeding,” Williams said. “We bought five yearlings and a 2-year-old in training. And this is the fifth broodmare. I have one colt. But we are certainly looking to get black-type on those young fillies when they run and breed them.”

Williams continued, “The broodmares stay at Nicky Drion's and the yearlings went down to Woodford Thoroughbreds. The now 3-year-old is with Mark Casse. She had a little upper suspensory problem and she was at Margaux for the last three or four months. She just got shipped down there, so she's starting to train again.”

Martha Williams, who lives in New York, said she was enjoying the experience of building a broodmare band.

“I love doing this,” she said. “It's been a lot of fun to learn–it's a lot to learn. It's still very new. But I feel like I learn so much every time I come to one of these sales and do more with my father. I'm excited about it.”

Pugh Strikes for McKinzie Filly

A filly from the first crop of McKinzie (hip 190) will be targeted for resale later in the year after selling for $220,000 to the bid of Peter Pugh on behalf of Cherry Knoll Farm during Monday's first session of the Keeneland January sale. The short yearling is out of Sisterhood (Kitten's Joy), whose 3-year-old filly Be My Sunshine (Frosted) won first time out at Gulfstream Sunday.

“She had a big update, which helped with the purchase,” Pugh said. “She will be pinhooked to a yearling sale later this year, but it's too early to say which one.”

Also Monday, Pugh purchased a filly by Bolt d'Oro (hip 228) for $65,000.

Pugh had pinhooking success buying out of last year's January sale. He purchased a colt by Gun Runner for $275,000 at the auction and resold the yearling for $450,000 at the Keeneland September sale.

Hip 190 was consigned by Hunter Valley Farm and was bred by Hunter Valley and Pat Barrett.

“She's a beautiful, athletic filly,” said Hunter Valley's Adrian Regan. “McKenzie has done well here and the catalog update helped us a lot. The Frosted filly won very impressively and it proves the family can get a real runner. It's kind of the perfect storm. We weren't going to give her away, but the price did exceed our expectations.”

Hunter Valley purchased Sisterhood, with this filly in utero, for $75,000 at the 2021 Fasig-TIpton November sale, but it was almost a near-miss for the operation which sold Shedaresthedevil (Daredevil) for $5 million just four hips before Sisterhood went through the ring.

“We bought the mare at Fasig-Tipton two years ago,” Regan said. “We had just sold Shedaresthedevil and we nearly missed this mare in the ring.”

The 14-year-old Sisterhood, who is also the dam of stakes winner and graded placed In the Mood (Eskendereya), was bred to War of Will in 2022.

The post $550k Evocative on Top as Late Fireworks Propel Keeneland January to Strong Opener appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Grade 2 Winner Bodhicitta Tops Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Winter Mixed Sale Opener

Inclement weather postponed the first session of the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Winter Mixed sale by a day, but the level of activity Tuesday in Lexington, Ky., proved worth the wait. A healthy market for broodmares, racing and broodmare prospects, and short yearlings showed itself in vibrant first-session results.

Grade 2 winner Bodhicitta (GB) (Hip 177) topped Tuesday's session when sold for $450,000 to K I Farm (video).

The 6-year-old daughter of Showcasing (GB) was offered as a racing/broodmare prospect by St George Sales, agent. Bodhicitta won the Grade 2 Yellow Ribbon Handicap at Del Mar at foiur and placed in back-to-back editions of the G1 Gamely Stakes at Santa Anita at four and five. Bodhicitta has earned $370,808 to date. She was campaigned by owner Calvin Nguyen and trainer Richard Baltas.

“The market's healthy right now,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning. “There's a vibrancy to it. (It's) a very encouraging market for short yearlings (with) great demand for both in-foal mares and broodmare prospects. Just a tremendously healthy market.”

Hip 42, a colt from the second crop of multiple Grade 1 winner City of Light, sold for $260,000 to lead the short yearling contingent (video).

The dark bay or brown colt was purchased by Peter Pugh, agent for Cherry Knoll from the consignment of Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent. Hip 42 is a half-brother to stakes placed winner Eloquent Speaker (Flatter) out of the unraced Broken Vow mare Spoken Now Broken, from the immediate family of Grade 1 winner Behrens. The colt was bred in New York by John W. Hertrich III and John D. Fielding.

The session's highest-priced broodmare came in the form of Cocktail Party (Hip 218), sold for $240,000 to Dash C. Goff from the consignment of James B. Keogh (Grovendale), agent (video).

The 7-year-old winning daughter of Mizzen Mast was sold carrying her second foal, by Liam's Map. The gray or roan mare is a full sister to multiple stakes winner, graded stakes placed Barrier Reef and a half-sister to nine other winners. Cocktail Party hails from the immediate family of champion Kiss A Native and Grade 1 winner Yes It's True.

Hip 38, a filly by last year's champion first-crop sire Gun Runner, sold for $225,000 to round out the session's top four prices (video).

The bay filly was purchased by Stock Thoroughbreds LLC from the consignment of Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent. Hip 38 is the second foal out of Sororitysweetheart (Discreetly Mine), a full sister to stakes winner Classy Class. The filly was bred in Pennsylvania by Forgotten Land Investment Inc.

“The fireworks are always going to take care of themselves,” Browning said when asked about the session's top sellers. “The fireworks are great, but it's the trading of 90 percent of the horses that walk through here (that's promising). The base and backbone of the industry is being able to support the men and women that are in the trenches. There's a lot of good horses tomorrow as well.”

During Tuesday's opening session, 198 horses sold for $6,598,800. The average was $33,327, up 13.3 percent over the two-day sale average in 2021, while the median rose 45 percent to $14,500 from $10,000. The session RNA rate was 16.1 percent.

The Kentucky Winter Mixed sale resumes Wednesday at 10 a.m. Results are available online.

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