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Strength at the Top as OBS March Concludes with a Million-Dollar Munnings Filly

by Jessica Martini & Christina Bossinakis

OCALA, FL – With plenty of activity at the top of the market, the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training concluded its three-day run with increases in average and median over last year's two-session renewal and five juveniles selling for seven figures, led by a co-record $2-million son of Good Magic.

“I thought it was a really good sale and it held strong all the way through,” said OBS Director of Sales Tod Wojciechowski. “There were quality horses on each day and we sold five horses for over a million dollars. The gross was up substantially, which you would expect because we had a lot more horses, but still there were a lot of good horses. Consignors continue to bring quality horses here and they get rewarded for it.”

Through three sessions, OBS sold 449 horses for a total of $70,399,500. The average was $156,792–up 17.5% from the two-day 2022 figure. The median rose 6.7% to $80,000.

A year ago, 371 horses grossed $49,498,000 for an average of $133,418 and a median of $75,000.

A filly by Munnings, just the second horse through the ring Wednesday, was the fifth of the auction to top seven figures when selling for $1 million to bloodstock agent Donato Lanni, bidding on behalf of Frank Fletcher. She was the second million-dollar horse from the Tom McCrocklin consignment

A total of 24 horses sold for $500,000 or over this year, double last year's total, while the five million-dollar juveniles in 2023 was one more than the 2022 number.

The buy-back rate remained well over 2022 levels throughout the three sessions, concluding at 23.2%. It was 13.7% a year ago. From a catalogue of 833 horses, 585 went through the ring, with 248 outs and 136 buy-backs.

The 2023 catalogue had 198 more head than last year's auction, but only 78 more horses sold.

Asked to assess the strength of the middle market, Wojciechowski said, “There was some middle market here. There always seems to be a flight to quality to the upper end of the market, but I think there was some strength all of the way through.”

Buyers noted the strength of the top end of the market, but were more critical of the middle market.

“The perceived good ones are making all of the money and there is no middle market, there is no money for the others at this sale,” bloodstock agent Marette Farrell said, adding she expected to see a broader buying bench next month at the OBS April sale.

Bloodstock agent Lauren Carlisle agreed with Farrell.

“It was tough,” Carlisle said of the market in Ocala this week. “I've been outbid mostly. I got one yesterday. The colts are very tough. I got a filly yesterday. That's probably the only reason I could buy her was because she was a girl. It seems like people are focusing in on the boys and the really top horses. And if people don't like them, there is a drop-off. Maybe in April, the middle market will come back, there might be more middle buyers.”

And yet demand remained high for those horses who jumped through all the proverbial hoops.

“I think you get rewarded,” said consignor Ciaran Dunne. “The breeze show is the be all and end all and if you perform on the racetrack, you get rewarded and rewarded handsomely. And if you miss, it's like any endeavor, if you play soccer and you miss the goal, you don't get paid.”

De Meric Sales was the leading consignor at the March sale, with 38 head sold for $6,255,000. Mike Ryan was the auction's leading buyer with eight purchased for $2,210,000.

Munnings Filly Produces Fireworks Early at OBS March

Hip 558 | Photos by Z

It didn't take long for the fireworks to begin during Wednesday's third and final session of the OBS March Sale. Digging in for only the second juvenile through the ring, agent Donato Lanni, bidding on behalf of Arkansas businessman Frank Fletcher, extended to $1 million to secure Hip 558, a filly by Munnings. Trainer Chad Brown, bidding from the other side of the pavilion, was the chief underbidder. Offered by Tom McCrocklin, the filly breezed a quarter in :20 4/5 last Thursday.

“She was an exceptional filly, said Lanni, who was flanked by Bill Mott during the bidding. “She worked great and came back good. She was a picture–just a really cool filly.”

According to Lanni, the Hall of Famer will train the filly. Mott also is responsible for Fletcher's MGSW and millionaire Frank's Rockette (Into Mischief), winner of her two recent wins at Gulfstream–the GIII Sugar Swirl S. and GIII Hurricane Bertie S.

“Frank is on a roll and has had a very good winter,” said Lanni. “He loves the game and is good for the business.”

Bred by Springhouse Farm, the bay brought $450,000 from McCrocklin, who signed on behalf of Michael Sucher's Champion Equine after purchasing the bay at last summer's Saratoga Select yearling sale.

“She was an expensive filly going in and is just a beautiful horse,” said McCrocklin. “The idea all along was to put her in a 2-year-old in training sale. It's not conventional, it's a lot of money. But she has really lived up to the expectation. Just a classy filly. She trained well and is very sound. She breezed extremely well and galloped out fast. And she had all the right people on her.”

The Apr. 26 foal is out of In Full Compliance, a daughter of Smart Strike. This is the family of Grade I winners Chaposa Springs and You and I.

According to McCrocklin, the vetting activity surrounding the filly had been swift all week, signaling what was to come on sale day.

“She is a very classy, legitimate filly and I was not shocked she brought a million but you don't ever expect it. But she acted the part,” explained McCrocklin. “I thought she could bring a million. But you have to be a mind reader at that point. What are they thinking. Sometimes with these more expensive horse, somebody just wants the horse. Period. So I was not surprised. But I definitely wasn't counting on it. We had a $599,000 reserve. That's where we were at.”

Explaining the decision to pursue the filly, Lanni added, “Munnings has become quite the sire. And she was just a very elegant filly, so I'm glad we got her.”

McCrocklin enjoyed a banner March sale run, highlighted by a pair of seven-figure juveniles. Tuesday's session saw a colt by Arrogate (Hip 489) bring $1.05 million, in addition to a filly by Arrogate (Hip 526) that realized $950,000. He also sold a colt by Catalina Cruiser (Hip 66) on Day 1 for $400,000. @CBossTDN

Quick Double for Wavertree

Marette Farrell and Wavertree's Ciaran Dunne | Photos by Z

The Wavertree Stables consignment had a pair of high sellers in quick succession during Wednesday's final session of the OBS March sale, as Hideyuki Mori went to $900,000 to acquire a filly by Twirling Candy (hip 600) and just a few hips later, bloodstock agent Marette Farrell went to $925,000 for a colt by Practical Joke (hip 626) on behalf of Speedway Racing. Both juveniles worked in :9 4/5.

Hip 626 is out of Louisiana Voodoo (Big Brown), a half-sister to Grade I-placed Givemeaminit (Star Guitar). Wavertree consigned the colt on behalf of Cypress Creek, which purchased him for $220,000 as a weanling at the 2021 Keeneland November sale.

“He is the first we've had for them really, so it was a bonus out of the blue,” Wavertree's Ciaran Dunne said of the colt. “The horse was started in Louisiana and came to us in December. He couldn't have trained any better than he trained. He was very simple and straightforward, a plain brown wrapper. He showed up every day and went from strength to strength to strength.”

After signing the ticket on the colt on behalf of Peter Fluor and K.C. Weiner's Speedway operation, Farrell said, “He's a really, really athletic horse with a gorgeous presence. He was very light on his feet. So we loved him on the frontside and Tescha [von Bluecher] loved him on the backside. We saw him at the barn and he used himself very well.”

Farrell hopes the colt follows in the footsteps of Speedway's champion 2-year-old colt Corniche (Quality Road).

“They are looking for a two-turn horse that could be a top-class colt who can go down the path of Corniche and continue on,” Farrell said.

Hip 600 | Photos by Z

Hip 600 is a daughter of stakes-winner Laudation (Congrats), who is out of multiple graded stakes winner Rite Moment (Vicar).

Paul Reddam and Dunne's Red Wings Enterprises pinhooking partnership purchased the filly for $265,000 at last year's Keeneland September sale.

“From day one, we thought she was very, very special,” Dunne said of the juvenile. “Thankfully we weren't the only ones. She was a beautiful yearling when we bought her, as reflected in her price. She has been a good filly all year. We had high expectations and that obviously exceeded them. If they perform on the racetrack and show up at the barn, the sky is the limit.”

Adding to a big hour for the Wavertree consignment, a filly by Into Mischief (hip 639) sold for $550,000 to agent Ben McElroy, bidding on behalf of AMO Racing. The filly had been purchased by Lehigh Bloodstock, the pinhooking partnership spearheaded by Three Diamond Farm's Kirk Wycoff, for $240,000 at Keeneland last September.

Later in Wednesday's session, Wavertree sold a filly by Omaha Beach (hip 752) to Kerri Radcliffe. The juvenile had been purchased by West Bloodstock for $300,000 at Keeneland last September.

With seven horses sold Wednesday for $3,517,000, Wavertree was the session's leading consignor and was the auction's second-leading consignor with 18 head sold for $6,147,000. @JessMartiniTDN

Colt Justifies the Wait for Childs

Bill Childs waited all week to bid on a colt by Justify (hip 806), ultimately signing for the Niall Brennan-consigned chestnut for $700,000 as the final hips came through the ring at the OBS March sale Wednesday.

“He is the only one I bought,” Childs admitted. “I've been ready to go for two days now, but we really liked him.”

Out of Rebuke (Carson City), the colt is a half-brother to graded-placed Freedom Flyer (Constitution). He was bred by A R Enterprises and RNA'd for $145,000 at last year's Keeneland January sale.

“Of course, he worked in :9 4/5,” Childs said of the colt's appeal. “We liked his family. We liked his conformation. We like everything about him. He'll be going to Bob Baffert in California.”

Childs admitted he was ready to bid higher for the youngster.

“We tried to buy him before the sale,” he said. “So we were tickled to get him for that price.”

Childs and his son Alex, both of Ft. Worth, Texas, spearhead the CSLR Racing partnership. In their first season racing, the partners campaigned the unbeaten Awesome Strong (Awesome Slew), whom they purchased for $500,000 at the Fasig-Tipton May Digital Sale last year following his six-length debut victory at Gulfstream. The colt went on to sweep the Florida Stallion series and was named FTHA 2-year-old Champion of 2022. @JessMartiniTDN

Omaha Beach Filly Brings $690K on Day 3

Kerri Radcliffe | Photos by Z

Heading the Spendthrift sire's progeny over the three-day run at OBS March, Hip 752 brought a $690,000 final bid from agent Kerri Radcliffe, signing on behalf of an undisclosed buyer. Consigned by Wavertree Stables, the daughter of MSW Pacific Heat (Unusual Heat) posted a :9 4/5 move during last week's breeze session.

“All the 2-year-old guys here in Florida have been talking about the Omaha Beaches and they really like them,” explained Radcliffe. “I saw this filly in January and absolutely loved her. She had an incredible breeze and physically, I think she is the most beautiful filly in the sale.”

Bred by a partnership of Betz Thoroughbreds, D.J. Stables, Brian Graves and Gainesway, the May 15 foal was a $300,000 purchase at Keeneland last September.

“I liked the Omaha Beaches at the yearling sales,” said Radcliffe, explaining the filly's appeal. “She is also out of a stakes mare and her stride length was impressive. She just checked all the boxes for me.”

She continued, “I purchased her for a new client. Sheila Rosenblum would also like a piece of her as well. I have to make a decision where I am going to send her, but most likely she will go to [Bob] Baffert.”

Radcliffe hopes that lightening can strike again while attempting to purchase another Grade I performer from the Wavertree consignment. Radcliffe was part of the team that unearthed Grade I-performing Nemoralia (More Than Ready) for $170,000 at this venue in 2015 and struck paydirt again when purchasing GI Starlet S. winner Dream Tree (Uncle Mo) for $750,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Florida sale in 2017. @CBossTDN

All Munnings, All the Time

Hip 598, another Munnings | Photos by Z

The Munnings effect continued later into the sale, with Hip 598, a colt by the Coolmore sire, reeling in a $685,000 final bid from OXO Equine. Handling the bidding duties ringside was agent Christina Jelm, who was on the phone with OXO's Larry Best. Consigned by Eddie Woods, who paid $165,000 for him at Keeneland September, the Apr. 13 foal breezed an eighth in :9 4/5 last week.

“He looks like a sprinter, a horse to have fun with,” said Best via phone.

The colt is out of Laquesta (Lemon Drop Kid), the dam of SW Opus Forty Two (Mendelssohn). This represents the family of GI Santa Anita Derby winner Cupid.

“A very nice horse–not overly big but a stout horse and quick. A real class act,” said Woods. “He's been very easy to be around and has been that way all year. He worked really well and galloped out great. We expected him to sell well.”

Munnings enjoyed a banner day Wednesday, with a filly by the sire (Hip 558) bringing $1-million earlier in the afternoon.

And Woods has already enjoyed success from that source, having sold Munnings' Eda for $550,000 at this venue in 2021. She went on to win the GI Starlet S. later that year.

“He's a great stallion,” affirmed Woods. “He's just gotten better and better. He was at $30,000 early and now is up to $100,000 and you can't get to him. He's a pro. He got Jack Christopher, who is the best miler in the country.”

“He was a very blue collar stallion and now he's gone white collar.” @CBossTDN

Constitution Colt to Carlisle

Bloodstock agent Lauren Carlisle, bidding on behalf of an undisclosed partnership, purchased a colt by Constitution (hip 574) for $675,000 early in Wednesday's final session of the OBS March sale. The chestnut was consigned by Sequel Bloodstock and was purchased by Sequel's Becky Thomas for $200,000 at last year's Keeneland September sale. He is out of graded-placed Jungle Tale (Lion Heart) and worked a furlong in :10 flat at last week's under-tack show.

“We loved him,” Carlisle said after signing the ticket. “He's a big, two-turn type colt. Obviously Constitution speaks for himself. He had a great breeze–one of the top breezes in my opinion, for the colts. We are very happy to get him.” @JessMartiniTDN

Constitution Colt Tops Boardshorts Activity on Day 3

Hunter Rankin | Photos by Z

Coffee mogul Travis Boersma made headlines last fall when paying a whopping $4.6 million for a share in subsequent Horse of the Year Flightline. Returning to the sales scene in the early part of 2023, Boersma's Boardshorts Racing extended to $625,000 for a son of Constitution at OBS Wednesday.

Hunter Rankin signed for Hip 612, who was consigned by Pike Racing after Al Pike purchased him for $165,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July sale. Out of Grade I placed Libby's Tail (Tiz Wonderful), the Jan. 14 foal breezed an eighth in :10 1/5 last week. A trainer for the colt has yet to be determined.

“We kind of whittled the sale down to 10 or 15 horses and just followed up and hope we get lucky,” Rankin explained. “And we got lucky a few of times.”

Later in Wednesday's session, Boardshorts landed Hip 678 for $450,000. The colt by Into Mischief is out of SW and GSP Miss Southern Miss (More Than Ready). Consigned by de Meric Sales, the Mar. 21 foal is from the family of Grade I winner Cotton Blossom.

“He was a very athletic type,” he said. “He worked great and was a really good mover. And if he is a good horse, he can be a stallion.”

Rankin also signed for a Maximus Mischief filly (Hip 456, $90,000) on Day 2 and Justify filly (Hip 732, $240,000) late in the session Wednesday.

According to Rankin, the operation is looking to expand its presence in Kentucky while maintaining a string in California.

Earlier this season, Boardshorts purchased Ancient Peace for $650,000 at Keeneland January. The daughter of War Front was sixth in her debut for trainer Graham Motion at Del Mar Dec. 3 before rebounding to score in her latest at Santa Anita Dec. 30. Since her purchase, she has been transferred to John Sadler. She posted her latest work at Santa Anita Mar. 20, going five panels in :59.60 (2/14).

“She is doing great,” he confirmed. “We're looking for an [entry level allowance] with her and she will probably run in the next couple of weeks.”

Boardshorts also purchased a Omaha Beach colt out of Daisy from the group of six horses that were re-offered for sale by Keeneland earlier this month.

“He is still in Florida at the moment but he will likely end up in Kentucky,” he said. “In the future we will try to spread horses around.”

In addition to Sadler, Boardshorts employs trainer Quin Howey, who is based at San Luis Rey and expects to add another Kentucky-based conditioner to the roster.

“We're looking to build a Kentucky presence,” he explained. “So we will have some horses in Kentucky and some in California. We're trying to build the stable with nice horses.”

Simultaneously building a broodmare band, Boardshorts secured Empire Hope for $450,000 at Keeneland in January in addition to Lake Garda (American Pharoah) for $600,000 in November. Both mares are in foal to Flightline. @CBossTDN

The post Strength at the Top as OBS March Concludes with a Million-Dollar Munnings Filly appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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OBS Grad Practical Move Looking for Roses

Pierre Jean Amestoy Jr. has never been to the Kentucky Derby. Not even as a spectator. However, the 2023 renewal may very well change that fact after Practical Move (Practical Joke), who he owns in partnership with his wife Leslie and Roger Beasley, stamped himself a major Classic contender with a victory in last weekend's GII San Felipe S. at Santa Anita.

“My wife and I were very emotional after the win,” said Pierre Amestoy. “It was phenomenal. It was exhilarating. We're just elated.”

“I guess we're heading to the Kentucky Derby!” he laughed.

Adding some dramatic flavor to the story, the Amestoy's trainer, Tim Yakteen, had just taken over several of Bob Baffert's Classic contenders, including three colts that would make it into the San Felipe lineup on race day.

Was Amestoy worried?

“It was all about the trip,” he said. “As long as we didn't get stopped, or bumped or fall down out of the gate. It was more about something silly happened rather than fearing any of the other horses.”

He added, “Tim told us that this horse has been maturing and coming along, getting stronger and better. We were really confident in our horse going into the race.”

“He will point him toward the Santa Anita Derby [Apr. 8], that is the right progression. Hopefully, everything goes good there and then on to the Kentucky Derby. And if we can get a good trip there and get up to the top third of the pack, then I think we have a real chance. I think our style has been working and I think it often works in the Kentucky Derby too.”

Coming up Aces in the First Sales Foray
Up until last year, the Amestoys bred their own state-foaled runners at their five-acre farm in Albuqurque, New Mexico. However, once they determined they wanted to dive into the 2-year-olds in training sales scene, and branch out beyond the New Mexico racing scene, it didn't take long to hit paydirt.

Teaming up with Beasley last spring at the OBS Spring Sale, the Amestoys extended to $230,000 for the son of Practical Joke, who was represented by his first 3-year-olds in 2022. The final price represented the second highest priced offspring by his sire at that venue. Offered as Hip 97 by Eisaman Equine, the late Apr. 30 foal covered an eighth of a mile in :10.1 during the breeze show.

“That was the only box we could not check,” said Amestoy of the late foaling date. “We much would have preferred to have had a Feb. 30 colt than an April foal. But physically, he didn't look behind. Yes, it was a concern at first, but Tim said, “let him take us there.” If we needed to, we were prepared to back off and wait. We let him tell us.”

Extolling the colt's virtues, he continued, “He was never undersized and we could see the maturity in him even at that point. He was big enough, he had enough bone and a great foot. He had the scope and the walk. Most importantly, he had the mentality. We went and saw him every day we were there. We watched him and we thought there would be room to improve being that he was young.”

Ack Naughty selling at the 2023 Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale | Keeneland

Adding some nuance to the colt's page, New York-based Ack Naughty had amassed over $300,000 during her racing career while competing mainly on the turf for Sol Kumin and partners and trainer Chad Brown, who had Practical Joke in the barn at the same time. Later combining their resources when both sire and dam had retired, Brown and Kumin are registered as the colt's breeders

After producing a Complexity colt in 2022, Ack Naughty sold for $500,000 at this year's Keeneland January sale, however, the foal she was carrying at the time was stillborn. Practical Move is from the family of champion Vino Rosso.

“We liked his sire because he was a speed sire,” he said. “He was a good miler and a three-time Grade I winner and by one of the hottest horses in the world, Into Mischief. So the top side was strong. On the bottom, we liked that the mare was stakes placed and earned over $300,000. She is by Afleet Alex, so there was distance there. We were hoping that the top side would bring the speed and the bottom side the stamina. So this time, it looks like it worked out.”

Once hitting the racetrack, Practical Move showed talent early, finishing second behind the Bob Baffert-trained Cave Rock (Arrogate)–a subsequent dual Grade I winner–going 6 1/2 furlongs in his debut at Del Mar before finishing third next time over that same track and distance. Second under the wire but later promoted to first after the disqualification of Baffert trainee Fort Bragg (Tapit) while stretching to a mile at Santa Anita last October, he was third behind two more Baffert runners–Havnameltdown (Uncaptured) and Newgate (Into Mischief)–in the seven-panel GIII Bob Hope S. at Del Mar Nov. 20. Given one more start at two, the bay proved an easy winner of the 1 1/16-mile GII Los Alamitos Futurity Dec. 17.

“After the Los Alamitos Futurity we gave him a little time off, and he actually blossomed over that time,” said Amestoy. “He put on 45 pounds and he kept it. He is all muscle and has turned into an absolute specimen.”

“We've always been Thoroughbred people”
Following their latest win, much has been made of the Amestoy's involvement in Quarter Horse racing. Indeed, they have held a significant stake in the Quarter Horse industry over the past two decades, having campaigned the likes of champions First to Flash (2002) and First Moonflash (2009). However, Amestoy is quick to point out that Thoroughbreds was always the main attraction.

“Even when my wife trained in the 70s and 80s, she trained Thoroughbreds. And even today, we probably have 3 to 1 more Thoroughbreds than Quarter Horses,” said Amestoy.

He continued, “We have done very well in the Quarter Horse industry. We've had two champions, lots of graded and Grade I wins, but Thoroughbreds have always been our first play.”

Explaining the decision to venture into Quarter Horses over a decade ago, he explained, “When you race in New Mexico, there is a lot of Quarter Horse racing. So even though we were winning Thoroughbred races in New Mexico, there were still four to five races a day for Quarter Horses. So, we thought, 'Heck, why don't we play in there?' There are a lot of races and money we can be playing for and it's right at home.”

Practical Move's co-owner Pierre Amestoy, Jr. and jockey Ramon Vazquez | Benoit Photo

Following the Amestoy's marriage in 1988, the couple purchased a farm in Paris, Kentucky, Lobo Farm, while choosing to reside in New Mexico, where Pierre operated his construction and development company.

“We stood stallions, had broodmares and pinhooked yearlings, we just about did it all,” said Amestoy of his Kentucky-based operation.

Despite all their success with Quarter Horses, it was their Thoroughbred operation that yielded of the couple's biggest coups in either industry. In 2008, Irish Cherry (Irish Open) sold for $2.7 million at the Keeneland January sale. Sold in partnership with Mike Abraham, the then 14-year-old mare was best known for producing MGISW Spun Sugar and GSW Daaher.

“We bought Irish Cherry in foal to Storm Cat [for $800,000 at KEENOV in 2006] and we bred her back to Ghostzapper. We had a very nice pinhook there. We did very well at the sales. We also sold several high-dollar yearlings in Kentucky as well.”

After selling Lobo farm in 2011, the Amestoys opted to focus on their Quarter Horse operation as well as their small group New Mexico-based Thoroughbred mares, usually numbering about five to six. The resulting yearlings were sent to the Amestoy's training center next to Sunland Park, and from there, the youngsters would either go to the sales or the remain in training with the Amestoy's New Mexico-based trainer, Todd Fincher.

When asked why much of the post San Felipe news led with the narrative describing the Amestoys as 'Quarter Horse owners', he said, “We had the farm in Kentucky for 12 years. We bred there, we raced there. We've done it all there. We have a substantial background with Thoroughbreds. It's probably because this is the first time that we got to this level [in Thoroughbred racing]. But we've been doing this a long time and have been good at it.”

Sales Savvy
While all roads lead to Thoroughbreds, the Amestoy's most important Thoroughbred to date was derived through a connection made via their Quarter Horse dealings. And that important alliance spearheaded the decision to take a swing at the Thoroughbred sales in search of a Classic horse.

“After we sold our farm, we concentrated on racing in New Mexico because the purses were very good. That's when I met my current partner, Roger Beasley, through a mutual friend and we bought some Quarter Horses together. We did really well together. [Early last year, we were just talking and [Beasley] said, 'Pierre, why don't we get a couple of Thoroughbreds and let's try and go for the big races.' So I said, “I have the experience and I'll do the work.” There was a sale [OBS] coming up in Florida and Leslie and I said we would go down for a week and find a couple.”

And the venture proved fruitful.

“We went out there, and found Practical Move and we found another, Blessed Touch [Girvin], who ran third [in the GIII Santa Ysabel S.] last Sunday.”

The $140,000 OBS Spring buy, who won second time out at Santa Anita last October, subsequently finished runner up in the Desi Arnaz S., in November. Additionally, the partnership purchased a colt by Valiant Minister for $38,000 and, in conjunction with Mike Abraham, secured a $50,000 colt by Munnings, who had been slated to run on the San Felipe undercard and was scratched because of a minor issue but is expected to return.

“He appears to have some talent,” said Amestoy of the Munnings colt.

While breeding to race had been the Amestoy's M.O. for much of their past involvement in the Thoroughbred game, the sparkling success of their first foray into public sales last season makes it a safe bet that they will be returning to the well this year.

“Roger and I were just talking the other day and he asked, Partner, do you want to go back [to OBS]? In order to find another one we would have to go back!” he said with a laugh. “We might go back to OBS and sniff around and see what we can find.”

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Forte Takes the Blame to Stay Strong

With commercial sires nowadays represented by such enormous cavalries, it's unsurprising that they should encounter random statistical clusters. These tend to even themselves out, so that a stallion that “hits form” with a sudden spate of stakes performers will also endure barren spells that naturally receive rather less attention. What every farm covets, then, is for a horse to get on a roll while there are still mares out there with mating decisions pending for this spring–and there's no better way to do that than making some noise on the Classic trail.

In that context, it was a remarkable weekend. Violence accounted for the dashing winners of two Derby rehearsals; while Practical Joke, who added one for himself, followed through with two other stakes winners, one of which banked 50 starting points for the GI Kentucky Oaks. On that front, however, Girvin was the man of the hour, making a double play with trial winners on opposite coasts. Less feted, meanwhile, but perhaps most significant in the longer term, was another stellar weekend for Blame as an emerging broodmare sire.
Among all these, the obvious imperative is to consider the genetic wiring that must sustain Forte (Violence) as he stretches out in distance. Before doing so, however, it's worth acknowledging that each of these stallions has a wider momentum than mere coincidence.

Girvin had already announced himself so persuasively, in launching talented juveniles like Damon's Mound last year, that he earned an immediate transfer from Florida to Kentucky. Faiza made a key contribution to that breakout, as a spectacular pinhook ($90,000 yearling/$725,000 juvenile) who then won a Grade I on her second start, and she continued her flawless progress in the GIII Santa Ysabel S. on Sunday. Her success was rather more anticipated than that of Dorth Vader the previous day, but a filly homebred at $7,500 has now won four of six starts since stumbling on debut: a maiden, two stakes and now the GII Davona Dale S. Girvin's precocious stock, then, is consolidating in most encouraging fashion–especially given that he has so far been working with material commensurate with his opening fee. Dorth Vader, for instance, is out of a Yonaguska mare who won under a $5,000 tag in Alberta. It's going to be fun to see what Girvin can do with his upgrade at Airdrie.

Practical Joke belongs to the previous intake, meaning that he has had to deal throughout with a fairly epoch-making inconvenience in Gun Runner. As a dual Grade I-winning juvenile by into Into Mischief, he secured significant numerical opportunity at Ashford and has already had a couple of hundred individual starters. But he's taking the chance he was given, reliably slipstreaming Gun Runner in their class and already indebted to this second crop for a first Grade I success in Chocolate Gelato's Frizette last fall.

The flamboyant talent of Practical Move is offering to take his sire to another level, albeit we'll have to see quite how far he can stretch his speed. That kind of question has obviously been answered quite brilliantly by Into Mischief himself, since the elevation of his mares, and Practical Joke is making a promising early “Move” in the intensifying competition among his sons. Little Vic–from Practical Joke's debut crop–is certainly trading unapologetically in speed, and continued his fertile winter campaign with a career best in the GIII Tom Fool H. But Shidabhuti will be another looking to extend, having pried open an Oaks gate in maintaining her unbeaten start in the Busher S.

Blame is obviously a proven operator by this stage, and we've long admired his black-type output at ratios that stack up well against several more expensive covers. Indeed, this spring he has Derby and Oaks contenders himself in Litigate and Wet Paint. As a broodmare sire, however, he has barely started–and is rapidly opening up exciting horizons.

With his beautifully shaped pedigree, lining up his fourth dam Thong against his sire Arch's third dam Courtly Dee (both by sons of Nasrullah, in Nantallah and Never Bend), I've always said Blame looked a great option for someone who wouldn't mind retaining a filly. And his daughters arguably gave us both the leading juveniles of 2022, in Forte himself and Loggins (Ghostzapper); while two others produced sophomore stakes winners to sandwich the champion's comeback win last Saturday. Danse Macabre (Army Mule) won the GIII Herecomesthebride S. on the same card, while Botanical (Medaglia d'Oro) collected 20 Oaks points in the Cincinnati Trophy at Turfway. Note this well: Forte, Loggins, Danse Macabre and Botanical are all the very first foals to represent their dams on the track.

Botanical is bred on a cross akin to the one that gave us Forte, who is by a son of her sire. But while Medaglia d'Oro has long been a byword for versatility, it's conceivable that Violence may need Forte to summon the two-turn influences channelled through his dam to see out the punishing test awaiting on the first Saturday in May.
In winning the GII Fountain of Youth S., Forte was redressing his sire's narrow defeat (by the subsequent Derby winner) in the same race 10 years previously.

Medaglia d'Oro | Darley

True to the Medaglia d'Oro legacy, Violence did prove adaptable even in the span of a career that came to a premature end that day, having won the GI Hollywood Futurity on synthetics after making his name on dirt in New York. He made a flying start at Hill 'n' Dale, missing the 2017 freshman's laurels by cents (to Overanalyze!) and rewarded with 214 mares at a fee hiked from $15,000 to $25,000. With his debut crop thriving as sophomores, he proved all the rage at the yearling sales in 2018 and was raised further to $40,000. But he then mustered just two stakes winners in 2019, sending his yearling average plummeting from over $130,000 to barely $45,000. With his fee retreating to $25,000, he then turned things round with three Grade I winners in 2020, from three different crops. He was back in the game, albeit that hump in the road will tell in a somewhat diminished juvenile footprint this year (graduating from his 2020 book, which slipped to 86 mares).

Overall, after one or two wild swings early in his career, it feels safe to say that Violence has completed a process of consolidation with the emergence of Forte. Always a glossy physical, he's now up to $50,000 and already has Volatile at stud to heighten the sense that the ageing Medaglia d'Oro has belatedly organised his legacy. For quite a while, the dynasty had seemed insecure, with no heir quite matching the status of his daughters Rachel Alexandra and Songbird, or his gelded son Golden Sixty. But now he has Violence competing with a champion freshman in Bolt d'Oro, with Higher Power starting out too. Certainly anyone who consecutively replays the Fountain of Youth and then the GIII Gotham S. will observe a common swagger to Forte and Raise Cain. But that kind of natural speed is consistent with the races won by their sire's most accomplished stock to date: GI Woody Stephens S., GI Alfred G. Vanderbilt S., GI Bing Crosby S.

In vividly diversifying the legacy of turf monster El Prado (Ire), Medaglia d'Oro can also include sprint speed among his variegated resume: think Astern (Aus), Vancouver (Aus), Warrior's Reward. Quite apart from his sire-line, however, the seeding of Violence's own family also has a strong flavor of chlorophyll: his first two dams are by transatlantic influences in Gone West and Storm Cat, and the next two are by venerable European Classic influences in Blushing Groom (Fr) and Nijinsky. How curious, if these names should end up helping to create a legacy on dirt for Medaglia d'Oro.

With the help of their classic qualities, this well-known family has achieved that elusive balance between speed and stamina. Violence's third dam is Hall of Famer Sky Beauty, whose own dam was Dayjur's Grade I-winning half-sister Maplejinsky, their mother in turn being champion sprinter Gold Beauty. Bearing in mind that you'll also find Maplejinsky as third dam of Point Of Entry (Dynaformer), this maternal background should certainly help Violence stretch the speed he has imparted to his best stock; and he does have a Grade I winner over 10 furlongs in Argentina. Nonetheless it is a comfort for those in Forte's camp for the Derby to know that he can also draw on the resources of his dam Queen Caroline.

Blame | Claiborne Farm

Blame himself obviously offers her a bedrock. Besides extending the doughty Arch-Roberto brand, he also introduces more Nijinsky as sire of his grandam–whose celebrated mother, Special was of course by another sturdy influence in Forli (Arg). Queen Caroline is out of a Forestry mare, but the next dam is by Seattle Slew and soon tapers through three generations of Phipps-Wheatley royalty to a sister of Busher (and then to the Colonel Bradley matriarch Baby League and her legendary dam La Troienne {Fr}). Queen Caroline herself showed plenty of talent, at around a mile on turf, winning four black-type races. A couple of those were restricted to Virginia-breds, but she only missed a graded stakes podium by a neck. (Remarkably, she was the very first purchase made by Amy Moore–as a $170,000 Keeneland September yearling–to found South Gate Farm.)
Queen Caroline's dam was a sharp sort, promptly adding a listed sprint to her maiden win at two, but more importantly she was out of a half-sister to the increasingly important Storm Cat mare Contrive: not only dam of champion juvenile filly Folklore (Tiznow) (herself responsible for the mother of Japanese star Contrail (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) but also second dam of Essential Quality (Tapit).

This all feels like a pretty strong foil to the speed hitherto trademarked by Violence. A similar exercise will be necessary, incidentally, with Raise Cain. He was bred by Rock Ridge Thoroughbreds from a Lemon Drop Kid mare who had won a sprint maiden in a light career, more significantly a half-sister to GI Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic winner Unrivaled Belle (Unbridled's Song). The latter's daughter Unique Bella also had elite talent but remember that she operated very effectively round a single turn, despite being by Tapit.

So we'll have to see how the profile of Violence evolves as these sons seek to adapt their flair to the demands of the Triple Crown trail. Raise Cain certainly exhibited a full armory on Saturday: through the race he exuded contempt for the idea that the traffic around him might be running fast, and then devoured open ground like a horse eager for more. Admittedly his earlier work now seems to require some imaginative reinterpretation, whereas Forte is obviously a proven star already.

As has been well documented by now, as a $110,000 yearling Forte lurked an awfully long way down the list of 2021 purchases by Repole Stable and St Elias. (Certainly it was only a marginal reward for his $80,000 pinhookers, though Reiley McDonald could comfort himself with a trifecta of Eaton graduates in the GI Hopeful S.) Regardless, Violence has now put two sets of connections exactly where thousands of others had dreamed of being when the class of 2020 slithered into the straw. But if it turns out that none of them can outstay Forte, we know who else can share the Blame.

The post Forte Takes the Blame to Stay Strong appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Inside ‘Move’ a Winning One in San Felipe

Trainer Tim Yakteen had five of the 11 entrants in Saturday's GII San Felipe S. at Santa Anita–four of which were transferred from the Bob Baffert barn–but the horse who had been with him from the start, Practical Move (Practical Joke), emerged victorious in the GI Kentucky Derby prep.

With new stablemate and morning-line choice National Treasure (Quality Road) forced to scratch with a foot issue, Practical Move was backed at 4-1, having not been seen since annexing the GII Los Alamitos Futurity decisively in December. He worked his way into a perfect ground-saving spot a few off seven-figure Hejazi (Bernardini), and inched ominously closer heading for home, only to find himself with no real running room and being forced to tap on the brakes. Hejazi came off the fence into the stretch as favorite Geaux Rocket Ride (Candy Ride {Arg}) was pumped on outside, however, and Practical Move now had all the real estate he needed to stretch his legs. He took a few up-and-down strides while sorting out his leads, but leveled off powerfully to report home 2 1/2 lengths clear in 1:42.01. Richard Mandella-trained Geaux Rocket Ride completed the exacta, with John Shireffs pupil Skinner (Curlin) rounding out the triple.

The former Baffert runners were led by Hejazi in fourth, followed by Fort Bragg (Tapit) fifth and Mr Fisk (Arrogate) sixth.

The winner was second behind future MGISW Baffert monster Cave Rock (Arrogate) on debut at Del Mar Aug. 13, and was third to the aforementioned National Treasure back at that venue a few weeks later. He was promoted from second to first after being interfered with by Fort Bragg when stretched to a mile here Oct. 10, and cut back a furlong to be third in the GIII Bob Hope S. Nov. 20 behind two other Baffert trainees before his breakout performance at Los Al.

“This horse keeps getting better and better every day,” said winning rider Ramon Vazquez. “He can go inside or outside. He is comfortable wherever. He lets me do my job and he does the rest. I only rode him once [in the Los Alamitos Futurity], but I know he is very aggressive from the gate, so I let him do his thing. He galloped out very good. I have always dreamed of winning the Kentucky Derby. I had one previous chance in 2015 [with Mr. Z] for Mr. [D. Wayne] Lukas. I'm hoping for another chance here.”

Yakteen, celebrating his first San Felipe trophy (his former boss Baffert has nine), said of the winner, “He is a very healthy horse. He is a phenomenally gifted horse. I am amazed at how strong he is and how he has matured from a 2-year-old to a 3-year-old. Everything has fallen into place. There was only one challenge before this race, I felt we needed to get one more work in.

“There is nothing more satisfying than winning, so I am taking this in stride. I have to give kudos to my staff and thank them for the job they have done. They are the unsung heroes here.

“I've also got to tip my hat to [owners] Leslie and Jean Pierre [Amestoy]. They were the ones who went to Florida and bought this horse.

“I plan to start him again. I want to leave the canvas blank now and we'll make the call later, but I think he will have one more start before the [Kentucky] Derby.”

With the 50 points he picked up Saturday, Practical Move sits second on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with 60.

Co-owner Leslie Amestoy said, “This was our dream. It's been our dream for years and we love the colt, we are so happy and we really think we have a great horse.”

Pierre Jean Amestoy Jr. added, “We've seen him improve every race, almost. The first couple of races, he was green and didn't know how to switch leads. Tim has brought him along perfectly and has taught him, and now he's finishing like we expected he could finish. Like Leslie said, I think we've got a good one.”

Saturday, Santa Anita
SAN FELIPE S.-GII, $402,000, Santa Anita, 3-4, 3yo, 1 1/16m, 1:42.01, ft.
1–PRACTICAL MOVE, 124, c, 3, by Practical Joke
                1st Dam: Ack Naughty (MSP, $310,450), by Afleet Alex
                2nd Dam: Dash for Money, by General Meeting
                3rd Dam: Hot Lear, by Lear Fan
($90,000 RNA Ylg '21 KEESEP; $230,000 2yo '22 OBSAPR).
O-Leslie A. Amestoy, Pierre Jean Amestoy, Jr. and Roger K.
Beasley; B-Chad Brown & Head of Plains Partners (KY); T-Tim
Yakteen; J-Ramon A. Vazquez. $240,000. Lifetime Record:
6-3-1-2, $434,200. Werk Nick Rating: A+.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the
free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Geaux Rocket Ride, 120, c, 3, Candy Ride (Arg)–Beyond
Grace, by Uncle Mo. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK
TYPE. ($350,000 Ylg '21 FTKJUL). O-Pin Oak Stud LLC; B-OXO
Equine LLC (KY); T-Richard E. Mandella. $80,000.
3–Skinner, 120, c, 3, Curlin–Winding Way, by Malibu Moon.
($40,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP; $510,000 2yo '22 OBSAPR). O-C R K
Stable LLC; B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (KY);
T-John A. Shirreffs. $48,000.
Margins: 2HF, 1 1/4, HF. Odds: 4.20, 2.70, 2.80.
Also Ran: Hejazi, Fort Bragg, Mr Fisk, Chase the Chaos, Genius Jimmy, Bluegrass Go Go. Scratched: Crypto Ride, National Treasure.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

Pedigree Notes:
Practical Move, a :10 1/5 OBSAPR breezer, is one of four Northern Hemisphere graded winners for her sire (10 overall). He is one of eight worldwide graded/group winners out of a mare by GI Preakness S. and GI Belmont S. hero Afleet Alex. Also among that group is 2019 Belmont winner Sir Winston.

Dam Ack Naughty was just a $20,000 SARAUG RNA, but racked up more than $310,000 in New York turf events for Sol Kumin and partners and trainer Chad Brown, who had Practical Joke in the barn at the same time. Ack Naughty produced a Complexity colt in 2022 before selling to Chester and Mary Broman for $500,000 at this year's Keeneland January sale. The Upstart foal she was carrying at the time was unfortunately stillborn. Ack Naughty hails from the family of champion older horse Vino Rosso.

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