Markus moved with his family to the U.S. several years ago when his parents started jobs working on a horse farm in Paris, Kentucky. His family valued education and after receiving a partial scholarship, Markus was able to attend St. Mary School in his new hometown, where his principal Miranda Chaplin said he and his preschool-aged younger brother are model students.

“They are bright, respectful and incredibly hardworking,” she shared. “They are thriving at our school.”

Markus is one of the first young students to benefit from a newly formed fund dedicated to providing tuition assistance for children in Kindergarten through eighth grade whose parents or legal guardian work in the equine industry in Central Kentucky.

The Catholic Education Opportunities Foundation (CEOF)'s Equine Fund began as an idea years ago from Father Chris Clay and the Clay family of Runnymede Farm. The fund officially launched this year and in its inaugural academic season, 10 children applied for funding and each one received tuition assistance of some kind.

CEOF is a non-profit that has been in existence since 2018, serving the 12 Catholic schools based in Lexington and the surrounding areas of Woodford and Bourbon counties, Frankfort, Richmond, Georgetown, Winchester and on into Eastern Kentucky, but the fund dedicated specifically for equine industry participants and their elementary-aged children is the first and only one of its kind.

Taylor Made Farm's Mark Taylor and his wife Julia have been members of CEOF's leadership council from the very beginning. Julia later became a member of its official Board and also now serves on its financial committee.

Taylor spoke of the impact she has witnessed over the years with families receiving tuition assistance.

“The families and the kids are so grateful,” she said. “We've seen firsthand the difference that it makes. There are a lot of hardworking, great people that would like to send their kids to Catholic schools but can't quite afford it. We want to help these families bridge their financial gap and attend our wonderful schools.”

CEOF's Executive Director Kim Thompson said that scholarships provided by their organization are partially-funded–aimed to make Catholic education more affordable for families–and that the amount given to each family is determined by a third-party agency called FACTS.

She also explained that the funding is for children of any faith background and that the advantages of Catholic education can impact a child spiritually, but in other ways as well.

“We feel that this type of education gives children a leg up academically and offers families different opportunities,” she said. “There's a focus on values and service in their communities, so it's more than just the tradition of strong academics.”

St. Mary School is in the heart of horse country in Paris and Chaplin confirmed that the students reflect its agrarian setting. The principal noted that a quarter of their attendees have parents connected to the equine industry in some way, including a range of socioeconomic representation from farm owners and farm managers to farm workers.

Chaplin said the equine fund has the potential to benefit a large number of families in their community.

“The goal of the equine fund is to create more accessibility so that families have the opportunity to provide their children with the best education choice for their family,” she explained. “For some of our families–thinking specifically about folks who are farm labor–they might not otherwise have access to a Catholic education if it was not for the help of scholarships and financial assistance.”

In recent years, Chaplin said, their numbers have increased thanks in part to the funding provided by the CEOF that has made education options more affordable.

“Since the start of the pandemic, our school has doubled in enrollment,” she said. “Because families are looking for more education opportunities for their families, the need for financial assistance has also grown.”

Godolphin's Gerry Duffy is a member of the CEOF's leadership council and is also on the Equine Fund's committee. He said that funding from this project could have a lasting impact on the industry and its participants.

“If you want to change your environment or change your community, give people an education,” he said. “I think a lot of people realize that and are happy to give those opportunities to kids within the horse industry. It's another way to add value to our employees. Helping their kids with their education is one of the best things you can do for someone. If we can make a difference and help out some of those families and give some of those kids an opportunity, we should.”

CEOF is now working to get the word out on their fledgling fund for the next academic year–both to families that may apply for funding and industry members that might be interested in getting involved. In addition to Runnymede, Taylor Made and Godolphin, the project has already gained early support from the likes of Hallway Feeds, Fasig-Tipton and Old Colony Insurance.

“We're still in the infancy stage of the CEOF Equine Fund and we're really focusing on getting the word out to people in the horse industry,” Taylor said. “The ultimate goal is to build this fund up so that it will produce income every year that we will then distribute to families for tuition assistance to keep it going. We're still in the building phase and we have big hopes for the future.”

Thompson shared that they have big goals for the coming years. They hope to double the number of children granted funding for the 2024-2025 school year and then continue to double that number for the next five years.

As the program's notoriety continues to grow within the industry, they could be well on their way to achieving just that.

“It's an exciting time for us,” Thompson said. “We really feel that this not only benefits the area's parochial schools with additional enrollment, but it also gives opportunities to families that otherwise may not be afforded them. Central Kentucky is the hub of the equine industry, so creating the CEOF Equine Fund just makes sense and now we're rapidly gaining momentum within the industry.”

   To learn more about the Catholic Education Opportunities Foundation, click here.

The post CEOF Equine Fund Gains Momentum in Central Kentucky appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

— Keeneland Sales (@keenelandsales) September 14, 2023

McKinzie Half to Mage Brings $1.2 Million

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

— Keeneland Sales (@keenelandsales) September 13, 2023

Repole, Spendthrift Team for Gun Runner Colt

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A big sale is deserving of a big hug!

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

— Keeneland Sales (@keenelandsales) September 13, 2023

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

More 'Mischief' to Kick Off Book 2

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

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

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

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

— Keeneland Sales (@keenelandsales) September 13, 2023

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Uncle Mo Colt to Pin Oak

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

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

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

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

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

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

Searings Find a 'Bargain' Into Mischief

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Four individual stallions have accounted for the four seven-figure yearlings thus far Wednesday.

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The Keeneland September Yearling Sale opened with a packed pavilion and plenty of bidding from a diverse buying bench ultimately producing eight seven-figure sales led by a $2.3-million daughter of Into Mischief. At the end of the session, numbers were largely in line with the figures from the opening session of last year's record-breaking auction.

“We were all biting our nails a little bit thinking about being measured up to last year's sale which was so phenomenal,” said Keeneland President Shannon Arvin. “But the numbers were very similar to last year's numbers.”

In all, 110 yearlings sold Monday for $55,330,000. The average was $503,000–up just slightly from last year's figure of $500,833. The median dipped 11.11% to $400,000.

From 191 catalogued yearlings, 148 went through the ring and 38 failed to meet their reserves for a buy-back rate of 25.68%. It was 20.83% last year.

“It is really, really good,” said Reiley McDonald, whose Eaton Sales sold a $1-million son of Into Mischief during the session. “It is running about 50% outs to buy-backs, but the other 50% are selling at 30% above what they would have in the last couple of years. The upper end is really good. Where we are really going to be tested is the middle end and the lower end because that's where I think the economy has been hit. This upper stuff is very strong.”

Sheikha Hissa made the session-topping bid in the name of the Shadwell Farm founded by her late father Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum, purchasing the $2.3-million daughter of Into Mischief from the Gainesway consignment. Shadwell had perennially been a leading buyer at the auction prior to Sheikh Hamdan's death in 2021.

“We are delighted to welcome her and her whole team back,” said Arvin. “Shadwell is about to embark on an exciting new stage and we love her passion for the sport and the horse. It was an honor to have her back with us.”

Monday's top 13-priced yearlings were purchased by 12 distinct buyers.

“I think that's very encouraging,” Keeneland Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy said of the diverse buying bench. “It's unhealthy if you have one or two entities coming in here and controlling the market. I think it's important that people come in here and feel they have a chance of getting something. Because they are spending quite a bit of money and they are able to gain some of the best bloodstock in the world.”

While the buying bench was deep, the stallion ranks were dominated by yearlings by Into Mischief and Uncle Mo, who combined to sire all eight of the session's seven-figure offerings and 11 of the top 13. The only other sires to make it into the top 13 was Into Mischief's GI Kentucky Derby-winning son Authentic and Constitution.

During the first session of @keenelandsales September Book 1, eight yearlings sold for $1,000,000 or more…

Five of the seven-figure yearlings were progeny of INTO MISCHIEF, while the other three were sired by UNCLE MO. All but the sale topper were colts.
A filly by Into… pic.twitter.com/yS5nPv1KeY

— TDN (@theTDN) September 12, 2023

Keeneland has made an effort over the last two years to make its elite Book 1 section an event and officials were gratified by the large number of onlookers who created a buzz in the pavilion Monday.

“There was a lot of energy and it was so fun to see all of the people here,” Arvin said. “There were many buyers and people participating and then there were a lot of people who were just interested in seeing the sales process. Which was fun to see. We work really hard to make sure the community understands how important our sales are as well as our industry. So it was really fun to have so many people out here.”

Donato Lanni made the session's second-highest bid when going to $2 million to acquire a colt by Uncle Mo on behalf of Amr Zedan.

“The atmosphere has been amazing,” Lanni said. “Every year it gets better and better. There is a lot of quality and you see it improve every year. It's good to see people happy to get a horse sold and happy to buy one and doing what they love to do, which is buy horses. There is a lot of passion and a lot of love for the game. And people are fighting for the horses they love. It's great to see that.”

In an unintended consequence to the packed pavilion, last year's leading buyer Mike Repole and his team were briefly shut out of their preferred rows in the pavilion. After spending some of the session in the first row, the group, which included Repole, trainer Todd Pletcher, agent Jacob West and advisor Eddie Rosen, were able to move back to their traditional middle rows and ended the session with 11 purchases for $3.945 million. Leading the way was a colt by Quality Road colt (hip 144) purchased for $725,000. Repole was the session's leading buyer.

While Repole and Vinnie Viola partnered to be leading buyers in 2022, Repole partnered on just one of the 11 yearlings purchased Monday, spending $600,000 on a colt by Tapit (hip 96) acquired with Spendthrift Partners. Viola's St Elias Stables was not on the results sheet Monday.

Session 1 leaderboard #KeeSept pic.twitter.com/3gqxstk1EW

— Keeneland Sales (@keenelandsales) September 11, 2023

Gainesway was the session's leading consignor with 12 yearlings sold for $9,610,000. In addition to the session topper, the farm also consigned two other million-dollar yearlings.

The second session of Keeneland September's Book 1 section begins Tuesday at 1 p.m. Book 2 sessions Wednesday and Thursday begin at 11 a.m. Following a dark day Friday, the 12-day auction continues Saturday at 10 a.m.

Into Mischief Filly Sparks 'Joy' for Aboughazale

In the horse racing business, the passing years often equate to a steady stream of blood, sweat and tears that, if one is among the fortunate, may culminate in dividends by virtue of the hard-earned experience. International Equities Holding's Oussama Aboughazale appears to have found the golden track, however, culminating with a filly (Hip 92) by Into Mischief that realized a session-topping $2.3 million from Shadwell on Day 1 at Keeneland September.

The filly was consigned by Gainesway, that sold 12 head Monday, including a trio over seven figures, leading all consignors with $9.6 million in gross receipts.

Gainesway's Brian Graves said, “I honestly thought she would bring every bit of $1.5 [million]. She's a top physical. She was one of the best-looking yearlings I saw this year. We thought that could happen. From the first time you looked at that filly, you thought that could happen. It's a pleasant surprise but not shocking.”

Session Topper for Day 1 of Book 1, @keenelandsales September: This lovely Into Mischief filly (Hip 92), consigned by @Gainesway, sold for $2.3 million to @ShadwellRacing! She is a half-sister to GII winner Window Shopping, out of Delightful Joy.

TDN Recap:… pic.twitter.com/iR7hfyy1QW

— TDN (@theTDN) September 12, 2023

Only moments after the gavel fell, Aboughazale, situated out back, remained visibly moved by the recent events.

“That was satisfying but I have conflicting feelings,” he admitted. “I am happy we sold her at this price, but I am sad because she is a queen. She is the best thing we've ever bred in many years.”

He continued, “I put a good [reserve] on her, but I would have been sad if she actually sold for that price because I [would have] wanted to keep her.”

Of the buyers, he said, “I wish the best of luck to Sheikha Hissa. [Sheikh Hamdan], God bless his soul, he was a good customer of mine because he bought horses from us. So that makes me feel a little bit better [to let her go].”

In addition to Monday's session topper, Shadwell also purchased Hip 20, a filly by Uncle Mo out of Grade I winner Angela Renee (Bernardini) for $750,000. She was consigned by Taylor Made.

Shadwell Farm manager Jonny Smyth, added, “We have the sister [by War Front] so we are excited to have purchased this filly as well. Sheikha Hissa is happy to be here and we expect to be active again tomorrow.”

Fit for a Queen…

The Feb. 20 session-topping filly is out of Grade III-scorer Delightful Joy (Tapit), a $105,000 OBSAPR purchase by Bradley Thoroughbreds, who was later picked up for $700,000 by Aboughazale at Keeneland January in 2017.

As a broodmare, the mare realized a quick return with a filly by War Front that brought $1 million from Shadwell at Keeneland September in 2019. Only two years later, the operation sold Window Shopping (American Pharoah)–a $700,000 buy for agent Steve Young–that would go on to win the GII Summertime Oaks. Out of GSW and GISP Graeme Six (Graeme Hall), Delightful Joy is a half-sister to GSW Cali Star (Street Cry {Ire}) and stakes winner Seymourdini (Bernardini).

“The dam is a lovely mare that has a lot of class,” Aboughazale continued. “And she is producing very nice horses.

“Thank God for us, she is very straightforward and is producing very beautiful babies.”

The operation is selling a total of 16 yearlings at Keeneland this year, including seven head in Book 1.

Anatomy of Success…

Relatively speaking, Aboughazale has developed a most enviable broodmare band in a fraction of the time that many others have taken to assemble their own band stateside. The native of Jerusalem spent much of his youth surrounded by horses, albeit of a different color. While Arabians occupied much of his initial connection to the horse, Thoroughbreds became his primary passion following a visit to Kentucky a quarter of a century ago. Bitten by the bug, he purchased the former Belvedere Farm in 2016, and it didn't take long for him to realize two important milestones: selling his first $1-million yearling in 2019 and breeding his first Grade I winner, courtesy of 2020 Del Mar Debutante S. heroine Princess Noor (Not This Time).

Oussama Aboughazale and Frances Relihan at a past sale | Keeneland

Aboughazale also enjoyed some of his earliest successes with a horse he bred, Protonico (Giant's Causeway), a four-time graded stakes winner and dual Grade I-placed for Todd Pletcher in 2014-16.

“We are evolving all the time because [bloodstock manager] Frances [Relihan] is very strict,” he said. “She cuts from the bottom, and I don't look at the prices that we sell the mares for because it makes me upset. But we're always trying to improve [the broodmare band]. We're trying to develop next generations. That's important to us.” @CbossTDN

Lanni Signs for $2-Million Uncle Mo Colt

With three-quarters of Monday's yearlings having already gone through the ring, the temperature skyrocketed with a string of seven-figure yearlings going through the ring in rapid succession. Earning the distinction as the top-priced colt of the day, a yearling by Uncle Mo realized a $2-million final bid from agent Donato Lanni, bidding on behalf of Amr Zedan.

“He is beautiful Uncle Mo and the boss loved him,” explained Lanni. “Zedan [Racing] and Bob [Baffert] have been very lucky with that sire.”

Uncle Mo is the sire of Zedan's 'TDN Rising Star' Arabian Knight, wire-to-wire winner of the GI FanDuel Racing Pacific Classic.

He added, “Bob loved him as soon as he saw him. He is a beautiful horse so we were happy to get him.”

#KeeSept Book 1 – Monday: Hip 154, a colt by Uncle Mo (@coolmoreamerica) out of Helena Bay – a half-brother to COLLECTED, sells for $2 million to @DonatoLanni, agent from the @runnymedefarmky consignment! pic.twitter.com/S6eQ8slVsV

— TDN (@theTDN) September 11, 2023

Consigned by Runnymede Farm, Hip 154 is out of Helena Bay (GB) (Johannesburg), the dam of GI Pacific Classic winner Collected (City Zip), who was also trained by Baffert. Additionally, the mare produced Helena's Triomphe (Arch), herself responsible for SW Artilena (Artie Schiller).

The colt was bred by a partnership of Runnymede Farm, Peter Callahan and Three Chimneys Farm.

Clearly overjoyed with selling the day's second-highest priced yearling, Runnymede's Romain Malhouitre said, “Imagine selling your horse for $2 million, there's no words for that. The horse has been awesome since he arrived on Thursday. He showed very well. We knew we had plenty of interest, but you never know. So, we are delighted that everybody believed in the horse and the breeders and the land.

“A few people told us that he was one of the best colts of the sale for day one. And we thought we had a good horse and they told us. But, you know, they won't tell you what they are willing to spend.”–@CbossTDN

Winchell Comes Out Swinging for Into Mischief Colt

No stranger to the winner's circle these days, owner Ron Winchell parlayed some of those winnings into new blood, extending to $1.4 million for Hip 145, a colt by Into Mischief.

Consigned by John Sikura's Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa, who also bred the colt in partnership with Matt Dorman, the Feb. 10 foal is out of the Ghostzapper mare Guarana, who earned over $1 million, annexing a trio of Grade I stakes during two seasons on the track. Guarana is a half to SW Beatbox (Pioneerof the Nile) and Grade II-placed Magic Dance (More Than Ready). The colt's third dam is GI Breeders' Cup Distaff heroine Pleasant Home (Seeking the Gold), a sister to MGSW and GISP Country Hideaway.

#KeeSept Book 1 – Monday: Hip 145, an Into Mischief (@spendthriftfarm) colt out of GUARANA – her first foal, sells for $1.4 million to Ron Winchell's Winchell Thoroughbreds! Consigned by @HillnDaleFarm. pic.twitter.com/8tunVZ1fL5

— TDN (@theTDN) September 11, 2023

“Obviously, he is the first foal out of an amazing racemare,” said Winchell. “We're the lucky or unlucky ones to be the last ones with our hand up. Dr. Lambert, with Equine Analysis, loved him and that's all I needed to hear.”

Regarding the obvious appeal of the pedigree, Winchell qipped, “Do I need to say anything about Into Mischief?”

According to Winchell, the colt will go to team Steve Asmussen.

Offered with this foal in utero at Fasig-Tipton November in 2021, Guarana was purchased by Hill 'n' Dale for $4.4 million.

“It's a great result for a great mare,” affirmed Sikura. “Into Mischiefs are obviously magical horses. No matter the sire, you have to meet the scrutiny of the buyers at the upper end. The horse moved very well. Has a lot of bone, looks sound. One of the astute guys in the business who has had great success bought him. I hope this is his next big horse. We're excited and happy.”–@CbossTDN

Sonson Continues Buying Spree

Chuck Sonson partnered with West Point Thoroughbreds to purchase his first yearlings last month at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale and got back into the action Monday at Keeneland, going to $1.35 million to acquire a colt by Uncle Mo (hip 94) in partnership with Woodford and West Point.

“We have a partnership that is killer,” Sonson said as West Point's Terry Finley signed the ticket on the youngster. “We think this colt is going to be a big winner. So we are very excited about him. We purchased six at Saratoga and we are looking to fill the barn up the rest of the way.”

Sonson's purchases at Saratoga were led by a colt by Twirling Candy (hip 140) acquired for $1 million.

Sonson, who owns an aviation company, was enjoying his first trip to Lexington.

“I love Lexington,” he said. “This is the first time I've been here. I am getting into the racing thing and enjoying it a lot.”

Hip 94 is out of Diva Delite (Repent), who is the dam of champion Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute) and this year's GIII Indiana Derby and GI Toyota Blue Grass S. runner-up Verifying (Justify). The yearling was bred by Hunter Valley Farm and David Fennelly's Mountmellick Farm, which purchased the mare for $1.2 million while she was carrying Verifying at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton November sale.

Back-to-back fireworks!

Hip 94, the Uncle Mo half-brother to Midnight Bisou & Verifying, sells to Sonson, Woodford, West Point, LEB, Agent for $1.35 million. Consigned by @HunterValleyKY #KeeSept pic.twitter.com/8oz0NRFXmm

— Keeneland Sales (@keenelandsales) September 11, 2023

“I am absolutely delighted,” Fennelly said of the result. “He was a stunning individual. And of course, his family speaks for itself.”

Hunter Valley and Mountmellick sold Verifying for $775,000 at the 2021 Keeneland September sale.

In foal to Gun Runner, Diva Delite RNA'd for $775,000 at last year's Keeneland November sale.

“She has a Gun Runner by her side and we decided not to breed her this year and give her a break,” Fennelly said. “We will catch her early next year.” @JessMartiniTDN

Uncle Mo Colt a Score for Christophersons

When Neal and Pam Christopherson's Bar-C Racing Stables sold a filly by Uncle Mo for $700,000 at the 2021 Keeneland September sale, the Oregon-based operation quickly reinvested the proceeds to purchase the unraced Forever for Now (War Front) in foal to the Coolmore stallion for $210,000 at that year's Keeneland November sale. The Christophersons were rewarded again when the mare's Uncle Mo yearling (hip 130) sold to M.V. Magnier for $1.35 million at Keeneland Monday.

“He was a very pretty, beautiful-moving colt,” John Penn, whose Penn Sales consigned the yearling on behalf of Bar C Racing Stables, said. “If he can run, he will make a stallion. He was born a smaller version of what he is. All we did was not get in his way.”

While Penn wasn't involved in the purchase of Forever for Now, who is a half to group-placed Carlisle Bay (Galileo {Ire}), he explained of the Christophersons, “They sold an Uncle Mo previously for a lot of money and needed to buy a mare and they bought this mare in foal to him.”

He continued, “Right now [the Christophersons have] two mares at my place and I think they have several in Oregon.”

M.V. Magnier goes to $1.35 million for an Uncle Mo-Forever for Now colt, consigned by Penn Sales for Bar C Racing Stables! #KeeSept @coolmoreamerica pic.twitter.com/C4q6k2IHa1

— Keeneland Sales (@keenelandsales) September 11, 2023

Penn Sales was making a rare Book 1 appearance Monday at Keeneland and was enjoying its first seven-figure sale.

“When you have a horse like this, it moves you up,” Penn said. “He would have moved anyone up. We are normally in the middle, but Keeneland was good enough to allow us to compete when we had the horse that would do it. And that's special.”

Magnier was making his first purchase of the Keeneland sale with hip 130.

“He is a very nice horse,” Magnier said. “[Longtime Coolmore adviser] Paul Shanahan really liked him when he saw him the other day. He is a nice athletic horse. He will stay here [in the U.S.] for the time being.” @JessMartiniTDN

A 'Grand' Day 1 at KEESEP

It didn't take long during the opening session of this year's Keeneland September Sale for things to hit full tilt with the sale of the first seven-figure yearling on the afternoon. A member of the Gainesway consignment, Hip 18, a colt by Into Mischief, realized $1.1 million from Robert Clay, bidding on behalf of Grandview Equine.

Gainesway's Brian Graves said, “That's a good way to get started. It was a little north of what we thought. There was a lot of drama leading up. There are always a lot of people with different opinions. It worked out on the pleasant side.”

He continued, “As an individual the horse, he was drop-dead gorgeous and by the right sire and out of a Grade I winner–a young mare who was precocious.”

#KeeSept Book 1 – Monday: Hip 18, a colt by Into Mischief (@spendthriftfarm) out of AMERICAN GAL, sells for $1.1 million to Robert Clay's Grandview Equine! Consigned by @Gainesway. pic.twitter.com/6GPJijTjbR

— TDN (@theTDN) September 11, 2023

The Mar. 31 foal is out of American Gal (Concord Point), a full-sister to SW and MGSP Americanize, who garnered just a tick under $1 million on the race track courtesy of five wins, headed by the GI Longines Test S. and GI Humana Distaff S. This represents the extended family of dual Grade I winner Seventh Street (Street Cry {Ire}) and G1 Golden Shaheen victor Reynaldothewizard (Speightstown).

The bay was bred by Mandy Pope's Whisper Hill Farm, who secured dam American Gal from the Hill 'n' Dale draft for $3 million at the Fasig-Tipton November Sale in 2018.

“There were a lot of top people on the horse and we thought something like that might happen,” said Graves. “It's good to see Mandy Pope selling million-dollar horses.”

The first foal to sell out of the 9-year-old mare was a colt by Curlin, who brought $500,000 at this venue last season. A family obviously replete with money, granddam GSP American Story (Ghostzapper) also made headlines in the sales ring, realizing $2.2 million at Fasig-Tipton November in 2017. An Into Mischief filly out of American Story (Hip 19) brought $575,000 shortly after American Gal's colt exited the ring.

“He is a really nice colt out of a great family,” Clay said, explaining the decision to extend on the colt. “He went for plenty of money, but he really checked all the boxes for us.”

And the yearling is exactly the type of horse that fits the Grandview program.

“We're looking for balance and athletic horses,” Clay said. “He's a picture.”

During Monday's session, Grandview also purchased Hip 35, a colt by Nyquist who bought $400,000.

When asked about the overall market thus far, Clay added, “I think the energy here is great. And I think it'll get stronger as the sale goes on. There are a lot of people here and plenty of money around. And that's the result of a really good catalogue.”

In 2013, Clay sold Three Chimneys to Goncalo Borges-Torrealba before returning five years later under the Grandview banner, for which he is the general partner and manager. Included in the enterprise are partners Cheyenne Stable's Everett Dobson and the Roth family's LNJ Foxwoods.

Despite its relatively recent appearance on the scene, Grandview has enjoyed a banner year in 2023 with this season's Kentucky Derby champion Mage (Good Magic).–@CbossTDN

Stewart Stocking Up

John Stewart, who made his first racehorse purchase at the September sale last year, came back to the auction in a big way Monday, ultimately purchasing seven yearlings. Stewart, the founder and managing partner at MiddleGround Capital, made his biggest purchase when going to $1 million for a colt by Into Mischief (hip 147) consigned by Eaton Sales. Out of Halo Humor (Distorted Humor), the bay is a full-brother to Practical Joke.

#KeeSept Book 1 – Monday: Hip 147, a colt by Into Mischief (@spendthriftfarm) out of Halo Humor – a full brother to PRACTICAL JOKE, sells for $1 million to Gavin O'Conner, agent for John Stuart.

Consigned by @EatonSales1. pic.twitter.com/1U6sqFk04z

— TDN (@theTDN) September 11, 2023

“Practical Joke has come on massively this year,” agent Gavin O'Connor said. “He's just come out with so many good horses–Practical Move and Ways and Means was second in the GI Spinaway S. a couple of weeks ago. He's had some really impressive winners. Into Mischief is a sire of sires, we got one earlier, we loved him and we loved this horse physically as well. We have a superstar colt that if he goes on to the top level, it's a huge opportunity.”

Once O'Connor was done extolling the yearling's virtues, Stewart asked, “Now, do you want the true story?

“The true story was this horse wasn't on the list,” Stewart admitted. “And Gavin was shipping our other horses and I texted him and said, 'Gavin, I just bought Practical Joke's brother for $1 million.'”

Bred by SF Bloodstock and Tuscany Bloodstock, hip 147 was purchased by Clover Leaf Stables for $350,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton November sale.

Stewart, alongside agent O'Connor and manager Chelsey Stone, had already acquired a son of Into Mischief earlier in the session when going to $800,000 to acquire hip 83.

“Just from the moment I saw him, I thought he was an amazing representation of the stallion,” O'Connor said of that yearling. “The one word I wrote down on the page was 'wow.' I have seen so many Into Mischiefs and there are one or two that really stand out like he did and you just know that they are a 'wow' horse. That price indicates the wow I felt at the time.”

The colt, consigned by Clearsky Farms, is out of graded winner Daisy (Blame) and is a half-brother to multiple stakes winner Botanical (Medaglia d'Oro).

“He looks like he has a stallion's pedigree,” O'Connor said. “He's a great big physical. We will be looking for an exciting future for him going into racing. He will most likely go to Michael McCarthy. We will keep him here in Kentucky with options to go west. We will keep open our channels to the Northeast and Florida, so we will have plenty of options.”

In addition to his two sons of Into Mischief, Stewart also purchased a colt by Constitution (hip 135) for $850,000; a colt by Curlin (hip 49) for $650,000; a filly by Uncle Mo (hip 45) for $350,000; a filly by American Pharoah (hip 129) for $350,000; and a colt by Omaha Beach (hip 177) for $350,000.

“We are starting our own farm,” he said. “We have a few more on the agenda. I have the easy part. Gavin and Chelsey do all the research. And I just buy them. We knew exactly what we were coming here for and what we would be leaving here with.”

Of his involvement in racing, Stewart said, “We bought our first filly here last year. I've been in Lexington for a long time and I've always wanted to get involved in the sport. I was married and my ex wouldn't let me get involved. We got divorced, so I got into horse racing.”

Last year, Stewart purchased Shiloh's Mistress (Vino Rosso) for $235,000.

Of his determined bidding style, Stewart said, “I'm not a bidder. I'm a buyer. Once I decide I'm going to buy a horse, I'm buying it. We are just trying to put bullets in the chamber because you got to have a lot of reps to potentially to get a horse in the Derby and that's what we are going to try to do.”

He added, “I do this everywhere I go. I was in Pebble Beach to buy a car and I bought 12. I don't do anything halfway.” @JessMartiniTDN

Curlin Colt a Sharp Purchase

George Sharp admitted he thought it was a bargain when he purchased a full-brother to GI Florida Derby winner Known Agenda (Curlin) for $280,000 at the Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale earlier this year. He was proven right when the yearling returned to the Keeneland sales ring Monday as hip 49 and sold for $650,000 to Gavin O'Connor, agent for John Stewart.

“The plan was to resell if I got the right amount of money,” Sharp said. “And I got the right amount of money. I can't complain about 120% in eight months.”

The yearling, who was consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, is out of Byrama (GB) (Byron).

Of the colt's appeal in January, Sharp said, “Obviously, the pedigree was outstanding. Curlins are probably the hottest things out there. He looks exactly like his brother–a 95% twin. At $280,000, I thought it was a steal. I was prepared to go to $400,000.”

Since January, the yearling, “has matured a ton and he still has some maturing to do,” Sharp said. “But he's grown. In the last six weeks, he's really come into himself. He is still a little immature. He has to get his mind a little straighter, but I would have no problem holding on to him.”

Sharp campaigns the likes of multiple stakes winner Front Run the Fed (Fed Biz), but admitted he had no problem letting the yearling sell Monday.

“No regrets,” he said. “I never regret making money.” @JessMartiniTDN

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For consider him well, kids: this man before you is just a fifth link in the chain to one who knew Daniel Boone. Before founding Runnymede in 1867, Catesby's grandfather Colonel Ezekiel Clay lost an eye in the Civil War; and he was a grandson of Gen. Green Clay, a revolutionary soldier and frontiersman who came through Fort Boonesborough to Madison County as a surveyor. The history of this family is a prism for the history of Kentucky; and much the same might be said of Runnymede, as a bedrock of the evolving American Thoroughbred.

It says everything that Catesby, back in 2009, should have been the 78th Honor Guest of the Thoroughbred Club of America, when his stepfather Senator Johnson N. Camden had been favored as its fifth. Catesby was then already 87, and has understandably slowed down since. But he will be left in no doubt as to the warmth and reverence of the family convening at Kentucky's oldest continuously operative horse farm, a century after his birth on 25 July, 1923.

“Even in his later years, he has always remained an example to us,” says his son Brutus. “Because his faith, his love for his wife and his family, is so evident down to his very core. The kindness that he exhibits to everyone, and the gratitude that he has for his caregivers, just permeates everything that he does.

“We're blessed to have him around. He doesn't quite have the quick wit for which he was always known, but he's still able to appreciate situations. And he has always cared so deeply. I was always amazed that for all those years he was really working two jobs: a day job at Kentucky River [a land and coal corporation], and then he would stay up late, working on the matings, thinking about how to keep the farm going. It was truly a labor of love.”

Brutus is too modest to note that he similarly divides his role as Runnymede Chairman and CEO with several “day jobs” of his own, instead stressing the importance of farm President Romain Malhouitre as this venerable farm has adapted to a changing commercial environment. Its success, in making this adjustment, was marked in memorable fashion when Mage (Good Magic)–foaled, raised and prepped here on behalf of clients Grandview Equine–won at Churchill in May.

Brutus Clay (right) and Romain Malhouitre | Keeneland

“Without Romain, we wouldn't be sitting here talking,” Brutus says. “He's been with us about 10 years now. It was a time of transition, and we needed to find someone with the capacity to bring all the pieces together. With Pops, this was a private farm, with the exception of Peter Callahan who's been with us over 35 years; and just a few others along the way. You couldn't ask for a better partner, he and his daughters have been just extraordinary. But otherwise we didn't have many other clients.”

The 2009 recession changed all that. “My father looked at me and said, 'You need to figure out a way to make this more sustainable,'” Brutus recalls. “He had never given much consideration to the financial constraints, treated it more like a hobby-and, consequently, bred a lot of really good horses! So we're really working to make the farm a sustainable operation: Romain has been absolutely instrumental in that, and we now have over 40 different clients. We feel very blessed, but I like to think it has to do with us being pretty good partners, too.”

Mage, then, sets a fairly symbolic seal on that evolution. Aptly, Grandview came to Runnymede through another set of Clays-Robert, his son Case and partners-albeit the presumed kinship is by now a distant one.

“To have them as clients is such a privilege,” Brutus says. “Robert came to us four or five years ago, looking for somewhere to keep his mares. Grandview was about stallion shares, and buying some good mares to support those stallions. And we were really honored that he felt Runnymede was a good place to board those mares.

“So Puca (Big Brown) was among them. Everything that she's thrown has been able to run, and from what I understand her second Good Magic, the 2-year-old, is showing a lot of promise.”

Mage's brother, named Dornoch, was acquired by Oracle Bloodstock from Runnymede's consignment at Keeneland last September for $325,000. At that stage, of course, Mage remained unraced, so it has already been quite a ride for Dornoch's owners Randy Hill, West Paces Racing and former baseball star Jayson Werth-and Danny Gargan recently disclosed to Daily Racing Form that Dornoch is “the best horse I ever trained.”

Puca's next offering, a colt by McKinzie, will not be passing under too many radars this September, then.

“He's a nice, well-proportioned, athletic mover,” Brutus says. “Up to this point everything Puca has produced, has performed. They've all been different, physically, but they all like to run. And the McKinzie really looks the part.”

If Derby day completed a turn of the wheel for his native farm, in another respect the experience brought things full circle for Brutus. For one of the turning points in his own journey with Thoroughbreds, having gone away to get his MBA and start out in business, was the success of a filly named Meribel (Peaks And Valleys)-co-bred by his father with Arthur Hancock-in a graded stakes at Keeneland in 2006.

“Up until then I had always thought owning a racehorse was stupid, because on average you lose money,” he remarks. “I was like, 'That's not a good bet.' But that became one of those indelible memories that made me realize their value. The whole family's there, grandchildren, there were 16 of us packed into the box, and she comes round the whole field, we're all screaming as she makes this late run, ends up winning by a half.     And afterwards my father looks at me, and I see tears coming down his cheeks, this look of disbelief, his mouth gaping.

Mage winning this season's Kentucky Derby | Horsephotos

“So anyway, Mage comes running down the stretch and I have that exact, same stupid look. My mouth is wide open. And I'm like, 'Is this happening?' It's funny, because you think of the genetic imprint for horses, and then how it works out in us, too.”

Fitting sentiments, those, in one of eight siblings who share a grateful sense of the remarkable dynasty they extend. The pioneering Green Clay came out of Virginia in the early 1780s, before there was any such thing as the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

“And the folklore has it that the fee for surveying was 40 percent of whatever was surveyed,” Brutus explains. “So he would pay someone to travel to the local courthouse, to file the claims. But do you know where the local courthouse was? Richmond. That's Richmond, Virginia, not Richmond, Kentucky! Anyway he obviously amassed considerable holdings. He had over 40,000 acres, he had taverns, toll roads, distilleries, and Clay's Ferry on the Madison and Fayette County line.”

Nearly 250 years on, of course, the world is a different place. Brutus is someone who reflects sensitively on the past, and how his family came by its affluence. He knows that the planters of that era owned many slaves; and, more recently, that the Clays have mined a lot of coal. But he is in tune with his own times, notably as a passionate entrepreneur in the growing of crops as a renewable source of energy. And he has also worked hard to engage the wider world with our community, for instance as a co-founder of Horse Country; and also through As One Racing, a partnership with a mission of diversity and inclusion.

“You look back at your ancestors, and you see what was done,” he says. “You can't really change that, but you're always thinking about how you can contribute in a meaningful way, going forward. There's this phrase, that families grow faster than businesses. In some respects, we've been privileged that my ancestors were first movers. But about each third generation has to reinvent. Otherwise, you don't continue.”

Green Clay had a son, Cassius Marcellus Clay, with whom Brutus likes to identify. (It was this same firebrand abolitionist that inspired the naming of a certain boxer who figures proudly in the history of African American Kentucky.)

“Cassius was a bit of a rabble-rouser,” Brutus explains. “He went to Yale, heard an abolitionist speak, and came to the conclusion that slavery was wrong. And there's a story of a rally and debate that took place at Mt. Brilliant Farm. Cassius went to share his views, which weren't particularly popular. Turns out that some of the local landowners had hired an assassin from New Orleans, who shot him at a point-blank range, three inches above his heart, with a single-shot pistol. Well, fortunately for Cassius, he carried his Bowie knife on his left side. And the sheath of the knife stopped the bullet. He then proceeds to pull out his knife, because he was offended, and nearly kills the guy.”

Sure enough, since the assassin was unarmed after discharging his one bullet, it was Cassius who was charged with attempted murder. Fortunately, he could hire no less eloquent a cousin than Henry Clay to secure his acquittal.

But it was not just communities, but families, that were riven by the slavery debate. Cassius had a brother, Brutus, whose son Ezekiel opposed their abolitionist views and acted accordingly when the Civil War began.

“His father promised to disown him if he joined the Confederacy,” says Brutus. “But being who he was, that's what Ezekiel did anyway. He rose to the rank of colonel, and fought a number of battles with a great deal of courage. He ended up losing an eye and being captured in the Battle of Paintsville, and spent some time up in Johnson's Island on Lake Erie.”

Yet just as division extended to many a family table, so did Reconstruction. His reconciled father either loaned or gave Ezekiel the funds to start Runnymede and, along with his brother-in-law Catesby Woodford at neighboring Raceland, “Zeke” did much to lay the foundations of the modern American Thoroughbred. Such epic careers as those of Ben Brush, Hanover and Miss Woodford began through their partnership.

“To me, it's a prodigal son kind of story,” Brutus remarks. “Over the 30 years or so that they were breeding horses, nine were leading sires, either standing or bred by Runnymede. They bred two Kentucky Derby winners, two consecutive Belmont winners, a Preakness winner. Four in the Hall of Fame. The litany of champions they had was pretty extraordinary.”

Incredible to reflect that “Zeke” died just three years-virtually to the day-before his heir (another Brutus) celebrated the birth of his son Catesby W. Clay. Sadly, it was not even three years later that Catesby lost his own father in a staircase fall. (To this day, a stair-gate at their elegant manor house reminds the family of that tragic night.) In time, however, his mother's remarriage introduced Catesby to a cherished mentor in both business and breeding. Senator Camden was chairman of Churchill Downs for many years, and Catesby would eventually serve 45 years on the board there himself.

In the winner's circle after Rogue Romance takes the GIII Bourbon S. | Keeneland

“His stepfather was a real father to Pops,” Brutus says. “He was also one of the founders of the Kentucky River Coal Corporation, which was kind of that third generation change I mentioned. And, candidly, that was what carried the farm through the ups and downs you get in this business.”

Even so, the Depression required Senator Camden to disperse his own 1,500-acre Hartland Farm near Versailles, and relocate his diminished broodmare band to Runnymede. Catesby himself had gone away for his academic and business education and it was only after a third farm graduate won the Derby-Count Turf in 1951-that he began to engage with the challenges of breeding.

Meanwhile he did a fair bit of that himself, raising eight children with his wife Biz (nee Elizabeth Gerwin). These include Father Chris Clay, who was once a turf writer but discovered a more salubrious purpose in life and now tends a flock full of horse folk in Versailles.

“I remember when my mother mentioned that Chris might not run the farm,” says Brutus with a smile. “I looked at her incredulously, I was like, 'Mother, don't be ridiculous. What else would he want to do?'”

Yet curiously Catesby's own tenure at Runnymede had itself been contingent on a similar call heard by his own Jesuit brother. In the meantime these 365 rich, undulating acres along Stoner Creek in Bourbon County have continued to nourish a chain of champions parallel to the four generations of Clays to have supervised their development. Lady Eli (Divine Park), Collected (City Zip), Agnes Digital (Crafty Prospector) and Awesome Gem (Awesome Again) are among those to have started life here, even though the average crop was averaging no more than a couple of dozen.

And now we have Mage, a flagbearer for this latest chapter in Runnymede's long story. Brutus reiterates his family's debt to their team. “I have such admiration for good horse people,” he says. “They're so committed to these horses: our assistant managers Kathy Bacon and Edgar Hernandez, our night watchman Kenny Gibson. And Romain, of course. He's really passionate about the business, constantly learning, trying to figure it out.

“Nobody is ever going to do that. But we're all students, right? And I've never met a good horse person that isn't meticulous. Attention. Acute memory. Detail. The little things that add up to a big difference.”

But this is first and foremost a day to celebrate the man whose long stewardship at Runnymede unites the legacy of Colonel “Zeke” all the way through to Mage. And while few of his contemporaries have lasted the course, many who might now consider themselves old still look up to Catesby Woodford Clay, and will gladly join succeeding generations in raising a toast of affection and esteem.

Certainly Brutus sounds slightly mortified that we should be approaching him as anything more than a figurehead for the collective engagement of his family, and the toil and skill of their help. “We just hand off the baton, right?” he says. “I always say there are three attributes to making a good horse. There's the land, the bloodstock-and the people. So many different people that play a role in every single horse: the farriers, the grooms, the night watchman, the veterinarians, the office manager. So when you have success, there's a sense of ownership and pride between us all. And it's exciting to have so many good people to share the celebrations.”

The post A Landmark Day in a Landmark Year appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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In all, 184 sold Tuesday for a gross of $7,107,500. The average of $38,628 slipped 2.4% from last year's opening session, but the median of $25,500 was up 27.5% from the 2021 sales record-tying figure of $20,000.

With 90 horses reported not sold, Tuesday's buy-back rate was 33.1%. At the close of business after last year's first session, the buy-back rate was 26.7%. It fell to 18.3% with the inclusion of post-sale transactions.

“It's been competitive all year,” Lanni said of the juvenile market. “It's been a very, very tough year. I love coming to June–not for the weather–but this is a typical June sale. They are out there, you just have to try to find them. There is a horse here for everybody. A horse at every level. You just have to get through them all.”

Seven horses topped the $200,000 mark at the 2021 opening session, led by a $425,000 daughter of Practical Joke. During the session, 196 horses grossed $7,756,400 for an average of $39,573 and a median of $20,000.

Tuesday's opening session of the June sale missed a break-out horse when hip 112, a daughter of Into Mischief, RNA'd for $625,000.

The June sale continues through Thursday with bidding beginning each day at 10 a.m.

A Bolt for Runnymede

Bloodstock agent Donato Lanni had been shopping all season long for a filly to purchase for Gregory and Caroline Bentley's Runnymede Farm and the Pennyslvania-based operation finally got on the board Tuesday in Ocala, purchasing a filly by freshman sensation Bolt d'Oro (hip 191) for $290,000 from the Niall Brennan consignment.

“We have been trying really hard all year to buy fillies for them,” Lanni said. “Good fillies are hard to find and they bring a lot. We have struck out all year trying to buy a filly for them.”

The bay filly is out of stakes winner Over the Edge (Thunder Gulch) and is a half to graded placed Top of Mind (Curlin). She worked a furlong in :10 flat during last week's under-tack show.

“This was a good filly,” Lanni said. “Bolt d'Oro made it easy for me to sell it to them. And she's got pedigree. But more importantly, she worked extremely well and she galloped out very well. She came back well. Typically when you do all of those things, it's going to cost a lot.”

The Bentleys, who have been involved in racing since the mid-1990s, won the 2014 GI Arlington Million with Hardest Core (Hard Spun) and were represented in the 2019 GI Preakness S. by multiple stakes winner Alwaysmining (Stay Thirsty). Greg Bentley is CEO of his family's software company, Bentley Systems.

Hip 191 was purchased by Ryston Stables for $75,000 at last year's Keeneland September sale.

Candy Ride Filly Heads West

A filly by Candy Ride (Arg) (hip 331) will be joining the Southern California barn of trainer Peter Eurton after selling for $240,000 to Exline-Border Racing.

“Some things just speak for themselves–the page, obviously, and how she breezed,” Justin Border, who did his bidding sitting alongside bloodstock agent Marette Farrell, said of the filly's appeal. “But, really, it's about her mind and how she comported herself all throughout the process. It seems like she was brought up right from the farm and from an excellent breeder. We can tell she's been brought up the right way. We're excited to take her out to California where she can do big things for us.”

The filly, who worked a furlong in :10 1/5, is out of Seaside Escape (Bernardini), a full-sister to multiple Grade I winner Cavorting who is the dam of Grade I winner Clairiere (Curlin).

“Her breeze was very flashy, but at the same time, you could tell she was doing it well within herself, which is something we always look for,” Border said. “A lot of horses have flashy breezes on a surface they'll never run on again the rest of their lives. We're much more interested in how they do it, and she did it the right way. She checked all the boxes for us.”

Bred by Paul Pompa, Jr., the bay sold for $12,000 as part of the late owner/breeder's dispersal at the 2021 Keeneland January sale. She sold to Joseph Klausa's Thoro Ventures for $75,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton October sale and was consigned Tuesday by Juan Centeno's All Dreams Equine.

“She has a very good mind,” Centeno said. “She is lovely and has an excellent pedigree. Everything came together and she performed well. And she was well-received at the barn. You are always nervous and excited at the same time at these sales. But I am very happy for the owner.”

Adios Charlie Filly for FSS Series

A speedy filly by Adios Charlie (hip 116) topped early returns at the OBS June sale when selling for $235,000 to the bid of Michael Sucher's Champion Equine. Consigned by Ocala Stud and bred by the O'Farrells, the bay 2-year-old worked a quarter-mile in a bullet :21 flat. She is out of stakes-placed Miss Melinda (Malibu Moon), a daughter of group-placed Black Escort (Southern Halo).

“She had all the metrics: breeze time, gallop out, vetted perfectly, and she is a beautiful physical horse,” Sucher's advisor Tom McCrocklin said. “Kind of all the things you hear all the time.”

The filly will join the South Florida barn of trainer David Braddy and will have a specific target this summer.

“He is kind of obsessed with winning the Florida Stallion Stakes and she is eligible for that series,” McCrocklin said of Sucher's plans for the filly. “He bought a really nice colt in April. He lives in South Florida and he's very bullish on trying to win those races.”

Sucher purchased a colt by Girvin (hip 112), also from Ocala Stud, for $300,000 at the OBS Spring Sale in April. Now named Commandant, the colt is working steadily at Gulfstream Park.

In addition to his Florida racing stable, Sucher is also an active pinhooker and breeding.

“Pinhooking, racing and breeding,” McCrocklin said of Sucher's Thoroughbred interests. “He owns a lot of mares, too, mostly in Kentucky. He keeps his mares with Martha Jane Mulholland in Kentucky and he bought a lot of broodmares over the last couple of years. So he's evenly distributed between breeding, he will sell some, he will pinhook, and he races as well. He's a great guy, loves the game and I am glad we have him in it.”

The post Measured OBS June Sale Opens With a $290,000 Topper by Bolt d’Oro appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Grade 1 producer Magical World in foal to multiple leading sire Into Mischief topped the sale when sold for $5.2 million to Whisper Hill Farm and Three Chimneys Farm (video).

Hill 'n' Dale Sales Agency, agent, offered the 11-year-old daughter of Distorted Humor as Hip 203. Magical World has produced four winners from four to race, including multiple Grade 1 winning millionaire Guarana (Ghostzapper); Grade 2 placed stakes winner Magic Dance (More Than Ready); and current 3-year-old winner Beatbox (Pioneer of the Nile). Magical World is out of Breeders' Cup Distaff winner Pleasant Home, from the immediate family of champion Sky Beauty and Grade 1 winners Violence and Tale of Ekati. Magical World also has a yearling colt by Gun Runner and foaled a colt by Quality Road this year.

“[It was a] remarkable evening tonight,” said Fasig-Tipton president Boyd Browning. “We were so fortunate to have a tremendous group of horses… It was almost impossible to believe the quality of horses on the grounds.”

Record-setting Kentucky Oaks winner Shedaresthedevil topped the racing/broodmare prospects on offer, selling for $5 million to Whisper Hill Farm, Flurry Racing, and Qatar Racing from the consignment of Hunter Valley Farm, agent (video).

Offered as Hip 232, the four-year-old daughter of Daredevil ran the fastest Kentucky Oaks in history, going 9 furlongs in 1:48.28 while defeating champions Swiss Skydiver and Gamine and Grade 1 winner Speech. Shedaresthedevil's seven graded stakes victories also include this year's Grade La Troienne Stakes and G1 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes. To date, she has earned $2,331,458 under the tutelage of trainer Brad Cox and has won or placed in 15 of 17 career starts.

Eclipse champion Swiss Skydiver was the sale's top broodmare prospect, selling for $4.7 million to Katsumi Yoshida from the consignment of Runnymede Farm, agent (video).

Offered as Hip 246, the 4-year-old daughter of Daredevil won five graded stakes last year en route to champion 3-year-old filly honors, including a victory in the Preakness Stakes over Kentucky Derby winner and subsequent Horse of the Year Authentic. Swiss Skydiver captured the prestigious G1 Alabama Stakes at Saratoga last year at three and won this year's G1 Beholder Mile Stakes. She won or placed 12 of 16 career starts and earned $2,216,480 for owner Peter Callahan and trainer Kenny McPeek.

“Our friends from Japan have become a major component of this sale,” said Browning when asked about the high level of participation from Japanese buyers. “We live in a global world and we're fortunate that we have a global marketplace here.”

The sale's top weanling was Hip 107, a filly by Curlin out of Grade 1 winner Sippican Harbor, which sold for $750,000 to West Bloodstock, agent for Robert and Lawana Low from the consignment of Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent.

The chestnut filly is the second foal out of G1 Spinaway Stakes winner Sippican Harbor, from the immediate family of Group 1 winner Peter Davies. Hip 107 was bred in Kentucky by Lee Pokoik.

“We were supported by an unbelievable cross section of horses from an unbelievable cross section of consignors and owners,” added Browning. “That's what it's all about: it's the quality of horses that you have the opportunity to sell, and we were fortunate tonight to have an all-star cast of offers and support (from) a tremendous buying base from all over the world. I couldn't be any more pleased.”

Overall, 149 horses changed hands for a sale-record gross of $103,699,000, a 15.9 percent increase over the previous highwater mark, set in 2018 when 141 horses sold for $89,473,000.

The average rose 23.2 percent to $695,966 from $565,049 in 2020 and was good for second-highest average in sale history. The median was $300,000, up 50 percent from 2020 and good for third-highest median ever recorded at The November Sale. The RNA rate was 21.1 percent. Twenty-six fillies and mares sold for $1 million or more.

Results are available online.

The post Trifecta Of Magical World, Shedaresthedevil, Swiss Skydiver Drive More Than $100 Million In Sales At Fasig-Tipton November appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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It's nearly impossible to bring up Affirmed without conjuring Alydar in the next breath; the same way you can't discuss Sunday Silence without Easy Goer, or Zenyatta without Rachel Alexandra. One story can't be told without the other running parallel, even if they never actually touch.

Over the past two years, the story of Swiss Skydiver has also been the story of Shedaresthedevil, and vice versa.

The best “who you got” scenarios present two options that are similar enough to make the decision agonizing, but so fundamentally different that the answer reveals a truth about the person making the decision. In that regard, no two horses in recent memory might be more apt for comparison.

Both are WinStar Farm-bred daughters of the Grade 1 winner Daredevil, and their combined success in the sport's biggest races were directly responsible for their sire's return from exodus after a season standing in Turkey. Both are known for their hardscrabble tenacity on the racetrack, and both have broken or threatened record times in their biggest wins.

Though it feels like they've been in direct competition as long as they've been in the national spotlight, Kenny McPeek trainee Swiss Skydiver and Shedaresthedevil from the Brad Cox barn have only gone head-to-head twice, and the series stands at one win a piece.

Swiss Skydiver won their first meeting in the Grade 3 Fantasy Stakes at Oaklawn Park, staring down Venetian Harbor in a prolonged stretch battle, while Shedaresthedevil was the best of the rest, finishing 13 1/4 lengths behind in third.

“She was a tremendous filly,” Cox said, assessing the competition. “They're two of the best fillies of their generation for sure, and in a position here to be taken home by some world class breeders.”

A different Shedaresthedevil entered the gate at Churchill Downs four months later for the Kentucky Oaks. The rivals each sat off of pacesetter Gamine, but when it was time to make a statement, Shedaresthedevil's less-impeded trip left Swiss Skydiver chasing a stakes-record time for 1 1/8 miles.

“We didn't do anything different,” McPeek said about running against Shedaresthedevil. “We always ran our race. They're two amazing fillies. In some ways, they've been aligned for a long time.”

It seemed like the dream setup of two evenly-matched athletes ascending together to the top of their division, but life, timing, and travel schedules took them in different directions after the Kentucky Oaks.

Swiss Skydiver went on to become just the third filly in the past century to win the Preakness Stakes, and did it faster than anyone besides the mighty Secretariat, took home the Eclipse Award for champion 3-year-old filly and dabbled in facing the boys at four. Shedaresthedevil positioned herself as a potential champion older filly in 2021, with Grade 1 victories in Kentucky and California.

Now at the end of their respective 4-year-old campaigns, both fillies were positioned as two of the marquee offerings of Tuesday's Fasig-Tipton November sale. This will likely be the final time the two inextricably linked fillies will occupy the same space in anything resembling competition, and the kind of money they were projected to command would make their racetrack purses look like peanuts.

Shedaresthedevil headlines the Grade 1 Clement L. Hirsch at Del Mar.

In one corner, from the consignment of Hunter Valley Farm, was Hip 232, Shedaresthedevil.

A filly whose scope deceives the eye until one is standing right at her side and suddenly finds oneself looking up, Shedaresthedevil gave no hints in her muscling or sleek coat that she had just shipped cross-country after keeping up with blazing fractions in the Breeders' Cup Distaff and finishing sixth just days earlier.

Her demeanor was cool and professional on the Fasig-Tipton sales grounds. She was a bay sports car.

Swiss Skydiver and jockey Robby Albarado win the Beholder in the 2020 3-year-old filly champion's seasonal debut.

In the other corner, from the Runnymede Farm consignment, was Hip 264, Swiss Skydiver.

Where Shedaresthedevil was sleek and long, Swiss Skydiver was the chestnut powerhouse, boasting the kind of compact hip and shoulder typical from broodmare sire Johannesburg that makes it easy to understand why her connections would explore racing against males.

Arriving on the sales grounds after 60 days at Runnymede Farm, Swiss Skydiver's time at the end of the shank was spent with subdued curiosity, calmly following the clicks of cameras and the march of nearby weanlings with her eyes and ears.

For both fillies, the road to the Fasig-Tipton sale was years in the making.

Shedaresthedevil entered Hunter Valley Farm's orbit when the filly was a 2-year-old, going through the ring as a racing-age horse at the 2019 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. She was offered to dissolve a partnership between Qatar Racing and Glencrest Farm, and after selling to Flurry Racing Stables for $280,000, Qatar Racing stayed on as a partner, and they were joined by Big Aut Farms.

Hunter Valley's Fergus Galvin said Shedaresthedevil spent a couple weeks at the Versailles, Ky., farm prior to the November sale after primarily racing on the West Coast. When the filly needed some time off at the end of her 2020 campaign, she returned to familiar soil.

“She's just so easy to be around,” Galvin said. “She was like an old broodmare when she was at the farm. We had her in a paddock close by so we could see her every day. She was never worried, had an easy disposition. You'd never know she was on the farm. Those are the good ones to keep, because she's just so easy on herself. She knew it was relaxation time, and she made the most of it.”

With that much experience in the hands of Hunter Valley staff, there weren't many surprises when it came to the product on offer Tuesday. It was just a matter of getting her there in the first place. The usual Tex Sutton air freight was replaced by chartered FedEx flights, meaning there were no straight shots from Southern California to Kentucky.

“Getting back was definitely more of an inconvenience, because they had to go from Del Mar to LAX, and that flight took them to Memphis, and they vanned up from there,” Galvin said. “It was a long journey, but she took it in stride, and she's none the worse.”

Shedaresthedevil arrives at Fasig-Tipton from the 2021 Breeders' Cup.

Shedaresthedevil arrived at Fasig-Tipton's Newtown Paddocks around 9 p.m. Sunday evening, just over 24 hours after she ran in the Distaff. She was greeted by three bigger-than-life-sized posters of herself spread across the walls of Barn 7, along with a one-story tall LED monitor and a party tent to coerce potential buyers to stay a while.

Marketing a big offering at the November sales is all about grabbing the eye and shouting their selling points from the rooftop. It's the kind of spotlight that all but the very upper crust of the sport sees during their on-track careers.

Seeing his handiwork spread across the side of a building wasn't a new experience for Cox when he saw the Shedaresthedevil display on Tuesday night. He'd gone through a similar process a year earlier with champion Monomoy Girl, so it wasn't a novel experience, but Cox knew what having the giant horse on the wall meant to his career.

“It's gratifying to see horses you've worked with and helped developed and been part of the team, to get them to this point,” he said. “It's kind of tells you you've got good stock, and you've managed it the right way and got it to this point, and it's really gratifying. It's really cool.”

On the other side of the property, Swiss Skydiver had a simpler display, but effective in its own way.

The Runnymede consignment had one wall-sized poster detailing the filly's dominant crisscrossing of the map, but the real draw was on the other side of the consignment's table: the cooler given to the 2020 Preakness Stakes winner. A garment like that says as much as several wall posters.

Hip 246, Swiss Skydiver, at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton November Sale

Runnymede Farm and owner Peter Callahan have a decades-long relationship, which Runnymede president Romain Malhouitre made the decision process a short one when it came time to sell Callahan's best filly.

“When I knew he was going to sell her, I asked him politely, and he answered that he never thought about anyone else but Runnymede selling the filly for him,” he said. “After the Personal Ensign (on Aug. 28 in Saratoga), Kenny kept her for a while just to let her down and make sure everything was okay. She was very sound when she retired. After that, she came over three to four weeks ago. We just put her in the paddock and let her enjoy a bit of grass. She's been off the racetrack for 60 days now.”

It was rare to pass by the single-horse Runnymede consignment in Barn 1 without seeing the chestnut filly out for a show. Sometimes, it was serious seven-figure buyers, and others were simply there to snap a picture of the Eclipse winner, but Malhouitre said both were part of the plan.

Romain Malhouitre

“She's been quite busy,” he said. “Those kinds of mares, some people are shy to pull her out, but it was always clear with Mr. Callahan and Kenny that we wanted to share her. We have welcomed everybody to just look at her.

“Special fillies have special demeanors,” Malhouitre continued. “They know how to handle stress, and they have a presence. They just come out of the stall and understand how important they are. If you saw her in her racing days, it was the same in the paddock at the races. She always handled everything in stride.”

Like Cox, McPeek has had his share of fillies get the “big horse” treatment at the November sales. This one, though, was a little harder than most for a few reasons.

“I'm really proud of her,” he said. “She's been an awesome filly to be around. When you set the bar as we've set it with her, it's tough letting a filly like that go, but I also know it's the business of the business. I did my job, and I'm really proud of the job we did.”

“The hard part about tonight is going to be my 6-year-old daughter,” McPeek continued. “She's not happy that they might be selling her. Whoever buys her, we're going to have to ask permission to go see her.”

On Tuesday night, the two fillies set foot in the sale ring almost exactly a half-hour apart from each other.

Shedaresthedevil was the first to enter the back ring, flanked by Cox and jockey Florent Geroux, who each made the drive in from Louisville to watch the filly sell.

It's show time. Who better to help get her ready than @bradcoxracing and @flothejock?@HunterValleyKY @FasigTiptonCo @Qatar_Racing @FahadAlthaniQR pic.twitter.com/oP1MmcCaaD

— Shedaresthedevil (@DaringSpeed) November 10, 2021

It's a different kind of walkover than either horseman is used to, but Cox said the buildup wasn't particularly tense for him, even the stakes meant potentially losing one of the best runners in his barn.

“To be honest with you, it's getting late and I have to drive back to Louisville for training tomorrow,” he said with a smirk. “I'm ready to get it over with because I'm getting sleepy. I've been up since 4:30 this morning. It's some anxious moments, absolutely, to see who ends up with her and what the plans are.”

Shedaresthedevil handled the bark and chatter of the back ring as professionally as she had handled the inspections, sticking to business and using her long frame to show herself well. For a horse that hadn't been through a sale in two years, she clearly hadn't lost the lessons she'd learned during sale prep.

Shedaresthedevil entered the Fasig-Tipton sale ring at 8:17 p.m. Eastern, led in by a minute-long rumination by announcer Jesse Ullery on the filly's place in history as the fastest Kentucky Oaks winner. Bidding opened at $1 million, and abruptly passed $3 million from bidders around the pavilion. The filly stood statuesque as the bidding hovered up to $5 million with little stalling.

At the $5-million point, the asking stopped being answered, and the hammer fell to a bidder in the back. For the November sale, Fasig-Tipton had a remote bidspotter stationed on the outskirts of the outdoor walking ring, and the ticket met a picnic table with big-ticket buyer Mandy Pope of Whisper Hill Farm, and Gainesway's Alex Solis.

Late in the leadup to the sale, Solis brokered the partnership to link Pope with Flurry Racing and Qatar Racing to buy the mare in a new partnership and keep her in training with Cox.

“She's such a wonderful racehorse, and she's gorgeous,” Pope said. “She reminds me a lot, in her physique and the way she carries herself, of Havre de Grace, so maybe we'll have another Horse of the Year.”

Prior to the filly's time in the ring, Cox expressed hope that Shedaresthedevil would remain in training, figuring she might have something left in the tank for a 2022 campaign.

“I feel like we've left tread on the tire, you could say,” he said. “She's a very sound filly. I wouldn't say we've over-raced her. We've spaced her races with races like the Breeders' Cup and Kentucky Oaks in mind, and she always performed well.”

The two fillies never formally crossed paths on the Fasig-Tipton grounds, but Swiss Skydiver was quick to tread over the same ground shortly after Shedaresthedevil sold.

Swiss Skydiver was more fired up than her counterpart in the back walking ring, peering over to look at the inside of the pavilion every time she circled by, and getting on her toes when it was behind her.

She was much more focused when the lights were on, though, stepping in front of the auctioneer's stand at 8:46 p.m. Announcer Danny Green reminded the crowd of Swiss Skydiver's Preakness triumph, and the stellar broodmare records of the few fillies to have achieved the feat.

Compared to Shedaresthedevil's rapid ascent of bids, Swiss Skydiver's time in the ring was more of a slow burn. She opened at $500,000, and progressed into the seven figures at a much more muted pace. She held at $2.2 million for a moment, then again at $2.5 million. She gradually ticked up by $100,000 increments until she hit $3.5 million, when a new bidder emerged to the filly's left.

Swiss Skydiver continued a steady, but contentious climb past $4 million, and it appeared she was set to challenge Shedaresthedevil's $5-million mark. Action picked up as she approached $4.5 million, and the filly's ears twitched to follow the yelp of each bidspotter as they cried out. The drive was ultimately stopped at $4.7 million.

Hip 246, Swiss Skydiver, 2021 Fasig-Tipton November Sale

The bid was once again in the back ring, leaving a moment to wonder if Pope had landed both Daredevil fillies for her star-studded collection. The ticket ultimately went to Katsumi Yoshida's Northern Farm, a Japanese operation known for purchasing some of America's top fillies at auction.

“We will bring her back to Japan for sure, but we haven't decided who should cover,” said Shingo Hashimoto, who signed the ticket. “We'll see how it goes. We're very thrilled.”

Runnymede Farm chairman and CEO Brutus Clay III greeted Malhouitre with a celebratory clap on the shoulder after the fall of the hammer. The sale was an astounding success for the Callahan operation, which purchased Swiss Skydiver through McPeek for just $35,000 at the 2018 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

As the price made its steady climb, Malhouitre said it was those humble beginnings that were at the forefront of his mind.

“I feel relieved,” he said. “I feel happy for the Callahan family to trust us to sell such a beautiful horse, and I feel good for Kenny McPeek. We know how good he is as a judge buying yearlings, and for him to do that over again, and bring those horses to the sale is unbelievable.

“You just don't want it to stop,” he continued. “It goes to the reserve and stalls a little bit, and you wonder. Then it starts to find its rhythm, and you find someone doesn't want to stop yet. It's a good feeling. Mr. Callahan has been in this business all his life, and for him to have such a beautiful horse, I was just thinking of Mr. Callahan and his family.”

After one last touching point, Shedaresthedevil and Swiss Skydiver will once again go on very different paths. For Shedaresthedevil, it's back to the life she knew in a familiar barn. For Swiss Skydiver, it's on to a new life on the other side of the world.

If the bidding is to serve as the final score for this meeting, Shedaresthedevil came out on top by $300,000 – a relatively thin margin in the seven-figure bonanza that is Fasig-Tipton November. However, with two of the original partners staying in on Shedaresthedevil, the amount of money that will actually be spent on that transaction will depend on the shares in the new partnership between Pope, Flurry Racing, and Qatar Racing.

If one wanted to deem this one too close to call based on that fact, it would be hard to blame them.

The two Daredevil fillies who served as the face of a deep class and each set history in their own unique way arguably finished their lifetime series with a record of 1-1-1. For two competitors so evenly matched, it couldn't have ended any other way.

The post The Rubber Match Between Swiss Skydiver And Shedaresthedevil At Fasig-Tipton November appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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