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Arqana February Mixed Sale Catalogue Sports Wildcards

Three wildcards and 10 supplements have been added to the Arqana February Mixed Sale, which already includes 356 lots.

Leading the wild cards will be Leibovitz (Ire) (lot 50) offered by Christophe Ferland. A winner over 1200 metrers at Chantilly on debut, the 3-year-old daughter of Starspangledbanner (Aus) hails from the family of Group 1 winners Park Appeal (Ire) (Ahonoora {GB}), Cape Cross (GB), and Diktat (GB), etc.

A pair of broodmares are also wildcards with Rouen Cathedral (GB) (lot 140), who is a daughter of Le Havre (Ire) out of group winner Top Toss (Ire) (Linamix {Fr}), a half-sister to dual group scorer and Group 1-placed Lesstalk In Paris (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}). She will be offered in foal to Sottsass (Fr) by Haras des Capucines.

The other is listed winner and G3 Prix de Psyche runner-up, Sainte Amarante (Fr) (lot 160) from the draft of Haras du Pley. The daughter of Le Havre (Ire) hails from the family of Group 1 winners Belardo (Ire) and Kistena (Fr) (Miswaki).

Supplements include the David Farlete runner, Aldufoof (GB) (lot 180B), a half-sister by Bated Breath (GB) to G2 Prix Chaudenay winner Al Qareem (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}). Also supplemented will be Slip Sliding Away (Lot 180C), from the Fairway Consignment. The daughter of Camelot (GB) is from the family of G1 Derby/G1 King George hero Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}).

The February Mixed Sale will be held on Feb. 14-15. Click here, to view the entire catalogue.

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Statement on HISA from NTRA President and CEO Tom Rooney

“As a former instructor of constitutional and criminal law at the United States Military Academy, I implored upon the cadets that we are a nation of laws, not of emotional disinformation. Article III of the Constitution gives the courts the task of interpreting the laws to determine constitutionality and that process is exactly what is happening right now with HISA.

“HISA is the law of the land and has been challenged in the courts. In this country constitutionality is not determined by those who may disagree with the language of the law but rather by the courts. HISA was written and passed by Members of Congress and signed originally by President Trump, then amended and signed by President Biden to make our industry better. Petitioning Members of Congress to deem the law unconstitutional is inconsistent with our system of government going back to Marbury v. Madison, unless these efforts are made to repeal the law and replace it with new legislation. Unfortunately, that is not what opponents of the law appear to be seeking. It is therefore my opinion that these opponents are misguided and are serving as a distraction from actually making the Thoroughbred industry safer and better for everyone.

“The fact of the matter is the Thoroughbred racing industry has needed change for quite some time. We all know that. The path we were going down was unfair and unsafe, and after some challenging years we could not as an industry keep doing business as usual. Since the passage and implementation of HISA, we as an industry have made strides that can help preserve horse racing so that future generations can also enjoy it. HISA has been very collaborative, has sought to work with everyone, and has always led with a call for unity. With minimum standards of fairness as set by HISA across the country, Thoroughbred racing will be more competitive and more fun. While we await final verdicts from the courts we must continue to work together as an industry to improve our sport, so the dream of future generations enjoying horse racing can become a reality.

Tom Rooney, President and CEO of the NTRA, five-term member of Congress from the state of Florida, Army JAG Corps Captain

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Brant Says USDA “Kidnapped” His Horse

When Peter Brant shipped a collection of newly turned 2-year-olds from the Mocklershill training facility in Ireland to the U.S. on Jan. 13 he had no reason to expect that their transport from Europe to Payson Park in Florida would be anything other than routine. Brant ships horses from Europe to the U.S. all the time.

But in the case of a well-bred 2-year-old named Belle Gambe (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), the filly has been stuck in quarantine at Churchill Downs for more than three weeks, the result of what Brant says is a false positive for a venereal disease called Dourine. What has ensued, he said, has been a nightmarish three weeks during which his pleas to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to release the filly have fallen on deaf ears and Brant's frustrations with the USDA have boiled over.

“She's in quarantine in Kentucky at Churchill Downs and you're in a trap there,” Brant said. “They've basically kidnapped my horse.”

Brant is known for racing some of the best horses on the planet, but he has every reason to believe that Belle Gambe might stand out from the rest. A homebred, she's by Dubawi out of Unaided (GB), by Dansili (GB). That makes her a half-sister to Uni (GB) (More Than Ready), the winner of the 2019 GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf and that year's champion turf filly.

“Obviously, she is a very important horse to us,” Brant said.

According to Chuck Santarelli, the president of Mersant International, the shipping company that brought the Brant horses to the U.S., blood was taken on the horses before they left Ireland and was sent to the USDA lab in Ames, Iowa and they all tested negative. Five horses were tested, four of which boarded the plane to the U.S. However, after they arrived and were under USDA supervision at the Kentucky Import Center, Brant was informed that Belle Gambe had tested positive for Dourine. Because she had not met the USDA requirements to enter the country, the USDA could not release her to the general population and instead placed her in quarantine.

According to the Center for Food Security and Public Health, Dourine is “a serious, often chronic, venereal disease of horses and other equids. This protozoal infection can result in neurological signs and emaciation, and the case fatality rate is high.”

Brant couldn't understand why the other four horses tested negative and Belle Gambe did not or why the filly showed no signs of being sick. He began to look into the situation and found that false positives for the disease being flagged by the USDA were not uncommon. In a 2020 article posted on the website Eurodressage.com that covered false positives for Dourine and other diseases, the author wrote: “Importing horses into the U.S.A. had become a nightmare for some horse owners whose horses produced 'false positive' blood tests in the quarantine process.”

“The USDA doesn't allow for interpretation anymore because the old guard is gone and been replaced with just bureaucrats who don't understand the testing and won't, and can't, interpret,” Dr. Scarlette Gotwals told the website. “The USDA used to have veterinarians in charge of field operations who would review an individual situation and make an interpretation. Now, no one will do anything outside of a rule book.”

Brant and his attorney Chapman Hopkins were convinced that Belle Gambe was the latest horse that the USDA had incorrectly flagged as positive and that its rules and testing methods were archaic.

“I have, unfortunately, had to handle dozens of international equine import cases involving false positives over the last decade,” Hopkins said. “The disappointment and outrage felt by Mr. Brant is entirely reasonable and understandable. As I shared with Mr. Brant yesterday, what they are experiencing is the unfortunate result of the USDA's imperfect testing methodologies and quarantine procedures.”

The disease is transmitted almost exclusively during breeding, obviously not a factor with a 2-year-old unraced filly.

“You have to understand this is not my area of expertise, but when Peter called me I consulted with a bunch of people to get some background information,” said Dr. Larry Bramlage. “This is a terrible and unfortunate set of circumstances. Dourine doesn't even exist in Ireland or in the U.S. It's only submitted by sexual contact and she's just a 2-year-old. None of this makes any practical sense. But it's one of those things where it's difficult to circumvent what's written down as the regulations that they have to follow.”

Brant considered his options. One was to ship the horse back to Ireland and have her race there rather than for trainer Chad Brown in the U.S. But he decided to let things take their course. That just led to more headaches.

On the advice of the medical and reproductive team at Rood and Riddle, Brant asked the USDA to treat the filly with a drug called Marquis, which treats protozoal myelitis, to wipe out any random protozoa which could be cause the false positive for Dourine..

“We wanted to have her treated with Marquis but the USDA just plain rejected it,” Brant said.

It was a pattern he would grow familiar with. He said the USDA was, from the start, uncooperative and uncommunicative.

“I have been dealing with them by email but get no response,” he said. “My lawyer has tried talking to them and so has Mersant. They can't get anything out of them. There's been no discussion. There is no flexibility and they just won't use common sense.”

Fourteen days after Belle Gambe tested positive, another test was taken. In the initial test, the filly was positive for Dourine at a dilution of 3+1:10. In the subsequent test, the level had gone down to a dilution of 1+1:10. While that was a step in the right direction, it was not enough to release her from quarantine.

Meanwhile, Brant was growing increasingly concerned about the impact of quarantine on a young horse at a time when they need to be exercised to foster their growth and development.

“I'm of the school of thought that the training period between Sept. and Oct. through the following spring is extremely important for a young horse, whether they run as a 2-year-old or they don't,” Brant said. “It's a very important factor. It's important to get a horse like this into training as soon as possible. She been quarantined for nearly a month and that's damaging to this horse. There are enough hurdles in this game for owner to go through as it is. This is just not unacceptable.”

Perhaps, the worst might soon be almost over. The filly is scheduled for another test on Feb. 10, with the results due on the 12th. If she tests negative the quarantine will be lifted and she can resume training toward her racing debut.

“I hope she tests negative,” Bramlage said. “Everything indicates that she should.”

Brant is prepared for the worst. If she tests positive again, the only two options left are that she will have to return to Ireland or be put down within five days. Just in case, Brant has already reserved a spot on a flight back to Ireland.

“I am not optimistic,” he said. “I am not optimistic at all. There's no rhyme or reason as to why this has happened. The test is faulty and that's all there is to it.”

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2023 Mating Plans, Presented by Spendthrift: Machmer Hall

As we approach the opening of the 2023 breeding season, the TDN staff is once again sitting down with leading breeders to find out what stallions they have chosen for their mares, and why. Today we spoke with Carrie Brogden at Machmer Hall.

We mate by physical mostly–negative traits to positive traits and vice versa. We try to add speed where there is none and we do not believe in like-to-like matings. We do not use nicks, but we do like successful crosses like Twirling Candy with Unbridled's Song. This is a sample of our matings planned for our 82 foaling mares and 32 maiden and barren mares.

ASTRAY (m, 9, Bernardini – Away, by Dixieland Band) to be bred to Life Is Good

This young stakes producer's Into Mischief filly sold for $720,000 at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale. She is about the prettiest Bernardini mare you will ever see. I am a big fan of her pedigree and we currently own her niece, too!

She is currently in foal to Hard Spun and we figured that now that we have bred her to several proven stallions, we could revert back to a first-year. She is booked to Life Is Good for 2023. Life Is Good is an absolute stunner and has a heart the size of Texas.

BECCA'S ROCKET (m, 5, Orb – Idoitmyway, by Unbridled's Song) to be bred to Jackie's Warrior

Becca's Rocket was one of the prettiest and fanciest yearlings we had the year we sold her even though her sire was fast falling out of favor. I watched her hit the board in 13 of her 20 starts, including multiple stakes, and she won over $250,000. We bought her back privately as a broodmare prospect to rejoin Machmer Hall as a broodmare.

For her first foal she is booked to the super good-looking, super talented horse Jackie's Warrior. As Mark Toothaker said to me when I sent her over, “Well, this is a no brainer.” And that is exactly how I felt!

CAMPAIGNING (m, 4, Nyquist – Azalea Belle, Dixie Union) to be bred to Upstart

We bought this Nyquist filly carrying her first foal by Classic Empire at the 2022 Keeneland November Sale. She was a $500,000 yearling herself, so her looks match her sales price.

Since she is only a half-sister to a stakes-placed filly [GIII Iowa Oaks runner-up Aurelia Garland (Constitution)], but she has a nice family, we wanted to be mindful of the stud fee we put in her. She is booked back to Upstart, who only had 19 named 2-year-olds for 2022 and STILL held his own big time. We are thinking that with his bigger and better crops coming down the pipeline, he seems like great value to start a young mare off right.

Heidi Maria, the dam of last year's GII Sorrento S. winner Vegas Magic, will go back to Good Magic in 2023 | Benoit

CLAIRE'S SONG (m, 15, Unbridled's Song – Chimichurri, by Elusive Quality) to be bred to Medaglia d'Oro

Claire's Song is currently in foal to Essential Quality and we have booked her back to Medaglia d'Oro for 2023. We sold her Medaglia d'Oro colt in Saratoga for $625,000 last year and the yearling full-sister is just as nice of a physical as he was. It's hard to not go back to him with this three-time stakes-producing Unbridled's Song mare considering her half-sister produced Canadian Horse of the Year Wonder Gadot and Grade II-placed Solemn Tribute, both by Medaglia d'Oro.

DISTURBINGLY HOT (m, 17, Unbridled's Song – Diablo's Blend, by Diablo) to be bred to Sharp Azteca

Disturbingly Hot is currently in foal to Kantharos and is booked back to Sharp Azteca. We were lucky enough to be his yearling consignor, so I knew what a gorgeous horse he was at that point in his life. We took a breeding right from that faith and honestly I think he has shocked everyone. He was a very fast horse and his progeny seem to be good minded and sound, much like him!

FISCAL LITERACY (m, 4, Uncle Mo – City Sister, by Carson City) to be bred to Twirling Candy

Fiscal Literacy is currently in foal to Maxfield, who is just a ten physical. With a first dam that fills an entire page of horses that run and sell great, we bought this mare as a yearling with some significant vetting issues eyeing to keep her as a broodmare.

If there are two sires that have made Machmer Hall, one would be Twirling Candy (the other is Into Mischief), so we booked this big, fancy girl back to Twirling Candy. She has strong hocks like he needs and we love the idea of alternating between proven and unproven stallions in these types of mares. We hope it will turn out for the long run.

HEIDI MARIA (m, 15, Rockport Harbor – Third Street, by Salt Lake) to be bred to Good Magic

Heidi Maria is a stakes winner that we bred and sold as a yearling only to buy her back privately as a broodmare prospect. She is currently in foal to Collected, who just had a lovely first-time starter [Cuvier] of Pletcher's win at Gulfstream Park that we bred, so fingers crossed! She is the dam of Good Magic's Grade II-winning filly Vegas Magic, so it only made sense to book her back to this exciting son of Curlin.

LADY BELLAMY (m, 9, Bellamy Road – Hot Spell, by Salt Lake) to be bred to Aloha West

We bought this mare in foal to Good Magic along with her West Coast colt at foot in 2020. She is currently in foal to Tiz the Law, who I am a HUGE fan of and am taking a punt on him throwing the talent he had by his brilliant sire Constitution.

This mare has a Gift Box yearling (we have 5 yearlings by our homebred stallion) and we have booked her back to GI Breeders' Cup Sprint winner Aloha West. Aloha West is a very pretty, mid-sized horse. He's light on his feet and correct. Lady Bellamy is a massive mare with bone like tree trunks.

I am hearing great reports about her Good Magic colt with Boomer Bloodstock, so hopefully by the time he runs we will have a lovely Aloha West! This is the first mare owned in partnership with some of our best friends who have never had a Thoroughbred. So far she has had great luck!

LAID BACK LADY (m, 11, Hold Me Back – Sheena's Gold, by Fast Gold) to be bred to Early Voting

Laid Back Lady is currently in foal to Twirling Candy. The only reason we own this mare is because I bought her from a client who had to liquidate his entire broodmare band due to a family illness. and we took her over. We did the mating on her first foal who she was in foal to when we acquired her and that Twirling Candy filly, Always At Ease, just became stakes placed in California–just missing the stakes win!

She is booked back to Early Voting, a first-year stallion and the Grade I-winning son of emerging supersire Gun Runner.

LADY FALCON (m, 5, Super Saver – Sluice, by Seeking the Gold) to be bred to Epicenter

We just purchased this mare in November in foal to her second baby by Practical Joke. I am a huge fan of her family. I have drooled over the progeny of her dam, Sluice, and her half-sister, Mushka (Empire Maker), over the years. She's a big, coarse, plain mare with a lot of substance and she has my favorite thing from her female family–that walk!

We booked her to first-year sire Epicenter, a Grade I-winning son of Not this Time. She will have two proven-sire foals ahead, so we like to change it up with a new sire.

LAYREEBELLE (m, 17, Tale of the Cat – Voodoo Lily, by Baldski) to be bred to Jack Christopher

Layreebelle is currently in foal to one of the greatest values of our time in my mind, Candy Ride (Arg). She is the dam of two graded stakes winners and her daughter is also a graded stakes producer. She is a Machmer Hall homebred and was named after my children (Layne- Reece- Isabelle). She has been so good to us since she injured her shoulder in a paddock accident as a yearling.

Her dam, Voodoo Lily, died of old age after being a retired baby sitter on our farm for many years. She was the grandmother of up-and-coming sire Justify. I am hearing great reports of Layreebelle's Into Mischief 2-year-old colt who is down in Ocala after selling at the Saratoga Sale to Bradley Thoroughbreds.

We have exclusively bred this mare to proven sires her entire life and since we have now retained one of her daughters, who is booked to Tapit for her first foal, we decided to take a shot on a first-year stallion with Jack Christopher, who was bought by one of my favorite people in the industry and a great judge, Liz Crow.

Special Me's daughter and future Grade I winner Gina Romantica practicing her conformation pose as a yearling | courtesy Carrie Brogden

LINE OF VISION (m, 8, Court Vision – Gold Lined, by Numerous) to be bred to Bolt d'Oro

Line of Vision is a small-but-mighty stakes winner by Court Vision. We ended up having so many big mares with our Unbridled's Song crew that we added a few of the 15'1 to 15'2 types this year. We got them for good value because they could really run but did not have the height a lot of buyers want.

We bought this mare in foal to Tiz the Law and while that might not be the physical mating I would have chosen, we were very happy with the price and both parents' racetrack accomplishments.

We have booked her back to champion freshman sire Bolt d'Oro, who seems to throw size and stretch no matter what mare he is bred to. His 2-year-olds were impressive at all the sales I attended in 2022 and they came through in their performances. I would certainly think with how they are built that they would stretch out and it also bodes very well for his half-brother Global Campaign, who we were lucky enough to sell as a yearling for WinStar!

MISS SHOP (m, 20, Deputy Minister – Shopping, by Private Account) to be bred to Authentic

Miss Shop was a grand old Grade I-winning, graded stakes-producing girl when we bought her. Her Into Mischief filly we sold last year at Keeneland September was one of my most favorite yearling fillies of the year, so we decided to repeat that breeding. Miss Shop is currently in foal to Into Mischief, but with his stud fee going out of our farm's comfort zone and us still being his biggest fan, we figured to book her back to the next-best thing: his gorgeous, well-priced son Authentic.

I tell you, those Authentic babies I saw at the sales were just beautiful! We have four yearlings by him and I am delighted with every single one. Miss Shop is one of three mares we have booked back to Authentic.

SPECIAL ME (m, 17, Unbridled's Song – Delta Danielle, by Lord Avie)

Special Me is currently in foal to Twirling Candy and is due in March. This little lady is the foundation of Machmer Hall. She has produced Grade I winners Gift Box (Twirling Candy) and Gina Romantica (Into Mischief), plus Grade II winners Special Forces (Candy Ride {Arg}) and Stonetastic (Mizzen Mast). She was our first mare to produce a homebred million-dollar yearling. She has a yearling full-brother to Gina Romantica this year. She is 17 years old now and this is one mating that is TBD. She has proven that she can go to a plethora of sire lines and have success. We figure that we will wait until she foals safely to make the decision for her next mating. It is a big choice!

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

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