Tag: Stonehaven Steadings

Stonehaven Steadings’ Faith Rewarded at Keeneland September

Five years ago, Aidan O'Meara left his position at Hill 'n' Dale Farm, where he served as Stallion Division Manager for 20 years, to join his wife Leah and her family in running Stonehaven Steadings.

The decision was not an easy one. As Leah O'Meara recounts, John Sikura had seen something in Aidan when the native of Ireland was fresh out of college. Over the years, O'Meara worked his way to managing the likes of Curlin, Medaglia d'Oro and Candy Ride. The O'Mearas lived on site at Hill 'n' Dale for years at its former location on North Yarnalton Pike in Lexington and the farm was the first home of the couple's three children.

Now just a few years after O'Meara joined Stonehaven Steadings as the Director of Bloodstock and Client Development, the fruits of his increased presence on the farm are becoming even more apparent as the family-run operation is riding high through an unforgettable Keeneland September Sale.

On the first day of the auction, Stonehaven Steadings sold what will likely be the sale topper in their Quality Road colt out True Feelings (Latent Heat). Their success didn't stop with that $2.5 million achievement. Also in Book 1, they sent an $825,000 filly by Into Mischief and $775,000 Gun Runner colt through the ring. During Book 2, they sold four yearlings including a $900,000 Into Mischief filly and an $800,000 Street Sense filly.

“It's almost like twilight zone kind of stuff right now, to be quite honest,” O'Meara said during Book 2 after returning to the barn from selling a sixth offering for over half a million. “The first year after I moved from Hill 'n' Dale we had a couple of nice ones in Book 1 and we have been able to build off those since then. We came here this year thinking we would have our strongest sale, but this has been incredible.”

“We're so proud of all the horses,” he continued. “You can like them at home when they act like they do there, but to get out here and walk up and down 200, 250 times for people, you quickly find out the mentality of a horse. We're very fortunate that everybody acted so well.”

No yearling in their consignment handled themself better, O'Meara said, than the Quality Road colt that went on to become the highest-selling yearling in North America so far this year.

“He improved with every show and never balked at anything he was asked,” O'Meara explained. “He had almost a two-foot overstep and was just a locomotive with the way he used his shoulder and how he got his hind leg up. I've never seen so many people be so enamored by a horse with the way he moved at the sale. We started getting a little bit excited when we had 25 or 30 vet hits on him from all the right players.”

Last year at the same sale, Stonehaven Steadings celebrated their first million-dollar yearling when this colt's half-brother by Justify sold for $1.55 million to West Point Thoroughbreds and Talla Racing. Now named Nuclear, the juvenile is putting in steady works at Del Mar for John Sadler.

“We were blown out of the water at that stage,” O'Meara recounted. “We pretty much figured we had peaked in life as far as selling yearlings, but his brother at home was always one that we thought in the back of our mind maybe could have the potential to be that kind of quality horse again for the next year.”

Throughout the winter, the Stonehaven Steadings crew hesitated to get overly-excited, knowing the May-foaled colt might not reach the level of his older brother by the time of the auction, but the youngster blossomed as a yearling and was regarded enthusiastically by the Keeneland sales inspection team as the auction grew near.

When it came time for the colt to make his entrance into the sales ring, he was preceded by an air of anticipation. O'Meara turned to his wife to celebrate when the bidding stalled at $1.3 million, then stood dumbfounded as the number continued to grow.

Going to the same connections as his older brother with the addition of Woodford Racing, this colt will also train under John Sadler. As they did with Nuclear, Stonehaven Steadings stayed in for a small piece of the youngster.

“We're very fortunate that West Point has let us stay in on some of these good horses,” O'Meara said. “We had two with them last year and then three with them so far this year, so we're pretty excited to see what the future brings.”

Aidan O'Meara and the $2.5 million colt out of True Feelings | Keeneland

Stonehaven Steadings already has a reputation for breeding champions in its relatively short history. The list includes 2012 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile champion Shanghai Bobby (Harlan's Holiday) and most recently, 'TDN Rising Star' and juvenile champion Corniche (Quality Road).

The farm was founded by Leah's parents Jeff and Chiquita Reddoch. The couple from Louisiana took an interest in the industry when Leah moved to Lexington for college. Starting off with just a handful of $30,000 broodmares, they eventually purchased property off Old Frankfort Pike.

The name Stonehaven Steadings was easy to come by. During their time in the oil field industry, the Reddochs traveled throughout Europe for business. Their favorite village in Scotland was called Stonehaven. There, a farmstead can be referred to as a steading.

Chiquita Reddoch is quick to credit her daughter and son-in-law for their operation's many achievements.

“Leah and Aidan have a really good talent to work together and do this,” she said. “Aidan is such a good horseman. When they first met and he was working at Hill 'n' Dale, I was always amazed at how he could speak about the horses and their races, conformation and pedigrees. Leah has always been interested in it also. They're together every day and they live and breathe the farm. It's not anything I could ever do. We turned this over to Leah and Aidan and now we get to do the things mommas and daddies do behind the scenes.”

While Aidan is on the farm every day, Leah focuses on marketing their business, organizing the sales consignments, and shopping year-round for potential additions to their broodmare band.

Asked what makes the couple such a good team, Leah laughed.

“His patience,” she retorted, but then gave a bigger-picture reply as she explained, “I think it's the reality that everything happens for a reason and it's about having faith when something seems like it might be a terrible thing. That will calm you down right away. There's no point in fretting when you've got faith like that.”

The O'Mearas also credit their longtime farm manager Colby Marks for their recent accomplishments. Marks was the one that picked out their star broodmare True Feelings in 2012. The daughter of Latent Heat ran second in the 2011 GIII Schuylerville S. and is from the family of champion Wait a While (Maria's Mon). Marks picked up the maiden mare for $210,000 at Keeneland November.

Farm manager Colby Marks and True Feelings | photo courtesy Stonehaven Steadings

“I think a lot of broodmares are like these top-class stallions in some ways in that either they have it or they don't,” O'Meara said. “You just try and pick the right kind of sires and match them up pedigree-wise, but you never know what you're going to get. We like to give these younger mares as good an opportunity as we can when we breed them to these better, proven sires. That helps build a mare's resume and you hope that down the line you have one that comes out looking the right way with a couple of half-siblings that are already stakes horses.”

Their $2.5 million colt is a shining example of this game plan. His dam already has three winners on her produce record including Royal Act (American Pharoah), a $500,000 yearling that went on to run second in the 2020 GIII Robert B. Lewis S., as well as stakes winner Feeling Mischief (Into Mischief).

“True Feelings is a really classy mare to mess with, but she's got a little grit to her as well when she wants to,” O'Meara said. “Everything out of her has been a beautiful mover. She has thrown all different kinds of types, but they all have had that class and that big walk to them. We kind of call her our Leslie's Lady now. To get one million-dollar yearling out of any mare is incredible, never mind to get two. It's just crazy.”

It was only a few years ago that Stonehaven Steadings was aiming to sell a few yearlings for $300,000 or maybe $400,000. Now after breeding and raising a $2.5 million yearling, what do they hope to do next?

“I just want to be here,” Leah said with a small shrug and a smile. “I want to live on the farm and have a thriving farm. I want to have staff who are like family that you can lean on and trust. We just want to enjoy it because horses are what we love. If we can do that for the rest of our days, I think we'll be pretty happy people.”

The post Stonehaven Steadings’ Faith Rewarded at Keeneland September appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Into Mischief Colt Tops Another Banner Day at KEESEP

By Christie DeBernardis and Jessica Martini

A $1.4-million son of super sire Into Mischief (Hip 604) led a sextet of seven-figure sellers during the opening session of Book 2 of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale Wednesday. Consigned by Summerfield on behalf of Stonestreet Stables, the colt was purchased by Larry Best of OXO Equine.

With six horses eclipsing the million-dollar mark Wednesday, the sale total now comes to 28. During the equivalent session last year, just two yearlings brought seven figures, including the $1.7-million sale topper.

“It was a great session,” said Tony Lacy, Keeneland's Vice President of Sales. “When you are seeing six million-dollar plus horses in session three, getting us up to 28 for three days, you are bringing it back to 2006, 2007 levels, which is really encouraging. The average and median have ticked up again over last year. Overall, it was a really, solid competitive session. There was diversity in the buyers. It was great to see the money spread.”

Book 2 opened Wednesday with 219 head bringing $66,695,000 with an average of $304,543 and a median of $250,000. There were 77 horses that failed to meet their reserves. During the same session in 2021, 211 horses summoned $60,996,000 with an average of $289,081 and median of $230,000. There were 72 RNAs.

Through the first three days of selling, 439 yearlings have grossed $180,355,000 with an average of $410,831 and median of $325,000. A total of 139 yearlings have been bought back. During the first three days in 2021, 419 youngsters grossed $151,618,000 with an average of $361,857 and median of $290,000. There were 180 horses led out of the ring unsold.

The top 20 yearlings were all purchased by domestic buyers. The powerhouse group led by SF/Starlight/Madaket bought three of the six seven-figure sellers. All three colts–one each by Gun Runner, Quality Road and Into Mischief–were purchased for $1.05 million.

“A lot of domestic buyers participated and we are very grateful to them,” said Cormac Breathnach, Keeneland's Director of Sales. “The current purse structure in racing and their involvement in the sale just speaks volumes. We are very excited about it. We still have international buyers here on the grounds and they aren't finding it as easy as expected to fill orders. The energy from Book 1 continued into Book 2 and we look forward to it continuing into the next nine sessions.”

Gainesway had a great day Wednesday, selling a pair of million-dollar homebreds in Hip 603, a $1.3-million Tapit filly, and Hip 740, the $1.05 million Into Mischief colt. Antony Beck's operation was the session's leading seller by gross receipts, with 27 yearlings bringing $9.78 million with an average of $362,222.

The second of two Book 2 sessions gets underway Thursday at 11 a.m.

Best on Top for Into Mischief Colt

Larry Best found a colt by Into Mischief (hip 604) who checked all the proverbial boxes and the owner outlasted a phone bidder to take the yearling home for a session-topping $1.4 million at Keeneland Wednesday. Out of stakes winner and multiple Grade I-placed Dawn the Destroyer (Speightstown), the bay was consigned by Francis and Barbara Vanlangendonck's Summerfield on behalf of Barbara Banke's Stonestreet. After signing the ticket on the colt in the pavilion, Best rushed off to watch his Fortin Hill (Mucho Macho Man) win an optional claimer at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

“It's always good when the breeder, after you buy him, offers to partner with you on the horse,” Best said after speaking with Banke. “I love Into Mischief. I have all these filters that I use and rarely does a horse meet all the filters when it's a colt. That's why you don't see me buying many colts. My filter is pretty stringent. Believe it or not, this one cleared them all. And I thought, 'why am I not buying the horse when I bought all of these others Into Mischiefs and done well with most of them?' So I waited until I saw him in the ring again and I said, 'If I am going to roll the dice at a big number for a colt, I am going to stick with Into Mischief and this one looks as good as I've seen.”

Best said the odds were against him when he was looking ahead to hip 604 making it as a stallion.

“In racing, it is so hard to win one race,” Best said. “The likelihood of getting a horse that becomes a sire is remote, but this is my shot. I'll give it a shot because I love the bloodlines.

He is magnificent. He looks like Into Mischief, he is just well-balanced and a beautiful horse. But I can't emphasize enough, when you are buying colts, the risk is very high. And you almost have to be willing to lose on colts. With fillies, if you buy good fillies, you can love those horses for 10 years plus. ”

Best's broodmare band is still in its early stages, but he has already enjoyed plenty of success as a seller.

“My first horse that I ever bought was Moi (Medaglia d'Oro),” Best recalled. “I paid $750,000 and I thought I was nuts. She didn't do very well on the racetrack, but her third foal I sold for $570,000 as a weanling and Archie St. George's just sold him for $1.05 million [as hip 344 Tuesday at Keeneland]. I think maybe I'm doing something right.”

Best concluded, “So, do I need luck on this one? I need a whole lot of luck, but he's a beautiful horse.” @JessMartiniTDN

 

 

 

Stonestreet Yearlings Shine Wednesday

Barbara Banke's Stonestreet helped Book 2 get off to a strong start when selling a colt by Curlin (hip 410) for $925,000 to Don and Donna Adam's Courtlandt Farm and the operation came back later in the session to sell a colt by Into Mischief (hip 604) for a $1.4 million to Larry Best.

“We loved him,” Banke said of the Into Mischief session topper, who is the first foal out of the Stonestreet homebred and multiple Grade I-placed Dawn the Destroyer (Speightstown). “He's a great colt out of a great race mare. He was definitely one that I would love to stay in on, but I know Larry doesn't take partners. I may ask him anyway. He is a really good colt.”

Dawn the Destroyer, who finished second in the GI Ballerina S. and third in the GI Breeders' Cup F/M Sprint in 2019, was bred to Curlin this year.

Hip 410 is out of Road to Victory (Quality Road), winner of the 2017 GII Golden Rod S. Stonestreet purchased the mare, in foal to War Front, for $1.45 million at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton November sale.

“I thought he would be very well received,” Banke said of the yearling. “He was a beautiful colt out of a good mare and by Curlin. He should be a very nice two-turn type horse.”

After a quiet Book 1, Stonestreet made its mark on the first session of Book 2, with seven yearlings sold for $3.8 million.

“We are just getting into the thick of it now,” Banke said Wednesday morning. “We sold four at Saratoga and we have six or seven to sell today and a lot more coming up.”

Through three sessions, Courtlandt Farm has purchased 11 yearlings for $8,235,000. The farm's new yearlings include three seven-figure purchases: a filly by Into Mischief (hip 359) for $1.35 million; a colt by Into Mischief (hip 344); and a son of City of Light (hip 73) for $1 million. @JessMartiniTDN

Gun Runner Colt Draws a Crowd

A trio of high-profile owners teamed up to acquire a colt by Gun Runner (hip 694) for $1.15 million late in Wednesday's third session of the Keeneland September sale. Bloodstock agent Justin Casse signed the ticket on the yearling on behalf of John Oxley, Coolmore's M.V. Magnier, and Breeze Easy.

“Everybody loves Gun Runner these days,” Casse said of the Woods Edge Farm-consignee. “They all seem to have very good walks and tremendous movement. He has a very good topline. He was a class act on the end of the shank from day one. He comes from a good nursery–they raise a good horse.”

After watching the strength of the market this week at Keeneland, Casse admitted he was not surprised by the colt's seven-figure price tag.

“If you had asked me three days ago, I probably would have said it wouldn't go that high,” Casse said. “I would have said maybe in the $600,000 range, but the way that things have headed, I have a hard time distinguishing what makes a horse like that bring over $1 million, other than the two right people are on him.”

The chestnut colt is out of multiple stakes winner and multiple graded placed Kathballu (Bluegrass Cat). He was consigned by Peter O'Callaghan's Woods Edge Farm, which purchased him for $185,000 at last year's Keeneland November sale.

“He was vetted nearly 20 times,” O'Callaghan said of the yearling's popularity at the barn. “I would say all the big money was on him. It seemed like they all followed him up here. He was just a lovely, lovely colt, very much in the mold of his sire. He was very straightforward. He was a very nice colt when we bought him and did fabulous. Wonderful temperament. Very solid.”

O'Callaghan admitted he was a big fan of exciting young stallion Gun Runner.

“All these Gun Runners are easy to train,” he said. “They take the hardships. We've never had a stallion like this guy. We've had some great sires–Tapit, Into Mischief, Uncle Mo–but Gun Runner is a little bit extra. It's incredible.”

The million-dollar transacation continued a big day for both Woods Edge's pinhooks and homebreds.

On the pinhooking front, Woods Edge sold a filly by Flatter (hip 403) for $425,000. The filly had been purchased for $190,000 from the Pin Oak Stud dispersal held at Fasig-Tipton last September. Also Wednesday, Woods Edge sold a yearling full-sister to GISW Consumer Spending (More Than Ready) (hip 434) for $650,000 to Mike Ryan. The operation had purchased the filly for $240,000 at the Keeneland November sale last fall; and a Twirling Candy colt (hip 739), acquired for $175,000 at Keeneland November, for $400,000 to M.V. Magnier.

Hip 621, a Twirling Candy filly bred by Woods Edge, sold for $925,000 to Rigney Racing, and hip 520, a homebred son of City of Light, sold for $400,000 to CRK Stable.

Woods Edge sold 11 horses Wednesday for $5,205,000.

“The market is great, but it's the same story,” O'Callaghan said. “You have to be good. It has to be the right sire and it has to vet. If you want to break out, you have to be squeaky clean.”   @JessMartiniTDN

 

 

 

Pope Returns to the Well For Tapit Filly

Mandy Pope went to $1.3 million to secure MSW & GSP Danzatrice (Dunkirk)'s Tapit colt at this auction last year and she returned to the well Wednesday, buying his full-sister (Hip 603) for $1.1 million. Trainer Chad Brown, acting on behalf of client Peter Brant, was the underbidder.

“We bought the brother [Tapit Trice] last year,” Pope said. “We have him in training. Gainesway stayed in for a little part of him. He is with Todd Pletcher right now and we have high hopes for him. We are going to make a nice family here.”

As for the filly, the Whisper Hill Farm owner said, “I thought she had a nice hip, a nice heart girth and moved really well.”

Danzatrice is a half-sister to champion juvenile filly Jaywalk (Cross Traffic). Gainesway bought the mare for $105,000 as a 2-year-old at the OBS April sale. Her first foal, a now gelding named General Strike (Union Rags), sold for $250,000 at this auction and Tapit Trice was her second foal.

“It was Antony [Beck]'s strategy” said Gainesway's Brian Graves. “He had several Tapit fillies and he wanted to split them up a little bit. I really wouldn't have been able to pick between them honestly. They both had things to like about them. I preferred this one a little bit and the price showed it at the end of the day, but they were pretty close.”

—@CDeBernardisTDN

 

 

 

SF/Starlight/Madaket Strike Early

The powerhouse colt partnership led by SF Bloodstock, Starlight and Madaket Stables made their presence felt early in Wednesday's Book 2 opener, going to $1.05 million for a colt by young sire standout Gun Runner (Hip 383). The bay was consigned by Pope McLean's Crestwood Farm on behalf of breeder Ann Fostock.

“He is a beautiful horse raised by really wonderful people,” said SF's Tom Ryan. “Gun Runner is a sensation. There is no other way to describe him. He has five Grade I winners from his first 120 runners. It is an amazing feat. Bob loved this horse. Donato loved this horse. John Moynihan is part of this horse. Everybody that saw him [liked him]. It was a consensus vote. We are happy to land him.”

Out of Perfect Flute (Pleasantly Perfect), Hip 383 hails from a deep Juddmonte family. His second dam is MGISW and Kentucky Oaks-winning millionaire Flute (Seattle Slew), who is the dam of MGSW & MGISP Filimbi (Mizzen Mast). This is also the female family of GISW Weep No More (Mineshaft) and GSW Current (Curlin).

“He was a special horse,” said Crestwood's Marc McLean. “He's a horse we thought could break through and it happened. It was a nice surprise. He was bred by a client, he was foaled and raised at our farm. He has always been a standout. He has such good scope and size and that's what made him special. We got lucky and got him in the right spot. We were pretty busy this morning; buyers kept coming back, which is a good thing. He was early in the session, which made us nervous, but I believe everybody had done their homework. Hopefully he was one of the standouts on the day, but you don't know until you get here.”

The SF/Starlight/Madaket team sparked fireworks late in the session, securing a son of Into Mischief (Hip 740) for the same $1.05 million.

“We love Into Mischief. We've bought seven of them now [at KEESEP],” Ryan said. “How could you not love Into Mischief? He is out of a very good racemare and is by a very good sire. He is a horse Bob Baffert loved immediately, so we are happy to own him.”

Consigned and bred by Gainesway, Hip 740 is out of GSW & MGISP More Chocolate (Malibu Moon).

“This is where I thought the horse belonged,” said Gainesway's Brian Graves. “The mare is getting a bit middle-aged. I am especially proud of that one. Antony [Beck] let me do that mating during the Covid times. We thought he was a really nice colt physically.”

In between those colts, the partnership once again paid $1.05 million for a Quality Road colt (Hip 574) who is a full-brother to the stakes-winning Stillwater Cove.

The SF/Starlight/Madaket team, guided by bloodstock agent Donato Lanni, have purchased a total of 14 yearling colts for a sale-best $9.88 million through the first three days of bidding. —@CDeBernardisTDN

 

 

 

Million-Dollar Score for Hancock

Rowland Hancock, who has been breeding Thoroughbreds for over four decades, had his first seven-figure sale when Tom Ryan signed the ticket at $1.05 million on a colt by Quality Road (hip 574) on behalf of the SF/Starlight/Madaket partnership. The dark bay colt is out of Celibataire (Broken Vow), a full-sister to graded winner Interactif and dam of stakes winner Stillwater Cove (Quality Road). Hancock purchased the mare, in foal to Union Rags, for $180,000 at the 2018 Keeneland January sale.

“I had seen her yearling the year before and I fell in love with the yearling,” Hancock said of the mare's appeal. “Anybody that could produce something that beautiful, I wanted to own.”

Of his first million-dollar yearling, who was consigned by Crestwood Farm, Hancock said, “This colt was something. He is one of the most balanced, classy horses I've ever seen. I've bred some fairly good horses, but he was just special. You always read about these classy horses who want to walk and never get mad, keep their demeanor. He exemplified that. He loved to walk. He loved to get out.”

Celibataire's first foal for Hancock was a $100,000 Keeneland September yearling in 2019. He retained the mare's Gun Runner filly, Cause Celebre, who ran at Kentucky Downs just after her half-brother lit up the board at Keeneland. Celibataire's 2-year-old daughter of Justify sold for $215,000 at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton November sale. The mare was bred to Mendelssohn this year.

Hancock has eight mares in his broodmare band.

“I've been doing this for 47 years,” he said of his breeding operation. “This is the culmination of doing it for a long time.”

Hip 383 was the second seven-figure purchase of Wednesday's session for the SF/Starlight/Madaket partnership, which struck early in the day to acquire a Gun Runner colt, also consigned by the McLean family's Crestwood Farm, for $1.05 million.

“We love Quality Road, he's a great, proven stallion,” Ryan said of the purchase. “It's a very nice family. He's a half to a stakes-winning filly. He's a very straightforward colt.”

Of the colt's final price tag, Ryan said, “The market is very strong, it's carried through from Book 1 to Book 2 very nicely. But he's a big, strong Quality Road colt who was well-raised and with a proper pedigree. It's not that surprising.”

Enjoying the dual $1.05-million sales, Marc McLean said, “It's been a great day; unbelievable really.”

He added of the Quality Road colt, “He was not a huge colt, but just a beautiful mover. We wouldn't dream he would go that high. It was a good job by the sales team. Both of these were for clients and were raised and foaled at our farm. It is rewarding.” @JessMartiniTDN

 

 

 

Into Mischief Filly A Fitting Tribute to Late Dam

Stakes winner Steelin' (Orientate) was very good to the team at Jeff and Chiquita Reddoch's Stonehaven Steadings during her 14-year tenure with them, producing a champion in her very first foal Shanghai Bobby (Harlan's Holiday). Sadly, the Reddoch family lost Steelin' last year, but her final foal, a filly by Into Mischief (Hip 459), paid fitting tribute to her late dam Wednesday, bringing $900,000 from WinStar's Maverick Racing and Siena Farm.

“We loved her physique,” said WinStar's Elliott Walden. “She is a really strong filly. The pedigree works with Shanghai Bobby and another daughter has already had a graded stakes winner, both are by Harlan's Holiday. She is something we can put in the broodmare band as well.”

The Reddochs' daughter Leah O'Meara was first to congratulate Walden after he signed the ticket with her parents and husband Aidan O'Meara not far behind her.

“This is her last foal,” Leah O'Meara said. “We lost the mare before we weaned her. This was kind of her swan song. We didn't really want to bring her to the sale, but we have every other filly out of the mare. We still have the family and have sold well out of the family. This was a beautiful result.”

Stonehaven Steadings purchased Steelin', who was coincidentally bred by WinStar, for $155,000 at the 2009 KEENOV sale. The resulting colt sold for just $105,000 at KEESEP, but became champion and sire Shanghai Bobby. They have not offered many of Steelin's foals at auction, but her 2015 Tapit colt brought $500,000 from Winchell Thoroughbreds at this auction. The Reddochs sent Steelin' through the ring in 2015 at the Fasig-Tipton November Sale in foal to Medaglia d'Oro, but RNA'd her for $1.775 million. Her daughter Miz Kella (Harlan's Holiday) is the dam of MGSW Canoodling (Pioneerof the Nile).

Stonehaven Steadings has been having a strong Keeneland September Sale thus far, selling seven yearlings for $6.975 million with an average of $996,429, including the current sale topper, a $2.5-million colt by Quality Road (Hip 97). The nursery also produced recently retired champion and OBS April sale topper 'TDN Rising Star' Corniche (Quality Road).

“It's been unbelievable,” O'Meara said. “This is the perfect storm. This is the best crop we have ever brought to a sale and to be this well received in a market so strong is just unreal. There are no words. I am thankful. Everyone will benefit. It will trickle down to everybody.” —@CDeBernardisTDN

Coolmore & Breeze Easy Team Up on Gun Runner Colt

Coolmore's M.V. Magnier teamed up with Mike Hall of Breeze Easy to acquire a son of the red-hot Gun Runner (Hip 640) for $825,000 Wednesday.

“Gun Runner is obviously doing very well as a stallion,” said Magnier. “Three Chimneys is a very good breeder and all the guys really liked the horse. Hopefully he is good.”

He added, “We are partnering with Breeze Easy. They are very nice people and we enjoy doing business with them.”

Consigned by Taylor Made Sales, Hip 640 was bred by the Torrealba family's Three Chimneys Farm, which stands Gun Runner. The operation purchased the colt's GSP dam Flatter Up (Flatter) for $300,000 at the 2018 Keeneland November Sale in foal to the late Arrogate. She hails from the family of MGISW and stallion Midnight Storm (Pioneerof the Nile).  —@CDeBernardisTDN

 

 

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$2.5-Million Quality Road Colt Leads Seven-Figure Bonanza at Keeneland September Opener

by Jessica Martini, Christie DeBernardis & Christina Bossinakis

LEXINGTON, KY – The Keeneland September Yearling Sale, which began shortly after 1 p.m. Monday afternoon, jumped immediately into high gear and, by the time the dust had settled at the conclusion of a frenetic session of bidding, nine yearlings, led by a $2.5-million son of Quality Road, topped the seven-figure mark. During last year's first session, three horses sold for seven figures and the entire sale produced 15 horses to pass that mark.

“It was a great day, from beginning to end,” said Keeneland President Shannon Arvin. “And to see as many people in the sales pavilion as we did, the packed house, all of those people in the seats, was really exciting. I think it's a testament to the excitement about racing and our sport, in the state of Kentucky, in particular, and we had a lot of principals here. Which was what we want. We want the principals to be back and enjoying this tremendous sport and looking to find their next champions. The atmosphere was fun, the energy was high. It's been that way for the last three days, so to see it culminate with the prices and results we saw today, is really exciting.”

A total of 114 horses sold Monday for a gross of $57,095,000. The average of $500,833 was up 25.46% from last year's opening session and the median rose 38.46% to $450,000.

“Just looking at the raw numbers, these are figures we haven't seen in recent years,” said Keeneland Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy. “With nine million-dollar horses in the first session, I think that's the first time since 2007. The first hip through the ring brought $850,000. Hip 8 brought $1.2 million. The energy that was building–that was something we were leaning into–but it was the focus that we worked on with the breeders and the consignors that we needed the best physicals. We were recruiting buyers to come to the sale and now, with the elimination of travel restrictions, people were more encouraged to come back. The enthusiasm for racing at the moment has us in a little bit of a golden era and I think we've got to learn how to not take anything for granted and find how we can develop and work forward on this. Because I think we've got a group of young stallions and a lot of breeders who are producing a really high-quality product.”

The session-topping son of Quality Road was bred and consigned by Chiquita and Jeff Reddoch's Stonehaven Steadings and purchased by Talla Racing, Woodford Racing and West Point Thoroughbreds, the same trio which teamed up to purchase last year's $1.7-million sale topper by City of Light.

Winchell Thoroughbreds and Three Chimneys Farm partnered on the day's second and third highest-priced offerings, leading another strong domestic buying bench.

The partnership of Mike Repole's Repole Stable's and Vinnie Viola's St. Elias Stables, last year's leading buyers, were active through the session, ultimately purchasing five yearlings for a total of $2.9 million. Repole, who spent much of the session sitting in the pavilion among a group that included trainer Todd Pletcher and bloodstock agent Jacob West, purchased an additional seven yearlings under his own name. The SF/Starlight/Madaket partnership purchased three yearlings for $1.885 million.

Shadwell Farm, perennially one of the leading buyers at the sale under Sheikh Hamdan, who died in March of 2021, returned to the results sheets after a year's absence. Now under the leadership of the late sheikh's daughter Sheikha Hissa, Shadwell purchased a filly by Constitution for $750,000 and a daughter of Medaglia d'Oro for $700,000.

The Keeneland September sale continues with a second Book 1 session beginning at 1 p.m. Tuesday. Book 2 sessions Wednesday and Thursday commence at 11 a.m. Following a dark day Friday, the auction continues through Sept. 24 with sessions beginning daily at 10 a.m.

Quality Road Colt Brings $2.5M at KEESEP

In the moments leading up to the arrival of Hip 97 in Keeneland's ring, a wave of anticipation rippled through the crowd. When the dust had settled, the May 5 son of Quality Road realized the highest price of the afternoon when landing a $2.5-million final bid from the partnership of West Point Thoroughbreds, Talla Racing and Woodford Racing. The bay was consigned by his breeder Stonehaven Steadings, who also stayed in for a piece of the colt.

“He was just a great physical,” said West Point's Terry Finley. “When you see a physical like that you have to stretch a little bit. A lot of good buyers are well prepared and they have a lot of capital behind them. They are the type of people that usually get what they want. And when you get a number of people who usually get what they want lining up, you have to pay the price.”

Out of GSP True Feelings (Latent Heat), the colt is a half-brother to stakes winner Feeling Mischief (Into Mischief) and GSP Royal Act (American Pharoah), a $500,000 KEESEP purchase.

Already familiar with the family, West Point and Talla Racing partnered to secure this colt's half-brother by Justify for $1.55 million at this venue last year. According to Finley, yesterday's purchase will go to California-based John Sadler.

Explaining the additional allure in the colt, Finley added, “Quality Road generally produces big, pretty horses and those are the ones that usually perform well on the track. I think this horse is the same type of horse and we hope to get to Saturday afternoon with him.”

True Feelings, a $150,000 KEESEP yearling purchase, returned to Keeneland in November of 2012 to sell for $210,000 to Stonehaven Steadings. This represents the family of turf champion mare Wait a While (Maria's Mon).

“We knew he was a special type physically, but when he started to develop as an early yearling, he really developed that walk that he has and that really sold him out there,” added Stonehaven Steadings' Aidan O'Meara. “He really held his own as a Book 1 yearling as a May baby which is very unusual. He had a very forward physique.”

He continued, “Everyone loved him when he came out and stood up there. I have never seen a better moving horse. Certainly nothing that we have ever had. He was coming along all through the summer. When the Keeneland crew came out to see him, they were very enamored with him. He was still raw and immature at that stage, but the ingredients were there for him to be something special.”

“We had nearly 250 shows with him. And he still came up here and bombed around like a boss. The most exciting thing about him he's still such an unfinished specimen. Who knows what the potential might be with him going forward.”–@CBossTDN

More 'Quality' for Stonehaven Steadings

With Monday's session topping Quality Road colt, Stonehaven Steadings returned to the spring that served them so well in the past. Along with all the other sellers, the operation faced challenges selling their stock during the COVID-impacted season in 2020. Offering up another son of Lane's End stallion out of Wasted Tears (Najran), a colt who would subsequently be named Corniche, RNA'd for $385,000 at Keeneland that September.

“He was our top yearling that year,” recalled O'Meara of Corniche. “[Hip 97 and Corniche] were very similar as yearlings, both beautiful physiques. But [Corniche] had the misfortune of being drawn as Hip 10 during COVID and that really hurt him.”

Returning to fight another day, the O'Mearas bought out their partner in the colt, Bart Evans, and the de Meric family entered the fray, securing a 30% interest. Consigned under the de Meric banner at the following season's OBS April sale, Corniche brought $1.5 million from Speedway Stable.

Sent to Bob Baffert, Corniche won his Del Mar debut with ease, becoming a 'TDN Rising Star' in the process, before adding the GI American Pharoah S. and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile en route to 2-year-old Eclipse Award honors. Unplaced in one start this season, Corniche was retired to stand at Ashford Stud in 2023.

Stonehaven Steadings also sold a colt by Gun Runner–Hip 82— for $775,000 to the same partnership that purchased Monday's session topper.--@CBossTDN

Three Chimneys Buys Out Partnership on Curlin Colt

Three Chimneys Farm wasn't ready to part with their Curlin colt (Hip 169) bred in partnership with Hill 'n' Dale, so they went to $1.7 million to buy out John Sikura's operation Monday in partnership with Ron Winchell.

“He is a really lovely colt out of a great mare, who was sold to Japan,” Three Chimneys' Doug Cauthen said. “Having seen him grow up, he really continued to improve. Everybody liked him and Mr. [Goncalo] Torrealba and his family wanted to have something out of that mare. Hopefully he will go on and do good things.”

He continued, “He is a really athletic, medium-sized horse, who moved wonderfully. He was only on the improve. Everybody that looked at the horse was very positive about him, which makes you feel good. He vetted well. Hats off to the partnership. This was one of the last two horses in the group.”

Three Chimneys purchased Hip 169's dam Carina Mia (Malibu Moon) for $410,000 at the 2014 KEESEP sale. She won a trio of graded events, topped by the GI Acorn S., and earned over $1.4 million. Hill 'n' Dale later bought into the mare and they sold her for $2.6 million in foal to Uncle Mo at last year's Fasig-Tipton November Sale. Three Chimneys also bought out Hill 'n' Dale on Carina Mia's 2-year-old filly Princesse Lele (Quality Road), going to $750,000 at this year's KEEJAN sale. —@CDeBernardisTDN

Winchell & Three Chimneys Support Gun Runner

Winchell Thoroughbreds and Three Chimneys joined forces to purchase a daughter of their Horse of the Year Gun Runner (Hip 87) for $1.5 million. The bay was bred by the Gun Runner syndicate in partnership with the Phillips family, who consigned her under their Darby Dan Farm banner.

“Obviously we like to support Gun Runner,” said Ron Winchell. “We are partnering with Three Chimneys to support our stallion. We are always happy to buy a nice filly out of a Tapit mare.”

The filly's pedigree features Winchell runners from top to bottom being by their dual Eclipse winner Gun Runner out of a daughter of their Grade I winner and top stallion Tapit. Winchell has enjoyed success with the Gun Runner/Tapit cross already thanks to MGSW Wicked Halo, who captured the Sept. 2 GII Prioress S. at Saratoga. The cross has also produced GIII Charles Town Oaks winner Society.

“The price and the physical kind of match,” Winchell said. “When they look that good, they bring a lot of money. This cross has worked a couple of times. We are hoping to go back to that well.”

Hip 87 is the first foal out of Phillips's Tip At Tapit, who is a full-sister to GISW Time and Motion. Their dam is SW & MGSP Ellie's Moment (Kris S.) and she also produced SW & GSP Awesome Bet (Awesome Again).

“She's a lovely filly with beautiful stretch and scope,” said Darby Dan's Renee Logan. “She is from a marvelous, classic Darby Dan family.” —@CDeBernardisTDN

Fletcher Gets Into More Mischief

Frank Fletcher has enjoyed a good bit of success with a daughter of Into Mischief in his homebred MGSW Frank's Rockette. He returned to that well Monday with agent Donato Lanni going to $1.25 million to secure Hip 52 on his behalf.

“Frank is a longtime friend and client,” said Lanni, who did his bidding alongside the filly's future trainer Bob Baffert. “He is very unique. He is great for the business. He has had some luck with Into Mischief and he liked the filly a lot. He said buy me one filly, so I wanted to make sure she was the right filly.”

Breeder Stoneway Farm acquired Hip 52's dam Song of Spring (Spring At Last) for $80,000 as a yearling at the 2015 FTKOCT sale. She won four of her 16 races, including Keeneland's GIII Allaire du Pont Distaff S., and this is her first foal. Hip 52 hails from the female family of MGISW Dream Rush, dam of GISW Dreaming of Julia, who in turn produced MGISW Malathaat (Curlin).

“When she arrived on the grounds, we saw how good she was,” said consignor Pat Costello of Paramount Sales. “She is very athletic and the first foal out of a Grade II winner. She is just beautiful.” —@CDeBernardisTDN

Half to Triple Crown Hero Justify to Japan

Horse of the Year Justify (Scat Daddy) might have wowed American fans during his Triple Crown winning season, however, it was Japanese agent Hideyuki Mori that stepped in to secure his half-brother by Curlin for $1.2 million Monday afternoon at Keeneland. Just like his older brother, Hip 60 was bred John Gunther's Glennwood Farm, who also consigned the May 19 foal.

“I really liked the way he moved. Physically, he really looks like a standout,” said Mori. “I look at the horse first, and if the page fits, that's nice.”

The eighth recorded offspring of GSP Stage Magic, the chestnut is also a half-sibling to late GIII All American S. scorer The Lieutenant (Street Sense).

“I thought he was a fantastic colt,” enthused Gunther. “He was a late May colt, so he had a lot more developing to do [as compared to March foal Justify]. I think if he was a bigger colt, he would have brought a lot more money.”

“I think this colt will be about 16.2 [hands] by the time he finishes growing. He's very intelligent and easy to be around. When you see him running in the field, you can say to yourself, 'There is a runner.'”

When asked about the hammer price, Gunther admitted, “I was hoping he'd stay in America, of course, but the Japanese bought him. It breaks my heart not to see him race here. But you had to be satisfied with the amount you got.”

He continued, “I hated to sell him. I tried to stay in on him. I spoke to some others who had some interest in him so I could stay in for half, but I guess they thought the price was too high. I think that was mainly because he is a late foal. I think he is going to be awesome looking in three to four months from now.”

Also a graduate of the Keeneland September sale, Justify realized a $500,000 final bid at that venue in 2016. Sent to Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, the WinStar, China Horse Club and SF Racing representative blew the doors off with a 'TDN Rising Star'-earning performance at Santa Anita in February of 2018 before repeating the performance at that venue the following month. Favored in the Run for the Roses, he went on to add the GI Preakness and GI Belmont S., in what would be his final race.

According to Gunther yesterday, he expects the colt late foal to develop into a similar physical of his illustrious brother.

“Justify was unbelievable,” he said. “I can't say enough about him. Justify and [GI Breeders' Cup Classic hero] Vino Rosso were probably the best two yearlings we ever sold, looks wise. He would match those two in about 3-4 months.”

He concluded, “This is a racehorse. He's got the attitude, such a great walker and an easy mover. He's going to be a racehorse.”–@CBossTDN

Mandy Pope Quick to Reinvest

Mandy Pope of Whisper Hill Farm, who sold a Quality Road filly for $1.2 million early in Monday's first session of the Keeneland September sale, was quick to reinvest that money when purchasing a filly by Into Mischief (hip 117) for $1.15 million. The filly was the second seven-figure sale of the day for John Gunther's Glennwood Farm consignment, which sold a half-brother to Triple Crown winner Justify for $1.2 million earlier in the day.

Bred by Gunther and Eurowest Bloodstock Services, hip 117 is out of the unraced Wildwood Rose (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). The mare is a half-sister to Grade I winner Materiality (Afleet Alex) and to graded winner and multiple Grade I-placed My Miss Sophia (Unbridled's Song), dam of graded winner Annapolis (War Front).

“She's a lovely filly,” Pope said of the yearling. “She's well put together. And we like Galileo mares.”

Wildwood Rose's first foal, Bo Derek (Speightstown), sold to Maverick Racing and Siena Farm for $900,000 at last year's Keeneland September sale.

“The sister is training well, so hopefully we will be following her up and build the pedigree for them,” Pope said.  @JessMartiniTDN

Well-Bred Quality Road Filly First to Seven Figures

It didn't take long for sparks to fly during Keeneland September's opening session Monday. Hip 8, a regally bred daughter of Quality Road, was the first to hit the seven-figure mark, summoning $1.2 million from Claiborne's Bernie Sams, who was acting on behalf of an undisclosed client.

“I bought her for a farm client,” Sams said. “We tried to buy a couple fillies up in Saratoga and didn't have any luck. She was on the top of his list today. It is a good pedigree and good family that is tough to get into. We have a couple branches of the family at Claiborne now. It is exciting. Hopefully she can run.”

As for the price, he said, “It is not surprising. She is a nice filly with that pedigree. When Mr. Leon had that dispersal with some of that family, it all was expensive. We had planned on it being pricey.”

Consigned by Gainesway, Hip 8 is out of Princesa Silvia (Medaglia d'Oro), who was purchased by breeder Mandy Pope's Whisper Hill Farm for $1.4 million at the 2016 KEENOV sale. The 9-year-old mare is a half-sister to Horse of the Year Saint Liam (Saint Ballado), GISW Funtastic (More Than Ready), GSW Congressionalhonor (Forestry) and GSW Quiet Giant (Giant's Causeway), dam of Horse of the Year Gun Runner (Candy Ride {Arg}).

“We appraised her high coming into the sale,” said Gainesway's Brian Graves. “She was the full package, coming from Gun Runner's family. It is a good time to sell horses.”–@CDeBernardisTDN

Lukas Fires Late in KEESEP Opener

Just when it appeared that the opening day's activity was winding down at the Keeneland September Sale, Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas–flanked by BC Stables' John Bellinger and Brian Coelho–fired their best shot of the day, landing Hip 176 for $1.15 million.

Bred by WinStar Farm, the Apr. 27 foal is out of SP Checkupfromzneckup, the dam of Grade III winner Carribean Caper (Speighstown). This is the family of the prolific mare Weekend Surprise, dam of Horse of the Year A.P. Indy.

“He had a great physique, a real positive eye to him, he seemed like he was really alert,” explained co-owner Brian Coelho. “We liked the pedigree on him and he was one of our top picks of today.”

Lukas said, “I liked the balance and size. He had enough pedigree to make something of him.”

With a smile, he added, “He is the kind of horse that can give us a chance to go two turns the first Saturday in May. Those are the ones we are trying to buy.”

When asked if they expected to have to extend so far to secure the colt, Coelho said, “We didn't think we would have to. But the sale is really strong. We've been trying for a few horses today, so we were happy we could get him.”

Lukas, who enjoyed a successful Saratoga meet with seven wins and six seconds from 31 starts while finishing 12th overall in the trainer's standings, echoed the sentiment.

“The sale is hot,” he affirmed. “Maybe a little less at the very top, but in the middle is very, very strong. We went after four or five nice horses, and couldn't get them. It was very competitive.”

With Lukas doing the bidding, BC Stables also went to $800,000 to secure Hip 80, a filly by Quality Road, for $800,000 Monday.

The fledgling operation was recently buoyed by 'TDN Rising Star' Summer Promise (Uncle Mo), who subsequently finished runner-up in the GIII Schulerville S. at Saratoga in July.

Currently, the stable has five juveniles with Lukas, and they added a trio of horses from the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling sale last month.

“Wayne has been just a joy,” said Coelho. “We have learned a lot with him and just being able to be in his company.”

Duncan Taylor, who sold the colt on behalf of WinStar, was equally high on the yearling's chances to be a Classic colt.

“He was a big, stretchy horse with a great neck and a good shoulder,” he said. “And like a lot of Quality Roads, he has a really beautiful head. He looked like a really smart horse.”

“That's the kind of horse that is hard for [WinStar] to sell because he looks like a Derby winner. But they do put good horses in the sale and the results show it.”

In the moments following the sale of the colt, Taylor and Lukas were clearly drawing upon a relationship decades in the making.

“Wayne has been a dear friend,” he explained. “When Mike Shannon and I started Taylor Made, Wayne sent us some of our first mares and he's been a customer for a long, long time and bought a lot of good horses from us. We are very blessed to have customers, on both sides of the equation, that send us horses like that. It makes our jobs easy.”

As the interview was winding down, Taylor was quick to tip his cap to another Hall of Famer who has also been among those long list of Taylor made clients over the years and had strolled to within earshot.

“The only guy that didn't bid on him was Bob [Baffert],” he said, laughing. “And now he's going to have to outrun Wayne.”-@CbossTDN

Courtlandt Farm Strikes for City of Light Colt

Don Adam of Courtlandt Farm, sitting alongside Mike Cline and racing manager Ernie Retamoza, got into the fray at Keeneland Monday when purchasing a colt by City of Light for $1 million. The team was already familiar with the family when hip 73 strode into the ring Monday, having purchased the colt's half-sister Soul Play (Union Rags) for $200,000 at last year's Keeneland September sale.

“We bought the half-sister last year and we really like her, but we've just had to be patient with her,” Retamoza said. “But this colt is just quality–that's why we had to pay what we did for him. But we liked the sister a lot and that kind of prompted us to maybe move on him a little bit. And then the individual he was made it easy for us to go for him.”

Bred by the partnership of Betz, B&K Canetti, J.Betz, CoCo Equine and D.J. Stables, the million-dollar yearling is out of multiple stakes winner Tea Time (Pulpit) and was consigned by Bill Betz's Betz Thoroughbreds, which purchased the mare for $250,000 at the 2019 Keeneland November sale.

“We liked everything about him,” Retamoza said of the yearling. “He's balanced, he's strong. He had a great walk and a great mind. We looked at him three or four times and each day, he held up mentally. Physically, he never backed up. He just seems like a real quality horse.”

Of the seven-figure price tag, Retamoza said, “We weren't really wanting to spend that, but you know, it's pretty tough in there. We had probably 11 on our list, and got beat up a little bit so far and one scratched. So we will see how we finish up today. There are another three or four left for us.”

Courtlandt Farm returned later in the session to obtain a filly by Into Mischief (hip 150) for $825,000.

Don Adam's operation had a pair of juvenile maiden winners on closing weekend at Saratoga, with General Jim (Into Mischief) and Powerful (Nyquist) both graduating on the final Saturday of the Spa meeting. The colts were both part of a 12-yearling buying spree by the operation at last year's Keeneland September sale.

“We are trying to get horses to race at the highest level,” Retamoza said. “We had a couple of nice colts win closing weekend at Saratoga and it looks like they are both going to have some futures. And we have some 2-year-olds to watch that we just had to be patient with that will be coming around in the fall. We feel like we have a good stable right now and we're just trying to keep going in that direction.”

As for Soul Play, Retamoza said, “She is back in training and she will probably head back to the track when Churchill is over and everyone heads to Fair Grounds or Gulfstream. We will figure it out from there.” @JessMartiniTDN

Royal Ascot Dreams for Justify Filly

A filly by Triple Crown winner Justify (hip 28) was purchased for $925,000 by My Racehorse and trainer Wesley Ward with hopes of heading to the Royal Ascot meeting next summer. Consigned by Antony Beck's Gainesway, the yearling is out of San Saria (Ire) (Australia), a daughter of multiple group-placed San Sicharia (Daggers Drawn).

“She's a beautiful filly,” Ward said after signing the ticket on the yearling. “[Bloodstock agent] Ben McElroy brought me over to see his short list and she was certainly right there at the top of the list. We are really excited about her, especially to go over to Royal Ascot. She seems to have all the physical attributes, as well as the pedigree. MyRacehorse came in with the filly and we will get a group together shortly to see who is going to take what of the other part.”

Ward has become a fixture at the Royal Ascot meeting since scoring his first win at the meet in 2009.

“If you haven't been, then you should go. That will answer the question,” Ward said when asked about the meet's appeal. “It is a phenomenal place. It feels like you are back in the 1800s when you can only imagine how racing was where everybody is dressed to the nines and they have the best horses, jockeys and owners from all over the world. I would encourage everyone to go and everyone to go with one of their top racehorses so they can really experience it.”

Hip 28 was purchased by Brian Graves as part of his Fish Stables pinhooking partnership for $300,000 earlier this year at the Keeneland January sale, before Justify's hot start at stud.

“I got lucky on that part,” Graves said of the sire's early success. “The truth of the matter is, she walked out and she stood up so pretty. She had all the perfect angles, she had an ass that was this wide. She looked like a 2-year-old and I just thought she was stunning. The Justify part came later. I probably would have been in trouble if he hadn't jumped up because I gave a lot for her. We are thrilled with that result. The sale has started off crazy good and it figures to be strong.” @JessMartiniTDN

Ryan Digging For Gold at KEESEP

A regular on the Keeneland sale's scene, agent Mike Ryan swung into action early Monday, extending to $825,000 for a filly by Medaglia d'Oro. Offered as Hip 25 by Denali Stud, the bay is out of Sacristy (Pulpit), winner of the GIII Old Hat S.

“She was magnificent,” affirmed Ryan. “She wasn't inexpensive but she's by a superior sire and there was a lot of pedigree on the bottom. I knew she was going to be expensive, but I think it will be that way with anything of quality. But I thought she was an exceptional filly with a lot of quality. She had a nice size, great attitude and demeanor. Hopefully, she can go on and prove us right.”

Purchased by Don Alberto Corp. while in foal to Medaglia d'Oro for $700,000 at Keeneland November in 2013, Sacristy is already responsible for SW and GISP Flor De La Mar (Tiznow), a $500,000 buy at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling sale for Godolphin. A half to Japanese Group 1 winner Mozu Superflare (Speightstown), Sacristy also produced Grade III placed Catiche (Arrogate).

“She gave me a great feel,” Ryan said. “We stretched a bit more than we thought we'd have to go, but for the good ones that you really want, it's the same old story.”

Of the Darley stallion filly, he added, “She was pretty typical [of the sire]. Maybe a little bit neater. Some of them can be very tall, we bought New Money Honey here, who was a big, scopey filly. But this one is pretty typical. She has a lot of quality and is a very sweet filly.”

Offering an early assessment of the stock he's seen so far in the first two books, Ryan said, “There is definitely a higher concentration of good horses in Book 1. There are a lot of good horses in Book 2 as well, but they have a nice group to start off.”-@CBossTDN

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Quality Road Colt Shoots to Head of the Class

A son of Quality Road (Hip 97) quickly shot to the head of the class at Keeneland September Monday when bringing $2.5 million from West Point, Woodford Racing and Talla Racing. He was bred and consigned by Stonehaven Steadings, which also sold champion Corniche (Quality Road). Hip 97 is out of GSP True Feelings (Latent Heat), who is also the dam of SW Feeling Mischief (Into Mischief) and GSP Royal Act (American Pharoah).

 

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