Mating Plans, presented by Spendthrift: Hinkle Farms

The TDN's popular annual series 'Mating Plans, presented by Spendthrift,' continues today in a conversation with Hinkle Farms co-owner Tom Hinkle. “In determining the matings for our mares, it is a total team effort by my brother Henry, my daughter Anne Archer and me,” said Hinkle. “We work hard to arrive at the best possible mating, at least in our opinions.

SEEKING GABRIELLE (17,  Forestry – Seeking Regina, by Seeking the Gold) to be bred to Gun Runner       

Seeking Gabrielle is the dam of Nyquist. She is a very special mare for us. She produces really attractive foals and they have sold well as yearlings. She just turned 17 and is in great condition, but with her advancing age we really want fillies. She has a newly turned two-year-old filly by Uncle Mo, making her a full-sister to Nyquist. We retained her to race and as a futurebroodmare. Her newly turned yearling is a filly by Curlin and we are considering keeping her too.

Seeking Gabrielle is currently pregnant to Constitution and is believed to be carrying a filly. In 2024 we will breed her to Gun Runner. Obviously he is one of the premier sires in the world. If we are fortunate enough to get a filly, we would hope to keep her. If she produces a colt, then we could have a sensational yearling sale prospect.

 

INDIAN BAY (13, Indian Charlie – Buy the Barrel, by E Dubai) to be bred to First Samurai

Indian Bay is a filly we bred–having bred and raced her dam Buy the Barrel. Due to an injury as a weanling, we were unable to sell or race Indian Bay. However, she has been a wonderful producer for us, being the dam of Shivaji, a graded stakes winner in Japan, and Tarabi, a stakes winner who is Grade I placed. Both are by First Samurai.

She is currently pregnant to Life Is Good. Indian Bay produces lovely foals. We have decided to breed her to First Samurai in 2024. While First Samurai is not viewed as a top-tier commercial stallion, he is a very solid stallion who gets runners and the cross has obviously worked well with Indian Bay. We hope to get a filly and keep her, but if we get a colt we believe he will be an attractive sales prospect because of the affinity Indian Bay has shown for First Samurai.

More Than Looks as a yearling at 2021 Keeneland September Sale | Joe DiOrio

LADIES' PRIVILEGE (10, Harlan's Holiday – Vanquished, by Empire Maker) to be bred to Flightline

We purchased Ladies' Privilege in November of 2019 carrying her first foal by More Than Ready. That foal is More Than Looks, a Grade III winner who ran third in the GII Hall of Fame S. last year. He ran an excellent race in the Breeders' Cup Mile, beaten only two lengths by Master of the Seas (IRE) (Dubawi {Ire}). He is trained by Cherie DeVaux and his connections are really excited about his prospects for 2024.

Her newly turned 3-year-old is a colt by Uncle Mo and her just-turned 2-year-old is a $525,000 American Pharoah filly. Her 2023 yearling is a colt by Gun Runner and she is pregnant to Upstart. She will be bred to Flightline in 2024. We think it is a great cross and based on the foals Ladies' Privilege has produced, we are hopeful that the resulting foal will be an excellent physical.

STAVE (9, Ghostzapper – Buy the Barrel, by E Dubai) to be bred to Forte

We bred and raced Stave. She was the last filly produced from Buy the Barrel, who we also bred and raced. Stave was a stakes placed winner of $285,000. Her first foal is Spirit's Mischief, a $350,000 colt by Into Mischief. He is with Wesley Ward and won as a 2-year-old last fall. He is a fast colt.

Stave had no foal in 2022, but she has a 2023 colt by Constitution who we will sell at Keeneland in September. She is currently pregnant to Not This Time and is booked to Forte for 2024. Having previously been bred to three very well-established and proven stallions, we felt like this would be a good time to breed Stave to a younger stallion. Forte is super attractive, was a seriously good racehorse, and his offspring will be sought after when they hit the sales ring.

REMEMBERED (14, Sky Mesa – Sister Girl, by Conquistador Cielo) to be bred to Not This Time

Remembered is the dam of Bowies Hero (Artie Schiller), a multiple Grade I stakes winner.  She is also the dam of Radio Days, a multiple graded stakes placed, winning filly by Gun Runner.

Remembered is pregnant to Jackie's Warrior and is booked to Not This Time for 2024. Not This Time has certainly proven himself to be a top-level sire and being a Grade I stakes producer, Remembered deserves to be bred to a top stallion. We believe the cross is excellent and provides a real opportunity to produce a good racehorse who is physically attractive.

WIN THE WAR (9, War Front – City Sister, by Carson City) to be bred to Good Magic

Win the War's $700,000 Into Mischief colt | EquiSport Photo

Win the War is a beautiful mare and is a stakes winner. We purchased her in 2020 when she was pregnant to Curlin. Unfortunately that filly, now named Jane Addams, did not race but will be bred to Practical Joke in 2024. Win the War's second foal was a $700,000 Into Mischief colt sold in September last year. Her 2023 foal is a colt by Quality Road and she is pregnant to Flightline for 2024.

Win the War will be bred to Good Magic in 2024. Good Magic has certainly proved himself capable of siring top-level racehorses. We think this is a great physical mating and believe he will add stamina to a speedy pedigree.

WEXX (7, Declaration of War – My Rachel, by Horse Chestnut {SAF}) to be bred to Elite Power

We bred and raced Wexx and she is the last daughter of My Rachel, who was a wonderful producer for us. My Rachel is now retired. Wexx was a stakes-placed winner. Her first foal, a colt, was a $400,000 Keeneland September yearling last year. She has a gorgeous 2023 Liam's Map filly and is pregnant to Justify for 2024.

In 2024 she will be bred to Elite Power. Elite Power was exceptionally talented and is a beautiful physical. We are delighted to have the opportunity to breed to him.

ORBOLUTION (9, Orb – My Rachel, by Horse Chestnut {SAF}) to be bred to Omaha Beach

Orbolution is a filly we bred and sold as a yearling to StarLadies Racing. She was a 2-year-old stakes winner at Saratoga. Upon retirement, we purchased her from Starlight. Her first foal is a colt by Curlin who sold for $1.1 million at Keeneland in 2022. He has not yet started. She produced a Nyquist colt in 2022 and an Into Mischief filly in 2023. She is currently pregnant to City of Light.

She will be bred to Omaha Beach, who certainly got off to a great start with his 2-year-olds in 2023. The female family has a real affinity with War Front and we are very excited to breed her to a War Front son.

NEW BOSS (6, Street Boss – Denali Dreamscape, by Corinthian) to be bred to Constitution

New Boss is a stakes-winning filly we bred and sold to Barry and Carol Conrad. Her dam, Denali Dreamscape, had gotten off to a great start as a broodmare for us, having produced two stakes horses from her first three foals to race. Unfortunately, Denali Dreamscape died in 2022. Upon New Boss's retirement, we were fortunate enough to be able to buy her from Mr. and Mrs. Conrad.

New Boss will be bred to Constitution in 2024. He is certainly a well-established and proven stallion. His 2-year-old crop of 2023 had an exceptional year. Breeding New Boss to a stallion the quality of Constitution gives her a real opportunity to jump start her broodmare career.

WHOA NESSIE (9, Square Eddie – Electric Daze, by Gilded Time) to be bred to Nyquist   

Whoa Nessie is an interesting mare who we purchased in November of 2022 in foal to Union Rags. Her sire Square Eddie, by Smart Strike, has proven to be an extremely useful stallion in California. Electric Daze is also the dam of Edwina E (Square Eddie), making Whoa Nessie a full sister to Edwina E. Edwina E has produced two stakes winners–Slow Down Andy, a Grade I winner of $1,276,600–and Team Merchants. Both are by Nyquist.

We purchased Whoa Nessie specifically to breed to Nyquist and she is currently pregnant to him. She is being bred back to Nyquist in 2024. Nyquist had a great 2024 and has proven himself as a quality stallion capable of siring top-level performers. The cross is a proven one and we are excited about the prospects.

MADAME DU LAC (19,  Lemon Drop Kid – Geisha Girl {GB},by Nashwan) to be bred to Oscar Performance

Madame Du Lac is an older mare but she has been a wonderful mare for us, being the dam of multiple Grade I stakes winner Divisidero, who is by Kitten's Joy. Divisidero's first crop of 2-year-olds raced in 2023 and, despite only having limited numbers, they performed well.

We are breeding Madame Du Lac to Oscar Performance in 2024. Oscar Performance's first crop has just turned four and he has proven himself to be a very capable stallion, having produced stakes winners on both dirt and turf. The cross has worked well in the past and we hope the mating will result in a filly as we will be very tempted to keep and race her, but if we get a colt he should be a nice sales prospect.

The post Mating Plans, presented by Spendthrift: Hinkle Farms appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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INQUIRY Presented By Iowa Thoroughbred Breeders And Owners Association: Most Impressive Debut Victory?

A first impression can go a long way.

In Thoroughbred racing, a strong debut victory can be the springboard into stakes competition that can last for the rest of a horse's career, and potentially into the breeding shed. The sport is built on catching lightning in a bottle, and when the world sees what it thinks is a flash, it can be potentially life-changing.

On this edition of INQUIRY, we ask the folks on the sales grounds to recall a rookie sensation with the question, “What is the most impressive debut win you've ever seen?”

Chris Knehr – WinStar Farm

“The one that sticks out is probably Maclean's Music. That was a freakish performance.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

Carl McEntee – Ballysax Bloodstock

“Maclean's Music. That first out of his, running the 106 Beyer was insane. That was something special.”

 

 

 

Scott Mallory – Mallory Farm

“A filly named Promise Me More. She was entered in a stakes race for her very first race, and she ended up winning by five when she trailed the field the whole time. That was pretty impressive, and it gave me my first win as a breeder.”

 

 

 

Tom Hinkle – Hinkle Farms

“Back in the early '80s, we owned a filly named Romper, and she won here at Keeneland. It was the first race we won at Keeneland, and she won by 15 lengths in 1:09 and change.”

 

 

 

 

Marc McLean – Crestwood Farm

“We bred Xtra Heat, so to us, that was a big deal when she won her first start.”

The post INQUIRY Presented By Iowa Thoroughbred Breeders And Owners Association: Most Impressive Debut Victory? appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Keeneland September Yearling Sale Concludes With Positive Trade, Resilient Market

Keeneland's September Yearling Sale, held with extensive COVID-19 protocols to create the safest environment possible for participants, ended today with solid results generated by competitive trade throughout the 12-day auction and the sale of 15 yearlings for $1 million or more, led by a $2 million colt by leading sire Tapit.

“The September Sale can be measured as a success given that in these uncertain times the market proved there is still tremendous interest and money for quality racehorses at all levels,” Keeneland President and CEO Bill Thomason said. “Everyone who participated should be applauded for their unprecedented efforts to make this market a reality.”

The September Sale is a bellwether for the global Thoroughbred industry and a significant economic driver for Central Kentucky breeders.

“Keeneland is fortunate, in the midst of a pandemic, to be able to not only hold the September Sale but do so on its originally scheduled dates,” Keeneland President-Elect and Interim Head of Sales Shannon Arvin said. “I'm so proud of the Keeneland team who, immediately after the Spring Meet was canceled and the lockdown in Kentucky was announced in mid-March, began collaborating with state and local health officials, breeders, consignors, buyers and others in the Thoroughbred industry, to plan for the September Sale even as the landscape changed almost daily. The success of this sale is a testament to the cooperation among everyone involved and the resiliency of our industry.”

Among the health and safety protocols implemented for the September Sale by Keeneland were the requirements that people who accessed the grounds during the sale be credentialed through the Virtual Badge digital ID and that all Keeneland employees, consignors and their staffs, veterinarians and their staffs, farriers, van representatives and media show proof of a negative COVID-19 test. Everyone entering the Keeneland grounds underwent a daily health screening with a temperature check and questions. Face coverings and social distancing of at least six feet were required, and the Sales Pavilion, including the Sales Arena and Back Holding Ring, had reduced capacity. Nearly all food service moved from the Sales Pavilion to concessions and the Phoenix Room in the track Grandstand.

“Full credit for this year's September Sale goes to everyone – breeders, consignors, owners, buyers, agents, trainers and countless other people – for their cooperation in following the health and safety protocols and adapting to the new forms of buying that allowed us to offer this important market in this unusual time,” Keeneland Director of Sales Operations Geoffrey Russell said. “It certainly wasn't your normal September Sale, and we know it wasn't easy. We sincerely thank all who participated and made the best of the challenging circumstances. We look forward to 2021 and the return of the hustle and bustle.”

For the sale, held Sept. 13-25, Keeneland sold 2,346 yearlings for $238,454,300, for an average of $101,643 and a median of $37,000.

In 2019, the 13-session September Sale was one of the strongest in recent years, with 2,850 horses selling for $359,789,700, for an average of $126,242 and a median of $45,500. Last year Book 1 spanned three days versus two days this year.

“Last year was an incredible market,” Russell said. “Trying to replicate those results, even in a normal year, would have been difficult. No doubt, COVID-19 and the travel restrictions due to the pandemic had a strong impact on some aspects of the market. Certain major players did not take part. However, a deep, diverse buying bench still participated at all levels. It was very rewarding that the second week of the sale was stronger than anticipated.”

Keeneland demonstrated its flexibility by providing a variety of options to allow buyers to participate remotely, headlined by the successful launch of online bidding. Online bidding attracted a total of 1,857 bids, which resulted in the sale of 126 horses for a total of $12,165,900 to buyers in 17 U.S. states, Japan, United Kingdom, Canada and Spain. The highest price recorded online was the $825,000 paid by Yuji Hasegawa for a colt by Tapit out of Breeders' Cup Distaff winner Stopchargingmaria.

“Online bidding worked as smoothly and was as popular among buyers as we had hoped,” Arvin said. “When you try something new, you kind of hold your breath to see how it goes. We are very pleased with our partner, Xcira, and the online auction technology system, as well as the level of participation by buyers.”

Keeneland expanded its phone bidding service to accommodate remote buyers, and to enable greater social distancing, added a third on-site bidding location in the Show Barn, the area just outside the Sales Pavilion where horses begin their journey to the sales ring. The area proved very popular with buyers.

In an effort to deliver more information directly to buyers, Keeneland further enhanced its digital catalog to feature walking videos of yearlings and comments from consignors. Keeneland also offered a list of bloodstock agents who planned to attend the sale and could work with buyers participating remotely.

As in recent years, demand for quality individuals continued to drive the market, and buyers remained highly selective in their quest for Thoroughbred racing prospects.

Proving the diversity of Keeneland's buying bench was the fact that 14 different entities, dominated by domestic buyers, purchased the 15 seven-figure yearlings.

“Breeders are to be commended for bringing a very good crop of yearlings to market,” Keeneland Director of Sales Development Mark Maronde said. “The value found here encouraged strong trade through the entire sale. Horse people are optimists in the best of times, and here they are – while there are no fans at many race tracks and with all the uncertainty in every facet of life – doing more than $238 million worth of commerce. That's huge.”

Tom Hinkle of consignor Hinkle Farms agreed. Hinkle sold all 22 yearlings in its consignment for a total of $3,124,000. They included a $750,000 Arrogate colt purchased on the internet by Hasegawa and a $750,000 Gun Runner filly bought by Robbie Medina, agent.

“Because of COVID, there was a lot of uncertainty – not just in the Thoroughbred market but in everything,” Hinkle said. “After COVID really took hold in April, we adjusted our projections on what we thought our yearlings would bring. Fortunately, we had a great sale. We've not only exceeded our revised projections but we've exceeded our original projections.

“We just sell our own horses, so we look at (sales results) as an aggregate,” he added. “As an aggregate, we've been very pleased.”

The September Sale topper sold on the second day of the two-day Book 1 when the partnership of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Robert LaPenta, Gainesway and Winchell Thoroughbreds paid $2 million for the Tapit colt. Out of Grade 1 winner Tara's Tango, he was consigned by Eaton Sales, agent for Stonestreet Bred & Raised.

Tapit also sired the $1.25 million filly who led the opening session. Claiborne Farm, agent, purchased the daughter of Grade 1 Alabama winner Embellish the Lace, by Super Saver. Consigned by Bluewater Sales, she is from the family of Grade 1 winners Afleet Express and Materiality.

Later sessions showed signs of strength in the market as competitive bidding for premium individuals continued.

“Bidding has been challenging – we have all landed on the same horses on numerous occasions,” said Clay Scherer, who during the fourth session signed the ticket for Flurry Racing Stables to acquire a Speightster half-sister to their September Sale graduate and recent Kentucky Oaks winner, Shedaresthedevil, for $350,000.

Boosting the ninth session was Marsha Naify's purchase of a $500,000 colt by Karakontie consigned by Gainesway, agent. That day, Naify purchased three yearlings through phone bidding.

Overall, the sale's leading buyer was Donato Lanni, agent for SF/Starlight/Madaket. On behalf of the partnership, Lanni purchased 28 colts for $11.25 million. At $775,000, the group's most expensive purchases were sons of Into Mischief and Quality Road.

Other leading buyers who spent more than $3 million were West Bloodstock, agent for Repole Stables and St. Elias Stable; Mike Ryan, agent; Shadwell Estate Company Ltd.; B S W/Crow; Mayberry Farm; Courtlandt Farm; OXO Equine; Maverick Racing and Winchell Thoroughbreds. In addition, MyRacehorse.com, co-owner of Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) winner and September Sale graduate Authentic, purchased 14 yearlings either singly or in partnership with Spendthrift Farm for total expenditures of $3,355,000.

Buyers had an appetite for yearlings by Authentic's sire, Into Mischief, who ranked as the sale's leading sire with 57 horses sold for $25,401,000, for an average of $445,632. Among them were five seven-figure horses, including the $1.9 million top-priced filly during the second session, the $1 million colt who topped the fourth session and the $625,000 colt who led the fifth session.

Larry Best's OXO Equine purchased the $1.9 million filly. Consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent, she is out of the stakes-winning Medaglia d'Oro mare Taylor S, a half-sister to Grade 1 winner and sire Liam's Map and Grade 3 winner and sire Not This Time.

Medaglia d'Oro was the leading sire by average with 18 yearlings averaging $599,722. He sired four seven-figure horses – all fillies: $1.6 million (sold to Shadwell Estate Company Ltd), $1.4 million (Robbie Medina, agent), $1.1 million (Whisper Hill Farm) and $1.1 million (What Time Is It Racing – Oracle Bloodstock, agent). Horse of the Year Gun Runner was the leading sire among stallions represented by their first yearlings at the auction with total sales of $8.12 million for 32 horses.

Other top-priced horses represented such successful sires as American Pharoah, Curlin, Kitten's Joy, Quality Road, Speightstown, Uncle Mo and War Front. Leading later sessions were progeny of established sire Ghostzapper and such emerging young stallions as Cupid, Karakontie, Mastery, Not This Time, Nyquist, Practical Joke and Unified.

For the sixth year in a row and the 22nd time since 1988, Taylor Made Sales Agency was the September Sale's leading consignor. Taylor Made sold 252 horses for $29,783,400, including the $1.9 million Into Mischief filly.

Meanwhile, using seven consignors, Stonestreet Bred & Raised sold 30 yearlings for $9,911,000. Joining the $2 million sale topper among the Stonestreet horses was the $1 million colt by Into Mischief who was offered by Warrendale Sales and purchased by Peter Leidel to lead the fourth session.

During Friday's final session, 167 yearlings sold for $1,143,000, for an average of $6,844 and a median of $4,500. Stonehaven Steadings consigned the $45,000 high seller, a colt by Cupid purchased by Scott Gelner, agent.

Racing returns to Keeneland on Friday, Oct. 2, opening day of the 17-day Fall Meet and the start of the prestigious Fall Stars Weekend. A total of 10 stakes, including five Grade 1 races, will be run over three days. Nine stakes during Fall Stars Weekend are Breeders' Cup Challenge “Win and You're In” races, which award each winner an automatic and free entry into the World Championships at Keeneland on Nov. 6-7.

Keeneland's November Breeding Stock Sale begins two days later and will run through Nov. 18.

The post Keeneland September Yearling Sale Concludes With Positive Trade, Resilient Market appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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