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Multiple Track-Record Setter Highly Motivated to Airdrie

Klaravich Stables's multiple track-record setter Highly Motivated (Into Mischief–Strong Incentive, by Warrior's Reward) will join the Airdrie Stud stallion roster for the upcoming 2023 breeding season, the farm announced Tuesday. He will stand for a fee of $7,500 LFSN.

A son of perennial leading sire Into Mischief, Highly Motivated was purchased by Mike Ryan as a weanling on behalf of his owner for $240,000 at the 2018 Keeneland November Sale. Entrusted to trainer Chad Brown, Highly Motivated broke his maiden as the 3-5 favorite in September of his 2-year-old year at 6 1/2 furlongs at Belmont over future Grade I winner Known Agenda (Curlin). He followed that up with a win in the Nyquist S. on the Breeders' Cup undercard at Keeneland, winning easily by 4 1/4 lengths. His time of 1:14 4 for the 6 1/2 furlongs set the Keeneland track record, and his 96 Beyer Speed Figure represented the highest number of any 2-year-old that competed on the Breeders' Cup Championship weekend–a lineup that included multiple Eclipse Award champion Essential Quality (Tapit) and the multiple Breeders' Cup champion Golden Pal (Uncle Mo). By year's end, only Jackie's Warrior (Maclean's Music) could boast of a higher juvenile figure.

Returning to Keeneland in the spring of his 3-year-old year, Highly Motivated was second to Essential Quality in a memorable edition of the GII Toyota Blue Grass S., where the latter prevailed by a short neck after a long stretch duel. It was a further 5 1/2 lengths back to third-place finisher Rombauer (Twirling Candy), who would return to take the GI Preakness S. Sent off as the 10-1 fifth choice in the GI Kentucky Derby in his next start, Highly Motivated's disappointing 10th-place finish would prove to be the final start of his sophomore season.

Following a nearly year-long layoff, Highly Motivated was brought back to win a mile feature at Belmont Park before making his next start in the GIII Monmouth Cup S, where he posted an easy victory, breaking the nine-furlong track record in 1:46.53 set 37 years prior by Kentucky Derby winner and Horse of the Year Spend a Buck. Subsequently injured while training toward the GI Cigar Mile, Highly Motivated retires with a record of 10-4-3-1 and earnings of more than $667,000.

“Highly Motivated was the best colt in our barn at two and three and ran Grade I-winning numbers at both ages,” said trainer Chad Brown. “He's a two-time track-record setter by one of the best stallions in the world. In my opinion, there's not a ceiling on his potential at stud.”

“He's an undeniable talent by a brilliant sire,” added Airdrie's Bret Jones. “He's an absolutely gorgeous Mike Ryan purchase that we believe will be on anyone's short list of the best-looking horses retired this year. Highly Motivated fits the description of so many important sires: a horse with Grade I speed that goes to stud without the benefit of a Grade I on his resume. He deserves the opportunity and we will see that he gets it. Having given us the chance two years ago to stand Complexity, we are again grateful to Seth Klarman for entrusting our Airdrie team with the future of his talented horse.”

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Trainer Doug O’Neill Suspended 60 Days

Trainer Doug O'Neill has been suspended 60 days, fined $10,000, and put on probation for one year stemming from a medication positive by his starter Worse Read Sanchez (Square Eddie) at Golden Gate Fields May 1, according to a ruling posted on the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) website. The 3-year-old gelding finished third in Golden Gate's Silky Sullivan S., his only start at the Northern California track. Worse Read Sanchez, who is owned by Reddam Racing LLC, has since made five additional starts at Santa Anita and Del Mar, with his best finish a third Oct. 7 in an optional allowance in Arcadia.

The ruling is pursuant to CHRB Rule #1887 for violation of CHRB Rules #1843 (a) & (d) (Medication, Drugs and Other Substances) and #1843.1 (a) (Prohibited Drug Substances). The prohibited substance was reportedly lidocaine, a Class 2 violation.

In addition to a 60-day suspension and $10,000 fine, O'Neill will be placed on a one-year probation, retroactive to May 1, the date of the violation, and ending May 1, 2023. His 60-day suspension is to be stayed 30 days for good cause. The actual days of suspension will begin Nov. 21 and end Dec. 20. If any of the probation is violated, the stayed 30 days will be reinstated in addition to any penalty for any addition rule violation.

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Dawson and Kearney are New Owners of the Year

Richard Dawson and Pat Kearney, the owners of GI Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike (Keen Ice) and MGSW Kathleen O. (Upstart), respectively, have been named joint New Owners of the Year by OwnerView. The award is sponsored by 1/ST RACING.

Dawson, who races as Red TR Racing, purchased his first horse in 2019 and currently only has two horses in training, including Rich Strike, who was last seen finishing fourth in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic Nov. 5 and is scheduled to remain in training for 2023.

“I can't believe my luck in acquiring Rich Strike and achieving so much in such a short time in the sport,” said Dawson. “I can't thank my trainer, Eric Reed, and all of our connections, including Rich Strike's jockey, Sonny Leon, enough. I am honored and humbled to receive this award.”

Kearney bought his first horse in 2021 and races under the name Winngate Stables. Like Dawson, he also has just two horses in training, but that first purchase was Kathleen O., who won four of her first five starts, including the GII Gulfstream Park Oaks and the GII Davona Dale S.

“I have been a racing fan for years and thought I was imposing on my friend, [trainer] Shug [McGaughey], when I asked him to help me get into racing, but I'm so glad I did it,” said Kearney. “Purchasing Kathleen O. was an amazing decision, and I am thrilled to be named as a New Owner of the Year.”

To qualify as OwnerView's New Owner of the Year, nominees must have made their first start as an owner since 2019, had an ownership stake in a horse at the time it won a stakes race in the past 12 months, and had a verifiable owner's license in 2022. Previous winners have included Boat Racing, MyRacehorse, Larry Best, the Churchill Downs Racing Club, Charles and Susan Chu, Sol Kumin, and LNJ Foxwoods.

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Keeneland November Sets New Mark

The Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale ended its eighth session Monday with cumulative sales of $205 million, surpassing total sales of $203 million recorded for last year's entire 10-day auction. On Monday, 260 head sold for $4,313,300, down from the corresponding session in 2021 when 260 generated $4,363,200. Average dipped slightly from $16,782 to $16,590. The median of $11,000 decreased 8.33% from last year's $12,000.

Late in Monday's session, a daughter of Mshawish led the way during the first day of Book. Offered as Hip 2975, Taylor Avenue was secured for $130,000 by CF Farms from the Taylor Made Sales Agency consignment. In foal to Speightstown, the stakes-placed filly is out of Aqualane Shores (Friends Lake), the dam of stakes winner Respect the Hustle (Colonel John). In her most recent trip to the sales ring, the 4-year-old sold for $10,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky sale in February.

The second-highest priced offering on the day was Hip 2717, a 3-year-old filly by Flatter who realized a $75,000 final bid from her breeder, Claiborne Farm. Consigned by Winter Quarter Farm, agent, Culdee is out of MSP Bend (Arch), dam of MGSW and track record holder Clearly Now (Horse Greeley) in addition to GSW Bendable (Horse Greeley). The filly was offered by Claiborne to the 2020 Keeneland September Sale, where she brought $180,000. Culdee's brother, by Curlin, sold for $575,000 at the September sale one year earlier.

Leading the youngsters during Monday's session was Hip 3030, a filly by freshman Bolt d'Oro, who was consigned by Elm Tree Farm. The grey is out of Winning Doe (Running Stag), a half-sister to champion grass runners World Approval (Northern Afleet) and Miesque's Approval (Miesque's Son) in addition to GSWs Revved Up (Sultry Song) and Za Approval (Ghostzapper). The Mar. 27 foal is a half-sister to stakes winner and graded placed We Deer You (Hat Trick {Jpn}).

Heading the boys was Hip 2760, who brought $65,000 from Reeves Thoroughbred Racing. Consigned by Trackside Farm (Tom Evans), agent, the colt is by GI Belmont S. winner Tapwrit, represented by his first crop of juveniles in 2022. Out of unraced Fondness (Elusive Quality), the Mar. 4 foal is a half-brother to Discreetness (Discreet Cat). A half-sister to Group 1 scorer Bahamian Pirate (Housebuster) and GSW and MGISP Strong Hope (Grand Slam), Fondness hails from the family of multiple European champion El Gran Senor.

Cumulatively, 1,826 horses have sold for $205,696,600, up 7.96% from last year's $190,531,700 for the comparable period when 1,950 horses sold. The average of $112,649 increased 15.29% from $97,709 in 2021, while the median of $50,000 remained unchanged from last year.

The November sale continues through Wednesday and is followed by a horses of racing age sale Thursday. Bidding begins daily at 10 a.m. Thursday's auction begins at noon.

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