“I couldn't be happier to be moving back home,” said Kintz. “I came to Florida to work for Woodford and now we're taking Six K's back there. My son Nick, who is my assistant, grew up there and worked on the farm while in high school, so we both know the farm very well. We are grateful that Mr Sykes has allowed us the opportunity to come to what I feel is the best farm in Florida and grow our business. I want to thank Mr. and Mrs. Papiese and the entire staff at Midwest for our time there.”

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Gleason has amassed over three decades of experience in Thoroughbred horse care management in training, starting and rehab. After beginning his career showing halter and Western pleasure horses, Gleason transitioned into Thoroughbreds in his early 20s at Glen Ridge Farm, where he managed and prepared yearling and 2-year-olds for the sales. Gleason took a position with Bryan and Holly Rice's Woodside Ranch in 2001 and during his time there, helped to break and train horses for the likes of Bob and Beverly Lewis, Jay Em Ess Stable and Overbrook Farm. Gleason comes to Margaux off a 10-year run with Woodford Thoroughbreds in Ocala, where he started as training manager and added farm manager duties five years later.

“With the completion of the new Margaux Tapeta track this fall, we look forward to John making an immediate positive impact at the farm,” the release says.

Margaux Farm has been owned outright by Canadians Jim and Susan Hill (pictured) since 2014 after partnering on the farm for several years. With a variety of trainers, the Hills have campaigned the likes of GISW Grand Arch, GSW & GISP Daddy is a Legend and GSW Tizahit.

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Helping to head up both the stallion nominations and public sales divisions, Castagnola managed the yearling and breeding stock consignments for Woodford Thoroughbreds for the past nine years.

“I am thrilled to be working with the incredible Airdrie Stud team,” said Castagnola. “It's energizing to be working with a farm this diversified and with such a tremendous history of success. From the beautifully bred mares whose families have been developed over the past five decades, to the dedication in raising their horses to be tough and sound, I have always been a great admirer of the Airdrie formula. I believe our stallion roster, led by the success stories of Girvin, Upstart, Cairo Prince and Collected is one of the most exciting in the industry and I couldn't be looking more forward to being part of what I believe is a very bright future at Airdrie.”

Airdrie said she would continue to be a major presence on the sales grounds as she leads the various Airdrie Stud consignments throughout the sales season. An industry veteran of the last twenty-three years, Castagnola also worked with West Point Thoroughbreds and Taylor Made Sales.

“I could not be more grateful to Shannon for joining our team,” said Airdrie's Bret Jones. “Smart, kind and honest is an incredible combination and it's those qualities that make Shannon so widely respected within our sport. Our breeders will absolutely love working with her and her insight and ideas will be a major reason for Airdrie's future success. We are exceptionally lucky to have her.”

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Bred in Kentucky by Pope McLean, Sr., Pope McLean, Jr., Marc McLean and P. Feringa, the diminutive Xtra Heat sold for less than five figures as a weanling, yearling and 2-year-old, but won her first six races before tasting defeat for the first time in the 2000 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, her lone career foray around two turns.

She went nine-for-13 during her championship season in 2001, breaking through at the Grade I level with a victory over Above Perfection (In Excess {Ire}) and Harmony Lodge (Hennessy) in the Prioress S. ahead of a runner-up effort to Victory Ride (Seeking the Gold) in that year's GI Test S. Following three subsequent facile scores against her peers in the Mid-Atlantic region by a combined 22 3/4 lengths, Xtra Heat was given her chance against the boys in the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint, and the fleet filly cut out the running before being run down in the dying strides by Squirtle Squirt (Marquetry).

Wire-to-wire winner of her first two starts at four, including the GII Barbara Fritchie H. with 128 pounds on her back and spotting her rivals between 13 and 16 pounds, Xtra Heat ventured to old Nad Al Sheba Racecourse in Dubai and finished a creditable third behind the repeating Caller One (Phone Trick).

Following a sixth-place effort in the 2002 Sprint, Xtra Heat was offered at the Fasig-Tipton Night of the Stars sale and was led out unsold when bidding reached $1.7 million. Owners Kenneth Taylor and Harry Deitchman sold Xtra Heat to ClassicStar in a private transaction and she closed her career with a successful title defense in the Barbara Fritchie. She was retired with a mark of 35-26-5-2 and earnings of $2,389,635 and was trained throughout her career by John D. Salzman. Woodford Thoroughbreds purchased Xtra Heat privately through a ClassicStar dispersal in 2006. She was inducted into racing's Hall of Fame in 2015.

The first three foals out of Xtra Heat achieved black-type, including the stakes-winning and Grade III-placed Southwestern Heat (Gone West), who went on to a stallion career in Australia; the stakes-placed X Rated Cat (Storm Cat); and SW & GSP Elusive Heat (Elusive Quality), a $750,000 FTFFEB graduate who serves as the granddam of multiple Grade III winner Scalding (Nyquist), SW & GSP Tracksmith (Street Sense) and SW Hot and Sultry (Speightster). Woodford pensioned Xtra Heat from broodmare duties in 2019 and since that time, she has enjoyed her time in the Florida sun at Woodford's Reddick, Florida, farm, according to the release.

“Xtra Heat knows her place in the world and is always first at feed time,” Woodford owner John Sykes said in 2022. “Xtra Heat is confident in her bearing, but easy to be around. The little brown mare with a great big heart inspires our team to look for potential in every horse.”

With the news of the mare's passing having been made public, Sykes said, “I have always been proud to have the privilege of owning and being responsible for a Hall of Fame horse. She will be greatly missed on the farm and by the team.”

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As a commercial breeding farm, Woodford Thoroughbreds operates with two principals in mind when choosing our matings. 1) We are producing racehorses. In 2023, Woodford is the breeder of Mimi Kakushi (City of Light), a Group 3 winner on the Oaks trail; Rocket Can (Into Mischief), the winner of the GIII Holy Bull S. who was recently second in the GII Fountain of Youth S. on the Derby trail; SW Drew's Gold (Violence) and 'TDN Rising Star' Sunday Shoes (Pioneerof The Nile). 2) We are bringing a horse to the market that the buyer's bench is excited to purchase based on pedigree and conformation.

With these goals in mind, here are a few of the matings we have picked out for 2023.

HOT CASH (m, 8, Ghostzapper – Collect the Cash, by Dynaformer) and MESSAGE (m, 7, Warrior's Reward – Song'n Dance, by Carson City) to be bred to Flightline.

When you are playing at the upper level, you have to breed to a horse like Flightline although it goes against two of our basic rules. First, he's very expensive at $200,000 which means the fall could be steep if the resulting foal doesn't hit the commercial mark. Second, we are breeding two young mares to him when we would rather breed to a more established horse.

However, we think Grade III-placed Hot Cash will benefit from Flightline's leg and scope. The mare has also already proven her first two efforts, a Curlin filly and Quality Road filly, to be standouts.

Woodford only purchased Message at Keeneland this past November. She was wicked quick on the racetrack, but she's also a scopey mare with a lot of length, leg, power and class to her. We think she'll fit the stallion nicely in a like-to-like way. Her first foal by Charlatan was born in January and he's an exceptional package already.

LASKARINA (m, 9, Distorted Humor – General Jeanne, by Honour and Glory) to be bred to Tapit.

This is really a no-brainer breeding. Besides being by a top broodmare sire, she's a half-sister to the prolific producer Justwhistledixie (Dixie Union), the dam of three sons of Tapit–multiple Grade II winner Mohaymen, Grade III winner Kingly and Grade III winner Enforceable. Laskarina's best-looking individual so far is a Tapit filly that Woodford sold at Fasig-Tipton in Saratoga in 2022. We don't mind going back to the well.

MACHA (m, 13, Majestic Warrior – Giant Leap, by Giant's Causeway) to be bred to Good Magic.

This mare who finished third in the GII Honeymoon H. as a 3-year-old has produced a stakes winner. We also hear some great things about her 3-year-old Dime (Curlin), but that filly has yet to make a start. We're still hopeful!

Her 2-year-old was purchased from the 2022 Keeneland September Sale by Amy Moore, who is the breeder of champion 2-year-old colt and leading Kentucky Derby favorite Forte (Violence). We know the filly now named Wayward (Into Mischief) will get a great start with Amy.

We have been terribly impressed by Good Magic's start to stud and think he's great value. He has better numbers than some other higher-priced horses that started his same year at stud.

PROJECT WHISKEY (m, 6, Tapizar – Over the Moon, by Malibu Moon) to be bred to Uncle Mo.

You can't look at this mare without the thought “pretty” crossing your mind. She's a beautiful mare that won the GIII Delaware Oaks as a 3-year-old and the Parx Juvenile Fillies S. as a 2-year-old. We love that she had speed and class early on.

Uncle Mo is a horse that consistently gets a top racehorse prospect and we think he is ready for another upswing in the market. At $150,000 he's expensive, but he gets you that Saturday afternoon horse and that's what we're looking for. The cross of Uncle Mo with the A.P. Indy line is a strong one.

MAEVE THE BRAVE (IRE) (m, 4, Invincible Spirit {Ire} – Liscune {Ire}, by King's Best) to be bred to Oscar Performance.

You may be wondering how we acquired this particular broodmare. In 2019, Woodford purchased five weanlings at Tattersalls. We re-sold three, retained one who is a stakes winner still running in the U.K. and brought this filly to the U.S. She was bought for nearly $600,000 U.S. dollars, being a full-sister to three black-type horses including Music Box (IRE), whose race earnings total $1.19 million.

Oscar Performance was the clear choice when looking at the stallions standing in Kentucky who are unequivocally grass horses.

LUCY N ETHEL (m, 10, During – Kid Silver, by Silver Ghost) to be bred to Life Is Good.

“Lucy” has one of the strongest race records in our broodmare band having won the GII Prioress S. at Saratoga and the GIII Old Hat S. at Gulfstream Park. She bankrolled nearly $400,000 on the track and she is an athletic and supremely balanced mare.

Lucy gave us a beautiful foal right off the bat, a Quality Road filly that brought $600,000 at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale. Lucy is currently pregnant to Into Mischief. Breeding to his son Life Is Good will be the same cross.

We're excited to be breeding to Life Is Good. His speed was his weapon and he was much the best when winning the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile as a 3-year-old. He continued his winning ways with three Grade I races at four.

VIVA VEGAS (m, 9, The Factor – Viva Vega, by Cobra King) to be bred to Munnings.

The Factor is one of those conundrums where he has the ability to get a quality racehorse, but his commercial appeal is underrated. Viva Vegas is a big, scopey mare and you can imagine how lovely she is knowing she brought $190,000 at OBS as a short yearling. On the racetrack she won a stakes race and is multiple graded stakes placed.

Munnings will make a nice physical compliment, giving her a little substance and some additional speed. He also has a liking for the turf which will benefit this mare's sire line.

Cedar Hall will visit Woodford-bred Independence Hall in 2023 | photo courtesy Woodford Thoroughbreds

DON'T LEAVE ME (m, 11, Lemon Drop Kid – See How She Runs, by Maria's Mon) to be bred to Not This Time.

Don't Leave Me is a multiple Grade III winner and is out of a Grade I-winning dam. Woodford is proud to have purchased this mare out of the Pin Oak Dispersal in 2021 carrying an Authentic colt and she's currently pregnant to Into Mischief. We were very impressed with the year Not This Time had in 2022 and when looking for proven stallions, he has become a standout. We think he'll be a nice physical match for the mare.

CEDAR HALL (m, 6,  Bayern – Dahteste, by Majestic Warrior) to be bred to Independence Hall.

In hindsight, Cedar Hall might have been a value play, being stakes placed, when we purchased her pregnant to Volatile for $95,000 in 2021. She probably would have brought twice that this past November! This is a really pretty mare and we actually purchased her with the purpose of breeding her to Independence Hall.

Woodford bred Independence Hall, sold him as a yearling, bought back into him during his race career and now owns a considerable number of shares in the horse, which means we will support him. His first crop of foals are hitting the ground now and from photos we have seen, they look to be very racey individuals.

RITE MOMENT (m, 19, Vicar – Moments of Joy, by Lost Code) to be bred to City of Light.

Rite Moment is one of the oldest and most proven mares in the band. She herself was a multiple Grade II winner and has produced two previous black-type horses, but her standout produce is current graded stakes winner Mimi Kakushi (City of Light). Mimi Kakushi won a stakes race and then followed that up with a win in the G3 U.A.E. Oaks. She is potentially being pointed to the GI Kentucky Oaks. It only makes sense to go back to the well and should the mare have a filly, we'll likely retain her as a broodmare prospect.

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“Elite Sales launched in 2017 with the goal of being the number-one consignor of horses of racing age and broodmares/broodmare prospects,” said Weisbord. “With six years under our belts, we have experienced a wide range of success including selling 21 off-the-track broodmare or racing prospects for $1 million or more.”

The addition of yearlings to their lineup is the latest news from Elite, who sold their first two weanlings at the Fasig-Tipton November Sale, including a Gun Runner filly for $675,000. They also were represented with a consignment at Tattersalls December for the first time in 2022.

“Since launching Elite, our team has enjoyed building relationships with the most prominent buyers and sellers of bloodstock around the world. We believe that these relationships along with our boutique model, top client support, and ambitious marketing have led to our success,” Weisbord said, “The move into yearlings has been long-planned. Liz and I have some of our own homebreds we will sell, we will sell for our existing clients, and we hope to add some large breeding farms into the mix.”

Elite has hired Beth Bayer, the former director of sales for Woodford Thoroughbreds, who has 20 years of experience in the industry, to run the day-to-day consignment, leaving Liz Crow free to continue her scrutiny of yearlings on the sales grounds.

“Liz is one of the leading agents purchasing yearlings each year and we feel her knowledge of the market along with her great eye will be a huge asset to our clients. She will be available for farm inspections as we lead into yearling prep and sales time. We also feel that since our team sees every single horse on the sales grounds at every single yearling sale, she will have a great understanding of where yearlings most appropriately fit in each catalogue and sale.”

Fasig-Tipton July would be the first sale the company will target, followed by Fasig-Tipton Saratoga, Keeneland September, and Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October Yearlings.

Weisbord said he would continue to handle client and buyer relationships on and off the sales grounds. Katelyn Jackson, Samantha Bussanich and Jake Memolo will remain with Elite as well, and that the company would continue to be run as a boutique consignment operation.

In its six-year history, Elite has sold over $135 million in horses, averaging over $295,000 per horse. Those sales include Monomoy Girl for Michael Dubb, Monomoy Stables, The Elkstone Group and Bethlehem Stables, who brought $9.5 million at Fasig-Tipton November 2020; and Paris Lights for WinStar Farm, who topped the 2021 Keeneland November Sale at $3.1 million.

“Elite Sales has done an outstanding job in the mixed sale and horses-of-racing-age marketplace and I'm sure that they will do an excellent job as they enter the yearling sales marketplace,” said Fasig-Tipton President and CEO Boyd Browning. “They have an excellent group of people on their team and Beth Bayer has great knowledge and will be a valuable addition.”

“It's always good to welcome consignors that have great connections like they do,” said Keeneland's Vice President of Sales, Tony Lacy. “They've done a wonderful job over the past few years with their mixed sales business, and it's a natural evolution for them to move into the yearling market.”

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SIGNAL FROM NOISE (f, 3, Arrogate–Holiday Soiree {SW & GISP, $405,642}, by Harlan's Holiday) was bet like a sure thing Thursday, going off at a commanding 1-5 off a 5 3/4-length defeat behind Tizzy In the Sky (Sky Kingdom) on debut over this same track and distance Sept. 23. Patient through the early stages behind and outside the leading pair of Adam's Angel (Into Mischief) and Wings Like Eagles (Get Stormy) through an opening half in :46.95, Signal From Noise began to advance with a three-wide move past the quarter pole. Under no visible movement from jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr., she wasted no time in overtaking the top pair and turning it into a race for second place, lengthening her winning margin down the lane and hitting the line geared down 9 1/4 lengths ahead of Wings Like Eagles. Her 2-year-old half-sister, Vahva (Gun Runner), was recently second on debut at Saratoga Sept. 4. She also has a weanling half-sister by City of Light while her dam visited Nyquist for the 2023 season. Sales History: $280,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 2-1-1-0, $65,750. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

O-Klaravich Stables, Inc.; B-Woodford Thoroughbreds, LLC (KY); T-Chad C. Brown.

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SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY – The Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Selected Yearlings Sale opened with a lively session of trade punctuated by four seven-figure yearlings Monday evening in upstate New York. A colt by Uncle Mo, consigned by Lane's End as agent for his breeder, Summer Wind Farm, attracted the session's highest bid when selling for $1.5 million to the partnership of West Point Thoroughbreds and Woodford Racing.

In all, 69 yearlings sold at the Humphrey S. Finney Pavilion Monday for a total of $28,930,000. The average was $419,275 and the median was $350,000.

During last year's opening session of the two-day boutique auction, 70 yearlings sold for $25,280,000, for an average of $361,143 and a median of $300,000.

“We're very, very pleased with the opening session of the 2022 Saratoga Yearling Sale,” Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning said at the close of business Monday. “There were significant improvements in all the statistical categories. We hit the superfecta–average up 15%, median up 16%, gross up 17% and RNA right under 20%. In a highly selective sale, that is a tremendous accomplishment. We're thrilled with those numbers, but you could feel the excitement in the air tonight. The atmosphere was electric. The quality of horses was tremendous. The quality of people that were here to buy those horses was tremendous. It was just a really, really great environment to have an auction and the results were very, very, very strong.”

With 17 yearlings reported not sold, the buy-back rate for Monday's session was 19.8%. It was 27.1% during last year's opening session.

“The most encouraging thing continues to be the breadth of buyers when you go through the results,” Browning said. “It was a very diverse buying group. And as I say, to have an RNA rate under 20% for one of the most selective sales in the world is remarkable. And we know that there's already some competition starting for post-sale private sales. That's a really, really important thing to be able to have a clearance rate that's that high.”

Hot freshman sire Justify was represented by the evening's second highest-priced yearling, with Coolmore's M.V. Magnier going to $1.1 million to acquire a colt by the Triple Crown winner from the Warrendale Sales consignment. Spendthrift's super sire Into Mischief rounded out the seven-figure parade with a pair of $1-million colts.

Four yearlings topped the seven-figure mark during the entire 2021 Saratoga sale.

“You know, you're always thrilled when you have four horses in a session like this go for over $1 million,” Browning said. “I think we had four last year the entire sale sell for seven figures. So we've already matched that number. I've got a sneaking suspicion that we're going to eclipse that tomorrow night.”

The Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale concludes with a final session Tuesday. Bidding will begin at 6:30 p.m.

Summer Wind Blows Through Saratoga Once Again

When Jane Lyon named her Uncle Mo colt out of Secret Sigh (Tapit) (hip 68) Stop the Press, she did not know just how fitting a name it would be. It was a bit of deja vu for the Summer Wind Farm owner Monday night when the bay colt was the first to reach seven figures, hammering for a session-topping $1.5 million to West Point Thoroughbreds and Woodford Racing with Lyon staying in for a piece.

“I was certainly hopeful that we would have this kind of response,” Lyon said. “We had a lot of people who vetted him and came back numerous times. We knew that there were a lot of important buyers who seemed to like him a lot, so we were optimistic.”

The last time Lyon sold a seven-figure colt at Saratoga was in 2019 when the now unbeaten MGISW Flightline (Tapit) summoned $1-million from the West Point team. Woodford and Summer Wind are among the partners on that 'TDN Rising Star' as well. Flightline's success inspired a changed in Lyon's business model.

“I was very hopeful and let it be known that, if possible, I would like to stay in on him,” Lyon said of Stop the Press, who was consigned by Lane's End. “It's kind of a new plan for me. If I have a colt I feel extremely strong about, if I can stay in on him, I'd like to do so. It seems to be working out extremely well with Flightline. I thought, 'well, there are some I might try that again with.' Apparently, the buyers wanted to try it again too, which is very flattering.”

While Lyon is known for her deep love for all of her horses, she admitted that Stop the Press showed he was special as he developed at her Georgetown nursery.

“He has been special,” Lyon said. “I think [Summer Wind Farm manager] Bobby [Spalding] probably spotted it before I did, because I am barn blind. I think they are all special. But, that being said, he began to really take shape and we knew he would be one of our good ones to take to the sale. It is a good way to start the sales season.”

Stop the Press comes from a family near and dear to Lyon's heart. Her late husband Frank Lyon gifted her Stop the Press's third dam Misty Hour (Miswaki) as a 2-year-old. She went on to be a stakes winner and graded stakes-placed and is the matriarch of Summer Wind.

Misty Hour is the dam of stakes winner Pilfer, who is responsible Grade I winners Angela Renee and To Honor and Serve. Prior to that, she produced Stop the Press's MGSW second dam India (Hennessy), whose offspring includes MG1SW Mozu Ascot (Frankel {GB}) and SW 'TDN Rising Star' Kareena (Medaglia d'Oro).

“The thing I am really excited about with this particular colt is he is a homebred out of a homebred out of a homebred,” said Lyon. “It is a very important family to me and to our farm. The fact that this second foal, and the first one offered at auction, was this popular is very exciting.”

Unfortunately, Stop the Press's dam Secret Sigh never had a chance to show her true potential on the racetrack. She was injured during training and retired to Summer Wind's star-studded broodmare band, which features the likes of Littleprincessemma, dam of American Pharoah.

“She got injured before she could really run,” Lyon said. “I had her with Billy Mott and he felt that she had a lot of talent. When she got injured and came home, I sent her to Europe and bred her to Frankel because her mother had been successful when bred to Frankel. I did keep that filly [Pippi Longstocking] and she is in training now. I think this could be the making of a very, very exciting addition to that family.” —@CDeBernardisTDN

Watch Hip 68 c. UNCLE MO o/o Secret Sigh sell for $1,500,000 at The Saratoga Sale! Congrats to all the connections!#FasigSaratoga @westpointtbred @woodfordracing @LanesEndFarms @MoreSummerWind pic.twitter.com/7sD8pQTziZ

— Fasig-Tipton (@FasigTiptonCo) August 9, 2022

West Point, Woodford Return to the Well

At the 2019 renewal of this auction, West Point Thoroughbreds and Woodford Racing were among the partners on a $1-million Tapit colt bred by Jane Lyon's Summer Wind Farm. That colt turned out to be unbeaten MGISW Flightline, so when Lyon returned to Saratoga with another well-bred colt, he quickly caught the powerhouse duo's attention.

West Point and Woodford had to go a bit higher this time around, but, after an intense round of bidding from all over the pavilion as well as out back, they were left holding the $1.5-million ticket on a Summer Wind-bred Uncle Mo colt. Lyon stayed in as a partner on Flightline and will do so once again on the colt she named Stop the Press.

“We changed our luck about three years ago. We started bidding here and it's going well,” West Point's Terry Finley said after signing the ticket on the right side of the auction's outside bidding area. “It's is our spot for buying horses like good colts bred by Jane Lyon. She is going to stay in. He came from the same land [as Flightline]. We are really excited. Obviously, we have had a lot of good luck and have been on an exciting ride with Jane and Woodford. We are going to try and recreate that magic.”

Like many partnerships these days, West Point and Woodford have become increasingly focused on buying colts with two-turn potential in hopes of making the Triple Crown races. This colt fit that bill on both pedigree and conformation, according to Finley.

“He is a beautiful horse,” Finley said. “Uncle Mo throws a big, stout horse. He looks like the kind of horse all of us see on the Triple Crown trail. You can't get enough of these types because you know the trials and tribulations we all face. This horse really, really stuck out. We are pumped to get him. He will go to Shug McGaughey. I don't think anyone has told him yet, but I am sure he will have a smile on his face.”

As for the price, Finley said he was not surprised given the atmosphere at Saratoga Monday and the state of the market.

“It was right about the spot,” he said. “There is plenty of money here. Obviously, there are a lot of things going on in the world, but I think people who are buying at this level aren't impacted that much. There were more than just two of us past $1 million. You pay what the market tells you to pay. You saw good colts without as much pedigree going for $700,000 and $800,000, so add this pedigree to the physical and you are looking at at least $1.2 million. I was glad when the announcer said, 'That's all they brought.' It was getting up there. We have a lot of work to do to get out on this horse, but it is exciting for the partners to play a part in a good colt like this.” —@CDeBernardisTDN

Mori Gets on the Board at Saratoga

Japanese trainer Hideyuki Mori, making his first trip to the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale, was quick to get into the seven-figure fray when going to an even $1 million to acquire a colt by Into Mischief (hip 74) from the Blake-Albina Thoroughbred Services consignment. The bay, who was bred by Maurice and Samantha Regan's Newtown Anner Stud, is out of Shopit (Yes It's True) and is a full-brother to stakes winner and multiple Grade I-placed 'TDN Rising Star' Shoplifted, who was second in the 2019 GI Runhappy Hopeful S. and third in the 2020 GI H. Allen Jerkens S. and GI Woody Stephens S.

Agents Nick Sallusto and Hanzly Albina purchased Shopit, in foal to Fast Anna, on behalf of the Regans for $65,000 at the 2019 Keeneland November sale.

“We knew this was the best horse we bred this year,” Albina said of the yearling. “He's always been good. You are defying the odds when you become a Saratoga yearling, you defy the odds when you get up here and ring the bell like that. It's just lucky. My team at the farm is very good and they work hard. Ron Blake works hard. Nick Sallusto works hard. We are just fortunate to work for such great people as the Regans who allow us to do what we need to do.”

All of Newtown Anner's yearlings are offered at market, according to Albina.

“We always bring all our yearlings to market to keep ourselves honed and to make good decisions and not to just keep a lot of horses and have big training bills for no reason,” Albina said.

Watch Hip 74 c. INTO MISCHIEF o/o Shopit sell for $1,000,000 at The Saratoga Sale! Congrats to all the connections!#FasigSaratoga @spendthriftfarm pic.twitter.com/1INrEzegVT

— Fasig-Tipton (@FasigTiptonCo) August 9, 2022

Justify Colt Gives Black His First Million-Dollar Sale

Christian Black's Blackstone Farm had a banner sale in Saratoga last year when selling a Gun Runner colt for $550,000. The Pennsylvania-based operation managed to double that number this year when a son of undefeated Triple Crown hero Justify (hip 78) hammered for $1.1 million to Coolmore's M.V. Magnier. It was the first million-dollar sale for Blackstone Farm.

“He has just been a good horse from the beginning and he just kept getting better and better,” Black said. “The good thing about Coolmore and M.V. is, if you have a nice horse, they are always there to support their stallions. Fortunately enough, this horse just jumped through all the hoops for them.”

As for the price, Black said, “I don't think you expect $1.1 million on a horse, but we had a lot of people on him that, in the past, showed they were willing to spend that kind of money. We were hopeful.”

Justify, who stands at Coolmore's Ashford Stud, has been off to a fast start at stud with a graded winner in America and group winner in Europe already in his first crop.

“Justify is going really, really well at the moment,” Magnier said. “It has been incredible, since we have been here the last few days, the amount of people that have come up and said how well he is doing. He couldn't be going any better than he is going.”

Consigned by Warrendale Sales, hip 78 is out of Slews Golden Rule (Langfuhr), who is also responsible for SW Ledecka (Tiznow). Black purchased the half-sister to GSW & GISP Globetrotter (Street Cry {Ire}) for $80,000 in foal to Lonhro (Aus) at the 2014 KEENOV sale.

“He is a very nice horse,” Magnier said of hip 78. “He's very sound. He's a big colt. The boys liked him, so hopefully he is a good horse. We will bring him back to Ashford.”

—@CDeBernardisTDN

That's a $1.1 million walk! @WarrendaleSales sells Hip 78, a @PA_PHBA Justify colt out of Stews Golden Rule, to M V Magnier at @FasigTiptonCo Saratoga. pic.twitter.com/cTCx0dUcsk

— TDN (@theTDN) August 9, 2022

Spendthrift Strikes Early for Curlin Colt

It didn't take long for things to heat up in the Humphrey S. Finney pavilion Monday night with the Spendthrift Farm team going to $950,000 to secure a colt by Curlin (hip 9).

Spendthrift started buying with BSW/Crow Bloodstock team during last fall's yearling sales for a new partnership focused on two-turn colts for the major Classics. The colts from the new group are set to go to Brad Cox. Spendthrift's Ned Toffey signed the ticket under the name of Spendthrift, BSW/Crow Colts Group/Schwartz/Gandharvi.

“He will likely be a part of the colts group, but we signed the ticket and will sort the details out later,” Toffey said, after signing the ticket while seated alongside Liz Crow, Brad Weisbord and Paul Sharp with Cox behind them.

Consigned by Eaton Sales, hip 9 was bred by Barronstown Stud, who bought his staked-winning and GISP dam Light the City (Street Sense) for $625,000 with this colt in utero at the 2020 FTKNOV sale. Light the City is also the dam of GISP Illumination (Medaglia d'Oro), a $900,000 graduate of this auction in 2019, who brought $875,000 from Don Alberto at last year's Fasig November Sale.

“What's not to like?” Toffey said. “He is a beautiful Curlin. We thought he was one of the best individuals in the sale. He had a lot of quality about him, a lot of bone, a lot of substance. He has a great walk, moved around beautifully. We are really happy to have him.”

Spendthrift struck again near the end of Monday's session, going to a cool $1 million for a son of their super sire Into Mischief (hip 102). Breeder St. Elias Stables stayed in for a piece and they also partnered with Cypress Creek Stables on the Lane's End-consigned colt.

Hip 102 is the first foal out of Vinnie and Teresa Viola's MGSW Teresa Z (Smart Strike). His third dam is MGISW My Flag, dam of champion Storm Flag Flying.

“We are partnering with Mike Moreno, Cypress Creek and St Elias, who was selling the horse is going to stay in for a piece,” Toffey said. “They are people we have partnered with before and we're really happy to partner with again. Obviously it gives you a lot of confidence that the breeder wants to stay in. They are a class act. And Mike, we've had a really great partnership with Keepmeinmind (Laoban). We are happy to team up again. We think this is a really nice horse. We are kind of fond of the sire. That's just a remarkable female family. He has everything it takes, we just hope he can run.” —@CDeBernardisTDN

Hip 9, a Curlin colt out of GI-placed Light the City, goes to $950,000! Purchased by @spendthriftfarm, sold by @EatonSales1 at @FasigTiptonCo Saratoga. pic.twitter.com/uhwI3CxR28

— TDN (@theTDN) August 8, 2022

SF/Starlight/Madaket Partnership Back in Action

The stallion-making partnership of SF Bloodstock, Starlight Racing and Madaket Stables, whose 2-year-olds are heating up on the racetrack with the likes of recent 'TDN Rising Star' Newgate (Into Mischief), got back in action at the yearling sales when going to $950,000 to acquire a colt by Speightstown (hip 56) Monday night in Saratoga.

“He was a beautiful horse,” SF Bloodstock's Tom Ryan said of the yearling. “He really reminded me of a horse on the same cross, Rock Fall, who won two Grade Is. Bob [Baffert], Donato [Lanni], the whole team liked him. We all know what Speightstown can do. He can provide brilliance to any pedigree, especially a pedigree with a cross that's already worked on multiple occasions, Speightstown over Medaglia d'Oro. We are very excited about him.”

The cross is also responsible for GI American Oaks winner Competitionofideas, as well as four-time graded winner Olympiad and MGSW Souper Stonehenge.

The yearling was consigned by Francis and Barbara Vanlangendonck's Summerfield on behalf of his breeder, Stonestreet. He is out of the unraced Rainier (Medaglia d'Oro), a half-sister to multiple takes winenr Laurie's Rocket (Bluegrass Cat).

“Everybody loved the colt,” said Francis Vanlangendonck. “He came out and showed his class the whole time. As soon as he walked up there, people loved him. People from other barns would walk over to look at him. Mentally, he was a colt that people wanted to be around. You get a lot of athletes who are capable, but their minds take them away. This colt handled it well–he got better every day.”

Barbara Banke's Stonestreet purchased the yearling's second dam, Clay's Rocket (American Chance), for $350,000 at the 2010 Keeneland November sale.

“They are the best,” Vanlangendonck said of Stonestreet. “They give me great horses to sell. They give you a product that's easy to sell.”

In addition to its lone purchase of the evening, SF Bloodstock was in action as sellers just a few hips later. The operation sold a filly by War Front out of Grade I winner Rosalind (Broken Vow) (hip 61) for $675,000 to Robert and Lawana Low. The bay filly was consigned by Bedouin Bloodstock.

“We're really happy with that result,” Ryan said. “We're proud of the filly. She's a homebred, born and raised at Atlas Farm and sold by Bedouin. Neal [Clarke] and Conor [Doyle] do a tremendous job.”

SF Bloodstock purchased Rosalind, winner of the 2014 GI Ashland S., for $1 million at that year's Fasig-Tipton November sale.

“Rosalind has been a wonderful mare to own, she's been part of our band for quite a while now,” Ryan said. “She is in foal to Tapit and she has a beautiful Twirling Candy on the ground.”

Of the market Monday in Saratoga, Ryan said, “It feels vibrant. We will see how the results tally up at the end of the night, but based on the looks on the consignors faces, things are going pretty well around here.” @JessMartiniTDN

Tapit Filly Jump Starts Speedway Breeding Program

Bloodstock agent Marette Farrell has spent the last several years acquiring future broodmares for Peter Fluor and K.C. Weiner's Speedway Stables and her efforts began to bear fruit when a filly by Tapit (hip 72) sold for $750,000 to Muir Hut Stables.

“It's the beginning of the process,” Farrell said. “We sold one last year, but this is the start. Peter Fluor has always wanted to run it as a business, so sadly we had to let her go because we thought a lot of her.”

The yearling, who was consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, is out of stakes winner and multiple graded placed Shayjolie (Indian Charlie), a mare who was purchased by Speedway for $400,000 at the 2015 Keeneland November sale.

“That mare seems to be the atom bomb as far as producing nice racehorses,” Farrell said. “She has a beautiful Constitution filly weanling behind her and we are planning to continue breeding her to good stallions. So hopefully there is more in the works and they can keep a daughter out of her at some point.”

The Speedway broodmare band is currently home to fewer than 10 head and the plan will be to offer all the resulting foals.

“They are offering everything,” Farrell confirmed. “Peter and K.C. felt that was the fairest thing to do for the buyers. If they offer everything, then everyone knows this is legitimate, rather than holding something back.”

The yearling will join the Southern California stable of trainer Mark Glatt, who also trains Muir Hut's recent maiden winner Agency (Bolt d'Oro) and stakes placed Affable (Flatter). @JessMartiniTDN

Constitution Colt Scores for Don Alberto

Jim and Dana Bernhard's Lynnhaven Racing purchased a colt by Constitution (hip 66) for $700,000 during Monday's first session of the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale. The yearling was consigned by Gainesway on behalf of his breeder, Don Alberto Corporation.

“They are just getting into the game,” Matt Weinmann, CEO of Equine Analysis Systems said after signing the ticket on behalf of the Bernhards. “They started getting horses last year and they are coming back and buying the next crop.”

Hip 66 is out of multiple group winner Sand Puce (Arg) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) and is a half-brother to the 2-year-old filly Scarpia (Union Rags), who ran second against a group of males in a maiden special weight sprinting on the turf at the nearby racetrack Sunday afternoon.

“He is beautiful,” Weinmann said of the colt. “Like we always do with Equine Analysis, we are just using data and statistics to narrow it down and find horses that give us the highest likelihood of success, and this colt fits that bill.”

Gainesway's Brian Graves had a more visceral reaction to the colt.

“I don't have a lot of data and analysis, but I will say when I saw that colt at Don Alberto, I rated him as one of their highest physicals,” Graves said. “He was a beautiful colt with a long neck and a big walk. Constitution is on the rise. I thought he was a really nice horse the whole time. You always get a little nervous at the sale because you're not sure what they are going to bring and there were a couple seconds where I thought I might be wrong, but then he kind of did what I thought he'd do. We are grateful to Don Alberto for the horse and grateful to the buyers. We wish them a lot of luck.”

Graves perennially has pinhooking success in Saratoga and the horseman kept his streak intact Monday with a filly by Not This Time (hip 24) who sold for $375,000 to Centennial Farms. Graves's Fish Stable pinhooking partnership had acquired the youngster for $120,000 at last year's Keeneland November sale.

“I think that she was by Not This Time, that was the formula there. He had a great year,” Graves said.

Of horses he targets to the Saratoga sale, Graves added, “You just have to pick a good physical with some sire power. That's what you bring here. I think people will forgive a little on the dam's side if you have a good physical and sire power.” @JessMartiniTDN

Thank you to our buyers and consignors for supporting The 101st Saratoga Sale! Session 1 has ended. Session 2 begins tomorrow at 6:30 PM.

Results https://t.co/PlaHkkq8N3#FasigSaratoga pic.twitter.com/5uOZIevo9g

— Fasig-Tipton (@FasigTiptonCo) August 9, 2022

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While WinStar Farm hopes that Constitution, whose first crop was foaled in 2017, could one day become a foundation sire at WinStar, this year they checked off the next goal for their promising stallion by adding one of his sons to their stallion roster.

Independence Hall, a graded stakes-winning member of Constitution's first crop along with MGISW Tiz the Law, will stand alongside his sire this year for a fee of $10,000.

“We're super excited to have Independence Hall came home to WinStar and begin his stud career,” said WinStar's director of bloodstock Liam O'Rourke. “We've had a great history at WinStar over the past 21 years and Constitution really represents the next generation of what WinStar is going to be. He's had such an electric start and with what he has coming down the pipeline, we're very excited and very bullish on his future. [Reaching] the next step of having one of his sons retire to WinStar is very rewarding.”

Bred by Woodford Thoroughbreds, Independence Hall was an easy debut winner for Robert and Kathleen Verratti and trainer Mike Trombetta. Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Twin Creeks Racing Stables joined in the ownership before his next start, a stunning 12 1/4-length score in the 2019 GIII Nashua S. in record time.

“He came on our radar very early,” O'Rourke said. “After his first start, when he came back in the Nashua to run a 101 Beyer speed figure–the fastest 2-year-old performance of the year–we started to realize that he was going to be a very special horse.”

The dark bay colt remained undefeated in his sophomore debut in the Jerome S. and was then runner-up in the GIII Sam F. Davis S. After an unplaced finish in his next start, he was given time off and returned to the starting gate at the end of his 3-year-old season under the care of trainer Michael McCarthy.

At four, Independence Hall was competitive against top company with WinStar joining his partnership at the beginning of the season. He ran third to future GI Breeders' Cup Classic winner Knicks Go (Paynter) in the GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational S., placed second to the same rival later in the GIII Lukas Classic S. and then earned a final career victory in his next start in the GII Hagyard Fayette S.

“He held form with [Knicks Go] through most of the year and the season was culminated by what was I think one of the talking performances of the Keeneland meet when he came out and won the Fayette S.,” O'Rourke recalled. “He beat some outstanding horses in that race and really showed what a brilliant horse he was.”

Independence Hall retired with earnings of almost $900,000, running in the money in six graded starts with three stakes wins to his credit.

Independence Hall's breakout performance in the GIII Nashua S. | Chelsea Durand

“I think he was a really great racehorse because of that high cruising speed,” O'Rourke explained. “We love that 2-year-old form, that brilliance, and when they can come back and be an elite older horse and knock heads with the best of the best in the country, that's something that we find really strong.”

O'Rourke said that the new stallion's physical helps explain the high cruising speed he was able to display on the track.

“Physically, he's a very impressive horse. He's a big, beautiful, smooth walker. He's balanced, but he's masculine. He has that size, scope and frame that I think Constitution has been able to produce and he put it all together in the way he could get over the ground.”

A son of the winning Cape Town mare Kalahari Cat, Independence Hall is a half-brother to Grade III winner Black Onyx (Rock Hard Ten) and two more graded stakes-placed siblings in SW Francois (Smarty Jones) and Quality Council (Elusive Quality). His family also includes Desert Stormer (Storm Cat), winner of the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint and the granddam of MGISW Better Lucky (Ghostzapper).

O'Rourke explained that while Independence Hall has been popular with breeders since arriving at WinStar, he already has a solid support system built in with a large syndicate group that includes Woodford Thoroughbreds, Twin Creeks, Kathleen and Robert Verratti, Eclipse Thoroughbreds, China Horse Club and Machmer Hall.

“It's really a 'who's who' of syndicate members,” O'Rourke said. “Along with that, we offered Independence Hall in our Dream Big program, which virtually sold out overnight, so we have some really good folks supporting the horse and he will have some really nice mares in those first couple of years.”

WinStar's Dream Big program allows breeders the opportunity to acquire a lifetime breeding right to the stallion.

“Independence Hall proved that he was a special horse as a 2-year-old and he proved it again as an older horse,” O'Rourke said. “He has the pedigree and the looks and I think we priced him to where he's very attractive to breeders. We've had a huge response to him so far and it's so rewarding to have a son of one of our sires come home and join our stallion roster.”

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At the halfway point in the sale, the average of $148,398 is up 13.23% from last year's $131,060, while the median of $95,000 is up 26.67% from $75,000. The buy-back rate stands at 20.90%. It was 25.66% a year ago.

The auction's Book 3 section concluded Sunday with a pair of offerings topping the $300,000 mark. For the two Book 3 sessions, 540 horses grossed $39,810,000. The book average of $73,722 was up 31.4% from the 2020 Book 3 section and the median was up 7.0% to $60,000.
During the 2020 Book 3 section, 482 horses sold for $27,032,500 for an average of $56,084 and a median of $41,000.

The 2020 book's top price was $300,000 and 15 horses sold for $200,000 or over. That figure was 19 this year when Book 3 was topped by a $550,000 broodmare.

Katie Cauthen, bidding on behalf of Susan Casner, purchased Sunday's top-priced lot when going to $360,000 to secure a filly by first-crop sire Audible. The session topper capped a big day for young stallions. The day's second-highest priced weanling was a son of first-crop sire Mitole who sold for $285,000 to Corinne and Bill Heiligbrodt and Spendthrift Farm and the day's top-priced mare, Super Simple (Super Saver), sold for $300,000 to Woodford Thoroughbreds while carrying a foal from the first crop of Grade I winner Volatile.

“Selling weanlings, a lot of people are going in on these first-year sires, so a lot of people are trying to buy these mares in foal to first-year sires,” said Hunter Simms of Warrendale Sales, which consigned Super Simple. “Just like Authentic and some of these other first-mares-in foals have been very well received.”

As the Keeneland November sale concluded its fifth session Sunday, Simms continued to see plenty of demand for horses.

“We sold three mares earlier in the day that were very strong and were probably double what we expected,” Simms said. “I didn't think [Super Simple] would be at $300,000, but the market is strong. If you bring something up here, you will get paid for it.”
John Mulholland, whose Mulholland Springs consigned the day's highest-priced colt by Mitole, agreed the November results continued to exceed all expecations.

“When they stand out, they stand out,” Mulholland said. “If they love it, people are going to dig deep and go for it. That's what the market wants. It wants the highest of the high quality and that's what everybody is going to zero in on and you're going to end up getting more than you expect.”

The Keeneland November sale continues through Friday with sessions beginning daily at 10 a.m.

Audible Filly Makes Noise Late

As Sunday's session of the Keeneland November sale was winding down, Katie Cauthen, acting on behalf of Bill and Susan Casner, made the day's highest bid when going to $360,000 to acquire a filly by Audible (hip 1801). Bred by Fred Hertrich, III and consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, the chestnut filly received a timely update when her half-sister Juju's Map (Liam's Map) won the Oct. 8 GI Darley Alcibiades S. and was second in last weekend's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies.

“She was a lovely filly,” Cauthen said after signing the ticket on the weanling. “We liked the physical and we really liked the update. Bill Casner really loved her walking video. He's trusted us for a long time and we are glad to have her.”

Bill Casner acquired the mare Summer Vacation (Eskendereya) (hip 680) for $460,000 and Susan Casner acquired a weanling colt by Dialed In (hip 850) for $65,000 earlier in the November sale.

“Bill just wants to get back in the game,” Cauthen said. “He's been sitting on the sidelines for a while. He's really excited to be back.”
Of the filly's session-topping price, Cauthen admitted, “We wanted her for around $300,000, but it seems like you have to pay a lot more than you expect to.”

Norevale Makes it Look Simple

Sarah and Leo Dooley's Norevale Farm, still just in its first full year in operation, picked up Super Simple (Super Saver) (hip 1502) for $27,000 at last year's Keeneland November sale and hit a home run when returning the 5-year-old mare to the Keeneland sales ring Sunday to sell for $300,000 to Woodford Thoroughbreds.

Sarah Dooley, a graduate of the Irish National Stud and Godolphin Flying Start programs, said the mare's purchase in 2020 followed lessons she'd learned from her father, Tony Holmes of Marula Park Stud.

“She had a lot of upside,” she said. “My dad has operated that way his whole career, just buying mares with plenty of upside. There were Gun Runners, a Pharaoh filly, all Winchell [in the pedigree], so we thought if she could be bought right, she's a pretty mare and had enough of a page that we could hope something would pop there.”

Since purchasing Super Simple a year ago, plenty had popped in the family. The mare's half-sister Simple Surprise (Cowboy Cal) is the dam of this year's GI Hopeful S. winner Gunite (Gun Runner), while half-sister Simply Sovereign (American Pharoah) was second in the Trapeze S. last December and 2-year-old half-sister Optionality (Gun Runner) graduated for Winchell Thoroughbreds and Steve Asmussen just three weeks ago.

“If something popped up, we could resell, if it didn't, we could keep her,” Sarah Dooley said when asked if the plan had always been to sell the mare this year. “We bought her with both options in mind. And sure enough the American Pharoah is now stakes placed and there is Gunite, and the 2-year-old just broke her maiden. So it was time to see how the market would be.”

Super Simple sold Sunday in foal to first-season sire Volatile. The stallion, an $850,000 yearling purchase in 2017, won the 2020 GI Alfred G. Vanderbilt H. before retiring to Three Chimneys where he stood the 2021 breeding season for $17,500.

Leo Dooley, a native of Ireland who worked for trainer Jim Bolger, as well as serving stints at Ballylinch Stud, Tattersalls and Goffs, said the stallion made sense for Super Simple.

“When we went out to look at Volatile, he was very impressive physically,” he said. “He cost so much as a yearling, he was bound to be, but he was a very good physical and he was a good match for the mare.”

Sarah Dooley added, “[The mare] was 100% ours and it's our first year in business. Even a $30,000 or $40,000 [stud fee] was a stretch for us. Volatile was a beautiful first-season horse and everybody was talking about him. We loved him. And at $15,000, the price was right for us.”

Sunday's result more than exceeded expecations.

“I thought at best she might make $120,000 or $150,000,” Sarah Dooley said. “So she more than doubled expectations, that's for sure. It's an absolute home run.”

Woodford Buying Spree Continues

Bloodstock agent Lincoln Collins has been busy purchasing mares for John and Susan Sykes's Woodford Thoroughbreds this week at Keeneland as the operation continues to upgrade its commercial broodmare band. Collins, sitting alongside John Sykes, purchased Super Simple (Super Saver) (hip 1502) for $300,000 from the Warrendale Sales consignment Sunday. The mare is a half-sister to the dam of GI Hopeful S. winner Gunite (Gun Runner).

“She is a beautiful mare,” Collins said after signing the ticket on the mare, who sold in foal to Volatile. “Obviously, the family is very live. So that's a big consideration for us. We bought one earlier that we thought was good value and we stretched a bit for her, but you've got to have good-looking mares in order to succeed in the commercial marketplace. Woodford Thoroughbreds is a commercial operation and we've been looking to upgrade. Obviously, we've bought a lot of mares at the sale, but Mr. and Mrs. Sykes are determined to make Woodford a first-class, top-five yearling sellers, and in order to do that, you've got to have good-looking mares.”

Collins returned for another mare in foal to Volatile later Sunday, going to $95,000 for Cedar Hall (Bayern) (hip 1607).

Woodford Thoroughbreds has purchased 14 mares so far at the Keeneland November sale for a total of $3,515,000. In addition to Volatile, the operation has purchased two mares in foal with the first crop of foals by Authentic and McKinzie, and one mare carrying a foal from the first crops of Vekoma and Improbable, as well as two mares in foal with the second crop of Omaha Beach.

“There has been a trend in the last few years that makes it difficult from a commercial point of view to breed to very good proven sires because there seems to be a ceiling for what you can get for a regular one as opposed to a superstar,” Collins said of the purchase of so many mares in foal to young stallions. “Maybe the trend will change, but from a commercial point of view you've got to look at the young horses because people seem to give a lot of money for them. Woodford is in the commercial game and we're trying to buy good-looking mares to get good-looking foals by first-season stallions. That's part of our commercial strategy. Having said that, we have a lot of other good mares who will get bred to proven horses. This is all about, from Woodford's point of view, presenting horses that the market wants. We are all looking a couple years in advance. One out of five are the ones that are going to make you the money. You just have to have the right ones.”

Familiar Connections for Mitole Colt

Bill and Corinne Heiligbrodt, who campaigned Mitole, teamed up with Spendthrift Farm, which stands the champion sprinter, to acquire a weanling (hip 1432) from his first crop for $285,000 early in Sunday's session of the Keeneland November sale. The bay colt, bred by R B Stables and consigned by Mulholland Springs, is out of the unraced Rode Warrior (Quality Road), a half-sister to graded winner Wacky Patty (Formal Dinner).

“I thought he was the best Mitole we've seen so far,” Spendthrift's Mark Toothaker said. “He was just an absolutely gorgeous horse. We were so glad to be able to team up with Bill and Corinne Heiligbrodt, who obviously campaigned Mitole. So we are very excited to land this horse. We partnered up and hopefully he'll be a runner.”

The speedy Mitole, a four-time Grade I winner, capped his career with a win in the 2019 GI Breeders' Cup Sprint and was named that year's champion sprinter. He began his stud career at Spendthrift in 2020 and will stand the 2022 season at $15,000.

“A lot of the ones we've seen have been beautiful-bodied horses,” Toothaker said of Mitole's babies. “This one not only had the beautiful body, he also stood over a lot of ground. So we thought he was one we had to have and we took a shot. [Spendthrift owner] Eric [Gustavson] and [manager] Ned [Toffey] signed off and Bill and Corinne were all on board.”

Consignor John Mulholland said he has been impressed by what he has seen of Mitole's first crop of weanlings.

“They have exceeded my expectations,” Mulholland said. “This one is out of a big Quality Road mare. So I think if you breed a big, stretchy kind of mare to him, you're going to get the best of both, from what I've seen.”

Hip 1432 was the second weanling by Mitole to top the $200,000 mark at the Keeneland November sale. He was represented by the second-highest priced weanling of Saturday's session when hip 1214 sold for $200,000 and he has now had 10 six-figure weanlings sell at Keeneland this week. Twenty-two weanlings by Mitole have sold for an average of $95,000.

“He bred a big book of mares his first year and then the babies were so nice, we came back this year and bred over 200 mares again,” Toothaker said. “So Mitole has a huge following. And the way these sales results have been, he's going to have a big following again next year. We couldn't be more excited. He's the mighty Mitole–the fastest horse in the world and we are happy to have one.”

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