Session Toppers and 5 A.M. Errands: Chance Timm on First Keeneland Sale as Grovendale Partner

Making a 5 a.m. trip to Walgreens for Vicks VapoRub was probably not what Chance Timm envisioned as part of his job description when he partnered with James Keogh at Grovendale Sales earlier this year, but when your consignment needs its supplies replenished during the second half of the Keeneland September Sale, you do what you need to do.

Timm is more than happy to take on some of those less-than-glamorous duties. In fact, he enjoys them.

“I like being hands on,” Timm said Monday morning while showing Book 4 yearlings at Barn 43. “I like being involved in everything that happens. We run a pretty tight ship, but James and I will both wear whatever hat is needed so that whatever needs to be done gets done. We love being involved and understanding all the little intricacies about each horse so we're able to make those small changes throughout the process that may really help.”

Timm has been involved in the Thoroughbred business for over 15 years, including eight years serving as the Director of Stallions Seasons and Shares at Lane's End Farm. While he has spent his fair share of time combing through the barns at various sales over the years, this is his first experience as a consignor during the marathon that is the Keeneland September Sale.

“It's nuts,” he said with a laugh and a wipe of his brow. “I was lucky at Lane's End that I was involved in the sales process but– fortunately or otherwise–I never had to deal with the minutiae and all the intricate details that come with putting something like this on. But I am now and it's exciting. It's great to work for yourself and put that pressure on yourself to make it happen. James has given me an unbelievable opportunity to partner with him and take advantage of his name, reputation and what he has built here. Hopefully I can build on it too.”

Grovendale Sales sent a $575,000 Munnings filly through the ring during the sixth session of Keeneland September | Keeneland

During its first Keeneland September operating under the Keogh-Timm partnership banner, Grovendale is already in the midst of a successful auction. On Sunday, they sold the session-topping filly for $575,000 to West Bloodstock for Repole Stables. The daughter of Munnings out of the stakes-placed Unbridled's Song mare Oh Carole was bred by Chelsea Bloodstock, Galtee Bloodstock and Paget Bloodstock.

Timm noted that the headlining filly had all the top players looking at her over the weekend.

“That's why we have horse sales,” he said. “When buyers hook up, they can exceed your expectations. She was an impressive filly with a lot of class. She had a lot of leg and length to her and was very robust. I would think she's an exceptional model of her sire and the market agreed.”

As for the marketplace in its entirety, Timm explained that they have found it to be a continuation of the polarized market.

“It's exceptionally strong at the top,” he said. “For those that are deemed as desirable, it's crazy strong. The filly yesterday had an enormous amount of interest and it's crazy for those kinds of horses, but it's probably equally polarized on the other end. If they fall through the cracks or people don't like them, it kind of is what it is.”

With just under 30 yearlings on Grovendale's Keeneland September roster, Timm said that the group represents many of Keogh's longstanding clients as well as some he shares a connection with through the various positions he has held in the industry over the years.

“There are a lot of people that have come with me as I've joined the partnership,” he explained. “Fallbrook Farm, Gail Radke, Jackpot Farm and Summer Wind Farm are all organizations that I am lucky to have a close association with and they're willing to support Grovendale. WinStar Farm has had a long association with James. They raise a really nice horse and I think people are aware of that so we're grateful for their continued support.”

One of Grovendale's seven yearlings going through the ring on Tuesday during Book 4 was bred and raised at WinStar. The colt by Winstar's first-crop yearling sire Yoshida (Jpn) is from the family of GISW Corinthian (Pulpit) and sells as Hip 2543.

“He's a really strong physical,” Timm shared. “We purposefully placed him in Book 4. I thought he was good enough to be in Book 3 and Keeneland originally placed him there, but we felt like he would stand out in Book 4. I think he'll represent his sire and his farm well.”

Timm said that another promising youngster from their list of Book 4 offerings is Hip 2672, a filly by World of Trouble.

“I think she'll be represented well here in this spot too,” he noted. “She's by a first-crop sire and she has a wonderful profile. Herbener Farm raised her and we're honored to have the opportunity to represent the Herbener family.”

Other yearlings preparing to go through the ring for Grovendale in the coming sessions showcase sire power like Munnings, Uncle Mo and Justify, as well as additional first-crop yearling sires in Vino Rosso, Mitole and Coal Front.

Once the September Sale concludes, Timm and Keogh will be preparing for a busy Keeneland November. Last year Grovendale was a top 10 consignor there with gross sales of over $6.9 million.

Timm said that as Grovendale evolves, they hope to maintain the consignment's well-known presence at the breeding stock sales while also widening their reach on the yearling side of the business.

“I think for the most part, James' business in the past has been pointed toward the breeding stock sales and we have a really strong group of about 80 horses pointing towards this November Sale,” he explained. “I'd say the opportunity for us is within the yearling market. It's something I hope to contribute to over time, but we're never looking to be a large consignment. I think for both of us, our primary motivation is helping the people that we represent do well. We try to do whatever we can to be hands on and help people make the right decisions so they can maximize the value of their horses.”

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Curlin Tops Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms’ 2022 Stallion Roster At $175,000

Hill 'n' Dale Farm announced their 2022 roster and fees headlined by two-time Horse of the Year Curlin, the leading sire of Grade 1 winners in 2021 with five. His stud fee remains unchanged.

Curlin's champion 2-year-old son Good Magic saw his first-crop yearlings very well received in the auction ring selling for up to $775,000. His fee remains unchanged as well.

Another young stallion who performed particularly well at auction was Army Mule, whose 44 first-crop yearlings averaged $112,000, with both a colt and a filly selling for $400,000.

New to the roster is Charlatan, a multiple Grade 1 Winner with earnings of $4,047,200, who will take up residence at the stallion complex at Xalapa alongside the farm's 13 other stallions.

Said Hill 'n' Dale president, John G. Sikura, “Hill 'n' Dale stallions continue to succeed at the highest levels. Currently, on the Blood-Horse sire list, Ghostzapper is ranked second by progeny earnings and Curlin number three with the most Grade 1 winners in North America. Maclean's Music has enjoyed a breakout year led by Grade 1 winners Jackie's Warrior and Drain the Clock. Kitten's Joy is consistently a leading sire and Violence has a prime Breeders' Cup contender in Dr Schivel. Our newest addition Charlatan is hugely popular with breeders and will be supported with our best mares.”

Below is the 2022 roster along with fees:

Army Mule (2014)
Friesian Fire – Crafty Toast, by Crafty Prospector
$7,500 LFSN

Charlatan (2017)
Speightstown – Authenticity, by Quiet American
$50,000 LFSN

Curlin (2004)
Smart Strike – Sherriff's Deputy, by Deputy Minister
$175,000 LFSN

Flintshire (GB) (2010)
Dansili (GB) – Dance Routine, by Sadler's Wells
$7,500 LFSN

Ghostzapper (2000)
Awesome Again – Baby Zip, by Relaunch
$75,000 LFSN

Good Magic (2015)
Curlin – Glinda the Good, by Hard Spun
$30,000 LFSN

Kantharos (2008)
Lion Heart – Contessa Halo, by Southern Halo
$20,000 LFSN

Kitten's Joy (2001)
El Prado (IRE) – Kitten's First, by Lear Fan
$50,000 LFSN

Lost Treasure (2015)
War Front – Wading (IRE), by Montjeu (IRE)
$5,000 LFSN

Mucho Macho Man (2008)
Macho Uno – Ponche de Leona, by Ponche
$7,500 LFSN

Maclean's Music (2008)
Distorted Humor – Forest Music, by Unbridled's Song
$50,000 LFSN

Midnight Lute (2003)
Real Quiet – Candytuft, by Dehere
$15,000 LFSN

Violence (2010)
Medaglia d'Oro – Violent Beauty, by Gone West
$25,000 LFSN

World of Trouble (2015)
Kantharos – Meets Expectations, by Valid Expectations
$7,500 LFSN

The post Curlin Tops Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms’ 2022 Stallion Roster At $175,000 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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First Foals for World of Trouble

Multiple Grade I winner World of Trouble (Kantharos) was represented by his first foal when a colt out of the unraced Sparkling Beauty (Flat Out) was born Jan. 12 at McKathan Farm.

World of Trouble's breeder, Daryl Clark of Darsan, Inc., welcomed one of the stallion's first foals when stakes-producing Lizzie K (High Fly) foaled a filly Jan. 30.

“The foal bears a strong resemblance to her sire,” Clark said. “She looks like she will be very fast. I am very pleased with what I see.”

World of Trouble won the 2019 GI Carter H. and GI Jaipur Invitational. He stands at Hill 'n' Dale for a fee of $15,000.

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Sikura Makes A Case for World of Trouble

When Hill 'n' Dale Farms announced that it would be standing World of Trouble (Kantharos) at stud, everything appeared straightforward. The horse was among the fastest of his generation and had won Grade I races on the turf and dirt. Considering the modest stud fee of $15,000 and the horse's credentials, Hill 'n' Dale President John Sikura had every reason to believe that the horse would be one of the more popular stallions at his farm.

Five months later, it all came crashing down. His trainer Jason Servis was indicted in March for allegedly using performance-enhancing drugs on his horses. Suddenly, he became a tough sell as a stallion.

Some may claim that none of this should have been a surprise to Sikura. Long before the indictments, suspicions surrounded Servis, a trainer whose accomplishments often seemed too good to be true.

“I claim naivete,” Sikura said. “I was not aware of any suspicions. It wasn't common talk in my circles. It may have been among gamblers or rival trainers, but I was never aware of any controversy swirling around him. Now I am more attuned to the subject and pay attention to it more closely. ”

Sikura decided to be proactive. He issued an open letter to the industry in the TDN defending World of Trouble and cut his stud fee in half to $7,500. Whether it will work or not remains to be seen. This is new territory for not just World of Trouble, but a handful of other stallions that were trained by Servis or Jorge Navarro, who was also indicted for allegedly using performance-enhancing drugs. Were they top race horses because of their natural ability or because their trainers may have been cheating or some combination of the two?

“If you delve into his form you'll see that this horse has always been a good horse,” Sikura said. “If he was given substances he shouldn't have been given, I won't defend that, but to say that a horse can run three quarters in six and change only because off some potion, I don't think that's a realistic position. The correlation between multiple Grade I winner and a magic potion, I don't think that is fair. I don't think it's based in fact.”

World of Trouble won the GI 2019 Jaipur S. at six furlongs on the grass in 1:06.37. Two starts earlier, he won the GI Carter H. on the dirt. Those are his two most impressive wins, but Sikura is quick to point out that World of Trouble showed promise before being turned over to Servis after his second career start. For trainer Kathleen O'Connell, he broke his maiden by 14 lengths in his first start and then was second in the FTBOA Florida Sire Affirmed S.

“Trained by Kathleen O'Connell for his first two starts as a two-year-old, World of Trouble looked like a world beater, breaking his maiden first time out by 14 lengths,” Sikura wrote in his letter.
Sikura said it's too early to tell whether or not his letter and the reduction in the stud fee will mean that World of Trouble will have a decent size book this year. Last year, in his first season as a sire, he was bred to 121 mares, most of which were booked before the indictments came out.

“It's early yet,” he said. “What we've done has stirred debate, but I don't know if it will change anybody's stance. We reduced the stud fee in half, we pointed out that he was fast before he was trained by Jason Servis and that he was fast after he was trained by Jason Servis. We don't know the specific illegal drug that was given to the horse or how, if and to what measure that affected his performance. It's an issue people feel strongly about, but a lot of it is just conjecture.”

Sikura said he has received messages of support when it comes to World of Trouble, but has also been targeted by those who he calls Internet trolls, “who hate the game and are convinced there is a conspiracy and a cover up when it comes to everything.”

Hill 'n' Dale also might have felt some concern after Charlatan (Speightstown) crossed the wire first in a division of the GI Arkansas Derby, and the farm secured the breeding rights to the Bob Baffert-trained colt. It was soon revealed that Charlatan had tested positive for lidocaine in the race, which meant he lost his lone Grade I win at the time.

But Charlatan will be fine. He came back to win the GI Runhappy Malibu S. and is the likely favorite in the $20 million Saudi Cup. He figures to be a very popular sire. As for World of Trouble, his first crop will hit the racetrack in 2023. It may not be until then that the questions swirling around World of Trouble are answered.

“We made decisions that should impact interest and increase the size of his book to some degree,” Sikura said. “What happens next, only time will tell.”

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