LEXINGTON, KY–Saturday's GI Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff heroine Blue Prize (Arg) (Pure Prize) topped a busy evening of trade at Fasig-Tipton's November Sale when selling for $5 million to OXO Equine's Larry Best. The three-time Grade I-winning mare was one of 18 seven-figure sales from 13 individual buyers at Newtown Paddocks Tuesday.
“We continued the tradition of the November Sale of having a wonderful marketplace for top-quality fillies and mares and top weanlings,” Fasig-Tipton President and CEO Boyd Browning, Jr. said. “There was tremendous competition from buyers around the world, who came to buy and bid aggressively. We had 18 horses sell for $1 million or more tonight, which is kind of mind boggling. We ended the night on a $1.4-million horse with bidding competition between two of the major players in the industry. I thought all in all, we had an exceptional sale tonight.”
The top weanling of the night was a Gun Runner filly out of MGISW Love and Pride (A.P. Indy), who went to bloodstock agent Mike Ryan for $750,000.
Overall, 128 horses changed hands Tuesday for a gross of $68,011,000, an average of $531,336 and a median of $300,000. Last term, 140 head brought $89,473,000 with an average of $639,093 and a median of $327,500. Forty horses left the ring unsold this year compared to last year's RNA rate of 27.4%.
“The market is the same as we have seen in recent years,” Browning said. “Quality sells, quality sells, quality sells. We had great competition on the horses who were standouts. It was neat to see international participation and strong domestic participation. It was a diverse group of buyers. It was not dominated by any individual or groups.”
Denali Stud's Conrad Bandoroff expressed similar thoughts on the market, saying, “This is a sale for queens and they sell well here. What you have to remember is queens are usually owned by kings and queens. So unless they are going to bring a certain price or a certain level, they don't have to sell. So I think to some extent, this sale can be a bit of a seller's market.”
The sale got some big updates at the World Championships this weekend when Blue Prize took the Distaff and Belvoir Bay (GB) (Equiano {Fr}) wired the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint before summoning $1.5 million. But, it also had some losses, such as MGISW and Distaff runner-up Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute), who will remain in training in 2020.
“The nature of this sale is you get some tremendous updates like Blue Prize and some big losses like Midnight Bisou, but we know that going in,” Browning said.
The night ended with an enthusiastic round of applause and cheers, but they were not for the $1.4-million sale of Transplendid (More Than Ready), dam of GSW and top juvenile Dennis' Moment (Tiznow). The crowd was honoring longtime Fasig-Tipton Director of Marketing Terence Collier, who will now retire after 40 years of service to the company.
“This was Terence [Collier]'s last horse sale,” a very emotional Browning said. “He has been a big part of the team. He went out literally on top, selling a horse for $1.4 million to some of his good friends. We will miss him.”
Best Buying Top Broodmares Now Too
Larry Best of OXO Equine has purchased plenty of top weanlings, yearlings and 2-year-olds after bursting onto the scene a few years ago, but to see him holding the ticket after the dust settled at Fasig-Tipton following the $5-million sale of Saturday's GI Breeders' Cup Distaff heroine Blue Prize (Arg) (Pure Prize) was a bit of a surprise.
“I'm now a breeder, and I now have a Breeders' Cup champion–maybe the only way I can get one,” quipped Best, who said he has three broodmares, which he keeps at Taylor Made Farm. He plans to retire Blue Prize, and would seek opinions on who to breed her to.
“She's just a special horse,” he said. “There are a lot of mares who I pass on that are presented to me as an important opportunity. I'm not a volume guy–I'm a quality guy.”
Blue Prize was consigned to the sale as hip 98 by Bluegrass Thoroughbred Services, Inc. on behalf of John Moores and Charles Noell's Merriebelle Stable. A Group 1 winner in her native Argentina, she also took back-to-back GI Juddmonte Spinster S. trophies in 2018 and 2019 and upped her earnings to $2,692,253 with her 10th career victory Saturday.
“One of the my first horses was [$1.05-million OBSMAR buy and eventual GSW] Instilled Regard [Arch], and the second dam of Instilled Regard is [Hall of Famer] Heavenly Prize. When you look at the pedigree of this horse, you see Heavenly Prize (the dam of Pure Prize),” Best said of the mare's appeal. “I fell in love with that. It was a very expensive love affair… I saw her race, and I was in awe of her. And when you look at her record, you have to be in awe. I was so happy for [jockey] Joe Bravo… Two days ago, I wasn't intending to buy this horse. I was walking, it was a beautiful, sunny day–it was about 3:00 in the afternoon, and this horse had just shipped in. She just looked so gorgeous; probably the most beautiful horse I'd ever seen. Hopefully I'll have success breeding her. I think it was a worthwhile risk. Obviously, it was more money than anyone else wanted to pay, but she is a Breeders' Cup champion, and if you look at her record, it's just stellar.”
When asked if he was planning to breed to race or sell, Best said, “At some point, every breeder will tell you that they have to sell some. I'd like to stick with quality. And, down the road, I'd like to [breed and race] a lot of good runners. So, I will sell some along the way because it makes sense business wise. This is a special horse, and I'm very happy.”
Best also purchased three weanlings earlier in the session, including a $700,000 foal by Uncle Mo (hip 70).
Blue Prize's trainer Ignacio Correas was on hand Tuesday and was clearly emotional after seeing his stable star head to a new home.
“I mean, I'm happy for the owners and happy for her, she's going to go to a great place no doubt,” he said. “They're going to take care of her so good luck to [Larry Best] and good luck to her.” —@BDiDonatoTDN
Yoshida Makes the Call
Shunsuke Yoshida of Northern Farm missed out on Photo Call (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) (hip 166) when the multiple Grade I winner went through the sales ring in 2015, but he made up for it when acquiring the mare for $2.7 million Tuesday at Fasig-Tipton.
“When she sold in 2015, we also liked her very much, but we weren't able to get her,” Yoshida said with Shingo Hashimoto interpreting. “So we were very interested in her. She looks very athletic and her race performance was very nice.”
Photo Call, who sold Tuesday in foal to Quality Road, sold to Crupi's New Castle on behalf of Teresa and Vinnie Viola for $3 million at the 2015 Keeneland November sale. She produced a filly by War Front in 2018 and a colt by Uncle Mo this year.
Photo Call, who won the 2016 GI First Lady S. and 2015 GI Rodeo Drive in the St. Elias Stable colors, was consigned to Tuesday's sale by Denali Stud.
“She was a special offering, we knew that going into it. We thought that this was the range that she could fall in if everything aligned and it did,” said Denali's Conrad Bandoroff. “We knew that the Galileo cross works really well in Japan, so we knew there was going to be high Japanese interest going into it–or we hoped. She's gone to a great operation.”
Katsumi Yoshida's Northern Farm purchased five mares Tuesday. The operation went to $1.5 million to acquire GI Breeders' Cup F/M Turf runner-up Vasilika (Skipshot) (hip 193) and $1.4 million to purchase Secret Spice (Discreet Cat) (hip 175). @JessMartiniTDN
Shannon Gets Shamrock Rose
Agent Mike Shannon came out on top Tuesday for last year's GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint winner and champion female sprinter Shamrock Rose (First Dude) after stretching to $2.5 million. The 4-year-old broodmare prospect was consigned to the sale by Bluewater Sales as hip 178 on behalf of Penny and Manfred Conrad's Conrad Farms.
“It was beyond our expectations,” Manfred Conrad said. “We thought she'd do well, but in the back of our minds we also hoped, 'Maybe we'll take her home and breed her ourselves.' But this went great tonight.”
“We don't have many horses, but we've had a lot of luck,” Penny Conrad added.
A $120,000 OBSAPR 2-year-old buy, the Mark Casse trainee was brought back for a 4-year-old campaign this term, but her best finish from three tries was a third in the GII Azeri S. going two turns behind the formidable pair of Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute) and Elate (Medaglia d'Oro). She was injured and retired after finishing fifth in the GI Madison S. in April.
“She's a great horse,” Manfred said. “I'm sure she'll do well for the new owners; I'm quite sure. I think the offspring will be amazing… She's a really beautiful horse. We were really tossing around whether we should or shouldn't sell, but I think it was the right move. In the business, you need to sell in order to buy.”
The Conrads plan to reinvest the proceeds into more broodmares.
“We'll put it right back into our horses,” Penny said.
“Yeah, we're not going to save it,” Manfred said with a chuckle.
Bluewater's Meg Levy added, “I think it's huge [that she was the only champion in the catalog]. She was the only 3-year-old to win the Filly & Mare Sprint and she won four stakes in a row. When you have that stamp as an Eclipse champion, it says a lot. There are so few of them on the market. I think it's amazing. We're so lucky. I'm just thrilled for the Conrads. And Mark Casse has done such a wonderful job buying horses that are not necessarily in the box. We're just blessed to have them as clients.” —@BDiDonatoTDN
Mia Mischief Heading Right Back to Asmussen
'TDN Rising Star' Mia Mischief (Into Mischief) (hip 150) won't have to spend much time out of Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen's barn. The 4-year-old raced for Bill and Corinne Heiligbrodt, Heider Family Stables and Madaket Stables when she took this year's GI Humana Distaff S., and she'll carry the silks of Stonestreet Stables in 2020 after Barbara Banke paid $2.4 million for her Tuesday evening.
Mia Mischief will eventually be bred to Stonestreet's Horse of the Year and super-sire Curlin.
“He's done such a great job with her,” Stonestreet's John Moynihan said of the decision to send Mia Mischief back to Asmussen as Banke visited with the trainer, Corrine Heiligbrodt and consignor Brad Weisbord of Elite. “She's a beautiful filly, so we're excited. Physically, she's beautiful; she's rocket fast. That's the kind of mare that [Curlin's] done extremely well out of.”
Stonestreet purchased last year's $7.5-million Fasig November topper Lady Aurelia (Scat Daddy) to dissolve a partnership, and also paid $1.45 million for Grade II winner Road to Victory (Quality Road) (hip 172) in foal to War Front Tuesday.
Out of a half-sister to five stakes horses, Mia Mischief was purchased by the Heiligbrodts for $300,000 at the 2017 Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream sale, and pieces of her were sold privately after she romped in Oaklawn's Purple Martin S. last March and immediately before she annexed the GII Eight Belles S. that May. She just missed in the GI Test S. later that term, but reached the highest level this May at Churchill. While she skipped a trip to the Breeders' Cup, she romped by five lengths in Friday's Dream Supreme S. at Churchill.
“Tremendous sale; we're so lucky to work for Bill and Corrine Heiligbrodt, Scott Heider, and Madaket Stables,” Weisbord said. “Barbara Banke is the first lady of racing. She's got an unbelievable program. They breed the best, they buy the best, they have the highest ethics. It's wonderful that she's going to go to a great home. Hopefully she'll continue to run–Steve Asmussen has done a tremendous job. She's coming off one of her best numbers lifetime. Hopefully Steve will get her back and we'll get to root for her next year because she's a darling. She's been a wonderful filly for us.”
As for the price, Weisbord said, “It was well over the reserve. There was a partnership that was disbanding, so when you have that, you have to reserve them low. And I think she was well sold.”
SF Bloodstock paid $700,000 for Mia Mischief's 13-year-old dam Greer Lynn (Speightstown) (hip 125) in foal to War Front for $700,000 earlier in the session. —@BDiDonatoTDN
Redvers Strikes For Coveted Offerings
Bloodstock agent David Redvers fought off Summer Wind Farm owner Jane Lyon twice Tuesday to take home two of the auction's most coveted offerings: MGISW Separationofpowers (Candy Ride {Arg}) and GSW Diva Delite (Repent), dam of MGISW Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute).
Redvers went to $2.1 million for Separationofpowers (Hip 177), who sold with Elite as a broodmare prospect. He was acting on behalf of a new partnership headed by Hunter Valley Farm.
“She was absolutely beautiful,” said Redvers. “She is a serious Grade I winner. She is everything you are looking for. There is pretty much no stallion that you couldn't send her to. She was bought for a very exciting new partnership with Hunter Valley Farm. We are really thrilled together, very lovely mare, perfect physique and a fantastic addition to any broodmare band.”
Winner of the 2017 GI Frizette S., Separationofpowers returned at three to take the GI Test S. and captured this term's GIII Bed O' Roses Invitational S. A half to SW Empire of War (Declaration of War), the bay is out of Shehadmefromhello (Empire Maker), who was purchased by Lyon for $1.1 million at last year's renewal of this auction.
“I think the market is a little light tonight,” said Elite's Brad Weisbord. “Seth Klarman is a very realistic seller. He is a top player in the game and sells these big time mares. The market understands that she sells. She is a Test winner and a Frizette winner with a great physical and I think she was a great buy by David Redvers and the Hunter Valley Crew.”
Redvers went to $1.2 million for Diva Delite (Hip 173), who is in foal to Triple Crown winner Justify, on behalf of a different partnership. Heroine of the GIII Florida Oaks, the 12-year-old mare's greatest accomplishment is producing five-time Grade I winner Midnight Bisou, who finished second in the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff Saturday and was scratched from this sale to remain in training for another season. She is also responsible for the SP Stage Left (Congrats), the unraced juvenile colt Warrior in Charge (Warrior's Reward); and a yearling filly by Wicked Strong.
Taylor Made consigned the mare on behalf of Breeze Easy, who purchased her for $800,000 at last year's Keeneland November Sale. —@CDeBernardisTDN
Another Canadian HOY for K I Farm
The Nakamura family's K I Farm has a habit of buying Gary Barber-owned, Mark Casse-trained and Bluewater Sales-consigned Canadian Horses of the Year. It paid $1 million for Lexie Lou (Sligo Bay {Ire}) at the 2016 Keeneland November sale, and $3 million for Catch a Glimpse (City Zip) at this auction two years ago. Its latest acquisition was $2-million Wonder Gadot (Medaglia d'Oro) (hip 196) Tuesday who, like K I's previous purchases, has a future date with leading Japanese sire Lord Kanaloa (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}).
“She had a good body, race record, pedigree–everything,” said agent Taki Murayama. “[The price] was what we expected… We're very, very happy to have these champions from Canada.”
A $325,000 OBSAPR 2-year-old, Wonder Gadot took the 2017 GIII Mazarine S. and GII Demoiselle S., and was second in the GI Kentucky Oaks the following term before besting the boys in Woodbine's Queen's Plate and Prince of Wales S. en route to Sovereign Award honors.
She is a full to SW and GSP Solemn Tribute and half to promising 'TDN Rising Star' Hard Not to Love (Hard Spun), and is a granddaughter of GSW and GISP Chimichurri (Elusive Quality). This is the same female family as GISW Secret Spice (Discreet Cat), who sold to Katsumi Yoshida for $1.4 million Tuesday.
The sale of Wonder Gadot capped a huge sale for Meg Levy's Bluewater Sales, which sold eight head for $8.8 million, including four mares for $1.45 million or more.
“This is one of the best nights we've ever had and the most wonderful thing is being around such great racemares,” Levy said. “I give all the credit to Mark Casse and Gary Barber. What else can you say? Did you see her out there? She was really amazing. I have to say, I think we got them all sold, which is even more shocking in this market. For me , it's all about the horses, particularly the horses we had at the farm. Shamrock Rose and Wonder Gadot have been at the farm and it's a nerve-wracking process. It's like being a mom. When they get here and people like them and they go through the process, I can't imagine what Mark feels like training these horses. Wonder Gadot was almost doing the Zenyatta prance. It's pretty cool because she's such a high-energy filly. Hopefully she'll replicate that.”
Don Alberto Buys Out Partner on Baffled
In 2016, just a year after Constiution (Tapit) won his second Grade I, his dam Baffled (Distorted Humor) hammered for $3.5 million at Fasig-Tipton November carrying his full-brother. The buyers that day were Don Alberto and Bridlewood Farm and the former bought out their partner Tuesday for $1.8 million. Sold by Denali Stud as Hip 95, Baffled is in foal to Medaglia d'Oro.
“We still have Cathryn Sophia with [Bridlewood] and are good partners,” said Fabricio Buffolo, Don Alberto's Executive Director. “We just thought at a certain price it was good for us to keep her and bank on Constitution continuing to do well.”
Of the price, he added, “That was the max.”
The Tapit she was carrying at the 2016 sale is the now 2-year-old filly Benvenutta, who is still unraced, but has been breezing in New York. Her yearling colt by Tapit was scratched from Keeneland September and has been retained by his breeders. Baffled's most recent produce is a weanling filly by Medaglia d'Oro.
“She has pretty nice foals,” Buffolo said. “We have one that is at Bridlewood right now, a Tapit, full-brother to Constitution, who is in pre-training. He had a little detail that was no trouble for him to perform, so we just put him in training. Hopefully, Constitution keeps doing well and we keep getting nice foals out of the mare.”
Winner of the 2014 GI Florida Derby, Constitution captured the GI Donn H. the following year. He stands at WinStar and is one of the top freshman sires with 18 winners and four black-type winners. His half-sister Jacaranda (Congrats) won the 2014 GIII Tempted S. and summoned $2 million carrying a foal by Candy Ride (Arg) at the 2016 renewal of this auction.
Don Alberto also purchased Mopotism (Uncle Mo) (Hip155) for $1.05 million and Bonita Bianca (Curlin) (Hip 99) for $330,000. —@CDeBernardisTDN
Brant Takes a Wow
Peter Brant campaigned Grade I winner Wow Cat (Chi) (Lookin At Lucky) in partnership with Stud Vendaval, but purchased the 5-year-old racing or broodmare prospect outright when bloodstock agent Alan Quartucci made a final bid of $1.7 million on his behalf Tuesday night at Fasig-Tipton. Quartucci signed the ticket on the mare (hip 197) in the name of Brant's White Birch Farm.
Wow Cat, named Horse of the Year and champion 3-year-old filly in her native Chile in 2018 and champion 2-year-old filly in 2017, was a four-time Group 1 winner in South America. She relocated stateside last summer and won the 2018 GI Beldame S. and was second in the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff. She was second in this term's GII Beldame and suffered the first off-the-board finish of her career when seventh in Saturday's Distaff.
Asked if the dark bay mare would continue to race, Quartucci said, “I think it's up for debate. She had a nice campaign this year. They'll give her a little break and they'll mull it over. [Brant] has a little time to make a decision on whether he'll breed her or continue to race her.” @JessMartiniTDN
Sweet Purchase for Mt. Brilliant
Patience paid off for the Mt. Brilliant Farm team Tuesday when acquiring Sweet N Discreet (Discreet Cat), who hails from a family they have been waiting a long time to get into, for $1.6 million late in the sale. Consigned by Lane's End, Hip 216 sold in foal to Liam's Map.
“We love the mare,” Goodman said, standing alongside bloodstock agent Marette Farrell. “She was the only mare on our list today. Our favorite mare was the first mare we were bidding on, so it kind of worked out for us.”
Bred and raced by E. Paul Robsham Stables, the GSP mare is a full to GSW & GISP Discreet Dancer and a half to GSW Travelin Man (Trippi). The late J.J. Crupi purchased her on behalf of Vinnie Viola's St. Elias Stable for $1.1 million at the 2014 Fasig November Sale. Her second foal was Sweet Melania (American Pharoah), a $600,000 KEESEP purchase by Robert and Lawana Low, who won the GII Jessamine S. and was third in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf Friday. Sweet N Discreet did not produce a foal in 2018 and her 2019 Carpe Diem filly passed away, but she is back in foal to Viola's GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner Liam's Map.
“We love this family,” Goodman said. “We have been chasing this family for a really long time. My grandfather was one of the partners on A.P. Indy when he was racing. It is a family near and dear to our hearts. We always wanted a piece of it and now we have it.”
He continued, “We thought it would be somewhere around here [price-wise]. It is a lot of money, but she is a really nice mare. She has already produced a graded stakes horse, who is Grade I-placed in the Breeders' Cup. Mares like that don't come along very often. We are thrilled with every part of it.”
Hollendorfer Bids Farewell to Vasilika
Jerry Hollendorfer and partners claimed Vasilika (Skipshot) for just $40,000 out of a winning effort at Santa Anita in February of 2018 and she proved to be one of the shrewdest claims of the decade. The chestnut went on to win 13 of her next 18 starts for the Hall of Fame conditioner with 10 of those wins being stakes, including a pair of Grade Is.
Hollendorfer flew to Kentucky just to watch his star filly, who was a gutsy second in Saturday's GI Breeders' Cup F/M Turf, go through the ring at Fasig Tuesday night, where she sold for $1.5 million to Northern Farm. She was consigned by Taylor Made as Hip 193.
“This is why I came. I gave her a good luck kiss,” said Hollendorfer. “She was a very lovely horse to train and we all had a great time with her. Sometimes it's time for them to sell and it was her time.”
When asked if Vasilika was his top claim ever, the California-based trainer said, “I think so. She is very nice. You saw her walking around. That is how she was the whole time. Nice and easy. She never ran a bad race for us ever.”
Vasilika's was scoring her sixth straight win when registering her first graded score in the 2018 GII John C. Mabee S. She followed that with her first top-level triumph in the GI Rodeo Drive S. last fall and took the GII Goldikova S. next out. Kicking off this term with a win in the GIII Megahertz S. in January, the chestnut rattled off victories in the GII Buena Vista S. in February, the GII Royal Heroine S. in April and the GI Gamely S. May 27. She also successfully defended her Mabee title prior to a heartbreakingly close second in the Breeders' Cup.
Laffina Proves Popular at Fasig
Boosted by the efforts of her two-time Grade I-winning daughter Bast (Uncle Mo), Laffina (Arch) (Hip 140) was well-liked at Fasig-Tipton, hammering for $1.5 million to Eaton Bloodstock. Consigned by Taylor Made on behalf of BlackRidge Stables, the bay is in foal to Ghostzapper.
Out of MSP St Lucinda (St. Jovite), Laffina is a half to GSW & GISP Mananan McLir (Royal Academy); SW & GSP Big Sur (Malibu Moon); and SW Charming N Lovable (Indian Charlie), dam of GISW Fault (Blame). BlackRidge Stables purchased the mare privately carrying her first foal after she RNA'd for $290,000 at the 2016 Keeneland November Sale.
“She's been a great ride so far,” said BlackRidge's Will Daugherty. “Very good all around. It's been fun to follow Bast to this point. I'm hoping she has a good rest of the winter and spring campaign.”
Her first foal was Bast, a $500,000 FTSAUG purchase by Baoma Corp. who captured the GI Del Mar Debutante S. and GI Chandelier S. before finishing third in Friday's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. Susan Chu's Baoma Corp. also purchased Laffina's yearling colt by California Chrome for $325,000 at Keeneland September. Her weanling filly by Pioneerof the Nile (Hip 139) preceded her into the ring, selling for $430,000 to Giant Elf Bloodstock.
“The way that that mare has been able to produce, great movers, great heads, just fantastic individuals,” said Daugherty. “I had hopes for the Ghostzapper that she's carrying but obviously with Bast out there it was worth letting her go right now. Just excited about the whole day. To be able to roll them out like we did was just phenomenal.” —@CDeBernardisTDN
Belvoir Bay Heading to the Breeding Shed
Belvoir Bay (GB) (Equiano {Fr}) (hip 96) capped her racing career with a dramatic front-running victory in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint Saturday at Santa Anita and now heads to the breeding shed after bloodstock agent Mike Shannon made a final bid of $1.5 million on the 6-year-old mare at Fasig-Tipton Tuesday.
“I can't say who I was buying her for, but we are not going to race her again,” Shannon said. “She's going to be a mother and she'll stay in the U.S.”
Of the mare's appeal, Shannon added, “She is the fastest mare in the U.S.”
Belvoir Bay was consigned by Bluewater Sales on behalf of owner Gary Barber. Bluewater's Meg Levy said the mare's 1 1/4-length defeat of the boys Saturday proved her value.
“I tell you what, when I watched her cross the finish line from my couch at home, it just brought tears to my eyes,” Levy said. “It really, really did. To watch her heart and watch that desire come across, she drove like a race car. Being on the outside, she went right where she was told, her ears were going back and forth, she was listening. She said, 'See ya later boys'. That's really the intangible.”
Belvoir Bay is out of Path of Peace (GB) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}), a half-sister to group winner Please Sing (GB) (Royal Applause {GB}). In addition to the Turf Sprint, the 6-year-old also won the 2018 GII Monrovia S. and GIII San Simeon S., as well as the 2017 GIII Senator Ken Maddy S. and 2016 GIII Torrey Pines S. On the board in 20 of 28 starts, she retires with 12 wins and earnings of $1,539,787. @JessMartiniTDN
Transplendid Another First for Nixon
Transplendid (Elusive Quality) has been a mare of firsts for Geoff Nixon. She was one of the first mares the Texan purchased when he got into the business five years ago. With the help of farm manager Elise Handler, he went to $50,000 to acquire her at the 2015 Keeneland November sale. When the foal she was carrying at that sale, Bridge to Heaven (Verrazano), brought $650,000 at the 2017 Keeneland September sale, it was the breeder's first six-figure sale. Thanks to the exploits of the mare's graded winning juvenile Dennis' Moment (Tiznow), Transplendid became Nixon's first seven-figure sale when she sold for $1.4 million as the last horse through the ring at Tuesday's Fasig-Tipton November sale.
“We're ecstatic with that result,” Nixon said. “That was full circle. Transplendid was the first mare that I bought back in 2015. The first foal out of the mare was the first we sold for six figures and now we sold the mare for seven figures. So it was first, first and first.”
Transplendid (hip 221), in foal to More Than Ready, was consigned by Carl McEntee's Ballysax Bloodstock and was purchased by Eaton Bloodstock, as agent for Sugar Valley Farm.
“Ballysax and Carl McEntee did a great job,” Nixon said. “Elise Handler and everybody at the farm did a tremendous job getting her prepped for the sale.”
Dennis' Moment's half-sister by Into Mischief went through the sales ring just prior to her dam and was led out unsold at $490,000.
“We didn't sell the half to Dennis' Moment, the Into Mischief filly, so we're going to bring her home and see what the next steps are,” Nixon said. “I think maybe we could send her to Fasig-Tipton Saratoga or Book 1 at Keeneland, but all the doors are open at the moment.”
Nixon's Grantley Acres had success with another supplemental entry when Soot Z (Empire Maker), dam of graded stakes winning juvenile Amalfi Sunrise (Constitution), sold for $800,000 to Eaton Bloodstock. Nixon had purchased the mare for $92,000 at this year's Fasig-Tipton February sale.
“My farm manager and Carl McEntee picked her out and we took the risk,” Nixon said of Soot Z's purchase. “And then in less than 10 months we made almost 10 times our investment. That's the horse racing industry. It's a good industry with a lot of great people.”
Soot Z sold Tuesday in foal to Into Mischief, while her weanling filly by Tiznow RNA'd for $290,000.
“It's teamwork,” Nixon said. “I was just along for the ride and I am hoping for success for decades to come.” @JessMartiniTDN
Ryan 'Runs' in Late for Top Weanling
While the majority of weanlings were offered at the beginning of the catalogue, supplemental entry hip 219 proved priciest of all the foals at $750,000 when selling to agent Mike Ryan. Bred by Three Chimneys Farm, the filly from the first crop of Horse of the Year and near $16-million earner Gun Runner (Candy Ride {Arg}) was consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, Agent XXXII.
“She's for an end user; going to a racing stable,” said Ryan. “She's got plenty of racing potential, broodmare potential if she does what we hope she can do on the racetrack. She was outstanding. It's the first time seeing these Gun Runners. I've seen several here and at Keeneland as well who are nice. He was a hell of a racehorse, and she's from a great family out of a great mare. She's a big, scopey filly; looks like she'll get a mile and an eighth. Could be anything–hopefully a Saturday afternoon horse.”
Hip 219 is out of MGISW Love and Pride (A.P. Indy), making her third dam GISW Cara Rafaela (Quiet American), the dam of Bernardini. Love and Pride was a $4.9-million graduate of this sale in 2013 while in foal to Distorted Humor.
“They're bigger than I thought they were going to be, to be honest,” Ryan said when asked for his early impressions of Gun Runner's foals. “I need to go back and see him again–the last time I saw him was when he was out of training at Three Chimneys. He looked magnificent then, but the thing that impressed me about him was the way he moved on the racetrack. He moved like a cheetah; his feet barely touched the ground. But I think there's some Giant's Causeway coming through there [in his progeny]; he's breeding size and scope and bone and substance… I'm liking what I'm seeing. He was as good a runner as we've seen here in recent years, and turned out to be a hell of an older horse. I wish people would keep more 3-year-olds in training as older horses.” —@BDiDonatoTDN
Best Strikes for Uncle Mo Filly
Larry Best, warming up ahead of his $5-million bid on GI Breeders' Cup Distaff winner Blue Prize (Arg) (Pure Prize), went to $700,000 to acquire a weanling filly by Uncle Mo Tuesday night at Fasig-Tipton. The bay (hip 70) is out of multiple graded stakes winner Summer Applause (Harlan's Holiday) and was consigned by Lane's End on behalf of the Berglar family's Narola.
“She's just a beautiful Uncle Mo filly,” Best said. “She's well bred and vetted out clean. Just from the long-term breeding standpoint, I'm pretty safe with the number. And hopefully, she's fast. But she's probably the nicest weanling here.”
Best has been active at auctions across the calendar this year and said he strikes where he finds the opportunities.
“I'll buy where I think the best opportunity is,” he said. “But I've been buying weanlings the last couple of years and it's been working out pretty well. It's a piece of a strategy. The yearling market, as you have noticed, has gone through the roof. So here, I can stay away from the Sheikh.”
Best purchased three weanlings Tuesday at Newtown Paddocks. In addition to the Uncle Mo filly, he purchased a colt by Mastery (hip 47) for $325,000 and a colt by Practical Joke (hip 55) for $240,000.
Peter Berglar, sporting an Uncle Mo cap, was quick to congratulate Best on the purchase.
“She's by the far the best weanling we've ever had coming off the farm,” Berglar said. “She was a queen all the way through, from when she was born to today, and straightforward. We are delighted that Mr. Best got her.”
Of the decision to send the filly through the Fasig November sales ring, Berglar added, “We did very well last year here in the sale, bringing horses that we thought would stand out a little bit. Because you have a smaller group of horses here, they really get a chance to shine a bit more, maybe, and don't get lost in the bigger numbers. We were hoping we would get rewarded here and Lane's End did a fantastic job with her.” @JessMartiniTDN
Just Talkin Makes Noise for Casse
Bloodstock agent Justin Casse admitted he had had his eye on multiple stakes placed Just Talkin (Midshipman) well before she stepped into the sales ring at this year's Fasig-Tipton February sale, where he purchased the 6-year-old mare for $160,000. Casse put the mare in foal to Triple Crown winner American Pharoah and was rewarded for the investment when she sold through the Hill 'n' Dale Farm consignment for $675,000 to Mountmellick Farm Tuesday at Fasig-Tipton.
“Originally, I had noticed her on the track because I thought she might suit Australia,” Casse explained. “I had been asked a couple times about mares for Australia and she was so fast and her sister was fast. So I followed her and then she showed up in the sale. I didn't make it up here, but I had a couple of people look at her for me and I got good reports on her.”
Out of Sumthingtotalkabt (Mutakddim), Just Talkin is a full-sister to the speedy Lady Shipman, who was runner-up in the 2015 GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint S. Just Talkin was on the board in 10 of 15 starts, with three wins and earnings of $221,220. She was second in the 2018 Ladies' Turf Sprint S. and was runner-up in that Gulfstream race again just a month before heading through the Fasig sales ring in February.
“She was fast and I thought she would cross well with Pharoah,” Casse said. “I thought Pharoah might stretch her out–I obviously didn't have any idea about the turf quality that he ended up throwing. But I thought she was a very pretty mare and she suited Pharoah well.”
Of the mare's $160,000 price tag, Casse added, “I was actually willing to pay more when I bought her. So I was thrilled to have bought her for what I bought her for at the time.”
Casse said the early success of American Pharoah, who was represented by his first Breeders' Cup winner when Four Wheel Drive won the GII Juvenile Turf Sprint last Friday, combined with the flashy good looks of the mare led to Tuesday's successful sale.
“She was a stunning mare and, more than ever, looks are crucial in the sales ring,” Casse said. “She was stunning and her looks really carried her, as well as Pharoah's three Breeders' Cup runners all hitting the board and having a winner.”
This wasn't the first time Casse had pinhooked a mare from the February sale to the November sale. In 2015, he purchased multiple graded stakes winner Gamay Noir (Harlan's Holiday) for $375,000. Put in foal to Tapit, the mare sold for $1.1 million at that year's Fasig-Tipton November sale.
“I think it's tough to do that,” Casse said of the quick return to the sales ring. “There is no easy way. We did it with Gamay Noir, but this was only the second time we've attempted it. So it's been profitable, but I don't want to go forcing it every year and thinking that I can make it happen. But it's definitely something we always have our eyes on.”
Casse was also in action as a buyer Tuesday in Lexington. The agent went to $500,000 to acquire a colt by Quality Road (hip 72) from the Lane's End consignment. The bay colt is out of stakes placed Tiz So Sweet (Tiznow) and was bred by the Steinbrenners' Kinsman Farm.
“The Quality Road weanling was bought to race,” said Casse. “It's a partial new ownership. The breeder will stay in for a leg and it will end up going to my brother [trainer Mark Casse].” @JessMartiniTDN
Heiligbrodts Spending Mitole, Mia Mischief Money
Fresh off their superstar Mitole (Eskendereya)'s Eclipse-clinching score in the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint, Bill and Corinne Heiligbrodt were back in action acquiring weanlings at Fasig-Tipton November. They purchased three in a matter of six hips, led by a $325,000 Speightstown filly consigned as hip 49 by Ballysax Bloodstock, Agent for Grantley Acres. The Feb. 3 foal is the first out of MGSP One True Kiss (Warrior's Reward), a half to none other than Sprint runner-up Shancelot (Shanghai Bobby).
“I think that's really good; I already have a yearling [half to hip 49's dam],” Bill Heiligbrodt said before returning a call from Mitole's trainer Steve Asmussen. “He's on the track and going, and he's by Runhappy, so now we've got another one from that family.”
The Heiligbrodts paid $360,000 for a Runhappy half-brother to Shancelot at this year's Keeneland September sale.
“I have a colt [from the family], and now a filly, so I think that's a pretty good combination,” Heiligbrodt said. “I already broke the other horse so I know a little bit about him, and I'm really happy. I was going to buy that horse.”
The Heiligbrodts also purchased a $150,000 Malibu Moon half-brother to GSW Cosmic Burst (Violence) (hip 51) (who herself brought $375,000 from WinStar Farm later in the session as hip 104) and a $145,000 Speightstown half-sister to this year's MGSW Mr. Money (Goldencents) (hip 54).
“I'm looking for fast horses,” Heiligbrodt said. “All of the ones that I've bought are like that. The two are Speightstowns, and I really like the Malibu Moon that I didn't spend a lot of money on. He looks more like a sprinter than anything else.”
The Heiligbrodts also co-campaigned Mia Mischief (Into Mischief), this year's GI Humana Distaff S. heroine and Friday's Dream Supreme S. winner. She sold for $2.4 million Tuesday to Stonestreet Stables. —@BDiDonatoTDN
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