Quality Sells at Fasig November

by Jessica Martini, Brian DiDonato and Christie DeBernardis

With a total of 15 offerings selling for seven figures, the Fasig-Tipton November Sale produced power-packed results Monday in Lexington, with the 11-year-old mare Baffled (Distorted Humor) bringing the auction's top price of $3.5 million.

“You can summarize this sale simply in two words: quality sells,” Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning, Jr. beamed at the close of business. “I had pretty high expectations and we exceeded them. We work hard to recruit these quality horses and this is a special sale. When you have special horses to sell like we did tonight, you have pretty special results.”

In all, 88 horses sold Monday for a gross of $54,152,000. The average was $615,364–up 29.7% from 2015–and the median increased a whopping 60.6% to $377,500. The buy-back rate was 27.9%.
A year ago, 92 horses sold for $43,666,000. The average was $474,630 and the median was $235,000. Fourteen horses sold for seven figures.

Two perennial top-end buyers, Bridlewood Farm and Don Alberto Corp., teamed up to buy Baffled (hip 104) from the Taylor Made Sales Agency consignment. While Don Alberto was responsible for another seven-figure broodmare, there were 14 separate buying interests responsible for the million-dollar offerings.

“There was great, great competition across the board, starting with the foals,” Browning said. “It was a tremendously strong sale with a diverse group of buyers from all over the world. There was no dominance from any one particular group. Clearly the SF group were significant buyers and bidders and bid on a lot of horses they didn't buy.”

SF Bloodstock, bidding with Newgate Stud, purchased four lots Monday, while SF Bloodstock alone was the name on eight additional lots. The group's top-priced purchased was GI Kentucky Oaks winner Cathryn Sophia (Street Boss), who sold for $1.4 million. Despite the large number of purchases, SF Bloodstock's Tom Ryan said competition was fierce Monday night.

“The market was strong,” Ryan said. “For every proper, good, well-raced mare that we went in to buy, there was plenty of competition. We got beat a lot of times. I thought it was a tough, strong and healthy market here tonight.”

The November sale had a major score when Arrogate (Unbridled's Song) and California Chrome (Lucky Pulpit) ran one-two in Saturday's GI Breeders' Cup Classic. The sale offered the dams of both runners Monday and, while Love the Chase (Not for Love), the dam of California Chrome, sold for $1.95 million to bloodstock agent John McCormack, Bubbler (Distorted Humor), the dam of Arrogate failed to sell at $4.7 million.

“Every man and woman has a right to put a value on their horse,” Browning said. “There were no tears from the consignor on the most expensive horse that was bought back tonight. They have a collector's item and they were prepared to keep the horse if the market didn't meet their expectations. And that's the beauty of the market process. It tries to create a fair environment for both the buyer and the seller and sometimes those expectations don't always match up.”

Superpowers Battle for Baffled, Then Partner Up
Three of the world's most powerful players in the Thoroughbred bloodstock market converged in the Fasig-Tipton sales pavilion Monday to battle it out for Baffled (Distorted Humor) (hip 104), the dam of MGISW 'TDN Rising Star' Constitution (Tapit), GSW Jacaranda (Congrats) and this year's Group 2-winning juvenile Boynton (More Than Ready). Once the dust had settled, Bridlewood Farm's George Isaacs–seated next to principal John Malone–was left signing the $3.5-million ticket. At the time, Bridlewood had fended off Don Alberto Farm, with owner Carlos Heller present; and the China Horse Club team, including the group's chairman Teo Ah Khing.

Baffled was consigned to the sale by Taylor Made Sales Agency, Agent I, on behalf of Twin Creeks Farm and offered in foal to Tapit.

“What can I say? She's got it all: looks, a triple graded stakes producer in foal to the best stallion in America,” Isaacs said. “She's what we're looking for. We're trying to develop a serious breeding program geared towards the commercial market. She's the goods, and hopefully we get a good colt. It was a little more than I wanted to pay, but the good ones cost.”

Isaacs admitted that he had been stretched about to his limit for Baffled, but felt a little better about spending that kind of money with Malone, the media magnate and largest individual landowner in the U.S., by his side.

“It's more money than I like to spend, but the mare is what we're looking for–everything that a breeder would want,” he said. “[Mr. Malone] didn't make the money he made by being silly with his money, and I haven't done what I've done by being silly with my boss's money, but I did feel little stronger with him sitting next to me.”

Isaacs later revealed that Bridlewood had decided to partner with Don Alberto on Baffled.

“After we bought Baffled, it was a little bit more money than I'm used to spending,” he explained. “I wasn't sure who the underbidder was, but I looked across the room and saw the underbidder was Don Alberto.

Don Alberto has been a big supporter of Bridlewood since we have reenergized the farm and reenergized our training program. They have sent us 16 yearlings to break so far this year and more to come. I wanted to give them the opportunity to buy into the mare since they were the underbidder. I offered them the opportunity to buy 50% and they graciously accepted. Instead of bidding against our partners, we are like-minded and we want to take the approach to always be open to do business with like-minded people.”

Baffled is a half-sister to GISW Emcee (Unbridled's Song) and G2 Al Maktoum Challenge-Roud 1 winner Surfer (Distorrted Humor). This is also the family of GISW Awesome Humor (Distorted Humor). The aforementioned Boynton was purchased by John Ferguson for $750,000 at last year's Keeneland September sale. Baffled produced a Graydar filly in 2015.

Curalina to Japan
Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners' three-time Grade I winner Curalina (Curlin) will join fellow MGISW Princess of Sylmar (Majestic Warrior) in Japan after summoning the Fasig-Tipton November sale's second highest price of $3 million from Shadai Stud. Catalogued as hip 123, the 4-year-old was consigned to the sale by Bluewater Sales LLC as a broodmare prospect only.

“Everybody knows this filly is high-class and she has a lot of quality,” Shadai Stud's Naohiro Hosoda said outside the walking ring. “I think she was on everyone's lists.”
As Curalina stood stock still in the ring posing for her many admirers, it seemed like she was looking her now former owner, Eclipse President Aron Wellman, directly in the eye as he stood at the back of the ring watching her sell.

“That's what we were hoping for,” an obviously pleased Wellman remarked after the hammer fell. “It seems the top of the market for fillies off the racetrack like this is around a $3 million ceiling. We were hoping she'd bring that and she did.”

While pleased at the price, it was of course a bittersweet moment for Wellman to watch his filly sell.

“It's always tough to let go of a filly like this,” Wellman commented. “She's brought out partners and our organization so many thrills. She is so classy and just so special. It's tough to see a filly like that go, but that is what this business is all about. I am sure she found herself a great home and I couldn't be more thrilled for her because she deserved it. Meg and Mike Levy did an incredible job. I'm also thrilled for our partners, who put their faith in her from the beginning.”

Purchased by Eclipse Thoroughbreds and Dogwood Stable for $125,000 at the 2013 Keeneland September sale, Curalina punched through late to score a narrow upset in last year's GI Acorn S. at Belmont. Crossing the line a nose short of MGISW I'm a Chatterbox (Munnings) next out in the GI CCA Oaks, she was awarded her second Grade I win when that rival was disqualified for interference in the stretch.
Runner-up in the GI Beldame S. last term and third in the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff, Curalina kicked off this term with a 7 1/2-length demolition of Churchill's GI La Troienne S. May 6. Fourth in the GI Ogden Phipps S., the chestnut returned to winning ways with another dominant performance in Saratoga's GIII Shuvee H. and was second to Cavorting (Bernardini) in a loaded renewal of the GI Personal Ensign S. Aug. 27 before finishing sixth in Friday's Distaff. She heads to breeding shed with a record of 13-6-3-2 and earnings of $1,535,940.

Curalina was preceded into the ring by her dam Whatdreamsrmadeof (Graeme Hall) (hip 100), who sold to Laura Jane Lyon's Summer Wind farm for $1.65 million carrying Curalina's full-sibling. —@CDeBernardisTDN

Summer Wind Blowing in a New Direction
Laura Jane Lyon went to $1.65 million Monday evening to take home Whatdreamsrmadeof (Graeme Hall), the dam of MGISW millionaire Curalina (Curlin), as part of a change in strategy for her Summer Wind Farm.

“I'm trying to change my strategy just a little bit and try to buy mares that have produced because in the past I have bought a lot of good, beautiful Grade I-winning mares carrying their first foals and sadly quite a few of those don't reproduce,” Lyon said just outside the Fasig-Tipton press box. “So, I figured I would start a step ahead by having a mare that could already produce a Grade I winner.”

Whatdreamsrmadeof, consigned by Brookdale Sales on behalf of Susie Atkins' CASA Farms as hip 100, is currently back in foal to Curlin, the sire of her most famous offspring.

When asked if the upcoming Curlin foal factored into her purchase, Lyon remarked, “I thought Curalina was a beautiful filly. We went and looked at her. I liked her a lot. [Being in foal to Curlin] wasn't the main reason I bought the mare. I bought the mare because she produced Curalina.”

Curalina, who sold to Shadai Stud for $3 million just 22 hips after her dam, is the fourth foal out of GSP Whatdreamsrmadeof, who is also responsible for GSP Dream Spinner (Hard Spun). The 12-year-old mare's most recent progeny is a Tale of the Cat colt born in June of 2015.

“It was a little more than I hoped [to pay]. You paid what the market demanded,” Lyon commented. “I can't even believe I've got her. She's a lovely mare. There could be a number of possibilities [for her next mating].”

Lyon was also the underbidder on the unraced Tapas (Tapit), a half-sister to MGSW Justwhistledixie (Dixie Union), the dam of GISW New Year's Day (Street Cry {Ire}) and MGSW Mohaymen (Tapit). Catalogued as hip 91, she sold to the China Horse Club for $1.3 million carrying a foal by Medaglia d'Oro.

“I had gone over what I had expected on her because I thought, 'Well maybe I can get one more bid in,' the dual resident of Kentucky and Arkansas said. “But, there was a limit because she had not produced yet.”

Lyon was also part of the feverish action on the $3.5 million topper Baffled (Distorted Humor), and, though she missed out on that Grade I producer, she hopes to add more mares of that quality to her broodmare band over the coming days.

“I just hope that there will be more here and at Keeneland,” Lyon offered. “I need some more mares. Our broodmare band right now is fairly large, but there are a number that we will probably take out of production, either to retire or give them away or do whatever we decide to do with them for those that aren't fitting our program. That being said, the mares that I have that I am definitely keeping at this point are fewer than I would like to have. I'd like to add three or four mares this year and continue to do that for a few years if I can.”

One mare that Lyon is definitely keeping is Littleprincessemma (Yankee Gentleman), the dam of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile), who she purchased for $2.1 million at the conclusion of his champion juvenile campaign at this sale's 2014 renewal. The chestnut was carrying the Horse of the Year's full-brother at the time and has since produced a Tapit filly, who Lyon said “is not going anywhere!”

“She is wonderful, just wonderful,” the breeder emphasized of Littleprincessemma. “She really is. She is carrying another full-brother to American Pharoah.”

Jacaranda Follows in Mother's Footsteps
Jacaranda (Congrats) (hip 154), whose dam Baffled topped the sale at $3.5 million, wasn't far behind her mother, bringing $2 million from Jon Clay's Alpha Delta Stables. The 2014 GIII Tempted S. heroine was consigned by Hunter Valley Farm and in foal to Candy Ride (Arg).

“You saw what her mother brought,” said Reynolds Bell, who acted on Clay's behalf. “It's a great family. She had ability at two, she got hurt at three–she's in foal to Candy Ride. That's the kind of mare we want to have for Alpha Delta Stables.”

When asked if he had had his eye on Jacaranda, Bell said, “We were interested in the dam at the right price, but she exceeded our price. We were hoping that her daughter could be in our price range, and she was… After what the mare brought, we raised our sights a little bit. That's the market we're in–the good ones are bringing top dollar, so that's what you have to do. We got beat on a lot tonight–that's a horse sale.” -@BDiDonatoTDN

'Maria' 'Charges' Into a New Career at Three Chimneys
Privately purchased by Town and Country farm after RNAing for $3.15 million at the 2014 Fasig-Tipton November Sale, GI Breeders' Cup Distaff winner Stopchargingmaria (Tale of the Cat) made her second trip through the Newtown Paddocks Monday, this time selling to Three Chimneys Farm for $2.8 million. The 5-year-old filly was consigned to this sale once again by Taylor Made as hip 87.

“Obviously she was a top class filly,” said Three Chimneys' Jacob West, who signed the ticket while sitting alongside the farm's owner Goncalo Torrealba. “I actually worked for Taylor Made when Mike Repole tried to sell her the first time and she was top class then. Town and Country Farm bought her. They did everything right. They did everything that they could and she rewarded them by winning the Distaff. She beat a litany of fillies in the Distaff that were just incredible. The race record speaks for itself. The pedigree speaks for itself Tale of the Cat is off to a phenomenal start as a broodmare sire. He's always been. We are just excited to have her.”

A daughter of MSW & GSP Exotic Bloom (Montbrook), Stopchargingmaria earned $3,014,000, winning nine of her 18 starts. A two-time graded winner as a juvenile, the Todd Pletcher trainee won the GI CCA Oaks and GI Alabama S. in 2014 for Repole before changing hands to Town and Country. She captured both the GIII Allaire DuPont Distaff and GIII Shuvee H. last term prior to her upset in the Distaff.
“We'd been eyeing her for a long time because she is just that type of filly,” West remarked. “If you want a top class broodmare band like Mr. Torrealba is striving for, you have to go after these types.”
Town and Country Farm's Shannon Potter was one of the first to shake West's hand after the sale.

“It is bittersweet for us,” Potter said. “She has been with us for the last two years and she's great. She's been great for us and great for the farm. It is bittersweet to see her go. We are happy. It makes sense for us financially, but emotionally it is hard.”

Three Chimneys was also active on the opposite side of the market Monday, selling the well-bred Lady Zuzu (Dynaformer) to Wertheimer et Frere for $2.35 million carrying a foal by War Front. The farm purchased hip 140 for $1.225 million at the Fasig-Tipton August sale.

“It was a little bit expensive, of course, but she was a nice mare in foal to a very good stallion,” Pierre-Yves Bureau, racing manager for Wertheimer et Frere said. “The mating works. That's the kind of mare we're looking for for the broodmare barn. She was the only one we bid on–she was the one we wanted.” —@CDeBernardisTDN

China Horse Club Continues to Invest in U.S.
The China Horse Club, fresh off an announcement last week that they will partner with Hill 'n' Dale Farm, Juddmonte Farms and SF Bloodstock to stand globe-trotting turf superstar Flintshire (GB) (Dansili {GB}) in Kentucky, continued their investment in the U.S. Monday, picking up five broodmare prospects for a combined $5.52 million. Leading the China Horse Club acquisitions was Embellish the Lace (Super Saver) (hip 129), who was in foal to Uncle Mo and cost $2.4 million out of the Taylor Made Sales consignment.

A $320,000 KEESEP yearling purchase by Alex and JoAnn Lieblong, the half-sister to GISW Afleet Express (Afleet Alex) was a front-running winner of last year's GI Alabama S. before RNA'ing for $1.9 million at this sale 12 months ago.

“She's a mare that we've been sort of following for a good 18 months nearly,” noted China Horse Club's Michael Wallace. “[She was] an elite racemare, a very beautiful yearling who sold incredibly well and performed on the track as she should have, to the highest of levels. It's a beautiful family with plenty of quality relations up close. She's a young mare, in foal to a quality stallion.”

Also up close in Embellish the Lace's pedigree are the likes of GI Besilu Stables Florida Derby winner Materiality (Afleet Express).

China Horse Club chairman Teo Ah Khing offered more insight into the group's activity in the States.

“I'm buying mares to keep in America, so hopefully they can produce here,” he explained. “Then our members can see it is an investment not just in the bank, but for them to invest and then bring their business into other interests. Every year we look at these big name mares and then invest in them. We look at this as an investment.”

When asked to compare the American bloodstock market with other international markets, the Malaysian billionaire said, “The unique thing we observed in America is the dirt racing. We have a few dirt tracks in China, so we think there is a similarity. Where we are going to build our farm in China is similar in latitude to Lexington. We see there is a similarity and a lot of cultural things we can do besides just horses. That is why I have been back here the past three years. I just love this place. I brought my family here. Today we have been visiting WinStar, we visited Coolmore. Tomorrow my daughter is going to visit Claiborne–all the big boys.” –BDiDonatoTDN

Little Something More for China Horse Club
China Horse Club acquired the unraced Tapas (Tapit), in foal to Medaglia d'Oro, for $1.3 million during Monday's Fasig November sale. The 5-year-old mare is a half-sister to graded stakes winner Justwhistledixie (Dixie Union), the dam of GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner New Year's Day (Street Cry {Ire}) and multiple graded stakes winner Mohaymen (Tapit).

“What didn't we like about her is probably more to the point,” Michael Wallace said when asked what he liked about the mare (hip 91). “It's a pedigree that's very active and she is a young, very good-looking mare. She was one of the better-looking mares here, we thought, a good robust mare with a good cover. It's a family that's been on the move this year and we're happy to participate.”

Of future mating plans, Wallace added, “We'll get her home and see how the week pans out and we'll finalize matings towards the end of this week.”

The mare's Medaglia d'Oro foal will be targeted for the sales.

“We'll be looking to sell the foal,” Wallace said. “Our policy at the China Horse Club is to be commercial sellers in the market, just like everybody else. They'll be put on the market with few reserves and if people want to buy them, that will be the model.”

Tapas was consigned by Paramount Sales on behalf of Castleton Lyons, which purchased her, in foal to Distorted Humor, for $750,000 from the Regis dispersal at last year's Keeneland November sale. @JessMartiniTDN

McCormack Wins the 'Chase' for Chrome Dam
Agent John McCormack was the first to land one of the much-anticipated offerings at Fasig-Tipton Monday evening when he went to $1.95 million to secure Love That Chase (Not For Love), the dam of none other than leading North American money earner and 2014 Horse of the Year California Chrome (Lucky Pulpit). The 10-year-old was offered in foal to Tapit as hip 59, and consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, Agent VI.

“She was a nice mare physically–she had lovely quality–and it's there for everyone to see that she's the dam of a Horse of the Year, in foal to Tapit, believed to be carrying a colt,” McCormack offered. “You can hope, and believe, that the story could get better, and not stay static just the way it is. California Chrome is a lovely looking horse, a very good horse, a very honest horse and he's a deserved champion. When a mare like this comes into the ring, having produced a horse of the caliber she has, you have to sort of pay the market price, and I thought that was the market price. She's a lovely mare, and she seems to throw to her. Her yearling's very nice, like her; California Chrome is very nice, like her; and let's hope the resulting baby–filly or colt–will be nice and healthy.”

McCormack declined to reveal who he was acting on behalf of, but said she would stay in Kentucky.

“She'll get every chance going forward, and she's already getting the best chance in foal to Tapit,” he continued. “It's just a matter of whether she can keep it going, and California Chrome himself will very shortly start his new career at stud. So, the California Chrome story is only starting.”

As for the price paid, he McCormack said, “It was competitive in the ring, but that's what you expect for a mare like her. It's not often that you see the dam of a Horse of the Year show up. It's great that a sales company can bring horses like this to auction. Sometimes they don't show up, or become available or it's done privately. So it's nice for the auction houses when mares like this show up.”

California Chrome, last seen finishing a close second to Arrogate (Unbridled's Song) in a stirring renewal of the GI Breeders' Cup Classic Saturday, will stand at Taylor Made upon his retirement. Perry Martin, who bred California Chrome in partnership with Steve Coburn, has retained a 10% interest in the Art Sherman trainee.

“It's sentimental–I really hate to see her go, but I think the mare's bred just right,” Taylor Made's Duncan Taylor said. “Tapit does a lot of the same things as Lucky Pulpit as far as the nickings and crosses go. I think that was a really good mating. Hopefully, she'll get a Tapit who can run just nearly as good as Chrome… She's a nice, good-looking mare. She has a yearling colt who's a full-brother to Chrome and a really nice horse, so hopefully there are more good things coming.”

When asked for the latest 'Chrome' update, Taylor said, “He's doing great–he came back, and everything's fine with him. That was a great race by Arrogate. Khalid Abdullah's put a lot into the business, and he deserves it, but we'll live to fight another day. Maybe we'll get a rematch back in the [Jan. 28 GI] Pegasus [World Cup] and it'll be different business.” -@BDiDonatoTDN

Flay Gets Autumn Miss Upsetter
Celebrity chef Bobby Flay stepped up at the end of Monday's sale to secure supplemental entry Cover Song (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) (hip 174), the 30-1 upsetter of Santa Anita's Oct. 29 GIII Autumn Miss S., for $1.6 million. The 3-year-old was offered by B. Wayne Hughes's Spendthrift Farm, which paid $450,000 for her as a KEESEP yearling before turning her over to Carla Gaines to train.

“I think the page speaks for itself,” Flay said. “It's just an amazing Coolmore family–all over the page are War Fronts, Galileos, Group 1s, Group 2s. That's what I want to see when I'm looking for pedigrees. She just won a Grade III, and we'll probably continue to race her.”

Flay said he had not yet decided who would train Cover Song, and that she'd be sent to rest at Stone Farm before returning to the track.

Out of Irish highweight and three-time Group 1 winner Misty for Me (Galileo {Ire}), Cover Song is a half to Roly Poly (War Front), who won the G3 Balanchine S. and G2 Duchess of Cambridge S. over the summer for Aidan O'Brien and the Coolmore contingent before competing in Friday's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. She hails from the female family of Grade I winners Desert Wine and Menifee and Group 1 winner Fasliyev. –@BDiDonatoTDN

Elevage Buys and Sells
Elevage, a partnership which includes John Sikura's Hill 'n' Dale Farm and Glen Hill Farm, sold the day's top-priced weanling and returned later in the session to buy the mare Cassatt (Tapit) (hip 112) for $2.5 million at the Fasig November Sale.

“She is a beautiful mare, a big beautiful mare,” Glen Hill's Craig Bernick said after signing the ticket on the graded stakes winner. “We ran against her a number of times. She was a filly that won a lot of races–she won or she didn't hit the board–but when she was right she was a really good horse.”

Cassatt was purchased by Rick Porter's Fox Hill Farm for $300,000 as a Keeneland September yearling in 2012. Racing in Porter's colors, the 'TDN Rising Star' won half of her 14 starts, including the 2014
GIII Monmouth Oaks, and earned $714,733.

The gray mare, in foal to Curlin, is out of the unraced Justenufftime (Giant's Causeway). Out of Justenuffheart (Broad Brush), Justenufftime is a half-sister to champion Dreaming of Anna (Rahy), already the dam of graded stakes winner Dreamologist and GISP With Honors (War Front).

“The pedigree is great,” Bernick said. “Dreaming of Anna has a chance to be a broodmare of the year and there is a lot going on with the pedigree with With Honors and Dreamologist–it's just a great family. She's in foal to Curlin and that's a world-class stallion. We are excited to get her.”

Of the price, Bernick added, “I thought that she was $2.5 million to $3 million, so I was happy she was $2.5 million because we weren't going to own her at $3 million.”

During the weanling section of Monday's sale, Elevage sold the top-priced foal in hip 25, a filly by Galileo (Ire) purchased for $550,000 by Meridian International. The weanling was out of Better Not Cry (Street Cry {Ire}), a mare Elevage purchased for $800,000 at the 2013 Fasig-Tipton November sale.

“We bought the mare here a few years ago as a broodmare prospect and bred her to Galileo twice,” Bernick said. “We didn't get the yearling colt sold in October this year, so we're happy to get this one sold. She was a nice filly with a nice walk, but not the biggest horse. The mare is back in foal to Gleneagles (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and we brought her home and she'll be bred back to Curlin next year.” @JessMartiniTDN

Flashy Turnaround
Graded stakes winner Flashy American (Flashy Bull), in foal to GI Kentucky Derby winner Orb, was purchased by a partnership including Brian Graves and Gainesway Farm for $395,000 at this year's Fasig-Tipton Kentucky February Sale. The gray mare returned to Newtown Paddocks Monday in foal to Gainesway's leading sire Tapit and brought $950,000 from Bridlewood Farm. That sale came hours after the mare's Orb colt, bred by Gainesway Farm, Brian Graves, Kidder-Cole and Betz Thoroughbreds, sold for $310,000 to bloodstock agent Davant Latham.

“She was a big, beautiful mare,” Graves said of the mare's appeal in February. “I liked the opportunity to breed her to Tapit and bring her back [to the sale].”
Graves added that the mare's weanling only increased her appeal Monday.

“We just got really lucky with her first foal being outstanding and he really promoted the mare,” Graves explained. “He was well-balanced, he was probably one of the best movers on Gainesway Farm. He was a really athletic individual. We're thankful to Bridlewood, but I think they made an astute purchase, too. If she has a Tapit that looks like that, it could bring $2 million.” @JessMartiniTDN

Edwards Keeps His Rockstar
Bob Edwards, still a newcomer to racing, is enjoying quite a run. Edwards's eFive Racing was represented by GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf winner New Money Honey (Medaglia d'Oro) last Friday at Santa Anita and followed that up with another graded stakes winner in Arcadia when Zindaya (More Than Ready) won the GII Goldikova S. Sunday. Edwards entered his Arella Rockstar (Astrology) (hip 166) in the Fasig November sale Monday night in Lexington, but the recent GIII Matron S. winner will continue to run in the eFive Racing silks after failing to sell at $385,000.

“She is a quality filly, she's got a lot of quality and she's a real looker,” Edwards's advisor Mike Ryan said after seeing the 2-year-old filly through the sales ring. “She's done nothing wrong so far. It was close , but it didn't get done.”

Edwards and trainer Rudy Rodriguez claimed Arella Rockstar for $50,000 out of a winning debut effort at Saratoga in August. She returned to take the Oct. 16 Matron in her second career outing.

“He wanted a little action at Saratoga and some of the other 2-year-olds were still in the process of developing,” Ryan, who was busy buying several yearlings for Edwards earlier this Fall, explained. “Rudy is very good at claiming and they picked out this filly walking over to the paddock. She is a no-brainer. She is a gorgeous filly.”

Arella Rockstar is out of the unraced Story Untold (Old Fashioned), a half-sister to multiple graded stakes winner Feline Story (Tale of the Cat).

Of Edwards recent success, Ryan added, “He deserves it. He's a lovely guy. He and his family love it and he is one in 10 million.” @JessMartiniTDN

Galileo Filly Top Weanling at Fasig
A regally Irish-bred filly by supersire Galileo (Ire) topped the weanling section of Monday's Fasig-Tipton November sale when selling for $550,000 to the bid of French bloodstock agent Ghislain Bozo of Meridian International. The weanling is out of Better Not Cry (Street Cry {Ire}), a daughter of blue hen mare Better Than Honour (Deputy Minister).

“We bought this filly to race in France long-term,” Bozo explained after signing the ticket. “She was a very nice filly, of course, and she comes from a beautiful family.”

Better Than Honour is the dam of GI Belmont S. winners Rags to Riches and Jazil and she produced the dam of Grade I winner Streaming.

Of the weanling (hip 25), Bozo added, “She is a very forward- going filly and a very good mover. She is keen and athletic with a bit of class. Even though, she was not perfect in conformation, we wanted to take a chance for racing.”

Bozo, who said he was bidding on behalf of a French breeder, admitted he had reached his price limit.

“We were at our limit,” he said of the weanling's final price. “We wouldn't have paid more than that. We thought she would bring around $500,000, but when you like them you have to go a little bit further.”

The weanling was bred by Elevage 11. Elevage, a partnership which includes John Sikura's Hill 'n' Dale Farm and Glen Hill Farm, purchased Better Not Cry for $800,000 at the 2013 Fasig-Tipton November sale. The weanling was consigned Monday by Hill 'n' Dale Sales Agency. @JessMartiniTDN