BISHOPS BAY (h, 5, Uncle Mo–Catch My Drift, by Pioneerof the Nile), a latest winner of Aqueduct's GIII Forty Niner Stakes, was knocked down to bloodstock agent Pedro Lanz, agent for Saudi Arabia's KAZ Stables, for a record $1.3 million in the first 30 minutes of trade during Wednesday's Keeneland Horses of Racing Age Sale. He was consigned by Elite Sales, agent.
Bred by WinStar Farm and sold for $450,000 as a Keeneland September yearling in 2021, the bay was trained by Brad Cox for a partnership headed by Spendthrift Farm, won his first two starts as a 3-year-old and transitioned into stakes company, finishing runner-up to future champion Arcangelo (Arrogate) in the GIII Peter Pan Stakes and second to Two Phil's in the GIII Ohio Derby.
Restricted to a single appearance at four, Bishops Bay has won five of his seven outings this season, including the GIII Westchester Stakes and GIII Salvator Mile in addition to the Forty Niner on Nov. 2.
Bidding was a fraction slow to develop through the early stages, with incremental lobs of $10,000 and $15,000 ushering Bishops Bay into the $400,000 range. It picked up–dramatically so–once a $450,000 bid was upped by $50,000, and it progressed in $25,000 chunks through the $1-million mark before the competition bowed out on Lanz's $1.3-million salvo. Bloodstock agent Chad Schumer was the immediate underbidder.
Bishops Bay will race on into a 6-year-old campaign that could end up in a start in the world's richest race, should all go according to plan.
“We have the [GII] Cigar Mile [at Aqueduct on Dec. 6],” Lanz told Keeneland media. “We will talk to Brad Cox and that's a possibility. We have the option to continue training the horse in quarantine for the 2026 [G1] Saudi Cup in Saudi Arabia, not confirmed yet.
“If we win the [G3] King's Cup (Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup) against local-trained horses, we have a pass. We qualify. If we win the Cigar Mile and we get a nice high rating, that's another way. We have to receive an invitation from the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia.”
Rattle N Roll (Connect) won the 2025 King's Cup ahead of a fourth to Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) in the Saudi Cup. The 2026 King's Cup is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 17, four weeks ahead of the Saudi Cup on Feb. 14 over the same course and 1800-meter distance.
Lanz wasn't entirely surprised that a bidding war ensued.
“Well, that's what usually happens when we have the Middle East fighting for the same horse,” he said. “He was, for me, the best horse–two turns, long distance horse. We (had) to be ready.”
Bishops Bay has amassed a record of 8-3-0 from 12 starts to date for earnings of $702,800.
The previous Keeneland HORA Sale record was the $1 million paid for the 2-year-old colt Extortion (Into Mischief) in 2022.
BISHOPS BAY wins the Grade 3 Forty Niner Stakes giving Flavien Prat his third win today, this one for @bradcoxracing. pic.twitter.com/ixnk7kjbP3
— NYRA (🗽) (@TheNYRA) November 2, 2025
A record $1.3 million in the ring for multiple graded stakes winner Bishops Bay at the November Horses of Racing Age Sale! Purchased by Pedro Lanz, Agent for KAS Stables and consigned by @EliteRaceSales. #KeeNov pic.twitter.com/IMiT0EWW2X
— Keeneland Sales (@keenelandsales) November 12, 2025
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
