BLOODHORSE Daily
F-T July HORA Sale Notebook
Hightlights from the fasig Tipton July Selected Horses of Racing Age Sale
July 10, 2023
By Eric Mitchell and Lauren Gash
https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/270050/f-t-july-hora-sale-notebook
Agent Pedro Lanz didn’t wait long to pick up two racing prospects July 10 during the Fasig-Tipton July Selected Horses of Racing Age Sale for Saudi client KAS Stables. The first was a colt by Girvin , Power in Numbers (Hip 470), for $400,000; the second was a Justify colt, Rebellious Stage , for $200,000; both 3-year-old horses came from the ELITE draft.
«I am buying for Saudi Arabian clients, and they are looking for horses to run Classic distances,» Lanz explained. «This horse is a 3-year-old, lightly raced, with good numbers, and improving with every race. The horse is sound, and he’s by Girvin, and they are doing very well.
«King Abdullah Son Stables is trying to get the best horses for stakes races there, so they love these sales.»
The Girvin colt came into the sale with a handy update in winning the Tale of the Cat Stakes June 25 for owner Klaravich Stables and trainer Chad Brown. With increased earnings to $146,500, the colt won his two previous efforts. Bred by Brereton Jones, the colt was traded to BSW/Crow for $200,000 last year at The July Sale.
Nine hips later, Lanz signed for the chestnut colt out of the stakes placed mare Spark , he is a half sibling to Irish E.B.F. Fillies Sprint Stakes (G3) placed juvenile.
The Peter Blum Thoroughbreds-bred was purchased by the BSW/Crow Colts Group for $450,000 as a yearling and sent to trainer Brittany Russell where he made two starts, winning on debut in May at Pimlico Race Course | BloodHorse.com Track Profile» Pimlico Race Course.
Grade 3-Placed Redifined Brings $450,000
Lane’s End’s first horse through the ring July 10 at Fasig-Tipton landed the session’s second-highest price when grade 3-placed winner Redifined (Hip 481) brought $450,000 from owner/breeder Perry Harrison.
«She showed well; she’s a queen,» said Chase Mullins with Lane’s End. «The market seems good for the ones in current form with a little pedigree … this filly we just sold is a ready-made stakes horse.»
Redifined is a 3-year-old daughter of More Than Ready out of the Brazilian multiple group 3 winner Mrs. Boss (Wild Event), who is a full sister to group 1-placed, group 2 winner Etapa Vencida and to group 1-placed, group 3 winner Aspiracion. Abdulrahman Aljasmi bred Redifined in Kentucky.
The Dutrow family’s Team D Stable bought Redifined as a yearling for $150,000 out of Brookdale Sales’ consignment at the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. The filly compiled a 2-2-1 record from six starts for trainer Tony Dutrow. She has placed in three stakes, including a second last October in the Matron Stakes (G3T) at Aqueduct Racetrack. Redifined has already banked $173,990 in earnings.
Mawaka Makes First Auction Purchase With $445,000 Catiche
Ohio businessman Scott Mawaka has been involved in racing for about 20 years, mostly through partnerships, but this week at Fasig-Tipton branched out on his own when he bought grade 3-placed winner Catiche for $445,000.
«This is my first purchase. It was a good deal, and I anticipated having to spend more, so I was pleasantly surprised we were able to get her for $445,000,» said Mawaka, who selected the filly with bloodstock agent Marette Farrell. «I have a lot of hope for opportunity. We don’t have a trainer picked out yet; we will get there. I have had horses in minority partnerships for a long time, and this is my first introduction to the sale, and here we go.»
ELiTE consigned Catiche on behalf of George Strawbridge Jr.’s Augustin Stable, which had acquired her as a yearling for $375,000 through Nicoma Bloodstock during the 2020 Fasig-Tipton September Showcase Yearling Sale. The filly has since compiled a record of 2-5-1 in 10 career starts and earnings of $163,629. From the first crop of late sire Arrogate, she was a winner at 3 for trainer Jonathan Thomas and runner-up in the Bourbonette Oaks at Turfway Park over 1 1/16 mile last year. She was then shipped to Woodbine where she won an allowance race and ran second in the Selene Stakes (G3) to three-time grade 3 winner Souper Hoity Toity .
«She has a tremendous pedigree and still has some potential life on the racetrack,» Mawaka said. «I think we will come out of the excitement of the sale and re-gather and determine what that looks like. At this point, we might see her back on the track short term and, certainly, in the breeding shed in the future.»
The filly is out of Pulpit grade 3 winner Sacristy, who is a half sister to Japanese grade 1 winner Mozu Superflare.
Mawaka is CEO of a family-owned company called Fleet Response, which handles claims management, accident management, and driver safety training for companies with truck and automotive fleets.
TDN THOROUGHBRED DAILY NEWS
Always Dreaming Colt sparkles in Debut at Keeneland
Sunday, April 16, 2023 at 4:07 pm | Back to: Top News
Updated: April 17, 2023 at 5:15 pm
https://www.thoroughbreddailynews.com/always-dreaming-colt-sparkles-in-debut-at-keeneland/
6th-Keeneland, $96,906, Msw, 4-16, 3yo, 6f, 1:10.01, ft, 4 3/4 lengths.
SAUDI CROWN (c, 3, Always Dreaming–New Narration, by Tapit), let go at 5-1, chased pacesetting favorite Briterdayzahead (Girvin) while four wide through an opening quarter in :22.29. Some two lengths back following a half in :45.25, the gray colt reeled in the pacesetter with a furlong to run and strode clear with authority to win by 4 3/4 lengths. Wild Thinker (Lord Nelson) chased him home in second, while Briterdayzahead was third. Salde Callaghan purchased Saudi Crown for $45,000 at the 2021 Keeneland January sale and Pedro Lanz, bidding for Faisal Mohammed Alqahtani, acquired him for $240,000 following a :10 flat work at last year’s OBS Spril sale. The unraced New Narration sold in foal to Yoshida (Jpn) for $17,000 at the 2021 Keeneland November sale. She produced a filly last year and was bred back to King for a Day. The winner’s second dam is graded winner New Normal (Forestry) and third dam is multiple graded-winner New Economy (Red Ransom). Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $58,125.
O-FMQ Stables, Inc.; B-Chc Inc. (KY); T-Brad H. Cox.
Keeneland’s April Selected Horses of Racing Age Sale Follows Friday’s Closing Day Card
Thursday, April 25, 2024 at 6:03 pm | Back to: Top News
Save the Trees | Coady
Keeneland will host its April Selected Horses of Racing Age Sale following Friday’s 10-race card on closing day of the Spring Meet.
The fledgling auction will begin at 6:30 p.m. ET. Keeneland’s final race will go off at approximately 5:09 p.m. ET.
A total of 134 horses–and still growing–have been catalogued to the one-day sale.
“It’s an exciting sale,” Keeneland’s Director of Sales Operations Cormac Breathnach said earlier this week.
“It’s kind of a celebration of the end of our race meet and it also kicks off Derby week. This is only the second time that we’ve held it right after the race meet on closing day. It creates a really positive atmosphere. We’ll have live music before and after the sale and we’ll also have Grey Goose cocktails and sandwiches from Drake’s, a local restaurant. We really liked the vibe that we created two years ago. Last year, we had to pivot to a Sunday sale because OBS’s schedule had changed.”
Breathnach continued, “Currently, there are about 85 horses in the sale, it’s a moving number. It will be right down to the last minute with the number of horses that will go through the ring, but that’s right in line with where we were the last two years. We take a lot of pride in selling horses that have run well or won at the meet. Hopefully, we’ll have a lot of energy. We’ve had a lot of people talk about the sale and ask or confirm if we were doing it going back to as early as the turn of the year. We’re excited to see how it unfolds.”
Highlights from the catalogue include: the 3-year-old gelding Save the Trees (Preservationist) (Hip 131, consigned by Airdrie Stud, agent), an impressive come-from-behind debut winner for the Estate of Brereton C. Jones and trainer Wayne Mackey at Keeneland Apr. 19; the streaking 4-year-old ridgling Uncle Jake (Uncle Mo) (Hip 119, consigned by Vaccarezza Racing, agent), who made it three straight wins with a Keeneland allowance tally for JKX Racing and Vaccarezza Racing LLC at Keeneland Apr. 11; the 3-year-old filly Watchtower (Demarchelier {GB}) (Hip 79, consigned by ELiTE, agent for White Birch Farm), who is unbeaten in two races this year on turf for Peter Brant and Chad Brown at Gulfstream Park and Tampa Bay Downs; 2023 GII Alysheba S. winner Smile Happy (Runhappy) (Hip 57, consigned by Gainesway, Agent II); 2022 GII Suburban S. winner Dynamic One (Union Rags) (Hip 101, consigned by Highgate Sales, Agent V); and MGSW & MGISP Wit (Practical Joke) (Hip 124, consigned by Gainesway, Agent XV as a stallion prospect).
Last year’s sale was topped by then 2-year-old Commissioner Dan (Commissioner), who brought $500,000 from Pedro Lanz, bidding on behalf of the Saudi Arabia-based KAS Stable, following a debut win at Keeneland.
Keeneland sold 67 horses through the ring for $6,743,000, good for an average of $100,642 and a median of $70,000, at last year’s auction.
Recent graduates of the April Sale include: Carmel Road (Quality Road) ($260,000 ’23 KEEAPR), winner of the 2024 King Faisal Cup in Saudi Arabia; 2023 GIII John B. Connally Turf Cup S. winner Scarlet Fusion (Curlin) ($110,000 ’22 KEEAPR); and last weekend’s Danger’s Hour S. winner Spirit of St Louis (Medaglia d’Oro) ($280,000 ’23 KEEAPR).
“There’s really a market for ready-made animals,” Breathnach said. “The claim box has been popular and busy the whole meet. There are a lot of people that are looking for horses that are ready to go on with. We’ve had a lot of support and interest from Saudi Arabia and they’ll be live and active again. They like dirt horses and hopefully we have some of what they want.”
A Terrific Horse Sale: Demand High at Fasig July Monday
Monday, July 10, 2023 at 9:48 pm | Back to: Top News
Updated: July 11, 2023 at 9:19 am
By Jessica Martini
https://www.thoroughbreddailynews.com/a-terrific-horse-sale-demand-high-at-fasig-july-monday/
LEXINGTON, KY – The Fasig-Tipton July Selected Horses of Racing Age Sale was strong out of the gate and demand for horses at all levels continued right through the final horse in the ring at Newtown Paddocks Monday. When the dust settled, three horses had sold for $500,000 or over, with a pair of fillies tied at the top when selling for $550,000.
“It was a terrific afternoon and early evening of horse sales today,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning. “The horses of racing age marketplace was just dynamite. I think that virtually everyone in attendance–both buyers and sellers, and I can tell you the sales company officials–were a little surprised by how strong the market was and how robust and how consistent the bidding activity was literally from start to finish.”
At the sale’s end just around 8 p.m., 142 had sold for a gross of $13,982,000. The average was $98,465 and the median was $62,500. With 28 horses reported not sold, the buy-back rate was 16.5%.
Monday’s Fasig-Tipton July HORA co-topper Malleymoo Fasig Tipton
A year ago, 129 horses grossed $10,814,000 for an average of $83,829 and a median of $62,500. The buy-back rate was 19.4%.
“Three horses brought $500,000 or more,” Browning said. “But not only that, we had a lot of horses that got sold with modest reserves that were bringing significantly more than the reserves. So it was a great start to the July sale and I am very, very pleased. Once again, it’s a tribute to the people who bring the quality horses to us and give us the opportunity to sell them. It sure worked well today.”
Bloodstock agent Steve Young purchased the co-sale topping Malleymoo (English Channel) from the Gainesway consignment, while Chad Schumer matched that $550,000 price tag later in the auction when acquiring Free Look (Tapit) from the Elite consignment. The final horse through the ring, Crypto Mo (Mohaymen), supplemented to the sale just hours after winning the GIII Iowa Oaks at Prairie Meadows Saturday night, sold to Hunter Valley Farm for $500,000.
In addition to the co-topper, Elite consigned six of the day’s top 10 priced horses.
“It’s been a terrific sale for us tonight–probably our best July sale ever,” said Elite’s Brad Weisbord. “We started here in 2017 and the racehorses and broodmare prospects are our specialty. We’ve sold 34 of 37 today and we have post-sale offers on two of the three that the clients are considering. It was a terrific marketplace.”
Weisbord said he was finding buyers at every level of the market.
“We rarely sell under $100,000, but we had clients with horses that were going to sell for less than that, so we took them,” he said. “So we sold horses from $35,000 to $550,000, which is a big range for us. But there were buyers at all levels. We have always found that, unlike the yearling or 2-year-old sales where the middle market might be thin, at racehorse sales there are buyers at all levels because you can send them to your pick of trainers and they can go earn pretty quickly.”
Young Back in Action at July
Bloodstock agent Steve Young, whose Fasig July purchases include subsequent GI Breeders’ Cup F/M Sprint winnter Wavell Avenue (Harlington), went to $550,000 to acquire stakes-winning Malleymoo (English Channel) (hip 444) Monday at Newtown Paddocks. The 3-year-old filly, consigned by Gainesway, won the Penn Oaks in her most recent start for Rockingham Ranch, David Bernsen, Talla Racing and JWS Racing.
“She is going to Todd Pletcher,” Young said. “She will go to Saratoga and look to go in one of the 3-year-old grass filly stakes there later in the meet.”
Malleymoo broke her maiden at Dundalk before finishing second in the Wait a While S. at Gulfstream last December. She was off the board in the GIII Sweetest Chant S. and GIII Herecomesthebride S., as well as a Keeneland turf allowance in April before her front-running victory in the June 2 Penn Oaks.
“She is a beautiful filly,” Young said. “She had a couple of rough trips at Gulfstream and has improved basically every start of her life. She’s a nice horse. And we think she’ll get better as she gets older.”
Young, who made the highest bid at last year’s July sale, also purchased Lord Zed (Lord Nelson) (hip 437) for $15,000 Monday, Two Minute Lick (Connect) (hip 520) for $27,000 and late in the sale he paid $135,000 for Delta Tau Chi (hip 637), a colt by Practical Joke.
“This is a place to get horses of all classes for people who want to go to Saratoga or Del Mar or Ellis Park,” Young said of the July auction. “I think the results have been very good for a sale that’s only been in business for 10 years.”
Free Look to Join Blue Diamond Band
While her racing future is still undecided, Free Look (Tapit) (hip 596) will eventually be joining the broodmare band at Imad Alsagar’s Blue Diamond Stud in the UK after selling for $550,000 Monday at Fasig-Tipton. Bloodstock agent Chad Schumer signed the ticket on the graded stakes-placed filly, who was consigned by Elite.
“She’s a beautiful mare,” Schumer said. “Tapit is a leading broodmare sire, she was graded stakes placed at two, she has beautiful conformation–she’s is an absolute cracker of a physical. And it’s a fantastic family. What more can you ask for? She has everything you would look for in a broodmare for the future.”
The 3-year-old filly is out of the unraced Wild Mint (Medaglia d’Oro), a full-sister to Violence. A $300,000 Keeneland September purchase in 2021, she was second in the 2022 GII Miss Grillo S. and ended her juvenile campaign with a fifth-place effort in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. She was most recently third in a Belmont allowance May 13 for trainer Chad Brown and Klaravich Stables.
Of immediate plans for the filly, Schumer said, “Plans are fluid because she’s a 3-year-old filly and she’s OK to race. But we also think she’s very valuable as a broodmare. That was the primary focus when we bought her. I think what we will do is let the dust settle and figure it out and come up what we think is the best plan for her and go from there.”
Blue Diamond enjoyed Classic success last year with Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who won last year’s G1 French Oaks.
“Imad is an old friend and Nancy Sexton, who I work with a lot, she is one of his bloodstock advisors,” Schumer said. “They found her in the catalogue. I am just doing the easy stuff here. They are the ones that picked her and I went and looked at her, inspected her.”
Klaravich Stables was also represented in the sales ring Monday by Power in Numbers (Girvin), who sold for $400,000.
Crypto Mo to Join Cox Barn
Saturday’s GIII Iowa Oaks winner Crypto Mo (Mohaymen) will be joining the barn of trainer Brad Cox after Adrian Regan and Fergus Galvin of Hunter Valley Farm purchased her, in partnership with Qatar Racing, for $500,000 Monday evening at Fasig-Tipton. Crypto Mo was winning her third straight race Saturday in the Iowa Oaks. She captured a Prairie Meadows allowance by 17 3/4 lengths in May and added the Panthers S. in June. “She won very well Saturday night,” Galvin said. “She’s a filly on the up. She’s a beautiful physical and she was very classy here in the back ring. She never turned a hair. She is definitely improving, so hopefully there is bigger and better on the horizon for her.”
Asked if the filly had been on the team’s radar before her win at Prairie Meadows late Saturday night, Galvin admitted, “Not really, no. The race was run Saturday night, so obviously when she was advertised, we looked her up and she won it pretty easily and got a good number. We are hopeful we will take her to Saratoga and maybe look at some races up there. Nothing is set in stone yet.”
Hunter Valley was represented by its first Grade I winner when A Mo Reay (Uncle Mo), purchased for $400,000 at last year’s Fasig-Tipton November sale, won the GI Beholder Mile at Santa Anita in March. Qatar Racing has had its own success buying fillies of racing age with MGISW Caravel (Mizzen Mast).
“We’ve had a good year with A Mo Reay and a few others and it’s boosted our confidence a little bit,” Galvin said of the decision to purchase the filly. “And she caught our eye.”
Galvin said he wasn’t surprised by the filly’s $500,000 price tag.
“She is an improving 3-year-old filly,” he said. “There are a host of races for those in the next couple of months. They are always in high demand.”
From Prairie Meadows to Fasig-Tipton, Crypto Mo Stars at July
When Crypto Mo (Mohaymen) (hip 645) hit the wire first in the GIII Iowa Oaks at Prairie Meadows late Saturday night, her owners made the last-minute decision to enter in the horses of race age sale and the partners were rewarded when the sophomore filly–the final horse through the ring at Fasig-Tipton Monday–sold for $500,000 to Hunter Valley Farm. She was consigned by Taylor Made Sales. Trainer and co-owner Travis Murphy, whose wife Cindy rode the filly Saturday night to her milestone 2,000th victory, and co-owner Brendon Valentini were on hand at Fasig-Tipton Monday to watch their prize filly sell.
Murphy purchased the filly for $20,000 at the 2021 Keeneland September sale and Valentini admitted they would celebrate her sale Monday the same way they celebrated her purchase nearly two years ago.
“We bought her for $20,000 as a yearling and we went to Malones,” he said. “We sold her for a half-a-million today and we are going back to Malones.”
“It’s emotional,” Murphy said. “We keep a smaller stable and buy horses in our partnership group. We get attached to them. So that part is difficult.”
Valentini added, “We are excited about her future. We want her to go on and do great things. I think she is going to be a multiple graded stakes winner.”
Murphy trailored the filly the nine hours from Prairie Meadows to Lexington himself.
“Brook Ledge had a van at Prairie Meadows with some of the other ship-in horses, but they were leaving at 4 a.m.,” Murphy said. “We hadn’t made any preparations for the sale yet because we wanted to see how she competed and I wanted to see how she came back from the race. So that left her getting here in a very short window.”
Harrison Ups the Quality with Redifined
Perry Harrison, along with trainer Michelle Lovell, came to the Fasig-Tipton July sale specifically for one filly and the Texan went home happy when securing the stakes-placed Redifined (More Than Ready) (hip 481) for $450,000.
“I had a team with me and we looked her over pretty thoroughly and vetted her and she fit a lot of what we are trying to accomplish,” Harrison said. “She’s a nice filly.”
Redifined, out of Mrs. Boss (Brz) (Wild Event), was consigned by Lane’s End. Racing for trainer Tony Dutrow and his Team D partnership, the 3-year-old filly broke her maiden at Belmont last June. She was third in the Bolton Landing S. and a narrowly beaten second in the GIII Matron S. before ending her juvenile campaign with a runner-up effort in the Stewart Manor S. She captured a Belmont allowance June 3 in her most recent start. She was a $150,000 Keeneland September purchase.
Harrison campaigned the hard-knocking mare Change of Control (Fed Biz), who won the 2021 GIII Intercontinental S. He said he currently has about 10 horses in training, as well as a small broodmare band.
“We typically breed about five to eight and then we race usually about the same,” Harrison said. “This is kind of step outside of our comfort zone, but we feel like she is well worth it.
She had both ends of it–we want to look at the breeding aspect as well as the racing. And she’s only a 3-year-old and she has a lot of promise and a lot of upside.”
As for plans for the filly, Harrison gestured to Lovell and said, “I am going to talk to Michelle about it. I will let her decide. I’m not going to try to put her words in her mouth on that.”
Of the filly’s final price tag, Harrison said, “It was where we thought she would go. Did we hope she’d bring less? Yes. But for quality, you are going to end up paying for.”
Mawaka Makes First Purchase
Scott Mawaka, who has been a racing fan and minority partner in some horses for two decades, made his first purchase at auction Monday at Newtown Paddocks, going to $445,000 to acquire Catiche (Arrogate) (hip 551) from the Elite consignment. Mawaka was sitting alongside bloodstock agent and advisor Marette Farrell when he signed his first ticket.
“She has a tremendous pedigree and still potentially some life on the track,” Mawaka said. “I think we will come out of the excitement of the sale and re-gather and determine what her future looks like. At this point it looks like we might see her back on the track short term and certainly in the broodmare in the future.”
Mawaka said no trainer had been determined for the 4-year-old filly.
Racing for Augustin Stables and trainer Jonathan Thomas, Catiche was runner-up in last year’s GIII Selene S. and Bourbonette S. She most recently finished second in a May 12 Woodbine allowance.
Of the filly’s final price, Mawaka said, “I thought it was a good deal. I anticipated a little more, so I was pleasantly surprised that we were able to get her there.”
Based in Ohio, Mawaka is CEO of the insurance company Fleet Response. Among the horses he has been co-owner of is Fingal’s Cave (Carpe Diem), runner-up in last year’s Raven Run S. at Keeneland.
“I’ve owned horses in minority partnerships for a long time and this is my first introduction to the sale,” he said. “I am just looking to expand more than anything. I love the game. I’ve been involved as a fan and an owner for probably 20 years. And it’s a time in my life now that I can invest more energy and finance into the game.”
As he looks to build a broodmare band, Farrell said Mawaka’s plan will be to breed mostly to race, while selling some foals to finance his stable.
Asked if he has plans for any more purchases, Mawaka laughed and said, “Hard to say. We will see. It depends on these prices.”
Lanz Continues Saudi Buying Spree
Pedro Lanz, who was active buying on behalf of King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Sons’s KAS Stables at the Keeneland April sale a few months ago, continued buying horses of racing age to send to Saudi Arabia Monday in Lexington. The agent went to $400,000 to acquire Power in Numbers (Girvin) (hip 470) and came back just a few hips later to purchase Rebellious Stage (Justify) (hip 479) for $200,000. Both 3-year-old colts were consigned by Elite.
“I am buying for Saudi Arabian clients and they are looking for horses to run Classic distances,” Lanz said. “They are trying to get the best horses for stakes races there, so they love these sales.”
A $200,000 Fasig-Tipton July purchase in 2021, Power in Numbers has won three straight races this year for Klaravich Stables and trainer Chad Brown. He most recently captured the June 25 Tale of the Cat S. at Monmouth Park.
“This horse is a 3-year-old, lightly raced, with good numbers and improving with every race,” Lanz said of Power in Numbers. “The horse is sound and he’s by Girvin and they are doing very good.”
Lanz topped the Keeneland April sale when purchasing the debut-winning 2-year-old Commissioner Dan (Commissioner) (hip 120) for $500,000. Also at that horses of racing age auction, he purchased Carmel Road (Quality Road) for $260,000 and Naval Aviator (Tapit) for $170,000.
BLOODHORSE Daily
Clovis Crane chats with buyer Pedro Lanz, who went to $650,000 for a Bernardini filly consigned by Clovis Thoroughbreds that topped the opening session of the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale
Bernardini Filly Tops F-T Midlantic Opener at $650K
Overall sale’s opening session sees some declines compared with 2023 opener.
By Michael Compton
May 20, 2024
Fasig-Tipton saved the best for last during the opening session of the Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale May 20 at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium.
Hip 276, a daughter of Bernardini and one of the last horses through the ring in the session, brought the curtain down on the sale’s first day, selling for $650,000 to Pedro Lanz, agent for KAS Stables in Saudi Arabia, following a spirited round of bidding in the pavilion.
Consigned by Crane Thoroughbred Services, agent for Robert Garrett and Rusty Roberts, the session-topping filly is produced from the unraced Medaglia d’Oro mare Rubies Are Red , a half sister to influential sire Tapit . The filly hails from a prolific female family that also includes champion Rubiano, Glitterman, and Tap Your Heels, her second dam. The precocious filly breezed an eighth in an eye-catching :10 at the under tack preview.
«We are still in shock,» said Pedro Lanz. «This filly (breezed) in :10 flat. Spectacular. And when you see the pedigree, the second dam, you see Tap Your Heels. It’s something. (She is) a million-dollar filly. We are happy to get her. There is no better filly in this sale.»
As far as whether the filly will ship to Saudi Arabia or remain in the United States, Lanz said, «There is a chance they will have the filly here with Bill Mott. … I don’t know yet. We are starting some operations here. We have two colts here now. I don’t know yet. It is probable that the filly could stay here. I have to talk to them.»
«Boy oh boy, if you saw her physical, she is just outstanding,» Crane added. «What a crackerjack. She just allowed us to do everything that we wanted to do with her, and it turned out great.»
All told for the session, 142 head changed hands, selling for gross receipts of $13,162,000, down from 181 head sold for $18,292,000 in the corresponding session a year ago. Monday’s average was $92,690, down 8.3% from last year’s first-session average price of $101,061. A total of 49 head failed to sell in the first session compared with 34 last year. The median price was $48,500; down from $60,000 last year.
Despite a pedestrian start to the day, the session, which featured an international buying bench, picked up its pace as the day progressed.
«A very good start to the 2024 May 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale,» said Boyd Browning Jr., president and CEO of Fasig-Tipton. «Results were basically identical to last year from a statistical standpoint. We were very encouraged, and it was pretty evident by the strong international participation today, which I think really helped bolster the results. We’ve seen a little weakness in the earlier 2-year-old sales compared to last year, and I thought that participation helped get us consistent with prior year levels.
«Conversations on the sales grounds is that the quality of horses tomorrow might be a little more consistent overall than it was today,» Browning added. «So, that bodes well for another strong day tomorrow.»
As the market has reflected throughout this year’s 2-year-olds in training sale season, demand is high for what are perceived as top-end horses but drops off in the middle and lower tiers. Monday’s session offered more of the same.
«All in all, we’re very pleased,» Browning said. «There is certainly polarization in the market. I think the polarization is more evident in a 2-year-old sale because there are multiple factors you have to go through. You have to have a reasonable breeze time; you have to have a breeze video; you’ve got to have a reasonable gallop out, and you have to still vet well. And then you have to show well on the sale grounds. So, there are a lot of filters you have to go through at the end of the day to attract what you hope would be a strong price.
«We continue to see lots of activity, a lot of repository activity on the grounds,» he continued. «The barns have been very busy. (It’s) an encouraging start. Hopefully, we’ll continue tomorrow with even stronger results.»
Of the 278 hips cataloged in the opening session, 87 were outs. In addressing the number of outs, Browning said, «I think the reality is that when a man or woman scratches their horse, it’s not a position they hoped to be in. Most of the time it is due to what is perceived to be a lack of interest in that horse. And folks do have options with a 2-year-old. They’re not far away from going to the racetrack.»
The sale continues Tuesday with the second and final session beginning at 11 a.m. with Hips 281-556 slated to sell.
$775K Caracaro Filly Tops OBS Spring Sale Opener
A $775K first-crop filly by Caracaro topped the first session of the OBS Spring Sale
- By Michael Copton
- April 16, 2024
The Caracaro filly consigned a Hip 199 in the sales ring at the OBS Spring Sales.
The first of four sessions of the Ocala Breeders’ Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training concluded April 16 with a $775,000 filly (Hip 199) from the first crop of the Uncle Mo stallion Caracaro topping proceedings. Donato Lanni signed the ticket for Three Amigos, and Bob Baffert will train the filly in Southern California.
Consigned by Global Thoroughbreds, agent, the bay filly is out of the winning Medaglia d’Oro mare Key D’Oro and she is a half sister to stakes-placed Twirled. The filly descends from an accomplished female family that includes third dam Key Phrase, a grade 1 winner; graded stakes winner Half Ours, and stakes winner Yankee Gentleman.
The filly represented her young sire well at the under tack preview, breezing an impressive eighth-mile in :20 2/5. Caracaro, who stands for $6,500 at Crestwood Farm, kept good company on the track. He finished second to Country Grammer in the 2020 Peter Pan Stakes (G3) and was runner-up to Tiz the Law in the Travers Stakes (G1). Caracaro is out of the War Front mare Peace Time. He was a $95,000 acquisition by Global Thoroughbreds out of the Buckland Sales consignment at the 2017 Keeneland November Sale. Caracaro finished first or second in all four lifetime starts for Global Thoroughbreds and Top Racing and trainer Gustavo Delgado. He was bred in Kentucky by SF Racing.
«We’re happy to get her,» said Lanni. «(Caracaro) is a son of Uncle Mo. I thought overall, (the Caracaros) look pretty good. He is throwing a beautiful, athletic horse. You see a lot of Uncle Mo influence.
«She did everything she was asked to do,» Lanni added of the filly. «She went fast, galloped out fast, came back great. We’re happy.»
The top-priced colt and the second-highest priced horse of the session was Hip 291, a colt from the first crop of WinStar Farm stallion Global Campaign , who fetched $650,000 from Pedro Lanz, agent for Saudi Arabia-based KAS Stable. Consigned by Eddie Woods, agent, the bay colt is out of the winning Yes It’s True mare Maid in Heaven, a full sister to graded stakes winner Yesbyjimminy and multiple stakes-placed Qureall and a half sister to multiple stakes winner Magic Mecke and stakes winner A.J. Melini.
Bred in Florida by Katherine Nielsen and Gem Racing, the colt was a $150,000 pinhook for Quarter Pole Enterprises out of the Kaizen Sales consignment at last year’s OBS October Yearling Sale. He breezed a fast furlong in :10 flat at the under tack preview.
«I know this horse. I saw this horse in the yearling sale at OBS October and even tried to buy this horse,» said Lanz. «(But) he was purchased by Eddie Woods. I saw the breeze. Spectacular action, very fluid, smooth stride. Ten flat, nice gallop-out. Beautiful horse, the same horse I saw in October but more powerful. And I got the horse.
«I think he is going to race in Saudi Arabia,» Lanz continued, «but I have to ask them because they are starting some operations here. I will try to keep the horse here because I love the horse. I was expecting (to pay) $400,000, maybe $500,000. Everyone is on the same horses, so I told them to be prepared for a fight because the horse breezed good and vetted clean. This sale is tough.»
Millionaire Global Campaign is a grade 1 winner by two-time Horse of the Year Curlin . Global Campaign won the 2020 Woodward Handicap (G1) at 4 as well as that year’s Monmouth Cup Stakes (G3). The previous year at 3, he captured the Peter Pan Stakes (G3). Trained by Stanley Hough, Global Campaign won six of 10 starts in his career for WinStar Farm and Sagamore Farm, banking $1,321,080.
Lanz, as agent for KAS Stable, also signed the $250,000 ticket for Hip 195, a Nyquist colt consigned by Woods. Lanz topped all buyers Tuesday, spending $900,000 on the two juveniles.
The workmanlike opening session, which had a delayed start time of noon ET to allow prospective buyers more time for inspections following the alteration of the under tack schedule, saw 145 head change hands for gross sales of $19,725,000. Tuesday’s average price was $136,034, and the median came in at $87,000. Sixty horses failed to meet their reserve, accounting for a buy-back rate of 29.3%. In comparison, a total of 175 horses sold in last year’s opening session for gross sales of $22,746,000. Last year’s average in the corresponding session was $129,977 with a median price of $70,000.
«I thought it was good,» said Tod Wojciechowski, OBS director of sales, commenting on the sale’s first day. «A lot of the things hold true. A good horse sells well, and I thought we had a lot of nice horses today. Holding true to last year is a great start to the week. Obviously, a lot of good horses left to come, and I look forward to the next three days.»
The first session was a little slow into stride, but trading picked up as the afternoon progressed.
«I think it might be some of the sale just getting started,» Wojciechowski said. «I wouldn’t be surprised to see a number of those horses done in the post-sale setting. I think a little bit of that is buyers getting their feet wet, getting their sea legs. April (Spring Sale) started as a middle-market sale and has grown into a top-end and middle-market (sale). It is fair to say in March, we’ve done a good job of including middle-market horses into that time frame.
«It’s still the first sale of the year, and it’s easier for a buyer to say, ‘I’m going to wait and see what comes up over the next couple of months.’ Again, this is the go-to sale of 2-year-olds, a little bit of everything for everyone.»
The Spring Sale continues April 17 with hips 303-604 slated to go through the ring beginning at 10:30 a.m. ET. As of Monday evening, 73 horses had been withdrawn from Wednesday’s second session.
First-Crop Authentic Colt Lights Up Board at $1 Million
A colt from the first crop of Horse of the Year Authentic brings $1 million at OBS.
By Michael Compton
March 14, 2024
Randy Hartley and Dean DeRenzo of Hartley/DeRenzo Thoroughbreds kicked off the third and final session of the Ocala Breeders’ March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training March 14 in the same fashion they concluded Day 2: selling a seven-figure horse.
Early in the sale’s final session, Hartley/DeRenzo sold Hip 601, a colt from the first crop of 2020 Horse of the Year Authentic out of the stakes-placed Smart Strike mare Ruby Trust , to Resolute Bloodstock (John Stewart) for $1 million. The transaction followed on the heels of the Ocala-based consignors selling a $1.5 million Not This Time colt to Pro Racing Stable March 13.
The flashy Authentic colt, who was bred in Kentucky by Gainesway Thoroughbreds, caught the attention of prospective buyers with an eighth-mile breeze in :09 4/5 at last week’s under tack preview. Before his impressive breeze, the chestnut colt caught the eye of Hartley and DeRenzo, who snapped him up for $260,000 on behalf of Tom Durant at last year’s Keeneland September Sale.
«The colt has done everything spectacularly from day one,» Hartley continued. «He looked about like he does now when we bought him. He is just a pretty horse, and people love Smart Strike mares. He is just so efficient in his movement. We knew he was going to do well. All the right people were on him. It was exciting. I am excited for Tom and our crew. He’s a beautiful colt. We’re excited.»
Hartley/DeRenzo sold just five horses at the March sale, but their $4.7 million in receipts made them the third leading consignor.
Resolute Bloodstock’s agent Gavin O’Connor said of the colt, «He is an absolutely stunning physical. His breeze was so fluid, and he looked fantastic going a fast time. The cross through Authentic with Into Mischief over Smart Strike and his overall physical would make him a standout in any stallion barn in Kentucky.»
Resolute Bloodstock remained active throughout Thursday afternoon, acquiring Hip 637, a Gun Runner filly from the de Meric Sales consignment for $200,000, and Hip 638, a Malibu Moon filly consigned by Woodside Ranch for $150,000. The Gun Runner filly is out of the Elusive Quality mare Secret Quality , and the Malibu Moon filly is produced from the unraced Seeking the Gold mare Seeking Atlantis and is a half sister to graded stakes-placed Seeking Her Glory (by Giant’s Causeway) and stakes-placed Castellani (Quality Road).
With five purchases for $2,375,000, Resolute finished as third leading buyer by total sales.
In addition to the $1 million colt, Authentic has also been represented at OBS March by a $450,000 colt (Hip 849), purchased by Rodolphe Brisset, agent for Ann Harrison; a $310,000 colt (Hip 104), which sold to West Bloodstock, agent for Repole Stable; and a $160,000 filly, which was bought by Pedro Lanz, agent for KAS Stable.
Authentic, a son of Into Mischief , certainly made his mark on the racetrack. The accomplished racehorse captured the Kentucky Derby (G1), the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), and the Haskell Stakes (G1) in 2020 en route to Horse of the Year honors at season’s end.
A $350,000 graduate of the 2018 Keeneland September Sale, Authentic was campaigned by Spendthrift Farm, MyRaceHorse Stable, Madaket Stables, and Starlight Racing, and was trained by Bob Baffert. He was bred in Kentucky by Peter Blum Thoroughbreds, and he stands at Spendthrift Farm for $50,000.
Fasig-Tipton’s International Outreach Producing Results
Saudi princes made big splashes at F-T Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale.
By Joe Perez
May 21, 2024
Saud Al Qahtani, left, representing Najd Stud shacke hands with consignor Eddie Woods at the Fasig Tipton Midlantic Sales .
One look around the sales pavilion at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds In Training Sale and there are plenty of familiar faces. But the landscape might look a little different for anyone who hadn’t kept up with who’s buying at the Timonium, Md., sale for a couple of years.
That’s because Fasig-Tipton has made a concerted effort to attract more international buyers. Those efforts are starting to pay off with both online and in-person purchases.
«Certainly, we had very strong Middle East participation from a number of countries there. I’m fairly confident that we had buyers from Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and possibly a few other countries were represented,» said Fasig-Tipton president and CEO Boyd Browning.
Saudi princes made big splashes at the sale.
KAS Stables bought the opening-day sale topper, nabbing Hip 276, a Bernardini filly, for $650,000. Pedro Lanz, agent, representing KAS Stables, was ecstatic at getting their target, which he described as a «million-dollar filly.»
That price tag was matched on Day 2 of the sale, May 21 when Prince Faisal Bin Khaled Bin Abdulaziz’s Najd Stud bought Music Critic, a Maclean’s Music colt, for $650,000.
Both purchases represent first-time Midlantic sale buys for Saudi princes. A third Saudi prince, Saud Bin Salman, was also a buyer.
Browning said the sales company has made a concerted effort over the last two years to increase its footprint internationally, in the Middle East in particular.
«It’s about making introductions and developing confidence and educating people about what we have on offer here. We saw the results of some of those efforts,» he said after the first day.
Fasig-Tipton hired Michael Adolphson in January 2023 as its Middle East representative. Adolphson, a Baltimore native, was the lead English broadcaster and producer for the Dubai Racing Channel and contract publicist for The Saudi Cup, Breeders’ Cup, and Belmont Stakes Racing Festival.
Anna Seitz Ciannello, Fasig-Tipton’s director of client relations, went to Saudi Arabia, Dubai, and Bahrain this year around the time of the Feb. 24 Saudi Cup. She said that the company, which Dubai-based Synergy Investments own, needed to be more aggressive in letting people know about its sales offerings, especially the Midlantic sale, the only 2-year-old sale on dirt in the United States.
«It was absolutely unbelievable the amount of people we met, how they rolled out the red carpet for us and introduced us to all the major trainers and then all the major owners, having private meetings with the sheiks and princes in those three different regions,» Seitz Ciannello recalled.
One of the attractions for Middle Eastern clients is the appeal of dirt track racing. Browning said the region’s embracing dirt racing plus the sale’s place on the calendar—being after the Dubai World Cup in late March—makes it a prime shopping opportunity.
«I could see that they wanted these U.S. horses. The dirt horses are running really well in that region and on those big days. So I’m like, ‘We have to figure out how to get to those guys,'» Seitz Ciannell said, noting Adolphson’s already established relationships played a vital part in connecting with the key players.
Because Adolphson isn’t an agent, he had no conflicts in making introductions. Trainers and buyers knew they could trust him.
«I’ve worked there now for seven years. My goal has always been to increase the quality of racing over there and just keep it going,» Adolphson said. «Because once you live there for a certain amount of time you realize that there’s so many people entrenched in the sport and in the history of the horse. That is just fantastic.»
Part of the effort to put Fasig-Tipton on the minds of buyers in the Middle East was a racetrack sponsorship and another at King Abdulaziz Racetrack on Saudi Cup Day. Seitz Ciannello said it’s easy to think everyone knows about Fasig-Tipton compared to other sales companies, but being on the other side of the world makes distinguishing itself difficult.
To address that, once Seitz Ciannello returned, Fasig-Tipton sent out approximately 100 catalogs printed in English and Arabic that were packaged in a special box.
«We’ve been rewarded with our efforts because they’ve showed up and they’re buying,» she said.
Seitz Ciannello said that Middle Eastern buyers were going to Europe for turf horses but now there has been a change in focus.
«It’s shifted to wanting really good dirt horses with good pedigree, horses that can last. They’re not afraid to buy a 2-year-old, 3-year-old, 4-year-old, 5-year-old; if the horse vets, they have no issue,» she said.
Trainer Bhupat Seemar said this year was his second time visiting the Midlantic sale. One of his purchases last year, the Kentucky-bred Mendelssohn Bay won the UAE Two Thousand Guineas (G3) in January.
«There are good horses here. And secondly, the racing in Dubai is improving all the time. There’s more prize money, there’s more international owners there. So there’s a big appetite to get good horses to race in Dubai. And you know Dubai’s got the point system to go to the Kentucky Derby from the UAE Derby, which really helps, and also the point system from the UAW to go to the Kentucky Oaks,» he said.
Seemar purchased seven horses over the two days in Timonium for seven different clients. He said all of his purchases will head to Dubai.
Not all of the horses will necessarily head overseas. Some of the buyers, according to Seitz Ciannello, are contemplating setting up operations in the United States. Without racing during the hottest time of year in the Middle East, consideration is being made to keeping horses with trainers in the States with the option to ship them for the fall racing season.
One such example of that is the «million-dollar filly» Lanz bought for KAS Stables. She will be staying in the States. Same goes for the Justify filly (Hip 171) purchased by Case Clay Thoroughbred Management, which bought her for Qatar-based Wathnan Racing at a price tag of $500,000 on Day 1 of the sale.
Other locations buyers in the sale originate from include Japan, South America, India, Canada, and England, and there was an online purchase from a Cyprus-based Russian buyer.
Adolphson said there were «big-time owners» from the United Arab Emirates who purchased on the sale’s first day.
«Those will be revealed when they want us to reveal who they are,» he said.
Some notable purchases at the sale:
Wathnan Racing grabbed a Practical Joke filly (Hip 450) for $525,000.
Lanz and KAS struck again, winning out for a Justify colt (Hip 400) with the hammer dropping at $425,000. Earlier on Day 2, they also nabbed a Volatile colt for $200,000.
Seemar, who counts Dubai World Cup (G1) winner Laurel River and Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) winners Switzerland and Tuz as part of his Zabeel Stables at Meydan Racecourse, purchased a Medaglia d’Oro colt (Hip 256) for $325,000. He also came out on top for Hip 500, a Lord Nelson colt for $250,000, and Hip 339, a Vekoma colt at $200,000. Seemar, serving as agent for Saudi-based FMQ Stables, signed the ticket on Hip 258, a Bolt d’Oro colt, for $100,000.
Prince Saud Bin Salman purchased a Good Magic filly (Hip 250) for $180,000.
The Seoul Racehorse Owners’ Association (KOID), went to $37,000 for Hip 128, a Good Samaritan colt.
TRUE NICKS
Commissioner Dan Goes for $500K to Top Keeneland Sale
The 2-year-old colt won first out at the Lexington track on April 26.
April 30, 2023
https://www.truenicks.com/articles/268258/commissioner-dan-goes-for-500k-to-top-keeneland-sale
Commissioner colt Commissioner Dan consigned as Hip 120 at the Keeneland April Selected Horses of Racing Age Sale.
Commissioner Dan, a 2-year-old colt by Commissioner who began his career winning a Keeneland maiden special weight race April 26 by 1 3/4 lengths, sold to Pedro Lanz, agent for King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Sons’s KAS Stables, for $500,000 to top Keeneland’s April Selected Horses of Racing Age Sale April 30.
The single-session sale, which grossed $6.7 million, recorded across-the-board increases over 2022.
For KAS Stables, Lanz was the sale’s leading buyer with three purchases for a total of $930,000. Other acquisitions were Carmel Road, a 3-year-old grade 2-placed colt by Quality Road , for $260,000, and Naval Aviator, a 4-year-old stakes-placed Tapit colt, for $170,000.
Commissioner Dan, who was consigned by Matejka Racing, agent, is out of winner Miss Livona, by Dixie Union.
“We were looking for older horses, and I did not know there were 2-year-olds here,” Lanz said. “It was a last-minute call. When I saw (Commissioner Dan) and saw his numbers and saw he is by Commissioner (sire of 2023 Saudi Derby winner Commissioner King), I told them (we should bid on him). We saw him for the first time a few days ago. We looked at his videos. He has a lot of potential.”
Keeneland reported 67 horses sold for $6,743,000, a 26.06% increase from the $5,349,000 in 2022 when 58 horses sold. The average of $100,642 rose 9.13 % over last year’s $92,224, while the median jumped 40 % from $50,000 to $70,000.
“Today was very positive. This is a sale that is perfectly positioned on the calendar, immediately after the end of our Spring Meet and just before the Kentucky Derby,” Keeneland vice president of sales Tony Lacy said. “This sale is really evolving, and there is a lot of energy and enthusiasm surrounding it. Consignors are really happy; a lot of them were here today. We had great participation from established buyers and also new owners, and it was great to see Saudi Arabian participation.”
“Seven of the top 10 highest-priced horses were last-out winners,” Keeneland director of sales operations Cormac Breathnach said. “The ability to bring winners to market really spurs the sale’s energy. We are excited about the level of buyer participation; there were a lot of trainers on the grounds. Saudi Arabian interests bought four of the top 10 offerings.”
Kueber Racing, Big Easy Racing, and Martin Schwartz paid $400,000 for Promise Me a Ride, a 3-year-old son of Mastery who won his career debut in March at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. ELiTE, agent, consigned the colt, who is from the family of leading sire Distorted Humor. His dam is stakes winner Promise Me More, by More Than Ready.
ELiTE, agent, was the sale’s leading consignor with sales of $2,612,000 for 18 horses.
Talladega, a 3-year-old colt by Into Mischief , who defeated older horses in an Oaklawn Park allowance race on April 8 by 2 3/4 lengths, sold to Ahmad Alabdllatif for $320,000. Out of the winning Yes It’s True mare Thin Disguise, he is a half brother to grade 3 winner Holiday Disguise, stakes winner Midnight Disguise and grade 1-placed Forest Caraway. Talladega was consigned by ELiTE, agent for WinStar Racing.
“He’s just a lovely horse,” said Tom Clark, who signed the ticket. “He’ll go to the Middle East to race there. The client liked him. Just a big, classy horse, a lovely horse.”
David Lanigan, agent for Heider Family Racing, paid $310,000 for Hibernacle, a 2-year-old filly by Hootenanny , who on April 12 won her debut by 7 1/2 lengths at Keeneland. Hunter Valley Farm, agent, consigned Hibernacle, who is entered to race in the $200,000 Kentucky Juvenile Stakes May 4 at Churchill Downs.
“It is so hard to buy a yearling in September,” Lanigan said. “(With a racing age sale) you get to see them run, see how they perform on the track and see them afterwards. This sale is a great initiative and it is well supported.”
Out of Searchingforahero, by Officer, Hibernacle won her debut for trainer Wesley Ward, who also bred and owned her. Based at Keeneland, Ward owns a farm next to the track where he privately stands Hootenanny, winner of the 2014 Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot in England and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T).
“I really didn’t have any big intention on selling her,” Ward said. “It was more of a thank you for Keeneland for all these years of being kind to me.”
David Ingordo, agent, paid $310,000 for the 4-year-old Dialed In ridgling Peaceful Waters, who earned a 92 Beyer Speed Figure when he captured a Keeneland allowance race April 16 in his 2023 debut. A half brother to stakes winner The Grass Is Blue, Peaceful Waters is out of the winning, stakes-placed mare Shine Softly, by Aldebaran. Peaceful Waters, who was consigned by Hunter Valley Farm, agent, is from the family of champion Soaring Softly, Grade 1 winner Plenty of Grace and Grade 2 winner Manitoulin.
Michael Dubb acquired Spirit of St Louis, a 4-year-old gelding by Medaglia d’Oro , for $280,000. In two starts at Aqueduct Racetrack, the gelding won his career debut in February and was second in an April 6 allowance race. ELiTE, agent for White Birch Farm, consigned Spirit of St Louis, whose full sister Bar of Gold won the 2017 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1).
Carmel Road, who sold for $260,000 to Pedro Lanz, agent for KAS Stables, was runner-up in the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) to Practical Move, second on the list of leading point earners to the May 6 Kentucky Derby (G1).
“We were looking for a (son of) Quality Road for racing in Saudi Arabia,” Lanz said. “This is a great sale to find a horse with potential. He was second to one of the main contenders in the Kentucky Derby. Nice pedigree, stallion potential. We’re very happy.”
Lanz said Carmel Road was their “main target in this sale.”
“They are trying to get the best horses in North America to compete at the best level,” Lanz said about KAS Stables. “Maybe we’ll have a horse for the Saudi Cup next year. Since Emblem Road (by Quality Road) won the Saudi Cup, they are fans of Quality Road. And we found one.”
Consigned by ELiTE, agent, Carmel Road is out of the stakes-winning Unbridled’s Song mare Inspired and a half brother to stakes-placed Night Time Lady. He is from the family of grade 1-placed National Treasure.
Sycamore Hall Farm/David Wade, agent, paid $240,000 for Ocean City, a 3-year-old colt by American Pharoah , who is a half brother to champion Jackie’s Warrior and on April 20 at Keeneland scored a 1 1/4-length victory in a 1-mile maiden special weight race on the turf.
Consigned by Highgate Sales, agent, he is out of Unicorn Girl, a winning daughter of A. P. Five Hundred.
“I thought the price was fair,” Wade said. “Going to take him to Laurel (Park) and give him to (trainer) Brittany Russell. We have Northview Stallion Station in Maryland. Hopefully we can get some black type and stand him at stud.”
Recent Debut Fillies Supplemented to Keeneland April
Kiss Cam and Vodka With a Twist both recently debuted at Keeneland.
April 25, 2024
Keeneland’s April Selected Horses of Racing Age Sale will begin at 6:30 p.m. ET April 26, closing day of the spring meet.
BLOODHORSE Daily
Saudi Crown Dominates Louisiana Stakes in Saudi Tune-Up
Geroux let Saudi Crown glide home to a 5 3/4-length victory in 1:43.20.
By Sean Collins
January 20, 2024
Saudi Crown performed a tour de force in the $169,750 Louisiana Stakes (G3) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots Jan. 20 in his tune-up for the $20 million Saudi Cup (G1) Feb. 24.
Florent Geroux pushed the 4-year-old son of Always Dreaming to his preferred spot up front. Dropping to the rail to establish the lead from grade 3 winner Five Star General going into the first turn, Geroux convinced Marcelino Pedroza Jr. to ease Five Star General two lengths back after a quarter-mile. From there Saudi Crown treated the Fair Grounds oval as his personal playground.
After being left alone to run splits of :24.14, :47.93, and 1:12.10, Saudi Crown was let loose by Geroux entering the stretch. Five Star General could not reengage and instead fell victim to the closing moves of Red Route One and defending Louisiana Stakes winner Happy American . By the time they got to Five Star General, Saudi Crown had disappeared.
Motionless in the saddle as soon as he reached the sixteenth pole, Geroux let Saudi Crown glide home to a 5 3/4-length victory over Red Route One in 1:43.20, giving Geroux his fifth victory on the card.
The 3-5 favorite barely broke a sweat and returned to the winner’s circle to the joy of the Saudi Arabian-based FMQ Stables, who now hope to see their Brad Cox trainee take a shot at their country’s, and the world’s, biggest prize.
«Exactly what we wanted and what we needed to go to Riyadh next month,» Geroux said in the winner’s circle. «Hopefully the horse comes back in good order and we can move forward and try to represent America nicely.»
Saudi Crown Leads Gate to Wire in Pennsylvania Derby
Dreamlike rallied strongly on the outside but could not catch the winner.
By Byron King
September 23, 2023
Saudi Crown wins the Pennsylvania Derby at Parx Racing
Bill Denver/EQUI-PHOTO
Hustled to the lead by jockey Florent Geroux, Saudi Crown controlled the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby (G1) from start to finish, outlasting a late-running Dreamlike by a half-length to prevail.
The winner raced 1 1/8 miles on a sloppy track at Parx Racing in 1:50.62, following comfortable, uncontested fractions of :23.16, :47.27, and 1:12.17. Though Dreamlike was cutting into his lead late, Saudi Crown appeared to have plenty left.
«He started looking around the last eighth of a mile,» Geroux said. «His ears were flopping a little bit—a little bit too much for my liking, but it was great.”
Six lengths behind the runner-up, Il Miracolo edged Magic Tap by a neck in a show photo.
A claim of foul was lodged by Tyler Gaffalione, the rider of Magic Tap, alleging interference by Mychel Sanchez on Il Miracolo after the two horses made contact. Stewards dismissed the claim after a short examination. Fifth-place Crupi , who steadied when trying to advance between the two under Paco Lopez, lost the most momentum from the incident.
Weakening to sixth in the 11-horse field after chasing the pace was Reincarnate , trained by four-time Pennsylvania Derby winner Bob Baffert.
Though he had never won a stakes race before Saturday, horseplayers were attracted to Saudi Crown, betting him down from his 7-2 morning line to start at odds just above even money. He paid $4.20 to win as the favorite.
In his last effort on a sloppy track, he nearly outlasted Forte in the July 29 Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) before being caught by a nose on the wire by the reigning champion 2-year-old male. That race had followed another runner-up finish and nose defeat to Fort Bragg when beaten in the July 1 Dwyer Stakes (G3) at a mile at Belmont Park. Before those starts, he had won a maiden and allowance in fast times when sprinting in his initial two starts.
Rather than pursue the 1 1/4-mile Travers Stakes (G1) Aug. 26 with FMQ Stables’ Saudi Crown, after the Jim Dandy trainer Brad Cox opted to await the Pennsylvania Derby, the easier of the two grade 1s and over a shorter distance.
What They’re Saying
- Asked if he felt Saudi Crown is among the best horses in the division, Cox responded: «I think so. He has been there. He needed a breakthrough performance, and I think he is one of the top 3-year-olds in the country.»
- Geroux: «This year it’s just too bad because he came very late to the party. He’s just two noses away from being undefeated.»
CHC Inc. bred Saudi Crown, a son of Always Dreaming out of the unraced Tapit mare New Narration . He is one of two winners from as many foals of racing age from his dam, the other being Westphal (Exaggerator ), an earner of $74,096.
Though not part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In, the Pennsylvania Derby can propel horses toward the Breeders’ Cup.
Last year, Zedan Racing Stables’ Taiba won the Pennsylvania Derby before running third in the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) for Baffert, who in 2014 captured both the Pennsylvania Derby and Breeders’ Cup Classic with Bayern .
Other Pennslyvania Derby competitors through the years have cut back to pursue the shorter, $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1), though Cox appears to favor the longer 1 1/4-mile Classic. Both races are Nov. 4 at Santa Anita Park.
«Based off the pedigree, by a Derby winner out of a Tapit mare, with his physical deal, he could handle the mile and a quarter,» Cox said. «Obviously, you have to get the right setup. I am not sure he has to have the lead in order to win. He is a pretty kind horse who breaks well.
«I will tell you this—with his Saudi-based ownership group, great guys to work with and for, I think the (2024) Saudi Cup (G1) is one race that is definitely on the target as well.»
Saudi Crown has twice been through auction, most recently at the 2022 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training. Pedro Lanz, agent for Faisal Mohammed Alqahtani of FMQ Stables, acquired him there for $240,000 when consigned by Top Line Sales.
Alqahtani was on-site at Parx Racing for Saturday’s Pennsylvania Derby after coming to the United States to attend the September Yearling Sale at Keeneland. He called the Pennsylvania Derby a «historic race.»
«Saudi Crown is all about speed,» he said. «He’s a winner as a sprinter; he’s a winner as a two-turn horse. That’s just fabulous. He showed his class today. And he has more to do.»
Always Dreaming, the 2017 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner, entered stud in 2019 and has two crops of racing age. Saudi Crown is the 9-year-old stallion’s first graded winner. His other top earners are Grand Isle ($120,480), D’ont Lose Cruz ($134,450), and Always Angels ($105,342). Always Dreaming stood the 2023 season for an advertised fee of $10,000 at WinStar Farm in Versailles, Ky.
Saudi Crown, gr/ro, 3/c
Always Dreaming — New Narration, by Tapit
Owner: FMQ Stables
Breeder: CHC INC. (KY)
Trainer: Brad H. Cox
Jockey: Florent Geroux
Information provided by Equibase at time of entry.
Pedigree Notes
Always Dreaming stands at WinStar Farm LLC for $10,000 (2023).
Sale History
OBSAPR2022 • $240,000 • Consignor: Top Line Sales • Buyer: Pedro Lanz, agent for Faisal Mohammed Alqahtani.
KEEJAN2021 • $45,000 • Consignor: Bluewater Sales, agent • Buyer: Salde Callaghan.