Thoroughbred Daily News

Applications for The Jockey Club's paid internship program for college students and recent college graduates and its five academic scholarship are now open, the organization announced on Tuesday.

The internship program, which offers experience to all facets of The Jockey Club's operations and takes place out of the Lexington, Ky office, offers three slots in the summer or fall based on preference and lasts eight weeks. Applications are being accepted through Jan. 5 with notifications announced in February.

The five scholarships will apply to the 2024-2025 academic year and range from $20,000 to $6,000 and are all for students pursuing careers in the equine industry, including one specifically for women and another for a member of a minority racial or ethnic group.

Those interested can visit The Jockey Club's website for more information and to find links to applications for the scholarships.

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Natalia Lynch, a Belmont Park-based trainer who has been licensed since 2020, has been penalized with a four-year suspension and a $50,000 fine after a Nov. 9 Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU) arbitration judgment found her to be in violation of two separate anti-doping rules, one for the presence of a banned substance (Altrenogest) in a horse, and another for possession of a different prohibited drug (Thyro-L).

Lynch's attorney, John Mac Hayes, told TDN Monday that the trainer plans to appeal the arbitration result to a Federal Trade Commission administrative law judge.

A post-race drug screening revealed Altrenogest in Motion to Strike (Competitive Edge) after Lynch shipped the gelding to Monmouth Park for a June 24 race.

Motion to Strike ran fourth as the 7-10 favorite, and a $5,000 claim was subsequently voided after the HIWU test results came back positive.

Altrenogest is sold under the several brand names, including Regu-Mate. It is used in veterinary medicine to suppress or synchronize estrus in female horses and pigs.

The website of the National Library of Medicine states that Altrenogest is “a commonly used progestogen for the suppression of oestrus and associated distracting behaviors that interfere with training and performance of female racehorses.”

The website also notes that Altrenogest is “structurally similar to the anabolic androgenic steroid.”

However, Matt Hegarty of DRF.com, who was first to report on Lynch's penalties, pointed out a notable coincidence regarding Lynch's Nov. 9 arbitration judgment and a separate document released by the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) Nov. 13 regarding proposed changes to the Anti-Doping and Medication Control (ADMC) program: The HISA Authority, Hegarty wrote, wants to reclassify Altrenogest as a controlled substance instead of its more severe “banned” status, “with recommended penalties starting at a fine of $500.” (The status change for Altrenogest was just one among numerous proposed rules changes outlined here.)

According to the decision written by arbitrator Bernetta Bush, a retired judge, when a HIWU investigator met Lynch at Belmont on July 20 to notify her of the Altrenogest adverse analytical finding, a search of the vehicle Lynch was driving revealed a container of Thyro-L, which is also banned under the ADMC rules.

Lynch had argued that the Altrenogest positive was cross-contamination as a result of Regu-Mate lawfully being administered to a filly that was supposedly housed in the stall next to Motion to Strike.

As for the Thyro-L, Lynch stated that earlier in the spring, she attempted to discard that newly banned substance by giving it to her mother. Yet she did not realize the drug had remained in her mother's vehicle instead of being thrown away. According to the arbitrator's report, Lynch said she was only driving her mother's vehicle on July 20 because she had lost the keys to her own car.

The arbitrator didn't buy the reasoning in either argument.

“Taken as a whole, Trainer Lynch has presented mere speculation, rather than competent evidence, regarding the source of the Altrenogest,” Bush wrote.

“[T]he uncontested evidence provided by Gregory Pennock, an investigator for the Agency whose testimony the Arbitrator credits as consistent with the record and not disputed with competent evidence, establishes that [the filly] was several–five to seven–stalls away from the Covered Horse, and that [the filly] had not been administered Altrenogest for five days before the day the sample was collected from [Motion to Strike],” Bush wrote.

“The record establishes that Altrenogest is administered orally and would have to be administered directly into the horse's mouth for contamination to occur, and that the amount detected in the sample is consistent with ingestion within 24 hours.”

Bush's ruling continued: “In connection with attempting to skirt liability, Trainer Lynch appears to have made many misrepresentations or inconsistent statements of fact which detract from the overall credibility of her testimony…. More specifically, regarding the Rules, the Arbitrator finds that Trainer Lynch bears significant fault for the presence of Altrenogest. This is not a case of simple negligence.

“Not only has Trainer Lynch failed to show any benign manner in which the substance entered the Covered Horse (a critical failure), but even if she had, Trainer Lynch had (and breached) a clear and unmistakable duty to protect the Covered Horse from any cross-contamination and otherwise comply with the Rules. No evidence presented mitigates the responsibility placed on Trainer Lynch by the Rules she is charged with disobeying.”

Taking up the charge of the Thyro-L, the arbitrator noted that Lynch had argued that her possession was not intentional, that she “wasn't trying to cheat,” and that none of the horses under her care had ever tested positive for that substance.

“Trainer Lynch offers many arguments to escape liability or mitigate the consequences of her unlawful possession, but none are persuasive such that she can carry her burden,” Bush wrote.

Hayes, Lynch's lawyer, classified the arbitrator's penalties as “unreasonably harsh.”

In a series of emailed bullet points, Hayes told TDN that the arbitrator “improperly discounted” expert testimony that was presented in Lynch's defense.

Hayes wrote that the arbitrator allegedly also “ignored the Federal Rules of Evidence and Civil Procedure” that have been established by the U.S. Supreme Court and instead “relied on International Law wholly inapplicable in federal court proceedings.”

Hayes also wrote that Regu-Mate is “not a doping agent” and that “no evidence of doping exists.”

Hayes added that the arbitrator allegedly “completely ignored” a different Regu-Mate positive “in a different horse who resided in the same barn where Natalia's horse had stood before racing.”

Hayes further claimed that “HIWU's own expert testified HIWU should have investigated the two positives coming from the same barn to determine if they might be related.”

According to a 2020 profile written by the Monmouth Park press office, Lynch, a Maryland native, had been enrolled in nursing school at Towson University when she started galloping horses a few years ago.

Lynch originally wanted to become a jockey, but switched her aspirations to training, the profile stated. She worked as an assistant to Brittany Russell, Jeremiah Englehart, and Ray Handal prior to getting licensed as a trainer, going out on her own three years ago when owner Al Gold offered to let her train nine horses from his Gold Square, LLC, stable.

The post Trainer Lynch Plans Appeal After HIWU Arbitrator Imposes 4-Year Banned Substances Suspension appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Breaking out of the pack to kick off Monday's opening session of  Book 4 at the Keeneland November sale in Lexington, Act Now (Street Sense) (Hip 2184), dam of recent runaway winner at Del Mar and TDN Rising Star Coach Prime (Quality Road), brought $610,000 from Mark McStay's Avenue Bloodstock. The 8-year-old mare was consigned by Nardelli Sales, acting agent to dissolve a partnership with Bill Werner.

“We thought she could make that much, because Coach Prime was a such a lovely horse,” said Kim Nardelli. “We did know all the major players we on her, so we were suspicious she was going to go out of our price range.”

She continued, “Oddly enough, we were disappointed. When you sell a mare that well, it's a shame to be disappointed. Hey, that's part of the business, right? It's hard to find mares like that and it's hard to replace them but it's also nice to make some money.”

Giving legs to Nardelli's earlier suspicions, McStay explained that the mare's recent winner factored into the decision to buy her.

“She's a quality mare, I loved [Coach Prime] with Bob Baffert as a yearling,” he said. “She's been purchased for a commercial breeder who's being trying to buy a mare good enough to visit Justify over the past week. Let's hope she's lucky–the 2-year-old looks exciting.”

Act Now, who sold in foal to City of Light, was bred by Colts Neck Stables. Nardelli and her brother Rodney, in partnership with Werner, purchased Act Now in foal to Kitten's Joy for $150,000 at Keeneland January in 2020.

“Since our partner needed to tie some things up now, we had to run her through the ring,” said Nardelli, explaining the decision to part with the 8-year-old mare. “We were going to try and buy her back, but Coach Prime ran way to well for us to do that.”

Act Now's first foal, Dr Oseran (Kitten's Joy), finished third in this season's Texas Glitter S. at Gulfstream. Her subsequent foal, a colt by Quality Road, brought $1.7 million from agent Donato Lanni at Keeneland September in 2022.

Named Coach Prime, the bay finished third for Zedan Racing at Santa Anita last month before becoming a TDN Rising Star with an impressive 7 1/4-length win at Del Mar Nov. 10. Her most recent offspring, a colt by Union Rags, sold for $80,000 this past September.

A half-sister to stakes placed The Right Path (Quality Road), Act Now is out of unraced Always Trouble (Bernardini), herself a daughter of a half-sister to Group 1 winner and English and Irish Highweight Minardi and GSW Tale of the Cat. Granddam Spunoutofcontrol (Wild Again) is also responsible for Grade II winner Fed Biz (Giant's Causeway) and SW Spun Silk, dam of GI Vosburgh S. scorer Joking (Distorted Humor).

Clearly a standout in Book 4, Nardelli explained that at the time the catalog was printed, the picture was still unclear.

“We requested to be in Book 3 or 4, mainly because, at the time, Coach Prime had not started and City of Light was still a little quiet,” she said. “It worked out for us from that point of view. We knew if she hit, people would find her and they certainly knew where she was.”

In addition to Monday's session topper, the Nardelli's sold four other mares, including a pair that were re-purchased by the Nardelli's Springwood LLC–Afleeting Lisa (Afleet Alex) (Hip 2186 i/f to Liam's Map)  and Now Now (Tiznow) (Hip 2024 i/f to Mandaloun).

They also sold a pair of weanlings, a filly by Bolt d'Oro (Hip 2027) for $87,000 and a colt by McKinzie (Hip 2145) for $72,000.

“We had another group that we were selling to dissolve the same partnership and they were more suited for the later books rather than the earlier ones,” she explained. “We are small consignors so we needed a 'one and done' group sale. We didn't want them all spread out through the sale.”

Nardelli Sales was the second leading consignor of the session, amassing a gross of $891,000 with an average of $127,286.

She concluded, “We are happy with how things went. We had two mares we bought back ourselves out of the partnership. But they were not the same quality as Act Now.  We had weanlings that sold well, so we are happy with the way things went.”

At this sale three years ago, a weanling colt by Violence out of Queen Caroline (Blame) was purchased for an unassuming $80,000 before going on to become the 2022 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile champion and Eclipse Award winning juvenile for that season. Hoping the sale's Gods might smile on them again, Monday's buyers continued to show interest in the day's weanling selection, led by Najd Stud who paid $155,000 for a colt by Vino Rosso (Hip 2258). Out of Celia's Song (Distorted Humor), the May 1 foal was consigned by Greenfield Farms. The chestnut is a granddson of GSW and MGISP Warbling (Unbridled's Song), a half-sister to SW Arianna's Passion, who in turn is responsible for MSW and MGSP Distorted Passion, dam of MGSW Mrs McDougal.

Clay Scherer paid top price of $110,000 for the highest priced weanling filly of the session. By Midshipman (Hip 1925), the Feb. 8 foal was offered by Legacy Bloodstock, acting on behalf of Hermitage Farm. The chestnut filly is the first foal out of Heartful (Bandbox), who is a daughter of stakes winner Love's Reason (Not For Love). The 5-year-old mare is a half-sister to Grade III winner Majestic Reason (Majestic Warrior) and the stake-placed duo of Jump for Love (Jump Start) and Good Reasoning (Scat Daddy).

At the conclusion of Monday's session, a total of 285 horses through the ring sold for $9,044,100, decreasing 5.76% from the sixth session last year when 246 horses brought $9,596,900. The average decreased 18.66% from $39,012 to $31,734, and the median of $23,000 is 23.33% lower than $30,000 last year. There RNA rate for Monday's sixth session was 25.47%.

Through six sessions, a total of 1,343 horses have sold for $163,792,100, for an average of $121,960 and a median of $65,000. The gross decreased 14.71% from $192,033,900 through the corresponding period last year, while the average is 18.26% below $149,210 in 2022 and the median is 15.58% lower than $77,000.

The Keeneland November Sale continues through Thursday, with sessions beginning at 10 a.m. It will be followed by a single-session Horses of Racing Age Sale Friday.

The post Dam of TDN Rising Star Coach Prime Brings $610K at KEENOV appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Churchill Downs Incorporated (CDI), represented by their nine racetrack properties, will match all New Vocations Giving Tuesday donations up to $20,000 in support of Thoroughbred and Standardbred aftercare. Giving Tuesday takes place five days after Thanksgiving on Nov. 28.

“CDI is pleased to jump start New Vocations' holiday giving campaign with a match donation. The work New Vocations does is vital to both the Thoroughbred and Standardbred industries,” said Cathy Shircliff, Director of Equine Industry Relations for CDI. “On behalf of Thoroughbred tracks Churchill Downs Racetrack, Colonial Downs, Ellis Park, Fair Grounds Race Course, Presque Isle Downs and Turfway Park and Standardbred tracks Miami Valley Gaming, Oak Grove Racing Gaming & Hotel and Ocean Downs Casino, thank you New Vocations for all that you do.”

New Vocations, which has already served 20% more horses in 2023 versus last year, relies heavily on donations to help rehab, retrain and rehome retired racehorses.

“We are very thankful for Churchill Downs Incorporated's generous match to support our Giving Tuesday campaign,” shared Anna Ford, New Vocations' Program Director. “We are happy to be able to provide our aftercare services to all of the CDI racetrack properties. The campaign will help us raise the much-needed funds to cover the increase in costs we have seen due to the influx of horses coming into the program this year.”

This year, the joy of giving is leveled up with an extra ounce of fun by featuring five unique Giving Challenges starting today. To ensure Giving Tuesday gifts are matched, and to participate in Giving Challenges, interested individuals are asked to donate by Nov. 28 at https://newvocations-givingtuesday.causevox.com/.

The post Churchill Downs To Match Up To $20K on New Vocations’ Giving Tuesday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

The 2024 Texas 2-Year-Olds In Training Sale will take place at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie Wednesday, Apr. 3, 2024, with the under-tack preview set for Monday, Apr. 1.

“We're excited to follow up our solid 2023 sale with our 2024 edition of our Texas 2-Year-Old Sale,” TTA Sales Director Foster Bridwell said. “We continue to pursue quality offerings that create an attractive marketplace for our buyers in the region.”

Recent graduates of the sale include Norman Stables' Strong Promise (Broken Vow), who fetched $125,000 at this year's sale and has since gone on to earn better than $216,000 with stakes victories at Lone Star, Delta Downs and Louisiana Downs. Blue Squall (Tapwrit), who topped the auction at $300,000, has been second in maiden allowance company at Churchill Downs in her first two starts.

“Our graduates are competing both locally and nationally and show the type of athletes our consignors have offered each year,” Bridewell said. “We're already working on putting together another solid catalog for our 2024 sale.”

Entries for the sale are due Jan. 15, 2024 and consignment forms are available at www.ttasales.com.

The post Texas 2YOs In Training Sale Set For Apr. 3 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act's (HISA) has sent a set of proposed changes to its drug control program to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for public comment.

The proposed changes to HISA's anti-doping and medication control (ADMC) program will be posted on the federal register. Historically, public comment has been for 14 days. It is currently unclear, however, exactly when the proposed changes will be posted to the federal register.

After the public comment period, the FTC will then decide which proposed changes to approve or deny. Until then, the current ADMC rules will remain in place.

The proposed changes–substantial in many parts–concern six different areas of the ADMC program, the red-lined documents for which can be read here: General Provisions, The ADMC Protocol, the Prohibited Substance and Methods list, testing and investigation standards, laboratory standards for accreditation, and arbitration procedures.

A slate of proposed changes includes the following:

• A ban on the “injection or attempted injection” of any substance–prohibited or not–during the “Race Period,” though with certain extenuating circumstances. The race period is 48 hours before post-time or before a vet's list workout. The proposed rule change pertains to “any type of injection, including (without limitation) intravenous, intramuscular, intra-articular, peri-articular, peri-tendinous, epidural, intra-dermal, or subcutaneous.”

• Updated rules on permissible actions from a “covered person” during a provisional suspension or a period of ineligibility, and revised sanctions for breaking these rules. This includes a ban on purchasing or claiming horses during this time, or from being “employed or otherwise engaged or contracted in any capacity involving Covered Horses.”

• Revisions to split sample analysis, including a new provision requiring the relevant laboratory to “create a video recording of the opening and identification of the B Sample,” which ultimately will be sent to the responsible person and the horse's owner.

• The document concerning “Arbitration Procedures” has been heavily revised regarding how arbitral body and internal adjudication panel members are selected, who can sit on them, and how such proceedings are conducted. They include expanding the arbitral body selection process to include possibly “contracting a third-party organization to administer the Arbitral Body.”

• Updated sanctions for positive tests involving drugs deemed “human substances of abuse.”

These drugs include Cocaine/Benzoylecognine, Methamphetamine, Methaqualone, Methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA), Methylenedioxyethylamphetamine (MDEA), Methylenedioxymethylamphetamine (MDMA), Oxycodone, Phencyclidine (PCP), and Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

In a press release, HISA wrote how the proposed changes to the ADMC rules “were developed after months of dialogue with and feedback from racing participants across the country,” including the horsemen's group advising HISA.

“During this time, the proposed rules were shared with industry members for informal comments and published on HISA's website for additional industry input,” the press release states.

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Fred Hart didn't own, train or breed Noble Indy (Take Charge Indy), the winner of the 2018 GII Louisiana Derby and the seventh-place finisher in that year's GI Kentucky Derby. But he did have a connection. An owner and breeder of modest means, he owned Noble Indy's dam, Noble Maz (Storm Boot), buying her for $9,000 at the 2007 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic October Yearling Sale. He would later lose her in a $25,000 claimer, which turned out to be her last race.

But even that minor role in the career of Noble Indy, who was bred by WinStar Farm, turned Hart into his biggest fan. He visited him at WinStar as a baby, went to as many of his races as he possibly could and spent time at Todd Pletcher's barn at Palm Beach Downs when the horse was in Florida.

“I owned the mother of Noble Indy and I bought her for $9,000 and she went on to earn $327,000,” Hart said. “She's my one claim to fame in racing.”

Noble Indy broke his maiden for WinStar at first asking and thereafter raced for the partnership of WinStar and Mike Repole and looked like a nice prospect from the start. He added a Gulfstream allowance to his debut win, then finished third in the GII Risen Star S., his final prep for the Louisiana Derby. After the Kentucky Derby, he was never again the same. He lost nine straight until winning a 2019 allowance race at Belmont for Repole, who had earlier bought out WinStar.

It was clear he was no longer a stakes-caliber horse and he struggled to even win allowance races. Noble Indy wound up in a $35,000 claimer at Gulfstream on Feb. 24, 2021. He was claimed by Saffie Joseph, Jr. who didn't fare much better than Pletcher. On Feb. 10, 2022, Joseph lost him to trainer Gustavo Delgado. Four starts later, all of them defeats, he was on his way to Camarero in Puerto Rico, the lowest rung on the racing ladder and a perilous place for horses nearing the end of their careers.

“At some point his ability went south,” Hart said. “The next thing I new he was back in again for $35,000 and it wasn't long after that he was in Puerto Rico. The purses are terrible there. Why any person would ever send a horse to Puerto Rico is beyond me.”

Hart reached out to Kelley Stobie, the co-founder of Caribbean Thoroughbred Aftercare Inc. He wanted to bring Noble Indy home.

The problem was that the new owner, Skull Stable PR, wanted $35,000 for the horse, way more than he was worth at that point. Stobie told Hart the best thing to do was to be patient and wait to see if the price would come down.

“Once the horse came to Puerto Rico, a lot of people contacted us,” Stobie said. “My thought was that if you didn't want to see the horse come to Puerto Rico, why didn't someone claim him when they had the chance at Gulfstream Park? When that didn't happen, everyone saw this as my problem. The only person that was really nice to me and understood my situation was Fred. We are in dire straits down here financially. Everyone looks at what's going on down here and figures it's not their problem. Fred was the only one who appreciated how hard it is down here. He wasn't breathing down my neck saying 'you've got to get this horse back.' Fred was really humble and understood the situation.”

Noble Indy made five starts in Puerto Rico, losing every time. He did run second and third but finished sixth, beaten 10 lengths in what has turned out to be his last race, an $11,000 allowance on Feb. 10 of this year.

Hart and Stobie tried again and the owner was still asking for $35,000. Eventually the price got down to $10,000, still too much as Harty and Stobie saw it for a horse who had little to no value anymore as a race horse. As Hart understands it, Noble Indy then had some screws inserted in his left front ankle in last-ditch effort to return him to form. When that didn't work out, Skull Stable finally relented and agreed to give him away for free.

Hart was ecstatic.

“I became sentimentally attached to this horse and was afraid harm would come to him if he stayed in Puerto Rico,” Hart said. “I just wanted to get him out of there. That's who I am. I get sentimentally involved with something.  It's terrible what can happen to these horses. If I didn't get involved, I thought no one would. I was worried this horse would end up dead. This is a success story because this horse is getting out of Puerto Rico alive.”

Noble Indy, who, somewhere along the way was gelded, remains in Puerto Rico with Caribbean Thoroughbred Aftercare Inc. The intention is to send him to Old Friends in Georgetown, Kentucky. Before he can come to the U.S., Stobie needs to figure out the quarantine requirements and how to pay for the cost of transporting him back to the U.S. Repole solved that issue Monday, as he told the TDN that he would personally cover those expenses.

“The horse has problems but nothing that will prevent him from living out a nice life on the retirement farm,” Hart said. “There's going to be a good ending to the story.”

The post Noble Indy Fell From the Kentucky Derby To Racing In Puerto Rico, But A Good Samaritan Came To His Rescue appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Sales of breeding stock are just as much a feature of the final couple of months of the year in Europe as they are in North America. In fact, the European sales have been an important fact of American bloodstock life since the early days of the sport, with many breed-shapers having been recruited in Europe before heading west to make history.

Perhaps the most famous graduate of Tattersalls's December Sale remains La Troienne (Fr) (Teddy {Fr}). After a racing career in which, without winning, she notched up some minor placings in both France and England (and, strangely, contested the Poule d'Essai des Poulains) she was sent to the December Sale in 1930 by Marcel Boussac. Bought by Colonel Bradley of Idle Hour Farm in Lexington for 1,250 guineas, she was brought to America, where she became arguably the greatest matriarch the country has ever known.

Almost as influential was Rough Shod (GB), bought at the December Sale in 1951 for 3,500 guineas, in foal to My Babu (GB), by Arthur 'Bull' Hancock of Claiborne Farm, where she went on to change the course of bloodstock history, most obviously as third dam and fourth dam respectively of the legendary Northern Dancer horses Nureyev and Sadler's Wells.

A similarly significant purchase came in 1952 when Martin Benson, proprietor of Beech House Stud in Newmarket, offered the Hyperion mare Lady Angela (GB), a winning great-great granddaughter of Pretty Polly (Ire) who was in foal to the stud's resident stallion Nearco (Ity). She topped the sale, bought by George Blackwell on behalf of E. P. Taylor of Windfields Farm in Ontario. Taylor came to an agreement with Benson that Lady Angela could visit Nearco again the following spring. She was then exported to Canada, in foal, after that subsequent covering. The resultant foal was born at Windfields. As Nearctic (Can), he went on to make an indelible mark on the Stud Book as the sire of Northern Dancer (Can).

It might be asking a bit much to hope that there will be a La Troienne, a Rough Shod or a Lady Angela coming out of the forthcoming round of mares' sales at Goffs in Ireland, at Tattersalls in England and at Arqana in France, three world-class auctions which follow on conveniently one after the other. It could happen, though. What definitely will happen is that some of the fillies and mares sold at the three auctions will go on to breed top-class horses all around the world.

Goffs' November Sale kicks things off on Nov. 24, immediately after a four-day foal sale whose catalogue includes over 1,000 lots. Lasting two days, the mares' catalogue is more streamlined but the concentration of quality is intense. There are always some notable offerings at this sale, with recent treats having included a Wildenstein dispersal in 2016. The particular treats this time include a mouth-watering draft offered as a result of the restructuring of the Niarchos family's studs and the dispersal of the stock of Gestut Hony-Hof, over and above the usual drafts from such proven sources of class as Ballylinch Stud, Godolphin, HH Aga Khan Studs and Moyglare Stud.

Horses bearing the colours firstly of the late Stavros Niarchos and subsequently of his heirs have been a feature of top-class racing for half a century. In the early days, Stavros Niarchos's champions, such as the aforementioned Nureyev, were bought as yearlings but by the time that the great Miesque (Nureyev) came along in the late 1980s it was very much an owner/breeder enterprise. Numerous champions have borne the family's livery since then and the current on-going restructuring provides a special opportunity for other breeders to tap into the bloodlines which have been developed by this world-class operation over the decades.

Goffs November Kicks off Nov. 24 | Goffs

Consigned variously by Norelands, Baroda and Kiltinan Castle Studs, the 41 Niarchos fillies and mares form a mouth-watering bunch. Daughters of world-class stallions such as Galileo (Ire), Deep Impact (Jpn), Frankel (GB), Dubawi (Ire), Sea The Stars (Ire) and Lord Kanaloa (Jpn) and boasting suitably exalted coverings, the bunch is made up entirely of blue-bloods and includes the G1 winners Alpha Centauri (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), Alpine Star (Ire) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) and Albigna (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}), in foal respectively to Sea The Stars, Frankel and St Mark's Basilica (Fr).

A less-heralded landmark at Goffs this year will be the dispersal of the stock of Gestut Hony-Hof, whose 11 mares form part of the Castlebridge Consignment. The nucleus of Gestut Hony-Hof's broodmare band has stemmed from Salve Regina (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}) who carried the Hony-Hof colours to victory in the G1 German Oaks in 2002 before finishing second in the G1 German Derby four weeks later. As a full-sister to the German Derby winners Samum (Ger) and Schiaparelli (Ger) as well as to the dam of 2014 German Derby winner Sea The Moon, Salve Regina was a perfect candidate to develop into the great matriarch which she became. The majority of the Hony-Hof mares descend from her, although the best horse whom the stud has bred most recently, 2020 G1 Prix du Cadran heroine Princess Zoe (Ger) (Jukebox Jury {Ire}), comes from another family. Besides Salve Regina's descendants, the draft includes Princess Zoe's half-sister Palace Girl (GB) (Areion {Ger}).

Any Godolphin reduction draft is worth making a long journey to inspect. The operation's consignment at Goffs is no exception, with the G1 winners Ambivalent (Ire) (Authorized {Ire}), Lyric Of Light (GB) (Street Cry {Ire}) and Be Fabulous (Ger) (Samum {Ger}) being of obvious interest. Ambivalent makes particular appeal as she has already bred a Group 1 winner, being the dam of 2021 Prix Vermeille heroine Teona (Ire), and she becomes of even greater interest as she is currently back in foal to Teona's sire Sea The Stars.

Tattersalls make it easy for would-be buyers to home in on many of the the most obvious prospects in the December Mares' Sale (Dec. 4-7) by highlighting some of the choicest lots in the two 'Sceptre Sessions', which are named after one of the greatest horses ever to pass through the ring at Park Paddocks, Sceptre earning immortality by contesting all five British Classics in 1902 and winning four of them.

Sceptre went through Tattersalls's ring as both a sale-topping yearling and as a proven Classic winner. Many Classic heroines have graced the arena since then and another will do so this year as last year's 1,000 Guineas victrix Cachet (GB) (Aclaim {Ire}) will be one of the star lots of the second of the two Sceptre sessions.

It is often the case that the ring is subdued immediately before and immediately after a stand-out lot but that won't be the case in this instance. Cachet will be preceded by this year's G2 Lowther S. winner Relief Rally (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) and followed by this year's G2 Duke Of Cambridge S. heroine Rogue Millennium (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). All three of these starlets provide a reminder that many of the future broodmares on offer still offer plenty of racing potential. Last year one of the best fillies to go through the ring was 1,000 Guineas place-getter Fev Rover (Ire) (Guitaifan {Ire}) and she has illustrated the point perfectly. She is now looking a bargain at the 695,000 guineas which Tracy Farmer paid for her 12 months ago following her wins this season in the G2 Nassau S., G1 Beverly D S. and G1 E. P. Taylor S.

Cachet is set to sell during Tattersalls's Sceptre Sessions | Scoop Dyga

Other smart fillies straight off the track due to be offered the Sceptre Sessions include the Group 1 winners Lezoo (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}), Prosperous Voyage (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}), Via Sistina (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) and Poptronic (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}). The latter comes in particularly good form as her most recent run was her best, ie her victory last month in the G1 QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares S. Another recent Group 1 winner in the second Sceptre Session is Teona (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), successful in the G1 Prix Vermeille in 2021 and now offered in foal to Frankel (GB). Via Sistina features particularly prominently in the catalogue as her dam Nigh (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is also on offer, in foal to Too Darn Hot (GB).

It would be wrong to focus too much on the Sceptre Sessions, however, as each year one of the highlights of the December Sale is the Juddmonte draft. This will again be the case this year. None of the Juddmonte horses are included in a Sceptre Session, the draft being split into two parts with the first part coming immediately before the first day's Sceptre Session and the second part preceding the Sceptre Session the following evening.

It would also be wrong to have exhausted one's budget by the end of the December Sale because following hot on that auction's heels is the Arqana December Sale in France (Dec. 9-12). This invariably provides some superb racing and breeding prospects. Over the years it has proved to be a particularly fruitful source of fillies who have gone on to achieve notable success in the USA. G1 Prix de l'Opera heroine Rougir (Fr) (Territories {Ire}), sold for €3,000,000 in 2021 and subsequently the winner of the G1 E. P. Taylor S. in 2022, is a classic example.

The sale is even more notable as a source of broodmares worldwide. Top-level winners in 2023 whose dams came out of this sale include Feed The Flame (GB), Iresine (Fr) and Trueshan (Fr) in France; Sol Oriens (Jpn) in Japan; Via Sistina (Ire) in Ireland; India (Ger) in Germany; and Gold Trip (Fr) in Australia. Obviously appealing mares on offer this year include the 2019 G1 Prix de Diane heroine Channel (Ire) (Nathaniel {Ire}), offered in foal to Wootton Bassett (GB), and 2022 G2 Prix du Muguet winner Sibila Spain (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), offered in foal to Dubawi (Ire).

Furthermore, the draft of HH Aga Khan Studs is always a feature of the Arqana December Sale. This consignment is invariably a rich source of notable broodmares for countries all over the world. Another particularly interesting offering in this year's sale is the dispersal of the stock of world-renowned German nursery Gestut Ammerland, the owner/breeder of numerous champions including Hurricane Run (Ire), Lope De Vega (Ire) and Borgia (Ger). A particular treat from that source will come when it offers as consecutive lots Sea The Moon's stakes-winning four-year-old full-sister Sea The Sky (Ger); Lope De Vega's G3-winning Frankel (GB) half-sister Lady Frankel, in foal to New Bay (GB); and Lady Frankel's three-year-old daughter Lightning Lady (Ire) (Kingman {GB}).

The post Europe’s Finest Bloodlines On Offer: Three Sales, Three Weeks, Three Countries appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

The CBS news program “60 Minutes,” which aired Sunday evening included a segment that covered horse racing's worst problems, horses breaking down and dying and the use of performance-enhancing drugs on horses. 60 Minutes often reaches as many as 12 million viewers. The segment was hosted by correspondent Cecilia Vega.

Though the program gave ample time to Jockey Club Chairman Stuart Janney III, Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority CEO Lisa Lazarus, Meadowlands owner Jeff Gural, and others who have been working to solve the problems, it left no doubt that the sport has pressing issues that if left unsolved threaten its existence.

“Horse racing has reached its moment of reckoning and we wanted to know, `can the sport really be reformed or is it too late?'” Vega said.

What followed was a recantation of the rash of fatalities that surrounded the GI Kentucky Derby and other major events, which included graphic footage of horses dying on the track.

“People who are not in your world see this headline of more than a dozen dead horses and they think, `what is going on in that industry?'” Vega asked Lazarus.

“My response is that HISA is here now and we're going to address it,” she said.

She continued: “There's clearly a problem that needs to be addressed and now we have some tools to fight it. We really owe it to those trainers who have spent their lives in this sport who have an incredible amount of integrity to get rid of those who tarnish this sport.”

It was not hard to get industry leaders to admit that doping is a major issue that has yet to be brought under control.

“(Doping) is a big problem,” Janney said. “It strikes at the integrity of the sport. There's nothing about it that is acceptable.”

Asked how the sport can clean itself up, Janney replied: “You put people away. You send them out of the sport and some of them go to jail.”

That very process began in March of 2020 when more than 33 veterinarians, trainers and drug distributors were charged by the Justice Department for using and manufacturing performance-enhancing drugs.

“The FBI said this led to broken legs, cardiac issues and in some cases death,” Vega said.

The show played wiretaps of conversations between convicted trainer Jorge Navarro and a another trainer in which Navarro bragged about how the drugs he was using made his horses run faster.

“I (expletive) gave it to this horse and this horse (expletive) galloped. He galloped,” Navarro said to the unidentified trainer.

“Amino acids?” the other trainer asked.

“Yeah, some amino acid  injectable. Small bottle,” Navarro replied.

They also played wiretaps from harness trainer Nick Surick in which he spoke of how he was put in charge of disposing of horses that Navarro had killed.

The FBI was assisted by 5 Stones Intelligence, which was hired by The Jockey Club and Meadowlands owner Jeff Gural. Janney said 5 Stones was told to not be afraid to go after the biggest names in the sport, like Navarro and Servis.

“I said I'm not interested in you going in an finding a relatively unimportant person working in someone's barn who has made a bet they shouldn't have made or has done something immaterial to what we're talking about,” he said. “I want you to go after the important people that I think are corrupting the sport.”

Before they were arrested, Servis and Navarro were clearly worried they could be caught and that the penalties could ruin their careers. A wiretap caught them saying the following:

Servis: We can't do it in broad daylight, we got to do it like…”

Navarro: “I know. I'll keep it at my…I'll keep…I'll keep it in my car. I ain't worried about that.”

Servis: What about, what I am-I don't want people to see that (expletive). We are dead. We are dead.”

Shaun Richards, who was the lead FBI agent on the case that nabbed Navarro, Jason Servis and others, spoke a hopeful note, that the progress made with the arrests has put investigators, HISA and others on the right trail.

” We're right where we need to be,” he said. “We have a really good subject identified and we are getting fantastic evidence.”

Vega asked Lazarus “How long will it take to clean this up?”

“It will probably take years to be truly confident that we've got a fully clean sport,” she said.

The post 60 Minutes Airs Expose On Horse Racing Doping appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

LEXINGTON, KY – The two-session Book 3 section of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock sale concluded Sunday evening with figures well off the corresponding section from the 2022 auction. During sessions at Keeneland Saturday and Sunday, 494 horses grossed $30,888,000 for an average of $62,526 and a median of $50,000. The average is down 22.1% from the 2022 Book 3, while the median declined 16.7%. There were 15 horses to sell for $200,000 or over during the two sessions, down from 25 a year ago.

“It is quiet,” Sarah Sutherland of Indian Creek said of the market Sunday at Keeneland. “But I don't think it's unfair. Obviously, we are seeing a little bit of a correction, but I think if you are willing to accept that and adjust how you're valuing horses, there are plenty of people here to buy them and you can get them sold. Obviously, the top is the top and it's always strong, but we've been very realistic with our reserves and we've had no trouble selling horses.”

Indian Creek sold the top-priced weanling of Sunday's session when a colt by Maxfield sold for $240,000 to Avocet Bloodstock. KatieRich Farms was responsible for the session's top mare when Dixiana Farms paid $270,000 for Taking Aim (Trappe Shot).

Taylor Made Sales Agency was the leading consignor at Sunday's session and continued to lead through five sessions of the auction with 148 head sold for $20,714,500.

“I've read a lot in the press–and it's fact–that the mares are down and the buy-back rate has been up,” said Taylor Made's Mark Taylor. “But just on the days that I've been selling, like today and the second day of Book 2, I actually thought the market was pretty fair. If you bring up anything with any quality–we just sold a mare for $250,000–there is money there.”

During Saturday's session of the November sale, Peter O'Callaghan, annually a major buyer of weanlings, lamented a lack of quality foals on offer at the auction.

“I do agree with what Peter O'Callaghan was saying, that, for us internally, we had fewer foals,” Taylor said. “I think there are fewer really high-quality foals on offer and a lot of the pinhookers that are here want quality. So if you are trying to get a $20,000 foal moved, there doesn't seem to be a big crowd around looking for it. Now, if you have one that is a legitimate $150,000 foal, everybody is gonig to follow it up and you might get $225,000.”

Taylor said he saw some evidence that breeders are holding on to their best foals while hoping for a home run at the yearling sales next fall.

“The market is polarized at the yearling sales also,” Taylor said. “So you might get $750,000 for a [yearling] that you have raised for $350,000 before the sale. A lot of these breeders don't want to give up that opportunity. So they are keeping the one that they can sell next year for all the money and they are going to move along some of the ones that they know there is no huge home run on the end of it. They would rather cull those out and cut expenses and keep those gold nuggets hoping to cash them in next September or at Saratoga or wherever it is.”

Taylor continued, “At the beginning of the day in session 2.2, a lot people were saying the sky is falling. There is definitely an adjustment going on cheaper mares, but I think the market for anything with quality is actually pretty solid.”

The Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale continues through Thursday with sessions beginning daily at 10 a.m.

Taking Aim (Trappe Shot) (hip 1735), a half-sister to GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner Tapizar (Tapit), will be relocating from Larry Doyle's KatieRich Farms to Dixiana Farms after selling for $270,000 Sunday at Keeneland.

“She looked like a nice mare,” said Dixiana Farm Manager Robert Tillyer. “She produced a graded-stakes placed horse and it's a nice family, so we took a shot with her.”

Of the mare's price tag, Tillyer said, “It seems like the quality is a little down for mares. It's hard to find nice ones and she seemed like the obvious one.”

KatieRich purchased the mare for $200,000 at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton February sale. Her first foal, the now-3-year-old Taking Candy (Twirling Candy), won the GII Saranac S. this year. She also has 2-year-old filly by Into Mischief, Rascality, who sold for $190,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton October Sale. The mare sold Sunday in foal to sprint champion Jackie's Warrior.

“I think she might have been a diamond in the rough here,” said KatieRich manager George Barnes. “We thought she had a lot of quality and she might stand out here pretty well in Book 3, which proved to be the case. She has a lot of upside. Her first foal is graded-stakes placed and still has his 4-year-old year ahead of him. We've only gotten later foals–two May foals and an April foal–out of her, so I think if the buyers get an early foal out of her, they will do very well commercially.”

KatieRich, which is currently home to some 26 mares, is in the midst of a reduction, according to Barnes.

“Everybody asks why we are selling her and it's just a reduction and trying to get income into the farm,” he said. “We've slowly been reducing over the last couple of years, so we will plan to foal out 26 mares next year.”

The Guffey family's Rock Ridge Thoroughbreds, which sold Holiday Soiree (Harlan's Holiday) (hip 23), the dam of recent GII Raven Run S. winner Vahva (Gun Runner) for $300,000 during Book 1, restocked Sunday at Keeneland, going to $250,000 to acquire Charmingly (Curlin) (hip 1845) from the Taylor Made Sales Agency consignment.

Out of Goldfield (Yes It's True), the unraced 3-year-old is a half-sister to Grade I winner Complexity (Maclean's Music) and a full-sister to graded winner Valadorna (Curlin). She sold in foal to Maclean's Music.

“She is bred on a similar cross to Complexity and she is a full-sister to that great Curlin mare,” Codee Guffey said of the mare's appeal.

The family also purchased Arrifana (Curlin) (hip 183) for $450,000 Wednesday at Keeneland and came back later in Sunday's session to acquire Easy on the Sugar (Frosted) (hip 1888) for $155,000.

While the operation parted with Holiday Soiree, it is taking home Lemon Belle (Lemon Drop Kid) (hip 249), the dam of GIII Gotham S. winner Raise Cain (Violence), who RNA'd for $485,000 Wednesday.

“We keep 15 mares, that's kind of the number that we want,” Guffey said. “We are trying to keep a boutique broodmare band.”

Of the market, Guffey said, “I think for the better mares, you are having to step up and pay for them. But there is not a lot of middle. It seems like the top end does really well and that's all there is.”

Hip 1528 | Keeneland Photo

A colt from the first crop of Maxfield (hip 1528) went to the front of the weanling class at Keeneland Sunday when selling for $240,000 to Bill Betz's Avocet Bloodstock. Bred by Bob Edwards's Fifth Avenue Bloodstock, the weanling is out of In It for the Gold (Speightstown), who is a daughter of Grade I placed All Due Respect (Value Plus). He was consigned by Indian Creek.

“That was fantastic,” Indian Creek's Sarah Sutherland said of the result. “We knew coming over that he was one of the better foals that we had in on the day. We've loved him from the very beginning on the farm. I think the Maxfield cross with the Speightstown mare worked really, really beautifully. He had a lovely way about him and great balance. And his movement was really effortless. I think all of the activity at the barn was evidenced in the result.”

Winner of the 2021 GI Clark S., Maxfield stands at Darley for $35,000. In addition to hip 1528, he was also represented at Keeneland this week by a $300,000 colt (hip 724). The stallion has had six sell at Keeneland for an average of $164,500.

Of the weanlings she has seen from Maxfield's first crop, Sutherland said, “We have a handful of the Maxfields at home. And we like them a lot. He's done well with mares that we bred where we had to stretch them out and get a little bit of scope and leg. Hopefully, we have more results like this when we bring them to the market next year.”

French bloodstock agent Louis DuBois has been scouring the grounds at Keeneland this week searching for precocious-looking weanlings for trainer Wesley Ward. DuBois was outbid on a Curlin colt (hip 233) earlier in the week, but got his weanling Sunday when bidding $200,000 to secure a colt by McKinzie (hip 1738) from the Gainesway consignment.

“I've been working with Wesley for a while now at the sales,” DuBois said. “I've been looking at all the horses on the grounds–mainly the foals. I am looking at the pedigrees and the physicals that [Ward] is looking for–early and speedy looking to make them an early 2-year-old. So I've been looking at a lot of them.”

DuBois, who was supporting Ward at the European yearling sales over the summer, admitted the team just missed out on its favorite weanling of the November sale.

“I sent [Ward] a short list–a very short list–every day,” DuBois said. “Our favorite of the sale so far was the Curlin colt who sold for $600,000. Our last bid was $500,000, but we had to let him go. Our second favorite came up today, the beautiful McKinzie colt from Gainesway. He was an outstanding-looking horse. He had a great walk and a great physical. He looks fast. Wesley told me when they look like a yearling, that's a good sign. So he was exactly what we were looking for. I knew when I showed him to Wesley, that we would not leave the sale without him. I am very happy that we secured him.”

Born into a racing family, horses have taken DuBois around the world.

“My family have been closely involved in racing as owners or trainers,” DuBois said. “My dad is a blacksmith, so all my life I've been around horses. I started riding at a young age doing all kind of thing in horses–show jumping–and I quickly turned to Thoroughbreds.”

DuBois has worked in the sales industry in New Zealand and spent time in Dubai with trainer Charley Appleby before moving to the U.S. to work with Ward.

The Frenchman will be continuing his search for precocious-looking weanlings at the European sales in the coming weeks.

“Now our eyes are on the catalogues in Europe for the weanlings,” he said. “We will go to Tattersalls and Arqana and look for a couple to bring back to the U.S.”

DuBois plans to spend time in the winter with Ward in Florida.

“I will come up for the sales and spend a couple of months in Florida in the winter,” DuBois said. “And then wherever [Ward] needs me, mostly in Europe, with the Ascot contenders–fingers crossed. But the sales keep me busy. That's my focus now. So far, Wesley has been very helpful. So thanks to him and let's see how it goes.”

The post Book 3 Concludes With Numbers Down At Keeneland November appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

The candidates for the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (NYTHA) 2023 Board election were announced earlier last week. The NYTHA Board consists of the President, five Owner Directors and five Trainer or Trainer/Owner Directors. All seats on the Board come up for election every three years. This year, there are two candidates for President, twelve candidates for Owner/Director and nine candidates for Trainer/Trainer-Owner Director.

The candidates are as follows: Tina Marie Bond (President), Chad Summers (President), Andrew Aaron (Owner/Director), Tom Bellhouse (Owner/Director), Kevin Brady (Owner/Director), Daniel Collins (Owner/Director), Matthew Cutair (Owner/Director), Sanford Goldfarb (Owner/Director), Michael Iannaconi (Owner/Director), Patrick Lewis (Owner/Director), Steven Rocco (Owner/Director), Vincent Vivolo, Jr. (Owner/Director), Dr. Jennifer White (Owner/Director), Aron Yagoda (Owner/Director), Jena Antonucci (Trainer), Amira Chichakly (Trainer), David Donk (Trainer), David Duggan (Trainer), Robert Falcone, Jr.(Trainer), James Ferraro (Trainer), Leah Gyarmati (Trainer), Linda Rice (Trainer) and John Terranova (Trainer).

The ballots for the NYTHA election were mailed Nov. 10 and voting for the NYTHA Election will take place, in person or by proxy, at the NYTHA Annual Meeting, to be held Dec. 27.

The post NYTHA Announces Candidates For 2023 Board Election appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

by Jessica Martini & Christina Bossinakis

LEXINGTON, KY – Three Witches (Into Mischief) provided the highlight of a workaday Book 2 section of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale when selling for $1.7 million Friday in Lexington. Book 2 opened with a uneven session Thursday at Keeneland, but activity was more consistent throughout Friday's Book 2 finale.

“It was a solid day of trade,” said Keeneland's Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy. “From start to finish, it felt a little more consistent and healthy today. Yesterday was a little bumpy, the clearance rate was a little higher than we probably would have liked, but today was a lot more consistent.”

Through the two Book 2 sessions, 444 horses sold through the ring for a total of $69,520,000. The section's average of $153,599 was down 15.1% from the 2022 Book 2 figure, while the median fell 20%.

“There is certainly a little bit of an adjustment through the marketplace, but I think everyone felt pragmatic about it,” Lacy said. “I think it was an encouraging day. The money is still here for the right horses.”

Consigned by Indian Creek on behalf of Bob Edwards's e Five Racing, Three Witches brought the section's top price when selling for $1.7 million in the name of Rifa Mustang Europe, Ltd.

“Quality mares, young mares, well bred with the right breeding and not overly exposed, were highly desirable,” said Lacy. “I think that's been the consistent theme that we've seen so far. When we saw Three Witches go through for $1.7 million going to a client that is pretty established internationally, that's really encouraging. We are seeing that international investment still here.”

Justify, who had a pair of winners on Breeders' Cup weekend, was represented by the top two weanlings during Friday's session. Paul Sharp went to $525,000 for a daughter of the Triple Crown winner and AAA Thoroughbreds acquired a colt for $425,000.

The Keeneland November sale continues through Nov. 16 with sessions beginning daily at 10 a.m.

Three Witches Stars at Keeneland Friday

Three Witches (Into Mischief) (hip 936), just a week removed from a third-place finish in the GI Breeders' Cup F/M Sprint, became the 12th seven-figure filly of the Keeneland November sale when selling for $1.7 million to the internet bid of Rifa Mustang Europe, Ltd. The 4-year-old is expected to stay in training in the U.S. next year.

“She'll stay here in America and we'll try again on the racetrack,” said Keeneland Australian representative Barry Bowditch. “For a mare that raced five days ago, in one of the strongest Breeders' Cup races of the week, she looked so well and handled the trip back so well. You just feel that the best of her racing is yet to come. It will be great to have a new investor racing horses here in America.”

The spell is cast at $1.7 million for Three Witches.#KeeNov @IndianCreekKy @e5Racing pic.twitter.com/634fpWBgEB

— Keeneland Sales (@keenelandsales) November 10, 2023

Bowditch said a trainer is still being discussed for the filly's 2024 campaign.

Bloodstock agent Mike Ryan purchased Three Witches on behalf of Bob Edwards's e Five Racing for $350,000 at the 2020 Keeneland September sale. Trained by Saffie Joseph, the dark bay earned a trip to the Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita with a win in the GIII Princess Rooney S. in October.

“It's always a hard decision [to sell] when you have something special that's won a Grade III and you drop her in the Breeders' Cup and, at 30-1, she hits the board,” Edwards said. “We believed in her and Saffie did a phenomenal job suiting her up and getting that Princess Rooney win for us and getting to the Breeders' Cup. That was all Saffie.”

Of the decision to send the graded-stakes winner through the ring at Keeneland, Edwards said, “I have a fair number of mares now. I have graded-stakes-winning mares on the roster and I figured I would move some inventory and see what happens next. We need to make room for up-and-coming stars.”

Edwards admitted Three Witches' $1.7-million price tag was above expectations.

“I was super excited with that result,” he said. “We knew there would be interest, we knew she would be the big horse for today. Keeneland did a phenomenal job. Chip McGaughey and his crew did a great job recruiting her and obviously bringing in the buyers. We were super happy with the job they did and the outcome was phenomenal. I wasn't expecting $1.7 million, but I was very happy to get it.” @JessMartiniTDN

Sharp Splurges for Justify Filly

Paul and Sarah Sharp, sitting in a back row of the sales pavilion, went to $525,000 to acquire a weanling filly by Justify (hip 975) from the Elite consignment Friday at Keeneland. The filly was the day's highest-priced weanling.

“We have been trying to buy really nice horses like that from the beginning of the sale and across town [at Fasig-Tipton] as well,” Paul Sharp said. “It's been really hard.”

Paul Sharp | Keeneland

The bay filly is out of Ada Lovelace (Algorithms), a half-sister to sprint champion Mitole (Eskendereya) and to Grade I winner Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow).

“That was a legit family and a very athletic, really nice filly by one of the best sires in the world at this time,” Sharp said. “I feel like that justified the price and we are very happy to have her. It was a little higher than we wanted to go, honestly, but we are running out of bullets.”

The weanling was bred by Villa Rosa Stables, which purchased Ada Lovelace for $110,000 at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton November sale.

“Right now, the plan is to sell her back next summer,” Sharp, who signed for the filly as CSWV, said. “We're not sure where, but that's the plan.”

CSWV purchased another daughter of Justify Friday at Keeneland, going to $290,000 to acquire hip 793 from the Paramount Sales consignment. Through three sessions, the partnership has purchased five weanlings for $1,295,000. @JessMartiniTDN

Justify Colt to AAA Thoroughbreds

Randy Hartley and Dean DeRenzo's AAA Thoroughbreds, which has been busy buying weanlings from the Fasig-Tipton November sale Tuesday and into the first week of the Keeneland November sale, purchased a colt by Justify (hip 855) for $425,000 Friday in Lexington.

Hip 855 | Keeneland

“He's just a beautiful horse,” said Hartley. “We are big fans of Justify. When Scat Daddy passed away, we never dreamed that we would have another stallion that could replace him, let alone a Triple Crown-winning son of his. We came here in September and tried to buy every one that we could get our hands on. We bought, I think, six of them in September. We came here with the same goal in mind and the [Justify's two winners at the] Breeders' Cup just did it for us. He's the kind of stallion we haven't seen in a long time. I know Gun Runner got off to a really good start, but it looks like Justify is going to follow in the same suit.”

The chestnut colt, consigned by Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa, is out of Saralin (Curlin), a half-sister to graded winners Salutos Amigos (Salute the Sarge) and Sarah's Secret (Leroidesanimuax {Brz}). He was bred by Orpendale, Chelston, Wynatt, and Kaleem Shah.

Shah and M.V. Magnier purchased Saralin for $1.3 million at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream sale. She made just one racetrack appearance and her first foal, another colt by Justify, sold for $300,000 at this year's Keeneland September sale. The mare proceeded her weanling into the ring, selling not mated to Shah for $285,000.

Through three sessions, AAA Thoroughbreds has purchased 14 weanlings for $4,370,000. A filly by Curlin (hip 151) leads the operation's acquistions with a price tag of $550,000. Earlier in Friday's session, it acquired another colt by Justify (hip 812) for $250,000.

“I just had a big order for babies–I needed about 20,” Hartley said. “I buy some for Tom Durant in Texas. He likes buying babies because he feels like he gets a little bit of a discount. This colt might have made $600,000 or $700,000 as a yearling. He feels he can save a little if he can get some nice babies. Some [that we are buying here] will be for pinhooking and some will go to him in Texas.”

Also Friday, AAA Thoroughbreds added to its collection of weanlings by first-crop sire Yaupon. With the addition of a filly (hip 733) for $300,000, the operation has now purchased three weanlings by the Spendthrift stallion for $1.15 million. @JessMartiniTDN

Colt By Nyquist Goes For $385K at KEENOV

With the market continuing to remain competitive for weanlings, a colt by Nyquist (Hip 893) reached $385,000 at Keeneland Friday. Baroda Stud's David Cox signed the ticket on behalf of Goodwill Bloodstock. Hunter Valley Farm consigned the bay colt.

The Feb. 10 foal is out of the Bernardini mare Spa Treatment, a daughter of SW and GISP Silver Knockers (Silver Deputy) and a half-sister to SW Manipulated (Malibu Moon). This is the extended family of Grade I winner Joe's Tammie (Zoning).

“He's a real athlete, a great cross,” said Cox. “Hopefully, he'll be resold [pinhooked] next year. [Nyquist] is proven, and has good runners. We tried to buy a few more, but we got beat plenty, so we're delighted to get him.”–@CbossTDN

Charlatan Colt Brings $370K Early on Day 3

A colt by Charlatan brought $370,000 from Stonestreet Stables during Friday's Book 2 finale at Keeneland. He was consigned as Hip 695 by John Stuart's Bluegrass Thoroughbred Services, acting as agent for Merribelle Stable.

Charlatan | Coady

Out of Hillhouse High (Exchange Rate), the Jan. 23 foal hails from the notable Sam-Son Farm family, including Canadian champions Regal Classic, Sky Classic, Classy 'N Smart and Always a Classic.

Headed by this colt, 14 weanlings sold by the sire–with four surpassing the $200,000 mark–through three days of selling at Keeneland. The weanlings grossed $2,810,000, averaging $200,714. Charlatan stands for $50,000 LFSN at Hill 'n' Dale Farms in 2024.

Campaigned by SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Fred Hertrich, III, John Fielding,

and Golconda Stables, the son of Speightstown was trained by Bob Baffert. The 'TDN Rising Star' won his first four career starts, including the GI Arkansas Derby and GI Runhappy Malibu S. before finishing second in what would be his career finale in the 2021 G1 Saudi Cup.

“Barbara [Banke] owns Charlatan and we still own a good piece of him as a stallion,” said Stonestreet advisor John Moynihan. “She really wanted a nice one, so he was one of the better ones we saw. [Charlatan's] weanlings have been really well received and we're really excited. We bought him to run. Barbara saw him [Thursday] and really liked him. Hopefully, we'll get Charlatan off to a good start.”

Bluegrass Thoroughbred Services has already enjoyed a profitable run in the sales ring this week. Kicking things off with a bang, the operation sold Queen Caroline (Blame) (Hip 171), in foal to Flightline, for $3 million to John Stewart at Fasig-Tipton November Tuesday. And thus far at Keeneland, the consignment also hit a home run, selling Skims (Frankel {GB}) (Hip 125) for $1.8 million to Summer Wind Farm in Book 1. At Keeneland this week, the operation sold five head, grossing $2,437,000 with an average price of $487,400.–@CbossTDN

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Making his first start on the main track after finishing a sneaky-good third when trying the turf on his Santa Anita debut Oct. 7. Zedan Racing Stables' Coach Prime (c, 2, Quality Road–Act Now, by Street Sense) was let off the leash with a furlong and a half to go Friday at Del Mar and powered away from his rivals to become the afternoon's second 'TDN Rising Star'.

The joint third-priciest offering at last year's Keeneland September sale when hammering to bloodstock agent Donato Lanni for $1.7 million, was roughed up a bit after breaking from gate nine in a field of 10 and took a few awkward strides, but that bit of trouble at the start assured that he would be able to get in and save a bit of ground three wide around the first turn. Remaining a couple of paths off the inside down the backstretch, Coach Prime looked as if he'd like to go on with things at an early stage, but Flavien Prat sat hard against him, waiting for the right moment to set him alight. Shuffled back into sixth, but still well within striking distance as they raced towards the quarter pole, Coach Prime advanced in hand into the lane, and when he was asked to take a gap between horses, he burst through, got a single right-handed reminder and was shown the whip the rest of the way, graduating by 7 1/4 emphatic lengths as the somewhat chilly 7-5 favorite.

Ostensibly named for University of Colorado football head coach Deion Sanders, Coach Prime is out of a winning half-sister to the stakes-placed The Right Path (Quality Road), a mare who was purchased for $150,000 in foal to Kitten's Joy at the 2020 Keeneland January Sale. The majority of the black-type in the family is under the colt's third dam, a half-sister to Minardi (Boundary) and Tale of the Cat (Storm Cat) who produced MGSW & MGISP Fed Biz (Giant's Causeway) and SW Spun Silk (A.P. Indy), the dam of GI Vosburgh S. winner Joking (Distorted Humor).

Act Now is the dam of a yearling colt by Union Rags, was barren to Audible for 2023 and was most recently bred to Quality Road's son City of Light.

4th-Del Mar, $63,500, Msw, 11-10, 2yo, 1m, 1:37.18, ft, 7 1/4 lengths.
COACH PRIME, c, 2, by Quality Road
1st Dam: Act Now, by Street Sense
2nd Dam: Always Trouble, by Bernardini
3rd Dam: Spunoutacontrol, by Wild Again
Sales history: $1,700,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-1, $43,920. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.
O-Zedan Racing Stables Inc; B-Kim Nardelli, Rodney Nardelli & William Werner & W S Farish (KY); T-Bob Baffert.

Big win for Coach Prime today!! https://t.co/HUKZtM9TSs

— Zedan Racing Stables, Inc (@ZedanRacing) November 10, 2023

The post Post Pattern: $1.7M Quality Road Colt Streaks Away to ‘Rising Star’ Tag appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Sailing into the weekend fresh off the Breeders' Cup might sound like a bit of a letdown, but there is some graded racing scheduled that will cure any hangover of the purple and white variety.

Across a triad of tracks, including Aqueduct, Woodbine and Churchill Downs, we find both Grade II and Grade III races over the turf and the Tapeta which should come as a welcome dose.

First on Saturday, the Big A cards the GIII Pebbles S., which is a one mile battle on the Inner Turf. If Chad Brown trainee Rhiannon (Medaglia d'Oro) can build on her first grass attempt at second asking, which was an impressive seven-length score Sept. 16, then she's the pick.

Before we send the bay filly straight to the winner's circle, don't count out her stablemate, Startup Mentality (Ire) (Kingman {GB}), who debuted a winner at Monmouth Park July 22. Nor should we negate the talent of GI Coaching Club Oaks runner-up Sacred Wish (Not This Time). The George Weaver trainee finished just off the board in the GIII Valley View S. at Keeneland Oct. 27.

Towards the end of the Aqueduct card the renewal of the GII Red Smith S. includes a number of experienced older turf experts who will take on the 3-year-old upstart and younger brother to MGISW Nest (Curlin) in Lost Ark (Violence). Last seen winning the off the turf GI Jockey Club Invitational Oct. 7 during the Belmont at the Big A meet, the Todd Pletcher trainee is going to have his work cut out for him against the likes of MGISP Soldier Rising (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and GSW Verstappen (War Front).

The Sunday action concludes in Ozone Park with the GIII Long Island S., which will be headlined by GSW Vergara (Noble Mission {GB}).

Heading to Canada, Woodbine Racetrack puts on a pair of Saturday graded stakes races in the GIII Maple Leaf and the GII Bessarabian. Both have large fields, but the latter might be the most intriguing with several alums present from the GIII Ontario Fashion S. Oct. 14. Out of the bunch, look for GSW Loyalty (Hard Spun) to get back to her winning ways for Gainesway Stable and LNJ Foxwoods.

Trucking down to Churchill Downs that same afternoon, the GIII River City S. is a nine-furlong route over the Matt Winn Turf Course. You'll recognize stalwarts GISW Rockemperor (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) and GSW Cellist (big Blue Kitten), plus older colts like GSW Kitodan (Point of Entry), GSP Smokin' T (War Front) and GSW Grand Sonata (Medaglia d'Oro). A mark of consistency, SP Siege of Boston (War Front) takes his first shot at graded company for owner Joseph Allen and trainer James Toner.

The post Dose Of Weekend Graded Stakes A Cure For Any Breeders’ Cup Hangover appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

GISW Red Knight (Pure Prize) arrived safely at his new home on Tuesday, Nov. 7 at Old Friends in Georgetown, Kentucky, the retirement farm said in a release Friday morning.

Bred, raced and donated by owner Tom Egan of Trinity Farm, the 9-year-old Red Knight was a stalwart campaigner over 38 races in which he was 12-9-2 with total earnings tallying at $1,886,338.

The highlight of his lengthy career came this year when he won the GI Man o' War S. at Belmont Park May 13, becoming just the third 9-year old to win a Grade I race in New York.

“He has a big personality,” Egan said. “He likes people, but he doesn't suffer fools, whether they're grooms or exercise riders.”

Egan went on to thank trainer Mike Maker, who he believes made all the difference last year after he took over for Bill Mott, and helped the veteran runner capture the Man o' War S.

“I stalked Tom Egan ever since the Saratoga meet concerning Red Knight,” said Old Friends President, Michael Blowen. “I adored Red Knight and knew that, at nine, his racing career was nearing the end. Tom was gracious enough to acknowledge my adoration and, now, his wonderful horse is here. What could be better?”

The post Veteran Racer Red Knight Arrives At Old Friends appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

WinStar's Grade I-winning millionaire Paynter, whose story of perseverance captivated the racing world in 2012, had to be euthanized on Friday, Nov. 10, due to lameness, the farm said in a release Friday morning.

The 2009 son of Awesome Again captured the 2012 GI Haskell Invitational S. and finished a close second in that year's GI Belmont S. en route to career earnings of $1,101,924 for owner Zayat Stables and trainer Bob Baffert.

After nearly wiring the field in the 2012 GI Belmont S. and winning the GI Haskell Invitational, Paynter developed a fever and was subsequently found to be suffering from colitis. His condition at the time required a lengthy hospital stay, and his life-threatening medical crisis was chronicled on social media under the hashtag #PowerUpPaynter. His remarkable bravery, along with the exceptional veterinary care he received, led to a full recovery. As a result, racing enthusiasts chose to award Paynter the 2012 Vox Populi Award and acknowledged his courageous journey as the NTRA's “Moment of the Year.”

Following his recovery, Paynter rejoined Baffert's barn in 2013 and the 4-year-old capped off his improbable comeback with a memorable 4 1/2-length win at Hollywood Park in June. He also went on to finish second in the GI Awesome Again S. and the GII San Diego H. before retiring to WinStar Farm following an unplaced effort in that year's Breeders' Cup Classic.

Paynter | WinStar Farm

As a stallion, Paynter successfully passed on his unique blend of talent and courageousness. In 2021, he was a Top 10 General Sire, led by his chief earner and Horse of the Year Knicks Go, who bankrolled $9,258,135 in his stellar racing career. Horse of the Year and Champion Older Male, Knicks Go numbers among his victories the 2021 GI Breeders' Cup Classic, the 2021 GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational S., the 2021 GI Whitney S., and the 2020 GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. He was also a Grade I winner at 2-years-old when he got his picture taken in the Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland.

Paynter is also the sire of multiple stakes winners Miss Leslie, an earner of $873,530, and Harpers First Ride, an earner of $699,664. This year, Paynter is represented by MSW Hybrid Eclipse, and SW Misty Mauve, SW Diamond Dust, and SW C R Insta Gator. All told, Paynter has sired 49 black-type horses, 24 black-type winners, and has progeny earnings of $39,281,733. His runners have won on all surfaces from five furlongs to 1 ½ miles.

A $325,000 yearling purchase at the Keeneland September Sale in 2010, Paynter was produced from Tizso (Cee's Tizzy), a full sister to Tiznow, a two-time GI Breeders' Cup Classic winner, Horse of the Year and a leading sire during his stallion career. Paynter was bred in Kentucky by Diamond A Racing Corp.

The post Always A Courageous Fighter, WinStar Stallion Paynter Euthanized appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Gainesway stallion and GI Breeders' Cup Mile hero Karakontie (Jpn) (Bernstein) will stand for $15,000 LFSN, the farm said in a release Friday morning.

Bred and raced by the Niarchos Family, Karakontie campaigned in France, where he won a pair of group races at 2-year-old, including the G1 Qatar Prix Jean Luc Lagardere Grand Criterium. The future sire trained on as a 3-year-old to capture the classic G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains-French 2000 Guineas before traveling to Santa Anita for that Breeders' Cup win.

Karakontie continues to serve as one of the best value sires in Kentucky with runners like She Feels Pretty, who won the GI Natalma S. and placed in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf; Foreign Relations, winner of the GIII Louisville S. at Churchill; and Princess Grace, a multiple Grade II winner and multiple Grade I performer of over $1.8 million.

Also of note, Spendarella, winner of last year's GI Del Mar Oaks, GII Appalachian S., GIII Herecomesthebride S., and runner-up in the G1 Coronation S. at Royal Ascot, was runner-up in this year's GI Just A Game S. and GII Churchill Distaff Turf Mile S.

In the sales ring this year, yearlings by Karakontie hammered down for upwards of $525,000.

The post Karakontie’s Gainesway Stud Fee At $15,000 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

by Jessica Martini & Christina Bossinakis

LEXINGTON, KY – The first of two Book 2 sessions of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale saw marked polarization, as the demand for the perceived quality remained strong, but fell off for the less desired offerings.

“It's been a realistic, selective market today,” said Keeneland Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy. “I think it was pretty evident throughout the day, people knew what they wanted and they were very specific about what they were willing to invest in. Speaking to a lot of sellers, they were very pragmatic about the market. They saw, if a mare was young and was well-bred, you were in pretty good shape. I think any mares that were a little older probably have been exposed a little bit and were a tougher sell. And from the consignors we spoke to, there was an acknowledgment that that's where the market is at the moment. So a little bit of softening, but again, that's to be expected in certain areas.”

For the session, 213 head grossed $34,428,000. The session average of $161,634 fell 9.21% from a year ago, while the median fell 14.29% to $120,000.

The 4-year-old racing/broodmare prospect Cancel This (Malibu Moon), consigned by Four Star Sales, was the session's top-priced lot when selling for $825,000 to Larkin Armstrong on behalf of Helen Alexander.

Competition for the top weanlings continued to be strong Thursday, with a colt by Constitution selling for top price of $525,000 from Cherry Knoll Farm. The weanling was one of five to sell for $400,000 or over during the session. There were two to reach that level in the same session last year.

“The market has been really strong and on a bull run for some years,” said Keeneland Director of Sales Operations Cormac Breathnach. “We had a great September sale and yearling market this year. I think that's reflected in strong foal sales.”

The Keeneland November sale continues through Nov. 16 with sessions beginning daily at 10 a.m.

Well into Thursday's session, Cancel This (Malibu Moon) (Hip 601) broke to the fore with a session-topping $825,000 bid from Helen Alexander, bidding from her customary place in front of the media stand at the back of the pavilion. Consigned by Four Star Sales, she was offered as a racing or broodmare prospect.

Kerry Cauthen, Larkin Armstrong, and Helen Alexander | Keeneland

“We [initially] thought maybe we should put the whole budget on one mare, but we got blown out of the water [at Fasig-Tipton Tuesday]. So we decided to divide it up instead,” said Larkin Armstrong, signing on behalf of Alexander. “We were waiting for this one. [She was good enough to] have sold in any sale.”

Alexander also signed for a pair of mares in Keeneland's Book 1: Candy Raid (Candy Ride {Arg}) (Hip 206), who brought $425,000 and Weekend Away (Malibu Moon) (Hip 166), a $400,000 purchase. Both mares were consigned by Taylor Made Sales.

“[Alexander] went into the sale wanting to buy some nice young mares for her breeding program, so I feel like we got horses that we're really excited about,” added Armstrong.

The 4-year-old filly was sold by Corey Johnson, whose CJ Thoroughbreds secured the filly for $180,000 at Keeneland September in 2020.

“When Dale Romans picked her out, I remember thinking that she was one of the most athletic, well-balanced yearlings we had ever bought,” said Johnson, obviously reveling in the moment following her sale. “That was three years ago. Our plan was to buy yearlings, race, and then sell them as broodmare prospects. I would say this one worked out very well.”

The bay made 20 starts over three seasons on the track, winning only once but hitting the board on 11 other occasions, including a runner-up effort in Presque Isle's Satin and Lace S. in July. She entered the sale with earnings over $240,000.

“She had really a good, solid racing career,” said Johnson. “And then, of course, we get a little lucky where the pedigree really booms up. It would be very difficult to expect something like that. We just figured the market would take her as far as it would go. We're very excited.”

After the Ring: Kerry Cauthen discusses the $825,000 sale of Cancel This, who topped session 2 of #KeeNov.

The Stakes-placed Malibu Moon filly is from the active family of Brightwork, Midnight Bourbon, Girvin and more. pic.twitter.com/PA3BJbtHj4

— Keeneland Sales (@keenelandsales) November 10, 2023

Out of MSW Catch My Fancy (Yes It's True), the filly is a half-sister to SW and GSP Dubini (Gio Ponti), SW What a Catch and full-sister to Catch the Moon, dam of GI Haskell Invitational winner Girvin (Tale of Ekati) and Grade III scorers Midnight Bourbon (Tiznow), who also finished second in the GI Preakness S. and GI Travers S., and Cocked and Loaded (Colonel John). To add some extra luster to the page, Cancel This is also a full-sister to Clarendon Fancy, dam of this summer's GI Spinaway S. winner Brightwork (Outwork).

“We sold her for some really great clients, Corey Johnsen. It's always great to win for friends,” added Kerry Cauthen.  “I think that was beyond our expectations by quite a number, but when you bring out the best-looking filly of the day, you're going to get rewarded.”–@CbossTDN

Unbeaten GI Breeders' Cup Classic winner Flightline took Terry Finley and his West Point Thoroughbred partners on the ride of a lifetime last year and Finley was keen to acquire Exotic West (Hard Spun) (hip 667), in foal to the champion, Thursday at Keeneland. Finley purchased the 5-year-old mare, the second to last horse through the ring during the second session of the November auction, for $650,000.

“David [Ingordo} really liked the mare. She was a beautiful mare,” Finley said. “The Flightlines have been selling really well, but we thought with her placement in the sale, we might get a little lucky. And I think we were–either people were tired or they went to dinner. Obviously, the appetite for Flightline is really over the top–better than we expected and we had high expectations. Anytime you can get one in a belly with a young mare like that, you're going to take a shot.”

Consigned by Grovendale Sales, Exotic West won the 2022 Top Flight Invitational and was second in the GII Allaire DuPont Distaff S. after being claimed by Louis Lazzinnaro for $40,000 at Saratoga in 2021.

Seven mares have sold in foal to Flightline for $6,625,000 through two sessions of the Keeneland November sale. Leading the way were the $1.65-million Dalika (Ger) (Pastorius {GB}) and $1.45-million Champagne Lady (Uncle Mo).

“Our outlook is we can't get enough of them,” Finley said. “We are really happy with [Flightline's] first book of mares and the second one is shaping up really well already. If you can't get excited about owning a piece of Flightline and having a shot to have his babies and the expectation of having them hit the track in a couple of years, you probably don't need to be in the game.”

Early in Thursday's Book 2 opener at Keeneland, Lady Scarlet (Union Rags) (Hip 338) brought $625,000 from Thirty Year Farm. The Saratoga-based farm's Kristen Esler handled the signing duties on the GIII Miss Preakness S. winner.

Kristen Esler | Keeneland

“We loved her,” said Esler, who operates Thirty Year Farm with her husband, Matt. “She was our first pick. She was in my heart from the moment I saw her. She's beautiful and she's everything we looked for in conformation. She was an A+. She carried herself really well. I like to look them in the eye and spend some time. She is one that we wanted to bring to our farm.”

Consigned by Lane's End, the 4-year-old is a daughter of Exclude (GB) (Include), a daughter of SW Soldera, herself responsible for MGSW Exhi (Maria's Mon) and SW Diluvien (Manduro). The daughter of Polish Numbers is also a sister to Soldata, dam of Group 2 scorer Alignement (GB) (Pivotal {GB}).

A $200,000 purchase at this venue in January, the mare visited Flightline before returning to Keeneland Thursday.

Thirty Year Farm also made a purchase in Book 1, buying Hip 163 Walking Miracle (Into Mischief) for $525,000.

“This is the one that was our highest priority. We had one that we got yesterday and we were happy with that purchase, so we may be set, but we don't know yet.” —@CbossTDN

Chip Muth and his sons, always on the lookout for young mares to buy, put in foal and return to the market, purchased Lady Scarlet (Union Rags) (hip 338) for $200,000 at the Keeneland January sale earlier this year. Covered by champion Flightline, the mare returned to the Keeneland sales ring Thursday and sold for $625,000 to Thirty Year Farm.

“We needed a couple of mares and we went through looking at young stakes mares,” Muth said. “That mare kind of caught our eye. And we got lucky and got her for the right kind of money.”

Lady Scarlet | Keeneland

The 4-year-old Lady Scarlet won last year's GIII Miss Preakness S. and Cicada S.

Muth admitted he thought the mare might have brought more money Thursday.

“To be honest, we all felt like the mare would bring more,” he said. “We sold two mares out here last year almost back to back for $750,000 and one for $700,000.”

Also Thursday at Keeneland, Muth sold Miss Mattie B (Tonalist) (hip 373) for $425,000. The 4-year-old, who was third in last year's GII Santa Ynez S., sold in foal to Quality Road.

“That's pretty much what we do,” Muth said. “We buy mares and put them in foal to the right horses. We restock 24/7. We are always on the prowl. We very seldom buy on the open market–just when we have a need for one and haven't been able to find something to fill a need.”

Asked what the family looks for in mares to buy with an eye towards resale, Muth smiled and said, “Can't tell you our secrets.”

But he added, “Physicals. Young mares, nice American fillies by name brand stallions. And they have got to be drop-dead gorgeous kind of mares.”

Muth said he generally sells about 20 mares a year.

“We concentrate on November,” he said. “We bring mares here in the fall and in January we will bring some that got in our program a little later and might be carrying a later foaling date.”

South Carolina horseman Peter Pugh purchased Thursday's top-priced weanling when going to $525,000 to acquire a colt by Constitution (hip 286) from the Nursery Place consignment.

Hip 286 | Keeneland 

“He was super well-balanced and a real good mover,” said Pugh, who purchased the weanling in the name of Cherry Knoll Farm. “Every time we saw him, he was the same.”

Asked if the plan was to pinhook the dark bay colt, Pugh said, “For now. Obviously you want to hit the home run, but I have a partner on him also, we discuss all of this stuff as time goes on.”

The weanling is out of Gone to Town (Munnings) and was bred by Nursery Place and Dicken Equine. Nursery Place purchased the mare for $240,000 at the 2019 Keeneland November sale. She RNA'd with the Constitution colt in utero for $190,000 at last year's Keeneland November sale.

“He was probably one of the better colts we've raised in the last 10 years.”

After the Ring: Griffin Mayer on the $525,000 sale of their weanling colt by Constitution (hip 286) earlier today at #Keeneland. #KeeNov pic.twitter.com/KC5ObzMhbO

— Keeneland Sales (@keenelandsales) November 10, 2023

“We try to bring a handful of weanlings every year to Keeneland–a very select few,” said Nursery Place's Griffin Mayer. “They have to be really, really nice with pedigrees and by the right sires. He checked all the boxes and honestly, he's probably one of the better colts that we've raised in the last 10 years. He's very special. He's a homebred for my dad and one of his partners, John Dicken of Dicken Equine.”

Cherry Knoll has purchased three weanlings at Keeneland so far this week and acquired two colts at the Fasig-Tipton sale Tuesday, going to $500,000 for a son of Into Mischief (hip 268) and $270,000 for a colt by Not This Time (hip 61).

“It's the same old, same old,” Pugh said. “The better horses bring the money. You have to pay for them.”

Ranking as the nation's second-leading owner in earnings so far this season, Klaravich Stables capitalized on that racetrack success with the sale of a trio of its stable stars in the select sessions of this week's most important breeding stock auctions. Among the headliners at Tuesday's Fasig-Tipton November sale was GI Acorn S. winner Search Results (Flatter) (Hip 179), who sold for $3.6 million to Katsumi Yoshida.

Turning its focus on Keeneland in Book 1, the Seth Klarman-led operation also followed up with the sale of four-time graded winner and Grade I-placed Technical Analysis (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) (Hip 145), who sold to Japan's J S Company for $1 million in addition to black-type producer Strong Incentive (Warrior's Reward) (Hip 264), who realized $2.15 million from Alpha Delta Stables. She sold in foal to hot sire Good Magic.

Klaravich had GII Mother Goose S. winner Gerrymander (Into Mischief) also entered at Fasig-Tipton earlier this week, but opted to withdraw her and retain her for a 5-year-old campaign.

“[Klarman] really likes racing and he wanted to run her as a 5-year-old,” said Klaravich's bloodstock agent Mike Ryan. “If they are sound, they have talent and they still have the desire, then you can run them. Many of them are really not at their best until they're about five anyway. And with turf horses, it can be older than that. There is so much opportunity, you don't have to run them frequently. You know what they are. You pick your spots, five or six races and they can be very successful.”

Technical Analysis | Sarah Andrew

All consigned by Elite, the trio of mares were campaigned throughout their careers by Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown, whom Ryan credits with much of the team's success on the track.

“Chad is a huge part of the success,” said Ryan. “We understand each other very well now. When I tell him I really like something, he listens. And I know what he likes. We have a great dialogue and a tremendous trust between us. That's important.”

The most accomplished of the trio, Search Results, a daughter of Co Cola (Candy Ride {Arg}), was bred by Machmer Hall. In addition to the Acorn, she also won five more black-type races, including the GII Ruffian S. and GIII Gazelle S. She also hit the board in six Grade I tests, headed by the Kentucky Oaks.

Search Results, who brought $310,000 at the 2019 Keeneland September Sale, led that season's Book 4 opener.

Ryan recalled, “She was an exceptional-looking filly. I remember when I bought her [at KEESEP] it was very late in the sale and I said 'this filly will top the sale today. We need to buy her.' And she did. I remember saying at the time that I thought she could win the Spinaway. She was really special. And she is by a sire that I really like and out of a mare by Candy Ride, who is starting to show up prominently in pedigrees. She was a magnificent physical all her life.”

He continued, “From a physical perspective, it was very hard to fault her. She reminded me of [champion turf female] Rushing Fall [More Than Ready]. Very elegant, had size and substance and class. She had the whole deal.”

Through four seasons on the track, Technical Analysis accounted for eight wins, six at the stakes level, including her latest trip to the winner's circle in the Athenia S. last month. She also placed in the GI QEII Challenge Cup S. and the GI Diana S. The daughter of Sealife (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who realized 200,000gns at the 2019 Tattersalls October Sale, sold at Keeneland as a racing or broodmare prospect.

“When we bought her in Newmarket, there was no black-type in the first two dams,” recalled Ryan. “We thought we just bought a nice filly at the time. Kingman was starting to roll on pretty good. But she really made her own pedigree. She proved to be a very successful filly, just a notch below Grade I. I thought she was going to bring a little bit more than she did, to tell you the truth, but I think the fact she was the only black-type under the first two dams might have had something to do with it.”

Also showing stakes prowess on the racetrack albeit lightly raced, Strong Incentive collected her only taste of black-type in Woodbine's Jammed Lovely S. in 2015 before retiring to the breeding shed. The mare proved to be of greater value in her latter career, producing Grade III winners Highly Motivated (Into Mischief) and Surge Capacity (Flintshire {GB}).

Ryan went to $200,000 on behalf of Klarman and William Lawrence at the OBSAPR sale in 2014, and was back to secure the filly for Klarman at Keeneland November in 2018 after the Klaravich partners decided to part ways. Her son, Highly Motivated, was also sent to the sale's ring that season, bringing $240,000.

“Both Strong Incentive and Highly Motivated went to the sale that year to dissolve the partnership,” said Ryan. “She was open at the time she sold. She was a big, beautiful mare and didn't have any black-type at that time, but she was a gorgeous mare and there was so much going for her. I told [Klarman] he needed to keep this mare. For only $40,000, she's proven to be a steal.”

Underscoring the point, Strong Incentive's most recent foal to race, Ways and Means (Practical Joke), finished runner-up in this summer's GI Spinaway S. And according to Ryan, the 'TDN Rising Star' could be the crowning jewel of the mare's produce thus far.

“Highly Motivated was very good, but I think the best one might be Ways and Means,” he opined. “She missed the Breeders' Cup with a bit of an issue, but she is very, very good. Three top horses out of three different sires. That's impressive for any mare.”

Given Klaravich's latest success in the sales ring, Ryan is quick to give props to the patience and commitment of Klarman, who is likely to find himself once again among the finalists for leading owner of the 2023 season.

Ryan said, “It is great to see him rewarded because he invests a significant amount of capital every year to buy yearlings and 2-year-olds and racing is his passion. He's a great owner. Really loves the game. And he deserves all the success.” —@CbossTDN

The post $825K Cancel This Tops ‘Realistic’ Book 2 Opener at Keeneland November appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Santa Anita concluded its 19-day Autumn Meet Sunday with Juan Hernandez on top of the jockey standings by both wins (24) and stakes victories (7). Trainer Mark Glatt edged out Phil D'Amato 12-11 to win his first Santa Anita training title, while Hall of Famer Richard Mandella led trainers by stakes wins with five. Leading owner went to Lee and Susan Searing's C R K Stable, who finished with four trips to the winner's circle.

Known at The Great Race Place, Santa Anita hosted the Breeders' Cup Nov. 3-4. Racing will return to the Arcadia oval Tuesday, Dec. 26 for the Classic Meet opener.

The post Hernandez, Glatt, C R K Stable Take Titles at Santa Anita’s Autumn Meet appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Pin Oak Stud LLC's Parchment Party (Constitution), who overcame a bit of traffic and a tight spot inside at a crucial stage when belying debut odds of 16-1 over this track and distance Sept. 15, doubled up with an equally eye-catching performance in a Thursday allowance at Churchill Downs, becoming a new 'TDN Rising Star' in the process. He is the eighth 'Rising Star' for his WinStar-based stallion.

Drawn widest in a field of 10 and only lightly regarded in the wagering at just north of 11-2, the $450,000 Keeneland September yearling allowed the inside traffic to clear and was guided down towards the inside by James Graham and trailed into the backstretch. Going sweetly with the better part of a dozen lengths to find passing the half-mile marker, Parchment Party caught the eye with an inside rally around the second turn and was produced three wide into the stretch. Behind a wall of horses at the three-sixteenths, the June foal descended on the leading group five off the fence inside the final furlong and did his best work through the wire to take it by a widening 1 1/2 lengths while not appearing completely focused at the finish of what has the feel of a key race.

First World War (War Front), trying the dirt for the first time and exiting a close fourth as the favorite in the grassy GII Bourbon S. at Keeneland last month, pulled fiercely beneath Tyler Gaffalione for the opening half-mile, settled better thereafter and stayed on for second ahead of longshot Lagynos (Kantharos) in third. Catching Freedom (Constitution), the even-money chalk off a visually impressive debut going this track's one-turn mile Oct. 1, was badly blocked for a run with time ticking away and finished a luckless fourth.

Parchment Party, bred on the same cross that produced GI Belmont S. hero and GI Kentucky Derby runner-up Tiz the Law and Grade III winner and 'TDN Rising Star' We the People, is half-brother to Muqtaser (Distorted Humor), MGSP, $303,605; and Darley Japan stallion American Patriot (War Front), GISW, $487,272, and is out of Life Well Lived–a full-sister to MGI/G1SW Well Armed–who was purchased by Bobby Flay in foal to American Pharoah for $1.25 million at the 2017 Keeneland November Sale. Life Well Lived is also kin to GSW Witty (Distorted Humor), the dam of GSW Bombard (War Front) and MGSP Amuse (Medaglia d'Oro); and to Well Lived (Tiznow), whose recently retired daughter Played Hard (Into Mischief) won this year's GI La Troienne S. This is also the family of two-time Japanese Horse of the Year Symboli Kris S (Kris S.).

Life Well Lived, who was RNAd for $775,000 when offered in foal to Curlin at KEENOV in 2019, has a yearling full brother to Parchment Party and was purchased by Machmer Hall for $360,000 at Keeneland November Thursday carrying a full-sibling to Parchment Party.

8th-Churchill Downs, $128,215, Alw (NW1X), Opt. Clm ($100,000), 11-9, 2yo, 1 1/16m, 1:44.34, ft, 1 1/2 lengths.
PARCHMENT PARTY, c, 2, by Constitution
1st Dam: Life Well Lived, by Tiznow
2nd Dam: Well Dressed, by Notebook
3rd Dam: Trithenia, by Gold Meredian
Sales history: $450,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $141,960. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.
O-Pin Oak Stud LLC; B-B Flay Thoroughbreds (KY); T-William I Mott.

#10 PARCHMENT PARTY ($13.28) settled at the back under jockey @James_D_Graham and he pressed GO at the 3/8 pole to win Race 8 at @ChurchillDowns for trainer Bill Mott and owner @PinOakStud. Another winner by Constitution.

Nice winner by @Jockey_Geena. Bet on @FDSportsbook. pic.twitter.com/i9wVunxBhd

— TVG (@TVG) November 9, 2023

The post ‘Party On!’: Constitution Colt Turns In ‘Rising Star’-Worthy Performance at Churchill appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.