Angela Renee On Top at F-T November

During a frenetic few hours of selling Sunday evening in Lexington, Grade I winner Angela Renee (Bernardini) (hip 152) led a parade of 14 mares selling for seven figures when she attracted a final bid of $3 million during the Fasig-Tipton November sale. The 3-year-old racing or broodmare prospect, a full-sister to multiple Grade I winner To Honor and Serve, was purchased by the Solari family's Don Alberto Corporation. Taylor Made Sales Agency consigned the filly on behalf of her breeder, Siena Farm.

In all, 92 horses sold for $43,666,000, compared to 108 grossing $63,678,000 in 2014. The average decreased 19.5% to $474,630 and the median increased 17.5% to $235,000. The buy-back rate was 34.3%. It was 28.9% in 2014.

“Overall, I thought we saw a very similar marketplace to what we saw in November of 2014 and it was pretty consistent with all of the sales that we've seen in 2015,” commented Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning, Jr. “There was lots of competition for what are perceived to be the highly desirable offerings. Buyers bid with enthusiasm, but still restraint. You don't have the magical breakout situations that we did several years ago. People have some ideas and 'limits' in mind and they adhere to those limits rather than not paying attention to them. All in all, I think it is a fairly rational marketplace. Not any great movement either upward or downward.”

The 14 million-dollar mares sold Sunday was dwarfed by the 23 that hit that mark a year ago, but Browning attributed the decline to an exceptionally strong 2014 catalogue.

“It was a deeper catalogue last year,” Browning explained. “That's why it is so hard to compare from year to year–particularly with the limited number of offerings we've got. It's hard to compare from one year to the next because the composition changes. We had a remarkable depth last year–just an amazing depth. We had a very good catalogue this year, but we certainly didn't have the depth from 1-25 that we had last year and we kind of knew that going in.”

Angela Renee's $3-million price tag topped Sunday's sale, while a year ago, three mares brought that figure or better, led by the $3.1-million Princess of Sylmar. The 14 million-dollar mares were purchased by nine separate buyers.

After that topper by Darley stallion Bernardini, another Darley stallion, Street Sense, was represented by the next three highest priced fillies–all Grade I winners. Callback (Street Sense) sold for $2.8 million, Sweet Reason (Street Sense) fetched $2.7 million and Aubby K (Street Sense) brought $2.4 million.

Sunday's auction included several high-priced buy-backs, including Saturday's GI Breeders' Cup F/M Turf winner Stephanie's Kitten (Kitten's Joy), who was bought back for $2.95 million. Tiffany's Honour (Street Cry {Ire}) was another buy-back at $2.3 million.

“There are always a few disappointments,” Browning acknowledged. “You are going to have, in a mixed sale like this, an emotional attachment with the owners to many of these fillies and mares. They have achieved, in many instances, the highest of highs on the racetrack with them. There is a deep and emotional attachment to those horses and oftentimes there is a reluctance to part with them. I think a few high-priced RNAs are generally the rule rather than the exception in this upper-end November marketplace.”

Expensive Date for Empire Maker

The Solari family's Don Alberto Corporation extended to $3 million to land the FTKNOV sale-topping GISW Angela Renee (Bernardini–Pilfer {SW, $126,360}, by Deputy Minister) Sunday evening in Lexington, Kentucky.

The full-sister to MGISW and promising young sire To Honor and Serve will be heading to leading sire Empire Maker, who was, of course, recently repatriated to Kentucky by Don Alberto in an equal partnership with Gainesway Farm.

“It will be an excellent combination and hopefully she produces beautiful babies for us,” Don Alberto advisor Fernando Diaz-Valdes said.

The Siena Farm homebred secured last term's GI Chandelier S. at Santa Anita and was also third in the GI Spinaway S. at Saratoga. Second in this year's GI Central Bank Ashland S. at Keeneland in April, she was unplaced in Saratoga's GI Test S. Angela Renee has bankrolled $462,000 to date.

Don Alberto currently owns around 85 broodmares, but is still growing with a focus on quality, according to Diaz-Valdes.

“She has everything,” Diaz-Valdes continued of Angela Renee's appeal. “She's beautiful and has the best pedigree that you could imagine and also she's a Group 1 winner by Bernardini. What else can we ask for? She's a full-sister to To Honor And Serve, so it made a lot of sense.”

Angela Renee is also a half-sister to Elnaawi (Street Sense) ($500,000 KEESEP yearling), SW & GISP, $338,885. Pilfer brought $1.95 million from Borges Torrealba Holdings at the 2012 FTKNOV sale. Her Bernardini yearling filly realized $1.5 million from the Zayat family at KEESEP.

Angela Renee was consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, Agent XV, as Hip 152.

“I thought it was a good fair price,” Taylor Made President & CEO Duncan Taylor commented. “I'm glad Don Alberto got her and I think they may even race her still. I think they bought a great mare from a great family–that's Dynaformer's family down in there. It's an international family that's done well all around the world. She looks like the kind that has the ability to be the bluehen foundation mare. I hope she does that for him.” -@SteveSherackTDN

Likely Date with Curlin for Callback

Callback (Street Sense), winner of this year's GI Las Virgenes S. for Spendthrift Farm and trainer Bob Baffert, is headed for a likely date with Horse of the Year Curlin after selling for $2.8 million to Elevage Bloodstock. Elevage is a partnership between John Sikura's Hill 'n' Dale Farm and Glen Hill Farm. The two teamed up to purchase a 20% share in Curlin earlier this year before the stallion relocated to Hill 'n' Dale.

“This was, to us, the best mare in the sale,” Glen Hill's Craig Bernick said after signing the ticket. “It's a great family. It's a stallion-making family and, obviously, it's a great female family.”

Callback is out of half-sister to GI Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver (Maria's Mon) and to graded stakes winner Brethren (Distorted Humor). Her third dam, Get Lucky (Mr. Prospector), is the dam of Girolamo and Daydreaming. It is the family of recent GI Spinster S. winner Got Lucky (A.P. Indy).

Spendthrift Farm purchased Callback (hip 163) for $375,000 at the 2013 Fasig-Tipton New York Saratoga sale. Second in the GII Santa Ynez S. in her third start, the filly scored by a half-length in the Las Virgenes in January. Disqualified from a win in the Sunland Park Oaks in March, she concluded her career with a runner-up effort in the May 1 GIII Eight Belles S.

“She's was a great race mare,” Bernick said. “I watched her race in California. She progressed really quickly and won a Grade I early in her career. I think she got hurt–[Hill 'n' Dale's] Donato Lanni is close with [Baffert] and had some information about how talented she was.”

Of Elevage Bloodstock, Bernick added, “We are trying to buy some of the best mares and very good pedigrees and do what we can do to build something long-term. We have some good mares that we would like to breed to Curlin and he is an excellent stallion who gets dirt horses, turf horses, 2-year-olds, fillies. He gets a lot of successful horses and we think he is going to be a very important horse long-term.” @JessMartiniTDN

How Sweet It Is

Japanese buying interests were out in force at the Fasig-Tipton November Sale Sunday night and they didn't spare any of their ammunition when going to $2.7 million for three-time Grade I winner Sweet Reason (Street Sense). Offered by Bluewater Sales LLC, Agent I as Hip 127, the 4-year-old filly was purchased by Katsumi Yoshida (click for the Thorostride inspection video).

“She is a really gorgeous mare and was a very good racehorse,” explained Shunsuke Yoshida, son of Northern Farm's maestro. “It was a little bit over our budget, but we really wanted her. She is a good looking mare and was a talented racehorse, so I think she will make a very good broodmare.”

Out of stakes-placed Livermore Leslie (Mt. Livermore), the bay is a half-sister to Grade III winner Don't' Forget Gil (Kafwain), who was also runner-up in the GI Coaching Club American Oaks.

“We liked her pedigree,” added Yoshida. “Her sister was also a very good racehorse and [Sweet Reason] is even better than she was, so we thought she was worth the price.”

Regarding Sweet Reason's purchase price last night, Meg Levy of Bluewater Sales added, “When they are that consistent and have won three Grade I's, you think they will bring upwards of $2 million, but you never know exactly where they will hit. When I saw the marketplace, I was hoping she would get between $2 million and $3 million. That was very good. We are very pleased and I'm sure her owner Jeff Treadway is very pleased too.”

Purchased for $185,000 at Keeneland September by Treadway Racing Stable, she took her two initial career outings, including the GI Spinaway S. Conditioned by Leah Gyarmati, the bay finished second in the GI Frizette S. before closing out her juvenile season with a fourth in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. At three, she added wins in the GI Acorn S. and GI Test S. and was runner-up behind champion 3-year-old filly Untapable (Tapit) in the GI Cotillion S. Sweet Reason retired with five wins from 11 starts and earnings just under $1.5 million.

“This filly won the Spinaway, Acorn and the Test and that is a pretty amazing feat,” said Levy. “The only thing I wish was that her trainer, Leah Gyarmati, was here to enjoy this moment too. Because that's quite a feat for any trainer. She is just an amazing mare. From the time she came to the farm in the summer to the time she walked through the ring, she has just been an amazing mare. She was all class, all racehorse. You could just tell from the time you saw her. She stands about 16.2, but she is so balanced that you don't realize how big she really is until you stand up close to her. She's just an amazing horse. When they're like that, they are just special.”

Later in the session, Yoshida also secured Hip 166, Condo Commando (Tiz Wonderful), for $1.5 million. A three-time graded stakes winner, including victories in the GI Spinaway S. and GII Demoiselle S., the 3-year-old filly was consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, Agent XXII. Rounding out Yoshida's purchases yesterday was Hip 126, Sugar Shock (Candy Ride {Arg}). Also offered by Taylor Made Sales Agency (XVI), the four-year-old brought $360,000.–Christina Bossinakis

Plenty More for Summer Wind

Jane Lyon of Summer Wind Farm came to last year's Fasig-Tipton November sale and walked away with the dam of a future Triple Crown winner when she bid $2.1 million to secure Littleprincessemma (Yankee Gentleman). Lyon was back in action Sunday night in Lexington, purchasing Grade I winner Aubby K (Street Sense) for $2.4 million and More Hennessy (Hennessy) for $1.5 million.

“This year, we are looking to increase our broodmare band,” Lyon explained. “We're kind of low due to natural attrition and retirement. So I have a goal, I don't know if I'll meet it, but hopefully we can get some nice mares that are proven this year.”

Lyon said the Summer Wind broodmare band currently numbers around 20 head. She hopes to increase that number to 30.

“I think we need more foals,” she said. “But I think our goal has always been the same. It has always been to get good mares who can produce and we try to be in the top 5% of the market. We aren't always, but that is our goal. We're small and we will remain small and very involved with our horses.”

Aubby K (hip 155) was the winner of the 2013 GI Humana Distaff S. She sold in foal to Tapit just hours after her first foal, a colt by that leading sire, topped the weanling portion of the November sale when selling for $600,000 as hip 47. Lyon admitted the weanling's presence could have impacted Aubby K's final price.

“I think that was why there were quite a few people on her,” Lyon said of the weanling. “I think they could see the colt and see what she could produce physically. My son-in-law Mike Malone, who is a fabulous horseman, saw the colt earlier. So it was very important in our decision to buy this mare.”

As for the mare herself, Lyon added, “She is a little more than I had hoped, but she is a lovely mare. We had five on our list and she was at the top. We are very happy to get her.”

Aubby K, who raced for breeder James Spence, was consigned by Three Chimneys Farm.

“We're very glad Summer Wind bought her,” Three Chimneys' Case Clay said. “She is a beautiful mare and is in foal to Tapit. She has a great temperament and is just pure class.”

More Hennessy (hip 101) sold Sunday in foal to Galileo (Ire). She is the dam of GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf winner Hootenanny (Quality Road) and was consigned by Eaton Sales. Barronstown Stud purchased More Hennessy, with Hootenanny in utero, for $360,000 as part of the Ned Evans dispersal at the 2011 Keeneland November Sale.

“Obviously, she's by Hennessy which has been good to us in the past, and she is the dam of a Grade I winner,” Lyon remarked.

Lyon's buying spree continued later in the night when she bid $1.1 million to secure Gamay Noir (Harlan's Holiday), in foal to Tapit. The 5-year-old (hip 181) was consigned by Lane's End. @JessMartiniTDN

Jones Has Faith

Marie Jones, sitting alongside advisor Frank Taylor, made a splash early during the mare section of the Fasig-Tipton November Sale, securing Grade I winner Let Faith Arise (Kafwain) for $2.1 million. Consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, the 5-year-old mare (hip 89) sold in foal to Tapit.

“I went to see her at the barn and I just loved her,” Jones admitted. “I loved her conformation and I think that her pedigree is great and she'll go well with my family.”

Jones, who along with her late husband Aaron bred Breeders' Cup winners Speightstown and Ashado, has about a dozen head in her commercial broodmare band and admitted she is always looking to add the right mares to that number.

“In this business, buying and selling go together,” she explained. “You always want to keep up your stock. Quality–it's what you want and if you want the quality, you have to go out there and buy it. I have good mares and I have shares in top stallions. That's the fun of it when you're breeding. You want the quality and you want to be able to sell it. You want to take them to the sales to sell and that makes you want to buy some more.”

Let Faith Arise captured last year's GI Santa Margarita S. while racing for her breeder Tommy Town Thoroughbreds. Sport Thoroughbreds was the name on the ticket when the mare sold for $925,000 as a broodmare prospect at last year's Fasig-Tipton November sale.

Also Sunday, Jones purchased multiple graded stakes winner Heart Stealer (Speightstown) (hip 74), in foal to Medaglia d'Oro, for $650,000 and Saturday Nite Ride (Flower Alley) (hip 117), in foal to Speightstown, for $300,000.

She admitted she was enjoying her shopping spree.

“My husband Aaron and I enjoyed it so much and being with Frank and the [Taylor] family, it's just like coming home,” Jones said. “It's fun. You buy the best and you breed the best and you hope to sell the best.” @JessMartiniTDN

Shadai Farm a Major Player at FTKNOV

Japan's Shadai Farm made its presence felt at Sunday evening's Fasig-Tipton November sale, acquiring three broodmares for a total of $2.92 million. Teruya Yoshida's outfit's purchases included:

• Hip 121 Starship Truffles (Ghostzapper–Bobbie Use, by Not For Love) (i/f to Tapit) ($1.5 million) (consigned by Paramount Sales, Agent I); GISW of $445,035.

• Hip 110 Reneesgotzip (City Zip–No Dress Code, by Distorted Humor) (i/f to Medaglia d'Oro) ($1 million) (consigned by Hill 'n' Dale Sales Agency); MGSW & MGISP of $869,860.

• Hip 78 I'm Already Sexy (Ready's Image–Klohho, by Trempolino) ($420,000) (Property of Hit The Board Stable, Brookdale Sales, agent); MGSW of $762,300.

Shadai's top purchase Starship Truffles, heroine of 2013

GI Princess Rooney H. for Chasing Tail Stables and trainer Marty Wolfson, was acquired by Castleton Lyons for $1 million at that year's Fasig-Tipton Summer Selected Horses of Racing Age sale. Reneesgotzip, a $45,000 OBSAPR graduate, won two graded stakes and also hit the board in five Grade I events–including a pair of Breeders' Cup Turf Sprints–for the Lanni Family Trust and trainer Peter Miller.

“She's a lovely mare,” Paramount's Pat Costello said of Starship Truffles. “A Grade I winner and I'm delighted that Shadai bought her. We're delighted with the price.”

Fasig-Tipton President & Chief Executive Officer Boyd Browning, Jr. was delighted by the participation from the Far East, which also included a trio of high-profile purchases from Northern Farm's Katsumi Yoshida, led by the $2.7-million Sweet Reason (Street Sense) and $1.5-million Condo Commando (Tiz Wonderful).

“There was very strong participation from our friends from Japan,” Browning commented. “That's a trend that we've seen in recent years. Both of the Yoshida families have been very active in this marketplace here at Fasig-Tipton in recent years and were very active again tonight. They have bought some wonderful prospects and wonderful mares in foal here and have enjoyed great success with a lot of the American pedigrees, both in the sale's ring and on the racetrack in Japan, so it really wasn't a surprise. It sure is nice to see their level of participation.” -@SteveSherackTDN

Molly Morgan Headed to Stonestreet

Molly Morgan (Ghostzapper–Capitulation {MSP}, by Distorted Humor)–heroine of the GI La Troienne S. over subsequent MGISW Sheer Drama (Burning Roma) in her career finale at Churchill Downs this spring–brought $1.35 million from Barbara Banke's Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings at Sunday evening's FTKNOV sale. The 6-year-old, consigned as a broodmare prospect by Belvedere Farm, agent, as hip 99, was campaigned by owner W.D. Cubbedge and trained by Dale Romans.

“She's pretty and by Ghostzapper,” Banke said. “He's one of the best young sires.”

Any idea who she will be bred to next year?

“We'll be nicking her momentarily,” she replied with a smile while seated next to her bloodstock advisor John Moynihan.

Molly Morgan, from the extended family of Canadian champion Wavering Girl (Wavering Monarch), also posted wins in the GII Chilukki S., GII Fleur de Lis H. and GIII Gardenia S. and also owns a pair of Grade I placings. She retired with a record of 29-8-4-8 and earnings of $882,159.

Bred in Kentucky by Mike Lauffer, Bill Cubbedge and Greg McDonald, Molly Morgan was previously a $90,000 KEESEP yearling graduate. -@SteveSherackTDN

Bridlewood Making it Count at F-T

Bridlewood Farm didn't step up to the plate all that often Sunday night, but when it did, it certainly made it count. The operation secured two mares for seven figures each during the session. Getting things rolling for the Ocala, Florida operation was hip 109, Renda (Medaglia d'Oro), who brought $1.1 million. Consigned by Bluewater Sales LLC, Agent IV, the stakes winner and graded-placed mare is believed to be in foal to Grade I winner Paynter (Awesome Again). Already successful in the breeding shed, the dark bay is responsible for the ill-fated Rockfall (Speightstown), winner of seven of eight career starts, including the GI Alfred G. Vanderbilt H. and GI Vosburgh Invitational this year. Slated for last weekend's GI Breeders' Sprint, the talented colt broke down during a morning workout and was euthanized prior to that title-defining event.

“It was heart breaking to everyone to lose a horse like Rockfall,” explained Bluewater Sales' Meg Levy. “It is kind of bittersweet for us today. It's just a shame [Rockfall] didn't get to run in the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint, because that might have really rocked the house. He seemed like he was really ahead of his class.”

Despite the disappointment of losing the mare's prized pupil before he could achieve the ultimate goal, Levy was pleased with the overall result.

“She is a very classy mare,” added Levy. “I thought she might have been able to bring a little bit more, but I think her owner [Richard Rowan] was happy with her price as well.”

Late in the session, Bridlewood offered one final blow when offering $1.3 million for hip 172, a member of the Stone Farm consignment. A full-sister to champion 3-year-old filly Untapable and a half-sibling to Grade I winner Paddy O'Prado (El Prado {Ire}), the lightly-raced Double Tapped was sold in foal to Medaglia d'Oro. In September, the 5-year-old's dam Fun House (Prized), was named the 2014 TOBA Broodmare of the Year.–Christina Bossinakis

Casse in the Black

At several junctures in her life, Gamay Noir (Harlan's Holiday) appeared to be somewhat of a tough sell, having RNA'd for for $37,000 as a yearling, brought $15,000 in 2013 and was claimed at Gulfstream Park for $100,000 last season. However, everything came together for the five-year-old last night when Summer Wind Farm extended to $1.1 million to secure the graded-stakes winning mare, who was in foal to Tapit. The sale represented a career-best score for the owner-partnership that includes bloodstock agent Justin Casse, who purchased the mare last winter. The mare was consigned by Lane's End, agent.

Retired in 2014 with a pair of Grade III victories under her belt and $346,866 in earnings, Gamay Noir–a half-sibling to Peruvian Group 3-placed Serafico (Suave)–is from the extended family of Grade I winnrs Al Mamoon and La Gueriere. She was offered at Fasig-Tipton Kentucky last February and was snapped up by Casse for $375,000, the second highest priced offering of that sale.

“I had some friends, who had a season to Tapit, so I was looking for mare that was quality enough to send to him,” explained Casse. “We put together a deal with some partners and put her in foal to Tapit. That was the intention all along, to put her back here in the night of the stars.”

Explaining her appeal at the time of her purchase last winter, Casses offered, “She is very typical Harlan's Holiday. She has a big hip, just under 16 hands, has a very nice presence and is a really sweet mare. Harlan's Holiday and Tapit both have some international appeal, so the whole thing kind of worked. It was just the last [breeding stock] sale of the season and I literally bought her with my last bid that day.”

Casse, who indicated this was the first time he had tried his hand at this form of high-end pinhooking, was obviously elated moments after the sale. “I'm completely thrilled with the whole thing,” said Casse. “This is the first time we actually bought mares and bred them. I've done some stuff with Becky Thomas in New York and I have bought a few charity seasons, but this is the first time I have done anything close to this level.”

He added, “I am really trying to diversify my portfolio, like traveling to Europe, I sell at two-year-old sales and I buy mares and put them in sales, so I do just about everything. I was used to doing strictly 2-year-old sales with [trainer] Mark Casse and my dad [Norman], but I need to have income all year long and this is the best way to do it, to pinhook in all different forms.”–Christina Bossinakis

Another RNA for Kitten

Just days after running second in last year's GI Breeders' Cup F/M Turf, Ken and Sarah Ramsey's Stephanie's Kitten (Kitten's Joy) failed to sell at $3.95 at the Fasig-Tipton November sale. The mare returned to the Fasig sales ring Sunday a day after becoming a Breeders' Cup champion for the second time in her career, but the result was the same as bidding stalled just shy of $3 million.

Ken Ramsey, sitting alongside his wife, admitted he was not disappointed to be taking the gritty mare, who is named after his granddaughter, home.

“I think she is worth at least $3 million–that's the reserve I put on her,” Ramsey said. “She didn't bring it and I'm relieved and happy. I kind of feel like a hero instead of a heel.”

It was Stephanie's Kitten's fourth trip through a sales ring and the fourth time the Ramseys have bought her back. She RNA'd for $30,000 as a Keeneland September yearling and for $17,000 as an OBS April juvenile before going on to become a multiple Grade I winner on the racetrack.

Asked if this was Stephanie's Kitten's final trip through a sales ring, Ramsey laughed, “I don't make any promises about the future. We always try to keep all our options open.”

As for possible matings for the mare, Ramsey said, “I think Tapit is probably the one to go to. He can produce a Derby horse and he's the hottest sire in America. I'll check with Galileo, too–he's the best in Europe. We might breed her to Galileo or some big European stallion and race the offspring. ” @JessMartiniTDN

Another Topper for Tapit

Just over an hour into last night's Fasig-Tipton November Sale, a colt by leading sire Tapit (Pulpit) realized top price for weanling when realizing a $600,000 final bid. Quickly hitting the half-a-million mark, hip 47 surpassed the top price for a weanling at the 2014 renewal of the sale, when another colt by Gainesway's marquee stallion brought $500,000. Bloodstock agent Alex Solis III signed the ticket as Mill Valley Racing for the first foal out of Grade I winner Aubby K (Street Sense). The Feb. 20 foal was consigned by Three Chimneys Farm, Agent XVII, who also offered Aubby K later in the evening. Led through the ring as hip 155, the mare, carrying a full-sibling to Sunday night's weanling topper, brought $2.4 million.

“It was pretty close to what we thought we'd get for him,” commented Three Chimney's Chris Baker when asked about the price. “We were pleased with the price. He is a nice colt. It's still early and we're just getting going, but we were happy enough with that.”

A daughter of graded-stakes winner Lilly Capote (Capote), Aubby K recorded her biggest victory for her owner James Spence and trainer Ralph Nicks in the 2013 GI Humana Distaff S. at Churchill Downs. The 6-year-old mare is also a half-sister to multiple graded stakes placed Flying Pegasus (Fusaichi Pegasus) and graded stakes placed Mythical Pegasus (Fusaichi Pegasus).

“He is more powerful and precocious than your average Tapit,” added Baker. “I think that's what makes him different. I think he's a nice blend of the sire and dam and his overall ability probably favors the mare a little bit, because [Aubby K] is strongly made and has a very big hip on her. He seems to be a little bit more like her, but he appears to be a combination of the two.” –Christina Bossinakis

Malibu Moon Fillies to Spendthrift

B. Wayne Hughes's Spendthrift Farm took home the two top-priced weanling fillies, both daughters of Malibu Moon, during Sunday's Fasig-Tipton November Sale. Bidding out back along with farm manager Ned Toffey, Hughes first signed the ticket at $360,000 for hip 34, out of Grade I winner Starship Truffles (Ghostzapper). He was in action a short while later to secure hip 66, a full-sister to multiple graded stakes winner Onlyforyou for $370,000.

After signing the ticket on the first weanling, Hughes was quick to credit his farm manager for picking out the youngster.

“I'd never seen her before,” Hughes chuckled. “But Ned told me to [bid].”

Asked what he liked about the filly, Toffey said, “She is a Malibu Moon filly out of a mare who could run. She has a good pedigree and looks like a really, really athletic filly. That's the kind you're looking for.”

The weanling is the first foal out of GI Princess Rooney H. winner Starship Truffles (Ghostzapper), who sold for $1.5 million to Shadai as hip 121. She was bred by Castleton Lyons, which purchased the mare for $1 million at the 2013 Fasig-Tipton Summer Horses of Racing Age Sale, and Kilboy Estates. She was consigned by Paramount Sales.

The filly was the first weanling to break the $300,000 mark at Fasig-Tipton Sunday and Toffey said that was likely the group's final bid.

“It was all that we were probably going to do, but usually for the nice ones you have to go every bit of what you want,” he said.

Consigned by Four Star Sales as agent for her breeder JSM Equine LLC and Greathouse Horse Property LLC, hip 66 is also a full to stakes winner Dress the Part. John Greathouse purchased the filly's dam, stakes placed Erhu (Tactical Cat), for $50,000 while in foal to To Honor and Serve at the 2013 Keeneland November sale. That To Honor and Serve filly sold for $450,000 at this summer's Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale.

Hughes also gave an upbeat report on his champion Beholder (Henny Hughes), who was forced to miss Saturday's GI Breeders' Cup Classic due to illness.

“Beholder is in her stall at Santa Anita and doing very well,” Hughes said.

Toffey confirmed the current plan is to race Beholder in 2016.

“Knock on wood, that's the plan, but in this game everything is day-by-day,” he said. “If everything is just right with her, then we'll go on and if it's not, it's time to breed her.” @JessMartiniTDN

Lieblongs Add a Baby 'Beast' to the Stable

It wasn't much of a surprise to see owner Alex Lieblong signing the ticket on a $350,000 weanling daughter of The Factor at Sunday night's FTKNOV sale after looking at her page. Lieblong, of course, campaigns the bay filly's half-sister, last year's

GI King's Bishop S. winner and 'TDN Rising Star' The Big Beast (Yes It's True).

“She reminded me a lot of The Big Beast,” admitted Lieblong, seated next to his wife Jo Ann. “He stood out [as a $150,000 OBSAPR 2-year-old]. We had his older brother [5-year-old] Big Lute (Midnight Lute), who stood out, too [as a $275,000 KEESEP yearling]. Last year, the mare had a Trappe Shot sell [$300,000 KEESEP yearling colt] and he was very nice, but he wasn't quite like this one or the 'Beast.' I stayed away from that one, but couldn't stay away this year.”

Produced by the stakes-placed V V S Flawless (Deputy Minister), The Factor filly was bred in Kentucky by Heather and Patrick Ford and James M. Herbener Jr. The Feb. 3 foal was consigned as hip 41 by Herbener Jr.

“She'll probably go to Diamond A or Three Chimneys and we'll race her eventually,” Lieblong added. “I usually don't buy weanlings; she was the only one that I'd do anything in the weanling market with right now.”

As for the pricetag he concluded with a laugh, “I told my wife that she was gonna cost $350,000.”

The Lieblong's GI Alabama S. heroine Embellish the Lace (Super Saver) (hip 175) later RNA'd for $1.9 million during the broodmare portion of the sale. -@SteveSherackTDN