By Jessica Martini
When Lil Indy (Anasheed) returns to the sales ring during the first session of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale Nov. 6, it will be with a wealth of frequent flyer miles and one impressive sophomore standout added from the last time she visited that sales ring in 2018.
Gary and Mary West had purchased Lil Indy, in foal to Pioneerof the Nile, for $80,000 at the 2014 Keeneland January sale. The couple bred the two-time winner to their GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner New Year's Day (Street Cry {Ire}) and the mare produced colts by that sire in 2015 and 2016. She produced a colt by Flashback in 2018.
With New Year's Day sent to Brazil and the mare's first foals producing less-than-notable results on the racetrack, Lil Indy found herself back in the Keeneland sales ring last fall. In foal once again to New Year's Day, she sold for $11,000 to Triple Crown and was exported to South Korea.
A little over a month after the sale, Lil Indy's 2-year-old romped home to a 9 3/4-length debut victory in a maiden-claimer at Gulfstream Park. And while, Lil Indy was producing a full-sister in Korea, Maximum Security was winning the GI Florida Derby. By the time the West homebred was infamously disqualified from the GI Kentucky Derby on the first Saturday in May, the mare was already back in the U.S. under the ownership of SF Bloodstock.
“Our involvement started with a call from [Hartwell Farm owner] Robbie Lyons while we were at the Inglis Easter sale last spring,” said SF Bloodstock's Tom Ryan. “He was calling to inquire about our interest in the dam of this year's Florida Derby winner. Robbie and Jun Park organized all the logistics.”
Ryan continued, “She got back to the U.S. in late April and she cleared quarantine the day before the Kentucky Derby.”
Knowing Lil Indy was back at the farm, the lengthy post-Derby objection had some extra drama for Ryan.
“No question the DQ brought us back to reality,” he said. “But we knew then and there he was the best 3-year-old in training. When he came back to win the [GI] Haskell [Invitational] in fine style later in the summer, that status was solidified. Maximum Security will be a force as a 4-year-old. He has the tactical speed and raw talent to take down some major prizes.”
Lil Indy (hip 13), now in foal to Quality Road, and her Korean-bred weanling filly by New Year's Day (hip 14) will ride the famous 3-year-old's coattails into the November sales ring.
“Our options were open,” Ryan said of the decision to offer the mare and foal at auction. “Given Maximum Security's exploits this year, Keeneland November makes sense.”
Lil Indy is out of Cresta Lil (Cresta Rider) and is a half-sister to multiple Grade I winner Flat Out (Flatter).
Of the mating with Quality Road, Ryan said, “It was the best physical match up. That, of course, paired with Quality Road's four Grade I winners in 2019.”
Lil Indy will be followed into the Keeneland sales ring by Maximum Security's little sister.
“When she walked out of quarantine for the first time we were delighted,” Ryan said of the weanling. “She's a lovely filly. She's a great mover and very athletic, like her brother.”
The weanling does have the distinction of being the only Korean-bred offering in the November catalogue.
“Where they're registered is irrelevant to their quality and potential as a racehorse,” Ryan said. “I will say she arrived in great condition after shipping from the other side of the world.”
The Keeneland November sale begins with a select Book 1 session Wednesday, Nov. 6 and continues through Sunday, Nov. 17.
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