By Jessica Martini
Dynasty Thoroughbreds, which made its debut with a one-horse consignment at the Fasig-Tipton July sale last month, will make its second sales appearance during next week's Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Selected Yearlings Sale. The fledgling operation, which is run by Damon Ming, his father, veteran pinhooker Don, mother Beccie, and brother Jacob, will send two yearlings through the Saratoga sales ring.
“My father started with the Thoroughbreds about 24 years ago,” Damon Ming explained. “He was pinhooking, but we also breed and do the whole nine yards. We also race a few as well.”
While he grew up around the racing business thanks to his father's involvement in the sport, Ming admitted he initially had other aspirations after graduating from high school in Williston, Florida.
“I was playing baseball in college and then I had a shoulder injury,” Ming explained. “I came back home and started doing the horses again. I just fell right back in love with them. I really enjoyed it.”
The family has sold through various consignors over the years, but Damon Ming decided the time was right to begin consigning their own horses this year.
“It is the right time of my life and I'm in the right place,” the 24-year-old said of the decision to launch Dynasty Thoroughbreds. “We decided to try and do it on our own this year and venture into those waters.”
Dynasty debuted at the July sale, selling a filly by First Samurai (hip 331) for $87,000. The filly was a $40,000 purchase at last year's Keeneland November sale.
During Monday's first session of the two-day Saratoga auction, Dynasty will send a daughter of Pioneerof the Nile through the sales ring as hip 74. The yearling is out of Elle Nicole (El Corredor), a half-sister to MGSP American Century (Pioneering). She RNA'd for $85,000 at last year's Keeneland November sale. Hip 121, a colt by Bodemeister, will sell Tuesday at Saratoga. The yearling is out of graded stakes placed Magic Appeal (Successful Appeal), a full-sister to Grade I winner J P's Gusto. The bay was a $170,000 Keeneland November purchase.
“These two horses are a couple of our standouts,” Ming commented. “We think that they will really show a lot of class up there in Saratoga and really stand out.”
The Mings, purchasing as J D R Farm, bought six weanlings for $637,000 last November at Keeneland. In total, the family plans to pinhook 10 yearlings this season. Damon Ming also has plans to pinhook yearlings to 2-year-olds in the near future.
“We just try to buy big, strong, racey-looking horses,” Ming explained.
In addition to the pinhooking prospects, the family maintains a broodmare band of 15 at its Morriston farm and has a handful of horses in training.
Damon Ming admits it isn't always easy working with family.
“It's hard sometimes,” he laughed. “But it's family and it's more rewarding when you can do it with your family.”
Asked what lessons he has learned from his father, Ming added, “He taught me to be honest. I think honesty goes a long way in anything you do.”
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