By Jessica Martini
LEXINGTON, KY – The Knelman family's Farfellow Farm, which had a memorable Keeneland September sale three years ago with a million-dollar yearling followed by a $700,000 session topper in Book 3, could have another Book 3 star on its hands with a colt by Good Magic (hip 1301). The yearling received the most timely of updates when his full-brother Mixto captured the Aug. 31 GI Pacific Classic.
“The Mixto full-brother is making everybody's list and then we have others that are hitting, so knock on wood, it should be an exciting Book 3 for us,” Jak Knelman said from a rainy sales barn on the auction's dark day Friday.
Knelman's parents, Kip and Suzanne, had initially claimed Mixto's dam, Musical Mystery (Concerto), at Gulfstream in 2015 with the intention of reselling her in foal in the fall. But when bidding stalled at Keeneland that November, the Knelmans bought the mare back for $42,000.
“My parents claimed her for $12,500,” Knelman said. “They loved the pedigree. At that time we were also trying the claim-and-flip game. So we put her into a mare share with Awesome Again. Quiet honestly, we were shocked she didn't bring more. So we bought out the mare share. That's how we got her.”
Musical Mystery is a full-sister to Grade I winner Rigoletta, who is the dam of GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner Battle of Midway (Smart Strike).
The mare's Awesome Again colt sold for $190,000 at the 2017 September sale and her Distorted Humor colt brought $180,000 at the 2019 auction. While Mixto missed the September sale, he ultimately sold for $140,000 at the 2022 OBS April sale.
“He had quite a bit of vetting–I think five vettings–and we were pretty confident that we would hit our reserve at $150,000, but I guess no one hit it,” Knelman said of Mixto's appearance at OBS. “He went in :10 2/5, which is fast enough, but I guess not fast enough for people. Right after, I got a call from Eddie Kane to see if it was buy-back. And Calumet bought the horse.”
Knelman credits his mother with the mating with Good Magic that produced Mixto and then ultimately the mare's current yearling.
“My mom is the pedigree person and she thought the perfect cross would be Good Magic, a first-year stallion, and obviously that turned into Mixto,” Knelman said. “He was a beautiful horse and that had my mom pushing to go back to a bubble year-stallion. Good Magic is such a quality horse, but she wanted to take that risk because we saw such a great result with Mixto. And we got pretty much the same package. That's the feedback that we are getting with this colt–very similar to Mixto–is that he looks like his sire. Musical Mystery is a beautiful mare, big and with perfect angles. I think the Curlin, Good Magic is a perfect physical match for her.”
Mixto had hit the board in three graded races before his breakout win in the Pacific Classic. He was runner-up in last year's GII San Antonio Stakes and third this year in both the GII San Pasqual Stakes and GIII Californian Stakes.
“If you look back at Mixto's races, he would be finishing strong,” Knelman said. “You don't get any accolades for galloping out strongly in front, but that's what he kept doing. I think putting him on the front end, that's his style and he is able to cruise at high speeds.”
While Kip Knelman was out at Del Mar to enjoy the Grade I victory in person, his son watched the race while waiting out a rain delay at a UK football game.
“Me and my close friends were screaming at the top of our lungs,” he said. “I think everybody thought maybe we had had too much to drink. It was fun.”
The plan now is for Mixto to train up to the GI Breeders' Cup Classic. What would having a horse in the Classic mean to the farm?
“It's incredible,” Knelman said. “We are a small farm. It's the dream. It's been a family affair with my parents, years of cultivating families together, and to see it come together like this, it's extremely gratifying. We are enjoying the moment.”
Farfellow Farms has just 10 to 12 mares and Knelman gave credit to farm manager Josh Hennessy for much of the farm's success.
“Josh Hennessy does a really great job of raising horses and using a very natural hands-on approach,” Knelman said.
As for Musical Mystery, the 12-year-old mare had no reported foal this year, but was bred back to Good Magic's Kentucky Derby-winning son Mage this spring.
Knelman said there was plenty of activity at the sales grounds Friday ahead of the opening session of Book 3 Saturday morning.
“There are a lot of people looking right now,” he said. “If you have the horse, the buyers are here.”
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