Stars Align at Fasig-Tipton November

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Updated: November 10, 2021 at 8:25 am

Sale-topping Magical World in the ring | Fasig-Tipton photo

by Jessica Martini, Brian DiDonato, and Christie DeBernardis

LEXINGTON, KY – The Fasig-Tipton November Sale opened Tuesday afternoon with strong returns for its weanling offerings before exploding with frenetic bidding from an internationally diverse buying bench on a wide selection of superstar mares that ultimately produced a sales record gross of $103,699,000 for 149 head. That figure bested the auction's previous record of $89,473,000 which was set in 2018. The average of $695,966 was the second highest in sale history, falling short only of the 2008 average of $772,297, while the median of $300,000 was third highest in the sale's history.

“It was a remarkable evening tonight,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning. “We were supported by an unbelievable cross section of horses from an unbelievable cross section of consignors and owners. That's what it is all about–the quality of horses you have the opportunity to sell. We had an all-star cast of horses. We were supported by a tremendous buying base from all over the world. We have been very, very fortunate that a lot of horses sold in this sale have gone on to become significant producers from around the world. We are fortunate to sell some of the world's finest fillies and mares.”

Mandy Pope's Whisper Hill Farm was involved with both of the top two lots, teaming up with Three Chimneys to purchase Magical World (Distorted Humor) for $5.2 million and with Flurry Racing and Qatar Racing to purchase GI Longines Kentucky Oaks winner Shedaresthedevil (Daredevil) for $5 million, who will return to the racetrack next year.

A pair of Breeders' Cup victories Saturday gave the always powerful Japanese buying bench even more energy Tuesday, and Australian buyers were out in force after the country opened its borders a week ago.

Japan took down both the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf and GI Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff Saturday and both fillies were bred by Katsumi Yoshida's Northern Farm. The operation was out in force Tuesday, purchasing six mares, including $4.7-million GI Preakness S. heroine Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil). Eight individual Japanese interests purchased a total of 17 mares for $34.55 million.

“Our friends from Japan have become a major component of this sale for two reasons,” Browning said. “First of all, we have a product to sell that is of great appeal to the Japanese: top- quality, young, fillies and mares from the racetrack or young proven producers. We have been entrusted with those horses to sell and they have enjoyed coming here and having great success with them. We live in a global world and are fortunate that we have a global marketplace here.”

Jacob West purchased the top-priced weanling of the auction, going to $750,000 to acquire a filly by Curlin out of GISW Sippican Harbor (Orb) from the Taylor Made Sales Agency.

“We are seeing the emergence of a pretty dynamic weanling market as part of the November sale now too,” Browning said. “We couldn't be any more pleased. I have to give credit to our team. They did a hell of a job and I am so proud.”

David Ingordo was active on both sides of the ledger Tuesday and admitted it was a vibrant marketplace.

“Selling is great, buying has been very difficult,” Ingordo said. “I bought a horse earlier that I thought brought fair value. The horse business is alive and well. I think a lot of it is from the purses. A lot of my clients like to race and now the purses are going up so there are a lot of positives. I think there is a lot more positive than negative and we should talk more about that.”

Pope and Three Chimneys Partner Up for Magical World

With her MGISW Guarana (Ghostzapper) having brought $4.4 million earlier in the session from John Sikura of Hill 'n' Dale, 11-year-old emerging blue hen Magical World (Distorted Humor) (hip 203) outdid her daughter when fetching $5.2 million. Whisper Hill's Mandy Pope purchased the mare in partnership with Three Chimneys Farm. The sale of both Guarana and Magical World were to dissolve the partnership between Hill 'n' Dale–which consigned the pair–and Three Chimneys.

“We're very happy, and very happy to have a nice mare in partnership with Three Chimneys, so it's going to be stellar,” said Pope. “We'll keep making great babies, so all is good.”

Magical World sold in foal to Into Mischief. The resulting foal will be bred on the potent Into Mischief–Distorted Humor cross responsible for MGISW young sire Practical Joke as well as recent GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile romper Life Is Good.

“We're just busy trying to buy them right now, but I'm sure we'll find somebody,” Pope quipped when asked if she had any plans for a next mating. “We're just excited to have her right now and delighted to have the partnership with Three Chimneys.”

Also responsible for 'Rising Star' and stakes winner Magic Dance (More Than Ready), Phipps Stable-bred Magical World is a daughter of GISW Pleasant Home (Seeking the Gold). This is the prolific family of highest-level winners Sky Beauty, Hill 'n' Dale resident Violence, Point of Entry, Pine Island, Tale of Ekati, Maplejinsky, Dayjur, etc.

Magical World's 3-year-old Pioneerof the Nile colt was a $2.1-million KEESEP yearling and recently broke his maiden in special weight company at the Meadowlands. Magical World has a yearling colt by Gun Runner and a foal colt by Quality Road.

When asked if she had also considered going for Guarana, Pope said, “We liked her also, but we preferred to go this way.”

For more on Magical World and Guarana, click here. —@BDiDonatoTDN

 

Shedaresthedevil Heading Back to Cox

Last year's GI Longines Kentucky Oaks heroine Shedaresthedevil (Daredevil) isn't done with her racing career just yet, as a new partnership was formed Tuesday to send her back to trainer Brad Cox. Consigned by Hunter Valley Farm as hip 232 on behalf of Staton Flurry's Flurry Racing Stables, Qatar Racing Ltd. and Big Aut Farms, Shedaresthedevil is now the property of Mandy Pope's Whisper Hill, Flurry and Qatar Racing after hammering at $5 million.

“I'm very excited to have such a lovely racehorse and to have the opportunity to be on board with my new partners and to go racing for another year,” said Pope. “I'm looking forward not only to having a lot of fun, but winning a lot of money. It's going to be great.”

Pope said bloodstock agent and Gainesway Director of Bloodstock Alex Solis II was instrumental in putting the partnership together.

“She's such a wonderful racehorse, and she's gorgeous,” Pope said. “With her physique, and the way she carries herself, she reminds me a lot of Havre de Grace. So maybe we'll have another Horse of the Year.”

Pope paid a record $10 million for 2011 Horse of the Year Havre de Grace (Saint Liam) at the 2012 renewal of this auction.

Shedaresthedevil was a debut winner as a June 2019 juvenile for Glencrest Farm, at which point the Al Thani family's Qatar Racing bought in. After placings in the GII Sorrento S. and Anoakia S. later that season, she was offered at Keeneland November, where Flurry Stables signed the $280,000 ticket.

Qatar Racing stayed in after that sale, and Shedaresthedevil began her big 3-year-old campaign for new trainer Brad Cox with a runner-up optional claiming tally before annexing the GIII Honeybee S, airing in the GIII Indiana Oaks in July and then upending soon-to-be champions Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil) and Gamine (Into Mischief) in a record-fastest running of the Kentucky Oaks, which was pushed back to September due to the pandemic.

The bay added four more graded stakes victories this season, including the GI La Troienne S. and GI Clement L. Hirsch S., and she was last seen finishing sixth in Saturday's fast-paced GI Breeders' Cup Distaff.

“Mandy approached us right before she went into the ring, and we said, 'Let's do it!' She'll stay with Brad and the team, and we made some money, so it all worked out,” Staton Flurry said. “It works out great. I hate saying it like this, but I grew up in the claiming ranks, so that made letting go a little easier; getting horses bought and stuff, that's kind of your mindset. But we're definitely excited to still have her around and seeing what we can do.” —@BDiDonatoTDN

 

Northern Farm Wins War For Swiss Skydiver

It is not often that a filly wins a Triple Crown race and it is even rarer that a collector's item like that is offered at public auction. So, it was no surprise that last year's GI Preakness S. heroine Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil) (hip 246) was an extremely coveted offering at Fasig-Tipton Tuesday night and, after a prolonged round of bidding with many players, Katsumi Yoshida's Northern Farm was the last bidder standing on a final bid of $4.7 million.

“We are very thrilled,” said Shingo Hashimoto, Northern Farm's Manager of International Affairs., who signed the ticket on the Classic winner. “Her pedigree, her looks and what she did racing was so amazing. It is unbelievable and she was so attractive. We are very, very happy.”

Northern Farm bred Japan's first Breeders' Cup winner Loves Only You (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), who captured Saturday's GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf, as well as their second, Marche Lorraine (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}), who upset the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff later in the card at 49-1.

Hashimoto signed the ticket on six mares on Yoshida's behalf for a total of $12.725 million, topped by Swiss Skydiver. Their other acquisitions included Grade I winners Princess Noor (Not This Time) ($2.9 million), Simply Ravishing (Laoban) ($1.7 million) and Duopoly (Animal Kingdom) ($1.6 million); Mongolian Changa (Brilliant Speed), dam of MGISW Medina Spirit (Protonico) ($1.05 million); and GSW Heavenhasmynikki (Majestic Warrior).

When asked if that historic Breeders' Cup gave them increased enthusiasm heading into this sale, Hashimoto laughed and said, “Well, maybe.”

He added, “I was actually there. It was our horses, so we were very excited. I think it will bring more interest in the U.S. from Japan. Of course, they already have it. But now there may be more people will bring horses to race in the U.S. We are pretty excited about that.”

McPeek picked out Swiss Skydiver, who was bred by WinStar Farm, for just $35,000 as hip 2997 deep in the Keeneland September catalogue. Her coming-out party came when she won last year's GII Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream Park Oaks at odds of 9-1. The Peter Callahan colorbearer followed suit with victories in the GIII Fantasy S. and GII Santa Anita Oaks. Second when facing the boys for the first time in the GII Toyota Blue Grass S., Swiss Skydiver captured Saratoga's prestigious GI Alabama S. and was second to Shedaresthedevil (Daredevil) in the GI Longines Kentucky Oaks run in September last season.

McPeek and Callahan believed in their filly so strongly that they sent her to the Preakness off that loss and she did not disappoint. Swiss Skydiver was all class and guts, battling GI Kentucky Derby hero Authentic (Into Mischief) down the length of the stretch and refusing to yield, making history with a neck success over the eventual Horse of the Year (video). She ended the year with a head-scratching seventh in the Distaff, but had already done more than enough to take home the Eclipse Award as top sophomore filly.

Swiss Skydiver proved no worse for wear in her first start of 2021, shipping west to take the GI Beholder Mile Mar. 13. Third to presumptive future champion Letruska (Super Saver) and dual Eclipse winner Monomoy Girl (Tapizar) in the GI Apple Blossom H. a month later, the McPeek pupil finished fourth in the GI Whitney S. Aug. 7 and fifth to Letruska in the GI Personal Ensign S. Aug. 28. Swiss Skydiver retires with a record of 16-7-3-2 and earnings of $2,216,480.

“I feel relieved,” said Runnymede Farm President Romain Malhouitre. “I am happy for the Callahan family to trust us to sell such a beautiful item. I am happy for Kenny McPeek. We all know how good he is as a judge buying yearlings. I feel happy for his team as well and the team at Runnymeade. It is a team effort.”

He continued, “Mr. Callahan has been in this business all his life. For him to have such a beautiful item is very exciting. There were a lot of different bidders. I feel sorry for the underbidders. There were a lot of people who wanted her badly, obviously. I am thankful for them too.”
Swiss Skydiver's dam Expo Gold (Johannesburg) brought $950,000 from Hunter Valley Farm in foal to Catholic Boy at the 2020 Keeneland November Sale. —@CDeBernardisTDN

 

Sikura Takes Home Guarana

After some heated bidding and confusion as to who was in the lead, Hill 'n' Dale's John Sikura was left holding the $4.4-million ticket for 'TDN Rising Star' Guarana (Ghostzapper) (hip 182). Hill 'n' Dale had co-campaigned the MGISW with her breeder, Three Chimneys Farm, and the sale was to dissolve that partnership. She was offered in foal to none other than Into Mischief.

At one point, Sikura boldly jumped the bidding–which was going in $100,000 increments–from $3.6 million to $4 million. Then, at what was ultimately the final price, there was some confusion as to who exactly was on top before the hammer eventually fell.

“You can bid two ways–slowly, or more aggressively to show determination. It didn't work, but I thought we'd bid aggressively,” said Sikura. “She's a wonderful mare; in foal to a leading sire; brilliant beyond brilliant. There's always a risk at the highest end, but we hope this is a long-term, foundation kind of broodmare. She had special ability, Ghostzapper's a great broodmare sire and we stand him as well. We're positive about the whole thing. We can't wait to get her home and start her new career. Hopefully it's as brilliant as her race career, which is impeccable.”

Sikura said it was too early to decide future breeding plans, but said he would likely wait and see how the 5-year-old's Into Mischief foal looked before possibly breeding back to that Spendthrift super stallion.

Guarana, trained by Chad Brown, won her first three starts as a sophomore, including the GI Acorn S. and GI Coaching Club American Oaks. Her lone defeat came when she finished second in the GI Cotillion S., but she bounced back with an optional claiming tally and GI Madison S. score the following term to finish five-for-six lifetime and bankroll nearly $1.1 million. See above for more on Guarana's pedigree and her dam Magical World (Distorted Humor), who brought $5.2 million later in the sale. —@BDiDonatoTDN

 

Not Quite 2020, But Spendthrift Still Active

Spendthrift Farm more or less carried the market at last year's Night of the Stars, spending a whopping $25,030,000 on 12 head, including the $9.5-million topper Monomoy Girl (Tapizar). While it would've been surprising for the outfit to match that mark this year–especially with the passing of founder B. Wayne Hughes in the interim–Spendthrift remained active, spending $5,990,000 on four broodmares or broodmare prospects.

Spendthrift's priciest expenditure was the $3.4 million it paid for Vequist (Nyquist), last year's GI Spinaway S. and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies heroine. Consigned by Bluewater Sales LLC, Agent V as hip as hip 253, Vequist was offered as a racing or broodmare prospect.

“She'll go to Into Mischief–she'll be retired and come to the farm and start her next career,” said Spendthrift General Manager Ned Toffey. “That's about as much as we thought we'd have to pay, but we thought we may get her for a little less. It's been an interesting market and pretty strong at times… That was kind of the max number that we had in mind.”

Toffey reiterated that Spendthrift is committed to maintaining its prominent spot in the industry after the loss of its founder.

“Eric Gustavson and his wife, Tammy, Mr. Hughes's daughter, are very committed to continuing on,” he said. “We'll continue to try to add to the stallion roster, which we've done this year, and try to keep things rolling. We're really excited to continue to do very much of what we've been doing.” —@BDiDonatoTDN

 

Hard Not to Love Lives Up to Her Name

Grade I-winning 'TDN Rising Star' Hard Not to Love (Hard Spun) (hip 184) proved to be just that in the Fasig-Tipton ring Tuesday evening, summoning $3.2 million from the powerhouse partnership of Mandy Pope's Whisper Hill Farm and Antony Beck's Gainesway Farm.

“She is one of the most beautiful mares that I have ever seen,” said Beck as Gainesway's Brian Graves signed the ticket on behalf of the pair. “She was a superb racemare from an unbelievable family. To Mandy Pope and myself, she was the pick of the sale and we are really glad to have her.”

When asked if the duo, who stand GI Belmont S. winner Tapwrit (Tapit) together, had a stallion in mind, Pope said, “We have a lot of choices.”

As for the price, Pope said, “The prices are a little higher than we had hoped, but we are at about where we thought we would have to be. We are happy.”

David Ingordo purchased Hard Not to Love for $400,000 at the 2017 Keeneland September Sale from Dave Anderson's Anderson Farms for a partnership that included himself, his parents, West Point Thoroughbreds, Steve Mooney and Scott Dillworth. The Ontario-bred filly lost her eye in a paddock accident while in Ocala for her early training, but that didn't stop her from succeeding on the racetrack.

A 'Rising Star'-worthy debut winner at three at Santa Anita, Hard Not to Love followed suit with an optional claimer score there and capped off her 2019 season with a win in the GI La Brea S. Kicking off 2020 with a victory in the GII Santa Monica S., the bay finished second in the GI Beholder Mile S., GII Santa Maria S. and GII Zenyatta S. Third in the GIII La Canada S. to start this year, the John Shirreffs trainee was off the board in the Feb. 13 Santa Monica. Hard Not to Love retired with a record of 12-5-3-2 and earnings of $593,480. She was bred to Curlin, but aborted the foal.

“It is great when a plan comes together,” Ingordo said. “We bought six fillies back in 2017 and we got four individual stakes winners, including her. She's the crown jewel of what we had. All credit to John Shirreffs. She lost her eye in a freak accident. My parents and I and our friends at West Point and some other friends own her together, so it's great. We are speechless at the price. It was a phenomenal price and that is a great home for her. I look forward to buying yearlings out of her.”

Hard Not to Love is a half-sister to fellow 'Rising Star' and Canadian Horse of the Year Wonder Gadot (Medaglia d'Oro), a Queen's Plate winner, GSW and MGISP, including a second in the GI Kentucky Oaks. She brought $2 million from K.I. Farm at this auction in 2019 and their dam Loving Vindication (Vindication) RNA'd for $1.45 million in foal to Curlin at the 2018 FTKNOV sale. —@CDeBernardisTDN

 

Aunt Pearl Headed to Japan

Coming off a historic Breeders' Cup where the country scored two victories, Japanese buyers were scooping up top racemares left and right at Fasig Tuesday and Breeders' Cup winner Aunt Pearl (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) (hip 208) was no exception. The 'TDN Rising Star' realized $3 million from Masahiro Miki, who went to the same price earlier in the sale for Brave Anna (War Front) (hip 146).

Purchased by Liz Crow for 280,000 guineas at the Tattersalls October Sale, Aunt Pearl was brought Stateside and placed in the hands of Brad Cox for an ownership group comprised of Michael Dubb, Sol Kumin's Madaket Stables, Peter Deutsch, Michael Kisber and Stuart Grant's The Elkstone Group. Graduating on debut at Churchill last September, the bay captured the GII JPMorgan Chase Jessamine S. a month later and was a good-looking winner of the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf last November. She made just one start this year, finishing fifth in the GIII Edgewood S. Apr. 30, and retired with $661,604 in earnings.

“We went over there and bought eight for that ownership group,” said Liz Crow, who also consigned the filly through her and Brad Weisbord's Elite Sales. “It was really nice of them to believe in us to go over there and buy horses that were not American horses. We brought her over and Brad Cox did a beautiful job. She won the Breeders' Cup and won all three of her starts as a 2-year-old without Lasix. I think that played a big role. She has brilliant speed.”

Crow continued, “She was prepped by Bruce Jackson at Fair Hill and he did an excellent job. She looked so good here. She filled out. She put on a lot of weight. She was dappled out. She showed herself well this week and that added onto the value. We thought going in she could bring that, but I think what pushed her over the top is how great she looked. She is all class.”

Aunt Pearl is out of SP Matauri Pearl (Ire) (Hurricane Run {Ire}), who is a full-sister to MGSW & MGISP Wekeela (Fr). —@CDeBernardisTDN

 

Brave Anna Out in Front Early

It only took five hips into the broodmare portion of the Fasig November sale Tuesday for a seven-figure seller, as Japanese billionaire Masahiro Miki went all the way to $3 million to take home accomplished runner and well-bred 7-year-old Brave Anna (War Front) in foal to Quality Road. Carl McEntee's Ballysax Bloodstock, Agent VIII consigned her as hip 146 on behalf of Coolmore matriarch Evie Stockwell.

Brave Anna is a year-younger full-sister to Stockwell's Hit It a Bomb, winner of the 2015 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. The Aidan O'Brien pupil was plenty talented and precocious herself, taking the G3 Albany S. at Royal Ascot and the G1 Cheveley Park S. over a tough field.

“We knew we had something very special going in, and we felt blessed to be entrusted with such a nice mare,” McEntee said. “She had been very popular at the barn. It's very seldom you get to sell a full-sister to a Breeders' Cup winner who also won a Group 1 at two and the Albany at Royal Ascot. Her 2-year-old just finished second in a newcomer race in Japan two days ago, plus she's in foal to Quality Road–obviously, Corniche (Quality Road) just won the [GI] Breeders' Cup Juvenile. The stars probably aligned a bit, but we knew she was a very special mare and she was worth a big ticket. We're delighted with the price we got; I think that's what she was worth.”

Hit It a Bomb was also represented Friday by GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf runner-up Tiz the Bomb, who took the GII Castle & Key Bourbon S. last month. Brave Anna's first foal, now named Angelsilica (Dark Angel {Ire}), was a $150,000 KEESEP '20 yearling who finished second at 4-5 for double Breeders' Cup-winning conditioner Yoshito Yahagi Sunday at Fukushima.

Brave Anna produced foals by Justify in both 2020 and 2021.

Miki made another $3-million purchase later in the session for last year's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf heroine Aunt Pearl (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}). —@BDiDonatoTDN

 

Valiance Joins Parade of Mares to Japan

Valiance (Tapit) (hip 251), winner of last year's GI Juddmonte Spinster S., is among the many mares heading from the Fasig-Tipton sale to the Far East after selling for $3 million to the bid of Keisuke Onishi of the JS Company. The 5-year-old racing/broodmare prospect was consigned by Bluewater Sales.

“She is by Tapit–the number one sire in the U.S. and also a very good broodmare sire,” Onishi said of the filly's appeal. “That is very good for us. The owner will bring her to Japan as a broodmare. I don't know what sire he will choose to breed her to, but any stallion she is bred to will bring a good runner in Japan. And hopefully the owner will be bringing horses to the Breeders' Cup. That is very exciting and encouraging for us.”

Bred by China Horse Club, Valiance was purchased by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Marty Schwartz for $650,000 at the 2017 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale. Racing for Eclipse, Schwartz and China Horse Club, she was second in the 2020 GI Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff. She is a daughter of Grade I winner Last Full Measure (Empire Maker).

Onishi's JS Company purchased three mares during Tuesday's Fasig-Tipton November sale. In addition to Valiance, Onishi also purchased Laura's Light (Constitution) (hip 200) for $650,000 and Estilo Talentoso (Maclean's Music) (hip 164) for $600,000.

“This is quite a strong market, but every year this sale is very strong,” Onishi said. “There are always a lot of good runners and mares here.” @JessMartiniTDN

 

Princess Noor Joins Northern Farm Band

Grade I winner Princess Noor (Not This Time) was one of six broodmares purchased by Shingo Hashimoto on behalf of Katsumi Yoshida's Northern Farm Tuesday night. Hashimoto signed the ticket at $2.9 million to acquire the 3-year-old filly who sold in foal to Into Mischief. She was consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency as hip 222 on behalf of Amr Zedan's Zedan Racing Stables, which purchased her for $1,350,000 at the 2020 OBS April sale.

Princess Noor became Zedan's first Grade I winner when she captured the 2020 GI Del Mar Debutante. She added the GII Chandelier S. in her next start and retired with three wins in five starts and earnings of $363,500 for trainer Bob Baffert.

Of the decision to sell the mare, who is named after his wife, Zedan said, “We are only focused on the racing. We would have loved to have a breeding operation, but it is still early and we want to do things in a 'Go Big or Go Home' manner, so we are focused on racing right now.”
Zedan admitted it was an emotional decision.

“Her namesake, my wife, was kind of sad,” Zedan said. “She was telling me, 'Are you sure you want to sell her? She is just beautiful.' It was very emotional. She gave us our first Grade I and we will be forever thankful. Most of all and more importantly, I want to thank Bob Baffert. He is above all and first, a friend, and then a trainer. I just want to thank him and all of the team associated with her, like Victor Espinoza. But if it wasn't for Bob, we would not be here celebrating her success and her retirement as she moves to her new home in Japan.”

In addition to his purchases on behalf of Northern Farm, Hashimoto also acquired the racing/broodmare prospect Etoile (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) (hip 166) on behalf of Lake Villa Farm for $1.6 million.

“They were looking for some good mares, especially on turf,” Hashimoto said. “And she looked like a very good candidate for that. I think she'll be a good fit.”

Consigned by Elite, the 5-year-old Etoile captured last year's GI E.P. Taylor S. for Coolmore and Peter Brant. @JessMartiniTDN

 

Dayoutoftheoffice to Japan

Dayoutoftheoffice (hip 156) is the second Grade I-winning Into Mischief filly to be offered at this auction and the second to eclipse the $2-million mark, bringing $2.85 million from Teruya Yoshida's Shadai Farm. The first was $2.4-million Mia Mischief in 2019, who, like this filly, was offered by Elite Sales.

“We are very happy for Anthony Manganaro, the Siena Farm team, Dave Pope,” said Elite's Brad Weisbord. “We are very thankful, not only for the sale, but to be part of their team long term. They hired me six months ago to help out with the racing side. We are thrilled to get a big score for them in the sales ring.”

He continued, “She brought her money and she deserved to bring her money, being a Grade I winner by Into Mischief. We have now sold both Grade I winners by Into Mischief [offered at the auction], her and Mia Mischief.”

Manganaro's Siena Farm bred Dayoutoftheoffice and raced her in partnership with trainer Tim Hamm. A debut winner at Gulfstream in May of 2020, the dark bay won that year's GIII Schuylerville S. and GI Frizette S. Second to champion Vequist (Nyquist) in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, she completed the exacta in the GIII Eight Belles S. this term and was last seen finishing fourth in the GI Acorn S. June 5.

Dayoutoftheoffice was retired prior to an expected start in the GI Test S., concluding her career with three wins from six starts and $642,300 in earnings.

“Tim Hamm deserves a ton of credit,” Weisbord said. “Everybody knows about the paddock accident she had as a yearling. Tim got her to the races and got her to win the Frizette. He deserves the most credit of the entire operation. She was an exceptional 2-year-old. Unfortunately, she wasn't able to show her stuff on the track the second half of this year, but Nacho did a great job to prep her for Night of the Stars. She came in looking fabulous. It is a credit to their breeding operation to get the result tonight.”

Out of the Indian Charlie mare Gottahaveadream, Dayoutoftheoffice hails from the family of GISWs Daredevil (More Than Ready), Albertus Maximus (Albert the Great) and Here Comes Ben (Street Cry {Ire}). —@CDeBernardisTDN

 

Kimari to Return to Ward

Kimari (Munnings), who won the GI Madison S. in April for David Mowat's Ten Broeck Farm and trainer Wesley Ward, will be returning to Ward's barn after selling for $2.7 million to Coolmore's M.V. Magnier. In addition to her Grade I win this year, the 4-year-old filly was second in the 2019 G2 Queen Mary S. and in the 2020 G1 Commonwealth Cup. Bloodstock agent Jamie McCalmont, who signed the ticket, said the Royal Ascot effort as a 2-year-old was key to the purchase.

“She was second in the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot which traditionally has a great record of fillies producing good horses,” McCalmont. “Munnings is getting better and better, every year he gets better, and she is a beautiful filly. Maybe she can reverse the Royal Ascot result and produce a Queen Mary winner.”

Kimari made just three starts last year and five starts this year. She was sidelined after her Madison win and returned to finish seventh in Saturday's GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint.

“I love that filly,” Ward said of Kimari. “We've had her since she was a yearling. She has had some minor issues throughout her career. That's kind of what kept her racing sparingly, but she's never been as sound as she is right now. Her race the other day, she always comes from behind, but coming from last, it was almost like a workout. As good as she is on turf, she's even better on the dirt, but there wasn't enough time to get her in those types of races for the Breeders' Cup. Looking forward, I talked with [Coolmore's] Michael Tabor about the possibility of going to Dubai and some of the bigger races. She's so sound right now, along with being by their Munnings and a Grade I winner, she's always got a stamp value there, but then there is also whatever she can add to that on the racetrack. There are some pretty big sprints coming up here in a few months. Hopefully she is as good as she is now.”

Kimari, who was consigned Tuesday by Eaton Sales, was purchased as a yearling for $152,000 at the 2018 Fasig-Tipton July Sale when bloodstock agent Ben McElroy signed the ticket on behalf of David Mowat.

“I am delighted for David Mowat who owned the filly,” McElroy said. “I bought her for him at the Fasig July sale a couple of years ago and ever since day one she's shown great talent. She's had an abbreviated 3-year-old campaign and 4-year-old campaign. I really think there are a lot of chapters left to be written and I hope she goes on to prove to everybody how good she is. I'm delighted Coolmore have bought her. I think she's a collector's item.”

McElroy continued, “Dave has been a client of mine and supported me from the first day I went out on my own as an agent. He's not only a client, he's a very good friend.” @JessMartiniTDN

 

Best Strikes for Finite

Larry Best's OXO Equine, which bred and sold an Into Mischief weanling (hip 75) for $570,000 earlier in the auction, quickly reinvested those profits when purchasing multiple graded stakes winner Finite (Munnings) (hip 169) for $2.2 million from the Gainesway consignment.

“I fell in love with a Munnings filly,” Best said with a smile after signing the ticket on the 4-year-old broodmare prospect. “I have a lot of Into Mischief colts, one in particular Instagrand, that will be a great fit. So I expect to have a date between Instagrand and Finite. This filly was very, very impressive on the track and one of the best specimens by Munnings that I've seen. I am excited about breeding her for many years to come.”

Bred by Winchell Thoroughbreds and racing for the partnership of Winchell Thoroughbreds, Thomas Reiman, William Dickson and Debbie Easter, Finite won the 2019 GII Golden Rod S., as well as the 2020 GII Rachel Alexandra S. and GIII Chilukki S.

Finite is out of multiple stakes winner Remit (Tapit), a full-sister to multiple graded stakes winner Tapiture (Tapit).

Best's fledgling breeding program has produced strong results in the sales ring all year. Asked if those results made him more bullish about buying mares, he laughed and said, “I was born bullish. I have been blessed so far on the breeding side, hopefully the success continues. It's not much easier than racing. It's really difficult, but in breeding, if you're patient and listen to a lot of people who know a lot more than I do about bloodlines, I might break even.” @JessMartiniTDN

 

Sippican Harbor Filly Tops Weanling Portion

The second foal out of GISW Sippican Harbor (Orb), a weanling filly by Curlin (hip 107), was the highest-priced weanling on Fasig-Tipton's “Night of the Stars,” summoning $750,000 from bloodstock agent Jacob West, who was acting on behalf of Robert and Lawana Low.

“She is a well-bred filly by a sire that needs no introduction,” West said. “We were just lucky to land her here. Horses were so hard to buy in September, so we just kind of figured we would come in here and, if we found a nice filly with the pedigree and physical to match, we would make a big run at her.”

Given the strength of the September market, the price was no surprise to West.

“If she were to come back as a yearling with the market that was there in September or Saratoga, she would have probably brought more,” he said. “I'm just happy to have Mr. and Mrs. Low behind me wanting to buy a well-bred filly. In my opinion, she was the best filly here and in Keeneland Book 1 and when I pointed that out to them, they got behind her.”

Trainer Gary Contessa purchased Sippican Harbor on behalf of owner Lee Pokoik for $260,000 at the 2017 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale. She broke her maiden second out at Saratoga in 2018 and captured that year's GI Spinaway S. The dark bay retired at the end of that season and went through the ring at this auction's 2019 renewal carrying her first foal by Medaglia d'Oro, but left unsold at $1.45 million. Sippican Harbor was catalogued as hip 235 in Tuesday's sale, but was withdrawn and her Medaglia d'Oro colt was scratched from this year's Keeneland September Sale. The Curlin filly was consigned by Taylor Made Sales. —@CDeBernardisTDN

Best Enjoying the Sell Side

OXO Equine's Larry Best has made his mark on the bloodstock market over the past five years or so mostly with high-dollar buys, including $5-million sale-topping mare Blue Prize (Arg) (Pure Prize) here in 2019 and plenty of pricey yearlings and 2-year-olds, but with a growing broodmare band and a couple of his former runners off at stud, he figures to play a more prominent role as a breeder and seller in the coming years.

Hip 75 was a Best-bred who proved plenty popular during the weanling portion of Tuesday evening's proceedings, bringing $570,000 from Brookstone Farm. The Mar. 14 foal is by none other than Best's favorite sire Into Mischief. Taylor Made Sales Agency consigned.

“So far, I'm in love with breeding. It's kind of like chess, you have to figure who to breed to who and when. It is very fulfilling,” Best said. “I already have that horse's full-brother, so I don't need two. That's the advantage to breeding, if you like the match, it turns out to be part of a good business.”

Best paid $750,000 for hip 75's dam Moi (Medaglia d'Oro), a full-sister to MGSW Mrs. McDougal, at the 2016 Keeneland September sale. This is her third Into Mischief foal–she has an unnamed 2-year-old filly and a yearling colt, and was bred back to Best's GISW and now Taylor Made stallion Instilled Regard this past season.

“I loved this colt. We had 27 scopes,” Best said. “The price didn't surprise me. He's an Into Mischief colt and he looks like a two-turn horse.”

Best also sold an $800,000 Quality Road colt to WinStar Farm's Maverick Racing at this summer's Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling sale and a $350,000 Candy Ride (Arg) colt at Fasig July.

“I don't even really pick the horses that I sell,” Best said. “We invited Fasig-Tipton out and they picked their top three horses and they picked this one. Same thing with the one I sold in August. They picked the horse for the sale and I am somewhat independent because I love them all.”

He continued, “I breed to race and I breed to sell. In terms of participating in Thoroughbred racing, breeding is an important result in assuring that you have a good result five years down the road or 10 years down the road. I don't think you can do it without breeding.”

St. George Sales's Archie St. George and his team acquired hip 75 with an eye towards next year's yearling sales.

“The sire,” St. George said when asked about the colt's appeal. “He's just a very nice horse. The stallion has been very lucky for us–we love the stallion. He'll be re-offered next year. He definitely cost us a lot of money, so hopefully this horse will be lucky too.”

The bay is also a grandson of MSW/MGSP Distorted Passion (Distorted Humor) from a family developed by Aaron and Marie Jones that also includes the likes of MSW Arianna's Passion (Unbridled's Song) and GSW/MGISP Warbling (Unbridled's Song).

When asked if there was any advantage to striking early for foals at Fasig rather than waiting for the larger group of offerings at Keeneland November, St. George said: “I think it just boils down to the horse–it boils down to that. If the horse is there, that's what matters. It was a lot of money. I wish we didn't have to give that much, but hopefully he'll continue to do well. The stallion is unbelievable.” —@BDiDonatoTDN

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