Rock’ Keeps Rolling

Steven Marshall’s Black Rock Thoroughbreds enjoyed a second strong day of selling yesterday at Keeneland September. A Black Rock-bred Tapit half-sister to last year’s GI Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Mucho Macho Man (Macho Uno) brought $775,000 Monday (story), and a trio of Black Rock breds went for a total of $1.16 million Wednesday. The three Hill ‘n’ Dale Sales Agency-consigned yearlings to sell yesterday were hip 409, an Unbridled’s Song filly purchased by 
J.J. Crupi’s New Castle Farm for $500,000; hip 463, a Kitten’s Joy filly bought by K.K. Eishindo for $500,000; and hip 384, a Tiznow filly that was taken by Shortleaf Stable for $170,000. 

Marshall, founder and president of the California oil and gas exploration and production company Western Energy Production, LLC, purchased the 125-acre Ardmore Farm in Versailles in 2011. 

“This represents the first crop of yearlings that we bred ourselves from mares that Nick Sallusto and myself bought for Mr. Marshall,” explained Hanzly Albina. “We’re very happy with the way the new farm worked out. Ron Blake manages that farm for us, and he did a great job prepping these horses. We also couldn’t be happier with the job [consignor] Hill ‘n’ Dale did. We’re happy to continue our relationship with John Sikura after the Violence (Medaglia d’Oro) deal.” 

Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm stands Black Rock’s 2012 GI CashCall Futurity winner Violence. 

Hip 409’s dam Wonder Lady (Deputy Minister), a half-sister to Grade I winner Pure Clan (Pure Prize), was scooped up by Black Rock while in foal to Congrats at the 2011 Keeneland November sale. Bala (With Approval), responsible for MGSW and MGISP Bay to Bay (Sligo Bay {Ire}) as well as hip 463, was a $65,000 buy at the same sale carrying a Harlan’s Holiday colt. Hip 384’s stakes-placed dam Western Princess (Gone West) cost $125,000 in foal to Bernardini.