For Abraham, Both ‘Lucky’ and Good

When the New Mexico-based breeder Mike Abraham bought the mare Issues (Awesome Again) at the 2011 Keeneland November Sale, he figured he didn’t have much to lose. The stakes-placed mare was a relatively young eight, came from a solid family that included GISW Wagon Limit, and was in foal to a sire he liked in Scat Daddy. Besides, the price couldn’t be beat: $25,000. 

Fast forward three years and just about everything has gone right for Abraham. The mare’s first foal, a yearling when Abraham bought her, became SW & GSP Amarish (Scat Daddy). Abraham then sold the foal she was carrying for $250,000 last year at September. Named Daddy D T, that one didn’t show much on debut at Del Mar Aug. 9, but then ran huge to break his maiden in the $100,000 Oak Tree Juvenile S. Sept. 3. 

That set the table for Issue’s latest foal, a colt by Lookin At Lucky who was offered yesterday through Meg Levy’s Bluewater Sales. The chestnut duly set off a protracted bidding duel between bloodstock agents David Ingordo and Justin Casse. Ingordo, on the phone in the back row of the pavilion, outlasted Casse–on the phone and crouched in the doorway on the other side of the arena–to land the colt for $380,000. The colt sold as 1162. 

“I thought the mare was a bargain buy to start with, and now we’ve sold two out of her for $250,000 and $380,000,” Abraham said. 

Abraham added the two yearlings he’s sold out of Issues were different physical types. “Daddy D T was a heavier built; this guy was really sporty,” he said. “This guy’s a May foal, and he’d have been a February or March foal and got to this point, he probably would have brought a lot more. But he’s a good mover and had good x-rays, and he’s the nicest colt to be around. And that Daddy D T looked really nice winning that stakes. I think Ingordo bought him, too.” 

Abraham is involved in real estate and the oil and gas industry. Primarily a commercial breeder, he came to September with 11 horses to sell, all through Bluewater. Earlier yesterday, he sold a son of Bernardini–One Stormy Mama (hip 823) to Ben Glass, agent, for $280,000. The purchase price of that one’s dam at the 2010 Keeneland November Sale? $23,000. -LM