By Alan Carasso
From his home in Fenton, Michigan, some 60 miles northwest of Detroit and 40 miles due north of Ann Arbor, 87-year-old Fred Allor paid a top price of $230,000 for Citizen Judy (American Freedom) during the Fasig-Tipton Digital April Sale, which closed on Tuesday, Apr. 21.
Consigned by Eaton Sales, agent, the 4-year-old filly–offered on a Mar. 4 cover and believed to be in foal to Girvin–is something of a poster child and a terrific advertisement for the Fasig-Tipton digital platform, which offers the buying public ready access to bloodstock with current appeal and provides sellers with an opportunity to strike while the iron is hot, so to speak.
That Citizen Judy would come to market is no real surprise given that her year-younger half-sister, 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard Percy's Bar (Upstart), is a leading candidate for next week's GI Longines Kentucky Oaks on the back of a dominating victory in the GI Central Bank Ashland Stakes at Keeneland on Apr. 3.
The sales-topping outlay notwithstanding, Allor was more than happy to roll the dice, given the opportunities for the family to appreciate in value in the very near future.
“I don't know exactly what she looks like, but from the side view, I'd say she looks fine,” said Allor. “She was worth a shot, but I'm 87, maybe I need my head checked!”
Allor was bit by the racing bug at an early age.
“I started hopping the fence when I was 12,” he said, referring to old Detroit Race Course in Livonia, a northwest suburb. “I was drawn to the…I guess, the excitement. And I love the animal. I love the animal.”
Allor immersed himself in all aspects of the business, as he owned, bred and trained Wind Chill in the mid-1980s. A son of MGSW & GISP It's Freezing, Wind Chill raced at Detroit, River Downs, Garden State, Monmouth, Philadelphia Park, Meadowlands, Aqueduct, Saratoga (crossed the line first in an overnight handicap with Chris Antley in 1987), Belmont, Hialeah, Churchill and Beulah Park from 1985 to 1991.
A five-time stakes winner at DRC and twice placed at the graded level at Aqueduct, Wind Chill earned better than $502,000 over the course of six seasons at the races.
More recently, Allor bred and raced 2013 GIII Saranac Stakes and 2014 GIII Fort Marcy Stakes hero Five Iron (Sharp Humor).
Nearly 60 years ago, Allor founded Allor Manufacturing in his Michigan basement, “and at 5% commission, I did fine.” Having helped grow the business–which began with a focus on producing conveyor chains and parts for the automotive and foundry industries–Allor eventually sold it to his son, who in turn sold it for $54 million last year, the elder Allor said.
Allor said his broodmare band now numbers three, which are boarded at Jamie Frost's Amaroo Farm off Greenwich Pike in Lexington. Citizen Judy, placed in maiden special weight races at Keeneland and Churchill in her first two career starts, was on the board in five of her nine appearances.
“I really like mares that can run,” said Allor. “They don't have to be stakes winners, just hard-knocking mares. Good pedigree, obviously, and I don't like mares that are very big, but rather mid-sized.”
Allor said that he is inclined to hold on to Citizen Judy, regardless of any pedigree updates over the coming weeks and months for Percy's Bar.
“I think I am pretty committed to keeping her,” he said. “My wife is also 87 and she's tougher than me, but I'm in good shape, so I figure I might go for a while.”
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