Greathouse Holds On to Filly

John Greathouse, who went to $775,000 to pick up hip 75 last year at Keeneland September, was unwilling to let the Smart Strike filly go when she went through the ring Monday at Fasig-Tipton, buying her back for $700,000 to race for his family’s Glencrest Farm. 
    Consigned by Ciaran Dunne’s Wavertree Stables, Inc, Agent VII, the half-sister to MSW and MGSP Laurie’s Rocket (Bluegrass Cat) and SW Greeley’s Rocket (Mr. Greeley) breezed in a co-fastest time of :9 4/5 last Friday. Her MSP dam Clay’s Rocket (American Chance) is a half-sister to GI Frizette S. winner Adieu (El Corredor). 
    After signing a second ticket on the filly in as many sales, Greathouse admitted he was surprised the bidding wasn’t more aggressive. “She’s a good-looking filly,” Greathouse explained. “She missed about a month of training because she hurt herself. I thought this filly would be better received and I suppose we’ll be taking her to the races.” 
    Greathouse has successfully taken the same approach at this sale in the past. The ill-fated Devil May Care (Malibu Moon) was bought back for $400,000 at the Florida sale in 2007. Running in Glencrest colors, she went on to win the GI Frizettte S., GI Mother Goose S. and GI Coaching Club American Oaks en route to earnings of $724,000. 
    Other notable Glencrest fillies who failed to find new homes at 2-year-old sales before going on to graded stakes success include Necessary Evil (Harlan’s Holiday) and Onlyforyou (Malibu Moon), who tragically lost her life earlier this month after a training injury. The bay annexed Gulfstream’s GII Forward Gal S. Jan. 25 and GII Davona Dale S. Feb. 22 during her undefeated four-race career. Click here for more on Greathouse and Onlyforyou.