Keeping Up at Keeneland

By Lucas Marquardt and Brian DiDonato

Bolstered by the $2.2-million sale of the 6-year-old Galileo (Ire) mare Up (Ire) and the $800,000 realized by her yearling War Front filly, the second session of Keeneland's January Horses of All Ages Sale saw relatively steady trade. 

A total of 248 head sold yesterday for a combined $15,191,200. The average of $61,255 represented a 0.67% increase from the corresponding session last year, while the median fell 14.29% from $35,000 to $30,000. The RNA rate for session two was 25.53% vs. 17.37% 12 months ago. 

Overall, for the two-day Book 1 that began Monday, 452 horses grossed $27,798,400. The $61,501 average was up 2.4% from 2014's mark, while the overall median of $30,000 was lower than last year's $35,000. The cumulative buy-back rate was 29.15% in 2015 and 20.5% in 2014. 

Two-time group stakes winner Up, in foal to War Front, was secured by Robert Naify and Jan Vandebos's Ran Jan Racing, and was the priciest KEEJAN purchase since Irish Cherry (Irish Open) brought $2.7 million in 2008. Four Star Sales consigned both Up and her yearling, who was purchased by bloodstock agents Alex Solis and Jason Litt on behalf of LNJ Foxwoods. 

“We were very pleased to have a mare of her quality in the sale, as well as her yearling,” said Keeneland's Director of Sales Geoffrey Russell. “We were delighted to be able to get everything done–especially with good action over the $2-million mark with three major players all trying to get in there.” 

Russell also noted the demand for short yearlings. 

“Yearlings sold very well Tuesday,” he offered. “There was plenty of money for the top yearlings. Most of them will probably come back in September, so they have to go through a lot of hoops.” 
While the RNA rate halfway through Keeneland January has been notably higher compared to last year, Russell doesn't believe the change is significant. 

“Breeding stock sales vary from year to year, and what people are aiming for changes from year to year,” he said. “It's just a factor of the market.” 

Book 2 of the sale begins today at 10:00 a.m and continues through Thursday. For complete results, catalogue and to watch the sale live, visit keeneland.com. 

Up, Up and Away… 
By far the most talked-about lot leading up to Tuesday's Keeneland January session was Up (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) (hip 537), and she did not disappoint, as Taylor Made Farm's Frank Taylor, bidding on behalf of the California-based Ran Jan Racing of Robert Naify and Jan Vandebos, landed the 6-year-old mare with one $2.2-million bid. The bay, consigned by Four Star Sales, was sold in foal to the highly coveted War Front, and was followed into the ring by her War Front yearling daughter, who was snapped up by Solis and Litt for $800,000. 

Up, a half-sister to two-time Group 1 winner and sire Dutch Art (GB) (Medicean {GB}), was campaigned by the Coolmore contingent to victories in the 2012 G2 Blandford S. and G3 Dance Design S., as well as a second-place finish in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches. She earned $379,468. 

“We just loved the pedigree–love War Front, love Galileo, the family's active and there's a good stallion in the pedigree,” offered Taylor. “They've been wanting a Galileo mare for a long time, so she was the one.” Taylor continued, “The plan is just to take her back, foal her out and breed foals out of her. They could sell or they could race–they're undecided at this point. They're happy to have her. They're great people. They have a mare on our farm named Cambiocorsa (Avenue of Flags). She was a graded stakes winner and her first four foals are all stakes winners [or Grade I-placed]. They've got some nice mares on the farm.” 

Cambiocorsa was a two-time Grade III winner over Santa Anita's downhill turf course, and banked more than $522,000 in her career. She's responsible for 2013 GII Royal Heroine Mile winner Schiaparelli (Ghostzapper); GI Rodeo Drive S. third Vionnet (Street Sense); August's GII John C. Mabee S. winner Moulin de Mougin (Curlin); and September's Unzip Me S. heroine Alexis Tangier (Tiznow). 

When asked about the purchase price for Up, Taylor said, “That's about where we pegged her. We looked at some comparable mares–some of those mares by Galileo in foal to War Front were bringing a lot of money… so we thought that was a fair price.” 

The Galileo mare Aloof, also in foal to War Front, topped the 2014 Keeneland November Sale with a $3.9-million bid from Mandy Pope's Whisper Hill Farm. Don Alberto Corp. paid $1.8 million at the same sale for Precious Stone (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) carrying to the Claiborne resident. Betterbetterbetter (Ire), offering the same Galileo–War Front cross, also went to Whisper Hill for a sale-topping $5.2 million at the 2013 Fasig-Tipton November sale. 

Robert Naify and his late brother Marshall–who campaigned champion Bertrando–sold their family's movie theater empire to John Malone's Tele-Communications, Inc. in 1987. Malone and his wife Leslie have become major players on the international Thoroughbred scene in recent years, having made major splashes at auction after purchasing Bridlewood Farm in Florida 2013. The Malones bought Ballylinch Farm and Castlemartin Stud in Ireland late last year. -BD 

Up Stars & Star Wars… 
As Up (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) stood in the sales ring out front, the center of a $2.2-million tempest, her short yearling filly by War Front calmly awaited her turn in the left rear lead-in chute. Just as calm–or putting on a good poker face–was consignor Kerry Cauthen, who stood alongside his Four Star Sales colleague Deuce Greathouse watching the action on the TV above the bidspotters. 

When it was her turn to enter the ring, the War Front filly herself became the center of a similarly fierce bidding duel, with Katey Caddel, a recent addition to Solis/Litt Bloodstock, ultimately winning out on the striking miss at $800,000. Caddel did her bidding against the back wall of the sales pavilion and confirmed the agency was representing LNJ Foxwoods. 

The affable Cauthen was a touch less calm just after the sale–he initially threatened to not grant interviews to journalists who refused a celebratory drink–and was all smiles talking about Four Star's biggest-ever transaction. 

“They were the kind of horses that you look at each day, and you like a little more,” he said. “Not just in the sense that, hey, they're going to bring a lot of money. But you look at them, and they just exude class.” 
That class translated into plenty of attention at the January sale. “The foal was out over 100 times,” Cauthen said. “The mare was out 75 times over the two days, so she trounced everything else [in the consignment] by 60 shows.” 

He added, “These are special individuals. She was a very special mare. She had a beautiful shoulder–very much like the sire–and was just fantastic. And Galileo over War Front, over the Danzig line, is a tremendous cross. We were very privileged to be able to sell them both, and we're very thankful to the buyers.” 

Typically, there are fewer principals of high-end operations at Keeneland January than at the November sales. But Cauthen said he doesn't think the duo's appearance at January compromised their value. 

“Honestly, when you have horses of this caliber, the people who want them and can buy them are aware of them; they're looking for them, because they just don't come along often,” he said. “They're one of a kind.” 
Besides, said Cauthen, the owners were happy to take mare and foal home if they didn't like the price on the sales board. 

“Whenever you're dealing with collector's items, the people that own them are obviously very wealthy, and they don't just give them away,” he said. “The decision was made that the owners had a lot of this family, and after looking at November, they thought this would be a good place to sell her…if she brought the right price. And she did, thankfully, for us all.” 

Asked if Blind Luck's $1.4-million buyback on Monday shook his confidence that the right buyers wouldn't be there Tuesday, Cauthen said, “You are always concerned that you won't be able to get the buyers and sellers together, but I really never doubted that she'd get sold. I think it was a very fair price. I think buyer and seller had a very fair trade.” 

As for the buyer of the War Front filly, not much is known, frankly, about LNJ Foxwoods, whose principals prefer not to be identified. The relatively new operation has sent out a handful of runners at the track since 2013 with trainers Tony Dutrow, Richard Mandella, Wayne Catalano and Jerry Hollendorfer. LNJ's best horse so far has probably been Burning Arch (Arch), a $440,000 KEESEP purchase by Solis Bloodstock in 2012 who broke her maiden on the grass at Del Mar last July and doubled up in allowance company a month later. 
LNJ has also been making some noise at public auction in recent years. Exactly a year and a week prior to yesterday's session, LNJ purchased Life Happened (Stravinsky), dam of the MGSW Vyjack (Into Mischief), at Keeneland January for $750,000. Jason Litt signed the ticket that day. 

Both Litt and Alex Solis–who operate Solis/Litt and who can claim the brilliant Shared Belief among recent standouts–were on hand yesterday at January, though the men deputized Caddel to handle both bidding and interview duties. 

The foal's appeal, said Caddel, was readily evident. “She was a great foal out of a Group 2-winning mare who's a half to a really nice stallion in Europe who stands for £40,000,” Caddel said. “She's a really good physical; she's a good cross between a War Front and a Galileo. She had good length to her and was a really smooth mover. She ticked all the boxes for us.” 

Caddel added, “We plan on racing her, and hopefully we'll add her to the broodmare band eventually.” -LM 

Warren Sells Grade II 'Cat' for $450,000… 
Six years ago, Carolyn's Cat (Forestry–People's Princess, by Meadowlake) gave owner Bill Warren a stirring wire-to-wire victory in the GII Vagrancy H. at Aqueduct. Yesterday, the now 10-year-old mare gave Warren something else: the distinction of selling January's second-highest-priced horse. 

Midway through yesterday's session, Hidden Brook's Dan Hall went to $450,000 to secure the attractive chestnut. Carolyn's Cat sold in foal on an Apr. 12 cover to Blame. 

Warren sold Carolyn's Cat through the husband-and-wife team of Lisa and Tim Turney, who put her through the ring as Hip 609. 

“It's always nice to sell quality mares,” said Turney just after congratulating Hall. “We don't sell a lot of high-priced ones, and it's fun. She's a Grade II winner of over $300,000, and physically, she was really nice. She's a well-balanced, proportional mare who was an easy keeper. We've had her ever since her racing career ended.” 

Warren keeps his breeding stock at the Turneys' 156-acre farm in Versailles, Kentucky. Or did–Carolyn's Cat was the last of his mares there. 

“It's just a little bit of business,” said Turney of the decision to sell. “Bill's a racehorse guy, and wants to be at the track. Plus we have a Candy Ride (Arg) [yearling] filly from the mare. So he decided to sell her here. Bill's a great guy, and we're happy for him.” 

Warren also owns Carolyn's Cat's unraced 3-year-old colt Irish Cat (Street Cry {Ire}), who reportedly is training forwardly for Chad Brown down at Gulfstream. He sold the mare's first foal, the winning 4-year-old Mufajaah (Tapit), to Shadwell for $375,000 at the 2012 Keeneland September Sale. 

“Based on the catalogue, we knew she was going to be one of the top 10 mares of the sale,” said Turney. “This mare has a lot of quality and a lot of upside. She's young and she puts a really nice foal on the ground. All the right people were on her, and I think there was a lot of interest up to around $250,000.” 
Carolyn's Cat is a daughter of GSW People's Princess (Meadowlake), a full to the Grade II winner Meadow Flight and to SW & GISP North Lake Jane. Mike Ryan purchased Carolyn's Cat for Warren for $650,000 at the 2006 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale. -LM 

Adena Stays on Topic… 
Frank Stronach's Adena Springs, among the leading buyers at Keeneland January in both 2013 and 2014, was stretched to $365,000 Tuesday for the 5-year-old mare Topic (Discreet Cat). Catalogued as hip 527, the bay was consigned to the sale by Paramount Sales, Agent XLIV as a racing or broodmare prospect. 

Topic, who RNA'd for $35,000 as a Keeneland September yearling, is out of an unraced Quiet American half-sister to dual Classic winner Afleet Alex (Northern Afleet). 

Trained by Neil Drysdale for Alice Bamford and Anthony Speelman, she finished third behind Emollient (Empire Maker) in Betfair Hollywood Park's 2013 GI American Oaks before annexing Del Mar's CTT and TOC H. She was second in Delaware's GIII Robert G. Dick Memorial S. this past July. 

“She's a Grade I stakes-placed, very, very beautiful filly,” said Eoin Ryan, who joined Adena Springs as general manager in September. “We're here to support our stallions. This market is very solid at the top end, and if you want quality, you've got to pay for it.” 

While Ryan noted that Topic was still racing sound, he said she would likely be retired. 

“Mr. Stronach will make that decision, but more than likely, she'll go to the breeding shed,” he noted. 
Adena bought six head here two years ago for a combined $1.198 million, and scooped up 29 individuals in 2014 for $1,634,500. Through two days of this year's renewal, Stronach's operation has purchased seven maiden mares for $1.32 million. -BD 

Some Late Session Magic… 
Stakes-placed 5-year-old Magical Steps (Giant's Causeway) provided a late spark as the action wore down at Keeneland January Tuesday evening, selling for $350,000 to BBA Ireland. Paramount Sales, Agent XI consigned the racing or broodmare prospect as hip 765. 

Campaigned originally in Ireland by Ben McElroy's McElroy Eleven Syndicate, Magical Steps was transferred to Kentucky-based conditioner Ben Colebrook in the fall of 2013, and came up a nose short of a winning North American debut in a Keeneland allowance that October. She raced for Paramount partner Gabriel Duignan and McElroy in the U.S., and checked in third in Gulfstream's Anka Germania S. this May for Marty Wolfson. 

“It was on the upper end of what we were expecting,” admitted Paramount's Pat Costello. “She was out the whole time being shown the whole time, so we knew how popular she was, but the reserve was way lower than that.” 

Magical Steps is a full to stakes-placed Magical Affair and half to stakes winner Mystic (Unbridled's Song) and MGSP Cabbage Key (A.P. Indy). Her Group 1-placed second dam Gallanta (Fr) (Nureyev) produced 1994 European champion 2-year-old filly Gay Gallanta (Woodman)–the dam herself of two-time Group 2 winner Byron (GB) (Green Desert)–as well as Group 2 winner Sportsworld (Alleged). 

BBA purchased seven horses during Book 1–three mares and four yearlings–for a combined $681,000. 
-BD 

Broman Backs Forty Tales, New York… 
When it comes to supporting New York stallions, Chester Broman puts his money where his mouth is, and yesterday, one of the Empire State's leading owner/breeders went to $255,000 for a mare who'll soon head to the second-year sireForty Tales (Tale of the Cat). With advisor Becky Thomas handling selection and bidding duties, Broman landed the 5-year-old Kimbolton (First Defence–Skimble, by Lyphard), a half-sister to the Grade I winner Skimming (Nureyev). Out of a multiple Grade II winner, the mare is from a strong Juddmonte family that includes the Grade/Group 1 winners Contredance (Danzig), Wince (GB) (Selkirk) and Quiff (GB) (Sadler's Wells). Kimbolton sold in foal on a Feb. 28 cover to Speightstown. 

James Keogh's Grovendale consigned Kimbolton as Hip 738, and her sale represented a nice score for the Irishman. Keogh purchased Kimbolton from Juddmonte for $135,000 at Keeneland November 14 months ago. He sent her to WinStar's Speightstown last spring, then offered her back here. 

“I loved the family, and I loved the fact that she was bred by Juddmonte,” Keogh said. “She's a great physical; Becky said she took one look at her and just fell in love.” 

Thomas has now purchased three mares at January on behalf of Broman and his wife Mary. On Monday, she secured Storm Now (Tiznow), a full to MGSW American Lion, for $110,000 (Hip 117); and Earth to Matilda (First Samurai), a half to SW and recent GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile fourth The Great War (War Front), for $85,000 (Hip 262). Both of those mares are coming off the track and sold as broodmare prospects. Thomas said all three horses will now head to New York to be bred to Forty Tales. 

Trained by Todd Pletcher, Forty Tales was one of the best sprinters of his crop, winning the 2013 editions of the GIII Derby Trial, GII Woody Stephens and GII Amsterdam S. in successive starts. Forty Tales is standing his second season at Thomas's Sequel New York for a fee of $6,500. Broman owns a 25% interest in Forty Tales. 

“When Mr. Broman supports a horse, he's phenomenal about giving them every shot with quality mares,” said Thomas. 

Broman has committed 10 mares to Forty Tales, and 10 mares to another young sire in New York, the first-year stallion Central Banker (Speightstown), who is standing his first season at McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds. 

“Mr. Broman loves racing in New York, and he loves supporting the program,” said Thomas. 

Broman is coming off another strong year in the owner ranks. Among his horses is the New York homebred Artemis Agrotera (Roman Ruler), who ran a hole in the wind when blitzing the likes of My Miss Aurelia (Smart Strike) in the GI Ballerina S. at Saratoga in August. The Bromans also were represented by the New York stakes winners I'm Stoked (Hook and Ladder), Mark My Way (Noonmark), and Star Grazing (Sky Mesa). 

Thomas broke Artemis Agrotera and sent her out to her early lessons, and currently has the $950,000 earner at her Ocala, Florida training center. She's hopeful of another big year for Broman. Among the recently turned juveniles she has for him is a Tapit full-brother to GISW Zazu and GSW Flashback. The as-yet unnamed colt was purchased privately after being bought back for $975,000 at Keeneland September. 
“We like to think I'm training a future New York stallion,” Thomas smiled. -LM