No stranger to the New York-bred market, Elliot Walden outlasted bidders on two horses from the first session of the Fasig-Tipton New York Bred Yearlings Sale Aug. 13. His duo of purchases was led by the $300,000 Improbable colt consigned as Hip 372 by Gainesway.
Four years ago, at this sale, he partnered with China Horse Club to buy a son of Constitution for $275,000. Now a millionaire, Americanrevolution is multiple graded stakes placed, and he won the 2021 Cigar Mile Handicap (G1).
In 2014, he paid $150,000 for Diversify (Bellamy Road ), who retired with wins in two of New York’s premier races, the Whitney Stakes (G1) and the Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (G1), and earnings just under $2 million.
This year, Walden’s Maverick Racing joined China Horse Club and Siena Farm to go to $300,000 for Hip 372, a colt out of the Curlin mare Perazzi by Improbable, who was campaigned by the trio to four grade 1 wins, a runner-up finish in the 2020 Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), and career earnings of $2.7 million.The colt came from the consignment of Gainesway.
“We’re excited to get him,” said Walden by phone. “We all liked him. We raced Improbable with China Horse Club, and we’re excited to get one of his very nice offspring.”
Unraced, Perazzi has produced three foals of racing age, all winners.The colt’s fourth dam, Chimes of Freedom, produced Aldebaran, who began his career in England, and after coming to the United States, won five grade 1 races, including the Forego Handicap, the Stephen Foster Handicap, and the Metropolitan Handicap. From 25 starts, he compiled a record of 8-12-3 and earned $1.7 million.
Walden said that he was impressed by the colt’s pedigree and that he saw a lot of Improbable in the chestnut yearling.
“He was a great mover, just like his daddy,” he said. “We saw some of the same characteristics in him that we saw in Improbable.”
Maverick, Siena, and China Horse Club teamed up again nine hips later, getting Hip 381 for $200,000. The bay colt is by Maclean’s Music and out of the winning Discreet Cat mare Proportionality, consigned by Legacy Bloodstock.
“The market there is strong,” commented Walden. “We thought we’d be able to get (the Improbable colt) for $250,000. But it’s competitive and he’s got a really good back family that we like as well.”
