Kentucky Derby (G1) fever is alive and well in Japan after world tour rider’s narrow defeat Forever young this spring
Japanese trainer Mitsu Nakauchida was on hand at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale on September 9 looking for a potential Derby horse and he found it in a colt. Into mischief consigned by Lane’s End as Hip 167. After the hammer went down at $1.25 million, Nakauchida was all smiles.
“Yeah, I hope so,” Nakauchida said of whether he would return to the colt for the 2026 Derby. “He’s a very lovely horse. He’s strong and muscular. I’m very happy to have him.”
Nakauchida told Lane’s End sales manager Allaire Ryan that the sorrel colt bred by Alpha Delta Stables was his favourite horse at the sale.
“He’s always been one of the most progressive guys on the farm,” Ryan said. “When we went into the sale, we trusted him to attract the top guys, and that’s what he did.”
The colt that will head to Japan is the first foal of 2019 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (G2) winner Honor Points (Curlin ). A three-time winner in 13 starts, she has posted four Grade 1 finishes while earning $738,890.
“(Point of Honor) is a very talented mare, a classic racehorse,” Ryan said. “The kind of pedigree that if she can do well, she’ll be built to be a breeding stallion.”
Nakauchida agrees, dreaming of a racing career for the colt.
“He has a very good pedigree, so I hope he will become a breeding horse one day,” he said. “I hope he will suit the Japanese racing style.”
SF, Starlight, Madaket, Stonestreet Team Up to Produce $1.15 Million Nyquist Colt
“The old guys,” as SF Racing’s Tom Ryan put it, are back together for $1.15 million Nyquist The foal, Hip 82, was consigned for sale by breeder Candy Meadows Sales.
The names Ryan refers to on the ticket signed by agent Donato Lanni are Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables and Stonestreet Farms, who have teamed up to win several top horse awards, including three Grade 1s and the Preakness Stakes (G1). National treasure This colt will be sent to famed trainer Bob Baffert.
“He’s a horse that everyone agrees with,” Ryan said. “We have no doubt he’ll run a mile, and hopefully he’ll go a little further.”
“He’s been beautiful from the day he was born until today,” said Matt Lyons of Candy Meadows. “You can never predict a million-dollar horse, but we knew he had a chance.”
The sorrel foal was out of the winning mare. deadlock (Quality Road )Impasse’s dam, Tempus Fugit, produced the 2014 Molly Pitcher (G2) winner The majestic river .
Immerse yourself on August 31 Spinaway Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Track And Tenma in the Del Mar Debutante (G1) on September 7.
“We like Nyquist,” Ryan said. “He needs no introduction. He’s clearly a top stallion. A great example of what a good son of Uncle Mo can be.”
Gun Runner Filly remains in the Seltzer family
Hip 117 will remain in the Seltzer family after being purchased by Krista Seltzer, daughter of Ed and Beverly Seltzer. Gunman mare for $1 million.
Ed entered the thoroughbred industry nearly 65 years ago but now, at the age of 90, he is in the process of dispersing his thoroughbred herd.
Out of a winning mare Lucrezia flower (Into Mischief), this sorrel mare comes from a family that has been with the Seltzers since they purchased the mare Bold Ruler Overpowering seven generations ago.
“There’s a lot of love there. She’s a sweet mare,” Krista Seltzer said. “(My dad) loves his family and I love them too.”
Seltzer expected to pay a hefty fee to retain her family member, but she said she didn’t expect the price to be this high.
“We love everything and it’s hard to part with it. For me, for this person—for the companions, whoever they are—I want my dad to be able to enjoy the race as if it were his own.”
Broman is looking for a Derby horse
Becky Thomas, representing Chester and Mary Broman, paid $1.15 million for Hip 73, a colt by Gun Runner consigned by Brookdale, representing.
Bred in Kentucky by Larkin Armstrong, this chestnut stallion is a son of the award-winning mare Scat Daddy. Harmony and was the winner from half to 2nd grade Integration .
“We really liked the way he walked. Mr Broman wanted to go to Derby, and we thought he looked like that type of guy,” Thomas said. “I’m not that high of a bidder, but Mr Broman told me if I came to this auction, we wouldn’t have a (maximum) budget.”
AMO up to $1.35 million for American Pharoah Filly
AMO Racing’s Kia Joorabchian has fallen in love with the Hip 97, a American Pharaoh mare, and spent $1.35 million to get her.
“We love her and have been back to see her a few times,” said Joorabchian, who is originally from Iran and educated in the UK. “She has a great pedigree. Honestly, that’s what we’re looking for. We look for mares with great pedigrees and she’s an outstanding horse for us, so we’re not going to stop.
“We’ll take it slow. She’ll go on a break and we’ll give her a little bit of time off and we’ll see. But she’ll be racing here. It’ll definitely be an American trainer.”
“She’s a beautiful mare, and she was extremely popular all week,” Duignan said. “As you can see, she’s from a great family. Her brother is a special horse. We were very pleased with the price and very pleased with the person who bought her. She’s going to have every chance, and she deserves it.”
Repole, Spendthrift Team Up to Produce Colt Gun Runner
Repole Stable and Spendthrift Farm have teamed up to spend $1.1 million on Hip 121, a Grade 2 winning Gun Runner colt. Feeling magical (Empire Maker). The sorrel colt was a half-way to second-place winner. Imagination (Into Mischief), first prize in grade 3 Mystery (Into Mischief) and the winners joyful (Knock on the door ) And Magic (Applause).
Hip 121 is being sold by Bridie Harrison, agent for breeder Peter E. Blum Thoroughbreds.
“This Gun Runner colt is a favourite of both teams,” Bloodstock representative Jacob West said, speaking on behalf of the partnership. “He comes from Bridie Harrison, who breeds great horses, and Peter Blum, who breeds great horses. You put all that in the pot, and it’s worth $1.1 million.”
The group at Keeneland includes Todd Pletcher, who will coach Hip 121, West said.
The Repole/Spendthrift partnership started about two years ago, West said, and they have several 2-year-olds in the pipeline. One of the partnership’s first horses to hit the track was Tenacious Leader, a Not this time The colt broke his own track record at Saratoga and took second place in the With Anticipation Stakes (G3).
