Albaugh deals itself likely Kentucky Derby starter
Every Thoroughbred bloodstock entity faces difficult decisions in wheeling and dealing its stock in pursuit of success. Of course, operations want to breed or acquire the best horses possible – but financing that pursuit may also require selling some stock to raise capital.
The Albaugh Family Stable faced some of those difficult decisions at the 2018 Keeneland September yearling sale – and so far, the Iowa-based racing operation of Dennis Albaugh and Jason Loutsch has wound up with a good hand. After generating capital by selling a half-sister to one of its best runners, the stable was able to pick up a high-ticket offering by a classic sire at that Keeneland sale. That colt is Grade 2 winner Thousand Words, whom the family owns in partnership with Spendthrift Farm, and is expected to start in Saturday’s Kentucky Derby.
The Albaughs sent a Tapit filly who is a half-sister to Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner Liam’s Map, Grade 3 winner and Eclipse Award finalist Not This Time, and stakes winner Taylor S through the ring via the Taylor Made Sales consignment at Keeneland September. She sold for $1.4 million to Don Alberto Stable.
“We were going all day long, ‘Should we sell? Should we not sell?’ ” stable manager Jason Loutsch said at that time. “But for that kind of money, sometimes you need to make an economic decision, and that’s what we did. Now we’re going to go reinvest in some colts.”
Less than 24 hours later, the Albaughs teamed with partners Spendthrift Farm to purchase Thousand Words for $1 million. The Florida-bred son of Pioneerof the Nile is out of multiple Grade 2 winner Pomeroys Pistol. The purchase expanded the partnership between the two entities, as Spendthrift stands the Albaughs’ Grade 1 winners Brody’s Cause and Free Drop Billy.
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Meanwhile, the Albaughs, who have diversified their stallion interests, are watching two of their young sons on the rise in Kentucky. Liam’s Map, standing at Lane’s End, was among last year’s leading freshman sires, with Grade 1-winning juveniles Basin and Wicked Whisper. Not This Time, standing at Taylor Made Farm, is currently one of this year’s leading freshman sires.
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