Blue Prize heads Breeders' Cup contingent bound for auction

The major Kentucky mixed sales in early November annually ride the wave of the Breeders’ Cup, with fillies and mares coming directly from the races to the sales, perhaps with major catalog updates, to be sold as racing or broodmare prospects. This year’s contingent making the trip from Santa Anita to Lexington, Ky., certainly falls in that category, as Blue Prize and Belvoir Bay stepped onto the Fasig-Tipton sale grounds as newly-minted Breeders' Cup heroines.

But the logistics required to generate those fireworks in the sales ring aren’t easy, particularly when the Breeders’ Cup is hosted by a California track. Following the extreme effort put forth in a race the level of the Breeders’ Cup, a cross-country trip can take a further toll on a horse’s energy and weight levels, particularly if the horse has not shipped frequently or is a nervous individual. It requires strong support from caretakers to get a horse to the sale grounds both physically and mentally prepared to show at their best to potential buyers.

To ease the turnaround following this year’s Breeders’ Cup on Nov. 1 and 2 at Santa Anita, both of Kentucky’s major November sales will be held one day later than originally scheduled. The single-session Fasig-Tipton Kentucky fall selected mixed sale will be held the evening of Tuesday, Nov. 5. It had originally been scheduled for Monday night, less than 48 hours following the conclusion of the Saturday Breeders’ Cup program. The following day, on Wednesday, Nov. 6, Keeneland will begin its November breeding stock sale, which was originally scheduled to start Tuesday. That sale runs through Nov. 17.

“In keeping with Keeneland’s mission, we continually strive to do things that better the entire industry,” Keeneland president and CEO Bill Thomason said. “We listen to our customers and we respond.”

The two Kentucky-based auction companies also cited allowing more time for industry participants attending the Breeders’ Cup to travel from California to Kentucky and to inspect horses.

“We have advocated for this schedule change for many years, and we are pleased that other industry participants have recognized the need for this change,” Fasig-Tipton president Boyd Browning said.

Fillies and mares still in race training may be cataloged for sale as connections keep the possibility of withdrawal open based upon racetrack performance. That was the case this year, as the Fasig-Tipton November catalog was headlined by multiple Grade 1 winner Midnight Bisou, expected to trigger a multi-million dollar bidding war. On the morning of the filly's Breeders' Cup Distaff run, majority owner Jeff Bloom announced that the ownership group had elected to take their star out of the sale to race her another year, making her one of several high-profile withdrawals from auction this fall.

Later that afternoon, Blue Prize defeated Midnight Bisou by 1 1/2 lengths in the Distaff, making herself the headline attraction for the Fasig-Tipton sale. It was the fourth Grade/Group 1 victory of the Argentine-born mare's career.

"It's been a great ride," said Ignacio Correas, who trains Blue Prize for Merriebelle Stable. "Sad to see her go, but they're going to take good care of her. And it's the horse of a lifetime. So I don't know if I'm going to have one like her again, but at least I was blessed to have one. And that, in a trainer's career, is a lot to say."

Bluegrass Thoroughbred Services will consign Blue Prize as agent for her owners.

Belvoir Bay established a Santa Anita course record winning the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, the 10th stakes victory of her career. The British-born mare has already passed through the Fasig November ring once, with Gary Barber going to $625,000 as he bought out partner Team Valor. Belvoir Bay's value has certainly increased since then as she is consigned by Bluewater Sales, as agent.

"If she brings what [Barber] believes is fair market value, then I think she'll be sold and probably go to the breeding shed," trainer Peter Miller said. "If not, you'll see her [race] again."

Other mares fresh off the Breeders' Cup consigned at Fasig-Tipton are Comical (7th, Juvenile Fillies), La Force (10th, Distaff), Secret Spice (9th, Distaff), Selcourt (7th, Filly and Mare Sprint), Vasilika (2nd, Filly and Mare Turf), and Wow Cat (7th, Distaff).

Keeneland’s elite, single-session Book 1 includes Breeders’ Cup runners Danuska’s My Girl (5th, Filly and Mare Sprint) and Spiced Perfection (4th, Filly and Mare Sprint).