Determined Stud spends big to build broodmare band

The nascent Maryland-based Determined Stud operation continued an active season of buying at the Keeneland January sale, where it was among the programs taking advantage of high-profile dispersals to bolster its stock.

Determined Stud, with trainer Phil Schoenthal acting as agent, purchased six mares at the January sale for a total of $2,157,000. The group was led by $875,000 Southern Ring, from the group of mares on offer by the legendary Sam-Son Farm, which is dispersing its stock. Graded stakes winner Southern Ring, who is in foal to leading sire Into Mischief, is out of Canadian classic winner Seeking the Ring, a full sister to Canadian champion Catch the Ring.

Schoenthal also signed for a pair of mares from the dispersal of the Thoroughbred holdings of the late Paul Pompa Jr. Grade 1-placed Off Topic, purchased for $570,000, is from the family of Personal Ensign, while Grade 3-placed Sustained is already the dam of Grade 1 winner Turned Aside.

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Determined Stud is the bloodstock moniker for Matt Dorman, a Thoroughbred owner who has decided to expand his racing interests into breeding, with a new farm based near Boyds, Md.

“We’re just buying quality,” Dorman said of building his broodmare band. “We have some stallion shares so we have some stallions in mind.”

Determined Stud purchased 18 mares, alone or in partnership, for a total of $6,655,000 between the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky fall selected mixed sale and Keeneland November breeding stock sale last fall. That group was led by stakes winner Desert Isle, one of the first offerings from the ongoing Sam-Son dispersal, who was a $1.1 million purchase in partnership with Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm. Desert Isle is out of Canadian champion Eye of the Sphynx, dam of Canadian champion Eye of the Leopard and three other stakes winners.