Disturbingthepeace to sell in Milch dispersal

DEL MAR, Calif. - Prominent owner David Milch is dispersing his racing holdings at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky November sale on Nov. 3, a consignment that includes Disturbingthepeace, a top contender for the $1 million Breeders' Cup Sprint at Arlington Park on Oct. 26.

A California-bred, Disturbingthepeace has won six consecutive races and developed into the West Coast's top sprinter this year.

The consignment will also include two other stakes-winning statebreds - Above Perfection, the winner of the Las Flores Handicap and Irish O'Brien Stakes at Santa Anita, and Echo Eddie, a multiple stakes winner who finished second in the $2 million Golden Shaheen Sprint in Dubai in March.

Milch will sell 10 horses through agents Taylor Made Sales Agency and trainer Darrell Vienna, though Vienna said some horses may be sold in advance. Milch was not available for comment, but Vienna said the dispersal has been in the discussion stages "for some time."

By far, the leading racing prospect in the dispersal is Disturbingthepeace. Purchased as part of a five-horse package from breeder Buddy Johnston in 2001, Disturbingthepeace has developed into a star this summer. Since early July, he has won the Triple Bend Breeders' Cup Handicap at Hollywood Park and the two major sprint stakes of the Del Mar meeting - the Bing Crosby Breeders' Cup Handicap and the Pat O'Brien Handicap. According to Vienna, Disturbingthepeace will not start again until the Breeders' Cup Sprint.

Above Perfection sells as a racing or breeding prospect. A 4-year-old, she has not raced since March, but Vienna insists that she can return to racing. "We gave her time," he said. "She didn't have any fractures."

Echo Eddie was second in the Smile Handicap at Calder in July. He was being prepared for the Vanderbilt Handicap at Saratoga last month when he became ill and did not start. Echo Eddie returned to Southern California, but has not resumed serious training. "We're waiting to get all his weight back on," Vienna said.

Even though there is a chance that the 5-year-old Echo Eddie could go to another trainer, Vienna has a suggestion for 2003. "I'd be be in favor of pointing him for the race in Dubai," Vienna said.

Other horses to be sold include Avec Toi and Covincing, who may start in Monday's $125,000 Solana Beach Handicap.

Disturbingthepeace is the latest in a string of top-class horses that Milch has owned. With a partnership, he raced Gilded Time, the 1992 champion 2-year-old male. Last year, he won the Breeders' Cup Mile with Val Royal, who has since been sold for stud duty.

Milch is a television producer and writer who has developed programs such as "Hill Street Blues" and "NYPD Blue."

Flying Victor filly tops in Wine Country

A filly by Flying Victor sold for $40,000 last week, topping the Wine Country yearling sales at the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton. Conducted by America Equine Sales, the sale reported 110 yearlings sold for $655,300, an average of $5,957.

The gross was up 7.7 percent over 2001, but the average dropped 22.6 percent. The sales topper is named Luxury Flight and was purchased by Tom Bachman, agent for Nick Alexander. The filly was consigned by Mare's Nest, agent for Rancho Felicia. The filly is out of Deluxury, a minor stakes winner at Hawthorne in the early 1990's.

Statebred stakes

There are two stakes for statebreds in coming days at Del Mar - Monday's $125,000 Solana Beach Handicap for fillies and mares over a mile on turf and Wednesday's $100,000 Generous Portion Stakes for 2-year-old fillies over six furlongs.

Servaline, a $2 million yearling purchase in Kentucky last year, leads the field for the Generous Portion Stakes. A Storm Cat filly bred by Golden Eagle Farm, Servaline won a maiden race for Brushwood Stable and trainer Bob Baffert in her third start on Aug. 16. She is considered a California-bred because her dam, Fitted Crown, was bred back to a California stallion after foaling Servaline.