Keeneland September: Tiznow filly sells for $1.1 million

by Matt Hegarty, Joe Nevills, and Nicole Russo

A Tiznow filly sold to Stonereath Stud for $1.1 million late in Wednesday's third session of the Keeneland September yearling sale, making her the second horse that day to hit the seven-figure mark.

The filly became the second horse consigned by Arthur Hancock III's Stone Farm to sell for seven figures this week, joining a Tapit filly sold for $1 million during yesterday's session. Like that filly, Wednesday's high-ticket purchase was bred by celebrity chef and Thoroughbred owner Bobby Flay.

"Individually, I liked the presence of her, and of course the page, the pedigree," said Stonereath Stud manager Peter Berglar, the son of the operation's owner and founder Dr. Christopher Berglar, who owned and bred horses in Germany. "In the near future, we’ll be looking forward to racing her."

Stonereath has about 25 mares, including boarders, and breeds both to race and sell. Peter Berglar said this filly, who will be retained to race, will most likely be sent to trainer Graham Motion.

"We breed to race and to sell," Berglar said. "We’re trying to build a nice, solid broodmare band, with some quality in there."

The filly is the first foal out of her dam, the Grade 3-placed Storm Cat mare Countess Lemonade. The mare is a half sister to European champion Duke of Marmalade, winner of five consecutive Group 1 races in 2008; and to Epsom Derby winner Ruler of the World.

Countess Lemonade's second dam, stakes placed Lassie's Lady, is a half sister to Weekend Surprise, dam of Horse of the Year and breed-shaping sire A.P. Indy and classic winner and sire Summer Squall. Lassie's Lady is also a half sister to Charming Lassie, dam of champion and sire Lemon Drop Kid; and to Group 1 winner and sire Wolfhound.

"I bought Countess Lemonade at Tattersalls when she was a 3-year-old," Flay explained. "That's a family that's world-class. It doesn't get better than that in the stud book. These fillies are carrying those bloodlines and as you can see, they're producing beautiful babies. It was very hard (to sell this one), but that said, it was her first foal, it was a very good mating, it was a very good physical, and she's a young mare. I can't, like some people here, be lucky enough to hold on to everything I breed. I love to race, but I have to sell some things that are good as well. Hopefully, she'll have a lot more babies and I'll be able to race some of those."