Puca has a chance to make history, again

Puca has already put her name in the history books among top-producing broodmares. Now, she’ll attempt to put her name in the history books in the sales ring.

Reigning Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Puca, dam of 2023 Kentucky Derby winner Mage, 2024 Belmont Stakes winner Dornoch, and this year’s Pennsylvania Derby winner Baeza, is among the biggest stars cataloged for the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky fall selected mixed sale, set for the night of Nov. 3 in Lexington. Puca, by Big Brown, was a Grade 2-placed stakes winner herself on the track.

Now 13, Puca is owned by John Stewart’s Resolute Racing after he struck a deal to purchase her privately from Robert Clay’s Grandview Equine for $2.9 million at the 2023 Keeneland November breeding stock sale. That came after she drew a high bid of $2.8 million in the ring, which did not meet her reserve.

Puca was not bred back this spring after delivering a Good Magic filly, a full sister to her two classic winners, in May.

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“She foaled late this year,” Stewart previously said. “We were going to send her to Frankel. That’s what I would do if I had kept her. He’s the best stallion in the world. She’s already proven on dirt what she can do, but there’s a commercial part of this business as well.”

At the time of Stewart’s purchase of Puca, the mare was the dam of stakes-placed Gunning and of Mage, who, along with his Derby win, placed in three other Grade 1 stakes. Since then, her stock has continued to skyrocket.

Dornoch won the 2024 Belmont and another Grade 1 in the Haskell Invitational following two Grade 2 wins. This year, Baeza finished second in the Santa Anita Derby, third in both the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes, and second in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy, all behind either Sovereignty or Journalism. He finally broke through with his Grade 1 win in the Pennsylvania Derby in September and was to run in the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 1.

Dornoch’s win put Puca in the history books as just the ninth broodmare to produce a pair of American Triple Crown race winners, joining Maggie B.B. (1879 Preakness winner Harold, 1884 Belmont winner Panique), Cinderella (1896 Belmont winner Hastings, 1898 Derby winner Plaudit), Lady Margaret (1896 Preakness winner Margrave, 1902 Belmont winner Masterman), Ignite (1900 Preakness winner Hindus, 1906 Derby winner Sir Huon), Leisure (1908 Preakness winner Royal Tourist, 1914 Preakness winner Holiday), Prudery (1927 Derby winner Whiskery, 1928 Preakness winner Victorian), Weekend Surprise (1990 Preakness winner Summer Squall, 1992 Belmont winner A.P. Indy), and Better Than Honour (2006 Belmont winner Jazil, 2007 Belmont winner Rags to Riches).

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In April, not taking Baeza’s season into account, Puca was honored as the 2024 Broodmare of the Year by the Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders. The Broodmare of the Year award, first presented in 1946, is the oldest of the KTOB awards and is considered the de facto national award and one of the most prestigious accomplishments in Thoroughbred bloodstock.

Puca, who will be consigned by Elite Sales as agent for Resolute at Fasig-Tipton, is a rare commodity on offer. Since 2000, only two Broodmare of the Year honorees have been sold at public auctions after officially being presented with that award.

Turko’s Turn earned the award in 2001 after her son Point Given was a multiple classic winner and Horse of the Year. In 2003, she sold carrying a full sibling to that champion for $2 million at the Keeneland November breeding stock sale. Better Than Honour, who earned the award in 2007 after her second Belmont winner, was sent through the ring for a partnership buyout at the 2008 Fasig-Tipton November sale and brought a staggering $14 million.

Better Than Honour – who, like Puca will be, was not in foal at the time of her sale – is the highest-priced active broodmare ever sold at public auction.

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