Schettine cancels dispersal

Owner and breeder William Schettine has decided not to sell 58 mares and weanlings he had entered in Keeneland's upcoming November auction.

The dispersal was to include Felicita, who is the dam of Grade 1 winner Take Charge Lady and who is in foal to A.P. Indy on a February cover. The horses were to be offered through the Paramount Sales agency.

"Mr. Schettine originally decided to have the dispersal because of time-management issues regarding overseeing his broodmare and foal band in conjunction with his other business endeavors," Adam Staple, an advisor to Schettine, said in a statement issued Wednesday. "However, since then, he has been able to make some adjustments to his schedule to allow him to keep the horses and work with them to his level of satisfaction."

Staple also said that Schettine feels his mare band has "near unlimited potential." Schettine intends to keep the mares in Florida, Staple said, or, if he decides to sell them eventually, would only sell them as a package to a Florida-based breeder.

"Schettine does not intend, under any circumstances, to sell his weanlings or his racing stock," Staple said.