Tue, 01/18/2005 - 00:00

Freshman stallions: F to L

LAS VEGAS - This is part 3 in a series on the freshman sires of 2005, with particular emphasis on how to bet their offspring. The sires' names are followed by their pedigree and where they stand, and their designation (SP means speed; ST, stamina; T, turf; HT, hidden turf).

Mon, 01/17/2005 - 00:00

Ocala sale led by $90K filly

Following on the heels of gains at Keeneland's January all-ages sale in Kentucky, Florida's all-ages market got under way Monday in Ocala, with numerous lots bringing $50,000 or more in the early selling.

The top price at 5 p.m. was the $90,000 that pinhooker Murray Smith paid for a yearling filly by Ocala stallion Three Wonders. Lindie Reiss, agent, consigned the session-leader. The filly is out of the stakes-placed Honey Jay mare Loudmouth Time, who also produced stakes winner O'Rocky, by Birdonthewire, as well as stakes winner Tour Time, by Tour d'Or.

Sat, 01/15/2005 - 00:00

Keeneland level with '04

Four-digit prices were more common than five-digit prices on Saturday at the Keeneland January all-ages sale's closing session. But the afternoon's selling peaked with a sizeable number when a 4-year-old Two Punch filly, Two Bayou, offered as a racing or broodmare prospect, brought $80,000 from Vic Hanson.

Fri, 01/14/2005 - 00:00

Texas farm offers breeding incentive

The Turf Express Stud stallion operation in Texas is planning to give breeders a chance to as much as double the incentive awards they receive from the Texas Thoroughbred Association if they use one of the farm's stallions and board at the facility.

Turf Express Stud, in Collinsville, Texas, is home to stallions New Trieste, a full brother to Old Trieste, and Aggressive Chief, a half-brother to Open Forum.

Mark Cornett, president of Turf Express Stud, came up with the idea to combat breeding programs in slots-rich states that are luring mares from Texas.

Fri, 01/14/2005 - 00:00

Sale levels off

One day after Keeneland's January 2005 all-ages auction surpassed last year's total income, Friday's next-to-last session saw prices winding down.

Friday's top price was $90,000 for the broodmare prospect Courriel and the broodmare Hash It Out.

Kingswood Farm, agent, purchased Courriel from Trackside Farm (Tom Evans), agent. A 4-year-old French Deputy filly, Courriel is out of Reboot, making her a half-sister to Group 1-placed Rebuttal.

Fri, 01/14/2005 - 00:00

Next best thing to restoring Sagamore

It's difficult to imagine a more successful grand opening than the stallion showing held last Sunday at the Maryland Stallion Station.

More than 400 people, including numerous well-established breeders from Maryland and surrounding states, turned out for a firsthand look at the first major Thoroughbred operation constructed in Maryland in many years, and the five well-bred stallions set to stand there for its inaugural season.

Fri, 01/14/2005 - 00:00

Top dollar for long-term potential

Horsephotos
Cozzene's Angel sold in foal to Pulpit for $1.35 million to lead Keeneland.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - The premium broodmares at this week's Keeneland January sale showed great consistency, as both session-topping mares sold for more than $1 million and already have produced Grade 1 stakes-winning juveniles.

The sale's leader was the Cozzene mare Cozzene's Angel, selling for $1.35 million. She is the dam of Toccet, a multiple Grade 1 winner in 2002, when he won the Champagne and Hollywood Futurity as well as the Grade 2 Remsen.

Fri, 01/14/2005 - 00:00

Fast Decision looks to follow successful line

Being the student of pedigree that he is, Dr. Jonathan Davis was bound to take a close look at Fast Decision as a stallion prospect.

Davis and his wife, Deb, own and operate historic Milfer Farm in Unadilla, located in Otsego County.

Fast Decision, a son of Gulch, will begin his breeding career for the 2005 season at a fee of $3,500, live foal guaranteed, payable Sept. 1 of the year bred.

Winner of the Grade 3 Withers Stakes in 2002, Fast Decision is bred on a similar pattern as champion Thunder Gulch.

Fri, 01/14/2005 - 00:00

Modestly priced sires have paid off

Rising or unsustainable stud fees are a concern to many breeders who wonder if the current bull market for foals, yearlings, 2-year-olds in training, and breeding stock will still be there one, two, or three years down the road. In the Florida Horse Stallion Register, issued by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association, 46 stallions are listed as having stud fees of more than $3,500 with live-foal guarantee terms. Red Bullet, the Preakness Stakes winner in 2000, has the highest price at $30,000 for Adena Springs South.

Thu, 01/13/2005 - 00:00

Led by Andrea Gail, six more horses sell for six figures

Horsephotos
Prospective buyers inspect the stock before bidding begins at the Keeneland January sale.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - The Keeneland January all-ages sale's returns dipped on Wednesday, but at Thursday's fourth session, upper-market horses were still commanding occasional six-figure prices.