Ironicus is a first year sire that was a champion miler, but his pedigree suggests he could have been more. His stud fee is only $5,000, so he is a value. West Point bought an Ironicus colt for $50,000 the first day. That gave me a little more confidence.
As I looked through the Ironicus offspring I saw an old friend. The mare of hip #485 was Sotique, a filly trainer by Bobby Ribaudo for Marc Keller. Bob trained my friend’s champion filly. He is one of the nicest and most honest people in racing. He also trained Keller’s multiple G1 winner Grand Courtier. Years ago Keller paid over $200,000 for Sotique at a yearling sale. The horse had a modest career, but was meant for better. #485 worked an ok 10.1, but there is no reason to think this filly will be precocious.
I was hoping to pay only 5x for her, but the West Point purchase kind of set the price, and I chased all the way to $47,000. At nearly 10x the stud fee this was not cheap, If West point had not paid up the day before, I might have stopped earlier, but in the end I am happy. Marc Keller is a smart guy who won over 100 races, I will trust his judgement on the mare of #485.
In the real world the buyer was J D Farms a Florida breeding operation that dispersed many of its horses last year. They might feel if she cannot run she could be a good broodmare.
We will see who got the better Ironicus, either me or West Point.
In honor of Mr. Keller’s racing accomplishments we will call her:
Quixote’s Keller
Buying A Race Horse 