Anyone who has ever played fantasy baseball or football knows the value of sleepers. A sleeper is a selection that the rest of your competitors might not fully appreciate.
The yearling sales are very much like a fantasy baseball draft, except for the fact that you actually have to feed the “players” you select.
Steve Byk had an interesting interview with Christie Debarnardis (a writer for TDN) on his daily horse racing podcast. It was a good discussion about the first day of the Fasig-Tipton sale. Steve is knowledgable guy that besides being a broadcaster, also runs a small ownership group called Dee Tee Stables.
https://stevebyk.com/broadcast/part1christie-debarnardis-frank-lucarelli/
Near the end of the conversation Steve throws out the idea that he thinks Midnight Storm is a “sleeper” new stallion, and then Christie agrees and mentions that Gormley might also be a sleeper. I am always looking for conformation that I am not completely crazy.
Christie also mentioned that some of the new sires had sold well at the weanling sales. This is part of the sales game I know nothing about, and will have to learn. This really is a year round business.
Buying A Race Horse 