After a bad start with hip #1, the day progressed about as expected with some high prices and RNA’s. The average was $93,000 and the median was $45,000, slightly higher than 2019. I was able to add 2 horses to my group. I paid up for a son of Unified with a fast work, and added a nice looking Astern colt
- Unified – c – Rare Medal by Medaglia d’Oro – $150,000 – Mike McCarty
- Astern – c – Maya Princess by Street Sense – $50,000 – R Larry Johnson
Maybe I paid too much for the Unified, but 5 time graded stakes winning owner Mike McCarty did not think so. The horse worked 21.4, and only a few were quicker. Unified comes from my guys at Centennial, so I have to think he can get two turns. The female family is solid, but not spectacular. Again, let’s remember that a solid but not spectacular Medaglia d’Oro dam was the key to Brooklyn Strong.
Astern is a first year sire that just might surprise folks. Here experienced owner R. Larry Johnson paid up for one with a nice 10.2 work. That is 7x the stud fee, but reasonable for an above average work. The mare produced a stakes placed filly with her first foal, this is her second. This pick has above average risk, but I like the idea of buying a grass horse off a dirt work.
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The partnerships had a busy day. West Point bought the sale topper, a Quality Road (with one of 7 works of 10.0) for $1,500,000, and also paid up ($225,000???) for a Keen Ice. Eclipse took only one shot with a modestly expensive Gormley ($150,000). MyRaceHorse bought 4 horses, including a Cupid I am interested in. MyRaceHorse.com deserves extra credit for buying 4 horses for about $100,000 each with very interesting pedigrees. Dare to Dream bought a cheap Lord Nelson I have no interest in, and Bourbon Lane bought another Bernardini. Sackatoga bought a Blame out a Lemon Drop Kid mare that I just love. Pocket Aces bought a strange Penn-bred. Little Red Feather bought an expensive Street Boss ($190,000I have no interest in. Dream Maker bought an average Laoban.
The most interesting buy was a Pioneerof the Nile filly that Zilla paid $120,000 for. This is either a great buy or a TGTBT. Mike P sent an e-mail saying the under-bidder was the infamous Liz Crow. I will certainly consider this horse. Mike thinks she could have a great residual value.
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The Zilla purchase sold out overnight. Mike’s enthusiasm for horses is contagious
Buying A Race Horse 