It was fun to walk around the barns in the morning and watch the cool kids look at their $500,000 potential purchases. It is something every racing fan should do once.
Bidding was actually a little below my expectations. Mean and average were pretty close to last year. The results could be skewed because there is a new rule is place. Any horse that RNA’s the first day will be re-auctioned at the end of the 2nd day. There were several big dollar RNA’s. The Violence, Connect and Tapwrit that I like all RNAed for $350,000+. Justify seemed to be the big winner.
West Point bought two, and Eclipse got one. None of the three were that exciting or creative. Starlight bought five expensive horses, including an ok Street Sense. The other partnerships were quiet.
I will declare the winner of the day to be Oracle Bloodstock for Danny Gargan. They took advantage of Mendelssohn’s unpopularity to buy:
#100 – c – Mendelssohn – Our Maria Celeste by Galileo – $150,000
What a great buy to get Galileo as the broodmare sire for that price. The 2nd dam produced million dollar winner General Quarters and a horse that won $2 million in Japan. This horse is almost a model “empty” mare. The strategy I now favor.
Maybe the Mendelssohn’s look a little small and sleek compared to 30 barrel chested War Front’s and Quality Road’s that got dragged through the ring today.
Let’s give honorable mention to DJ Stables and Steve Young for buying:
#153 – American Pharoah – Smooth Performer – $150,000
#109 – Street Sense – Pioneerof the Nile mare – $280,000
Let’s give “most likely to win the Derby” to Mr. Magnier for paying $950,000 for:
#64- c – Quality Road – Milam by Street Sense – $950,000 (the 2nd dam produced rushing Fall)
Buying A Race Horse 