Baffert to train $2.1 Keeneland yearling, 'best colt in the sale'
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Medaglia d’Oro's success at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale continued late Thursday when a bidding war for Hip 899, which Phoenix Thoroughbreds' Amer Abdulaziz called "the best colt in the sale," went to a session-topping $2.1 million.
The half-brother of Breeders' Cup Distaff winner Stopchargingmaria will be trained for Phoenix by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert.
“This is a tough game,” Tom Ludt, who heads Phoenix’s U.S. operations, said of buying at the top. “We do our work and work really hard. The ultimate answer and compliment comes in at this stage with who we’re competing against. It just comes down to how much you’re willing to stretch.”
Hip 899 marked the fifth seven-figure yearling sired by Medaglia d’Oro at the 2018 September Sale and the third in session four. This colt was also the first of Medaglia d’Oro’s to hit the two million dollar range this year.
He was consigned by Taylor Made, agent for Stonestreet Bred & Raised, and is the fifth foal out of Exotic Bloom. From her four foal of racing age, only two have raced, with Stopchargingmaria the lone winner.
In addition to the Breeders’ Cup, Stopchargingmaria picked up Grade 1 wins in the Alabama and Coaching Club American Oaks. She won half of her 18 starts and earned over $3 million on the track.
As for her half-brother, “Oh, he was beautiful,” Ludt said. “He's got everything. He looks like he's got a big engine on him and he's going to be fast. He’s a yearling and he’s got a great walk, so you’re looking at the future.”
Ludt also said Phoenix would “obviously” battle to get the colt.
“You ultimately have to make a decision,” Ludt said on the price, “and the man to my left (Abdulaziz) really wanted him and I know Baffert loved him, and obviously Bob gets a lot of our good horses. It's a tough decision but sometimes you have to make it.”
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