The most expensive yearling sold at public auction so far this year, a $2.2-million Mr. Greeley colt, is scheduled to be trained by Todd Pletcher, Team Valor International’s Barry Irwin said Aug. 26. Irwin purchased the brawny chestnut yearling at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga select yearling auction Aug. 7.
“I toyed with the idea of sending him to (European trainer) Jim Bolger because he has had such tremendous success with Mr. Greeleys, but I waited a few days and decided not to do it,” Irwin said. “We’re going to give the horse to Todd, who is a top trainer and a guy that we have faith in.”
The syndication process on the colt is almost complete. There are 50 shares, which cost $50,000 apiece.
“He’s down to the last five shares right now; we’ve sold 45 of the 50, and I expect to have him fully syndicated in the next day or two,” Irwin said. “We bought him for $2.2 million; we added 10% to that; and then we put the insurance on top of that and it came out to right at $2.5 million.”
Uncertain economic times slowed the syndication process a little, Irwin said.
“I bought the horse on a Tuesday and on a Thursday, the stock market took a dive and it has been yo-yoing,” Irwin said. “I think if that hadn’t happened, I would have syndicated the horse quicker. We had a couple people come in, and when they got a little nervous, other people took their places.”
As originally planned, the colt is being broken at Fares Farm in Kentucky under the supervision Kellyn Gorder, and then he will be sent to Dr. Barry Eisaman in Florida to be prepared further for racing.
The colt is the first foal out of the 6-year-old King of Kings mare Win My Heart, who was winless in five races but is a half-sister to grade III winner Secret Liaison. Other members of his family include champion Sacahuista, grade I winners Geri and Raging Fever, and Italian group I winner Ekraar, who also was a group III winner in England.
