BLACK-EYED SUSAN S. (gr. II ), Pimlico , May 17, 2013 , $500,000 Guaranteed , value of race $500,000 , 3 yo , 1 1/8 miles , 1:52.73 Dirt FT .

The Fasig-Tipton November mixed sale has long been a venue for those seeking broodmares and broodmare prospects to bolster their breeding stock. The 2007 catalog provided a bounty of exciting offers as evidenced by the 12 that sold for seven-figures (headed by Round Pond at $5,750,000) and an average that soared to $486,318.

Hip No. 64 proved especially attractive to WinStar Farm who shelled out $300,000 for Quiet Kim from the Taylor Made Sales Agency consignment, a 4-year-old daughter of Real Quiet out of the Alydeed mare Miss Alydeed. Although not a stakes winner, she had acquitted herself well in stakes company. In three years of racing, she had started 18 times and won twice with seven placings. The wins might not have been spectacular but one of those placings was an attention-getter: the grade I Santa Anita Oaks behind Zenyatta’s half sister Balance. It also didn’t hurt that Quiet Kim had earned $213,969.

Quiet Kim also had a solid female family. Her granddam, the stakes-placed Filet (by Full Pocket), earned $173,990 in 39 starts. Filet was also a half sister to Snow Forest, a stakes-placed daughter of Woodman and the dam of grade I sprinter Snow Ridge (by Tabasco Cat) and black-type winner Pavarotti (by A.P. Indy) who had sold for $2.5 million at the 2005 Keeneland September sale. Quiet Kim’s third dam, Ice Fantasy, won the Debutante Stakes at Churchill Downs and produced Fighting Fantasy (by Fighting Fit), a multiple grade III winner on the Midwest circuit, who won $572,820 in 87 starts.

The choice of Pulpit for Quiet Kim, which produced Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (gr. II) winner Fiftyshadesofhay, was appropriate. It was a variation on a theme that has had significant success: crossing Quiet American mares with A.P. Indy. The star of 2006 was Bernardini, bred on this same cross. From 14 starters, it has produced 11 winners and six black-type winners (42.9%). These include graded stakes winners A. P. Warrior and Astrology, and stakes winner Captivating Lass.

Removing one generation has also proved successful. Quiet American mares have matched well with sons of A.P. Indy. From 81 starters have come seven black-type winners (8.6%).

The sire of 67 stakes winners, Pulpit stood at Claiborne Farm until his untimely death in 2012 at age 18.—T.H.

SANTA YSABEL S. (gr. III ), Santa Anita Park , January 26, 2013 , $100,000 Guaranteed , value of race $100,000 , 3 yo , 1 1/16 miles , 1:42.89 Dirt WF .

While an experiment on the turf may have not worked out so well for Fiftyshadesofhay in her last start, the daughter of Pulpit made a quick comeback when switched to the dirt in the Jan. 26 Santa Ysabel Stakes (gr. III) at Santa Anita Park and dominated the race by 53/4 lengths.

Trained by Bob Baffert, the 3-year-old filly is owned by the familiar partnership of Karl Watson, Mike Pegram, and Paul Weitman.

“We were very high on her early in the year, and it’s taken her a while to come around,” said Baffert of Fiftyshadesofhay, who has now earned $106,490 from a record of 2-1-1 from six starts. “But she ran like she’s supposed to do. She didn’t like the turf, so it was a good win.”

The team of Watson, Pegram, and Weitman certainly isn’t new to graded stakes success. Together, the group has also campaigned United States champions Midnight Lute and Lookin At Lucky, plus other grade I winners Coil, Drill, and Executiveprivilege.

While Watson and Weitman are residents of Tucson, Ariz., and own car dealerships, Pegram owns a large string of McDonald’s restaurant franchises in Arizona and is involved in casinos in Nevada.

Fifthyshadesofhay, who made her first start for Pegram on his own, was bought for $175,000 in the name Smack Down Stable at the 2011 Keeneland September yearling sale from Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent.

The Santa Ysabel winner was bred in Kentucky by Kenny Troutt’s WinStar Farm and is out of the winning, graded stakes-placed Real Quiet mare Quiet Kim.

During her 18-start career Quiet Kim won twice and placed second seven times, including in the 2006 Santa Anita Oaks (gr. I). She retired from racing with earnings of more than $200,000.

WinStar bought Quiet Kim for $300,000 at the 2007 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky November mixed sale from Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent. She has since produced three foals for the Versailles, Ky.-based operation, including additional winner Driven Force, a full brother to Fiftyshadesofhay.

She was bred to WinStar stallion Super Saver for 2013.

Ice Fantasy (by It’s Freezing), the third dam of Quiet Kim, is the granddam of grade I winner Snow Ridge (by Tabasco Cat) and the great-granddam of grade I victor Afleet Express (by Afleet Alex).

Pulpit, the sire of 64 stakes winners, stood at the Hancock family’s Claiborne Farm near Paris, Ky., until the 18-year-old son of A.P. Indy died in his paddock Dec. 5, 2012.—E.M.