By Ron Mitchell and Glenye Cain Oakford
A Bernardini filly who is a half sister to champion Proud Spell lit up the Keeneland sales ring Sept. 10 when she was purchased by Baumann Stables for $1.3 million as the top-priced offering during the first half of the second session of the September sale.
Bred by Brereton C. Jones and consigned as Hip 291 by his Airdrie Stud, the filly was produced from the winning Langfuhr mare Pacific Spell. Proud Spell, trained by Larry Jones for owner Jones, won the Kentucky Oaks and Alabama Stakes, both grade I, during her championship campaign.
Lane Seliger signed the sales receipt for Baumann Stables, which earlier this year paid $1.3 million for 2011 American Oaks (gr. I) winner Nereid at Keeneland's January horses of all ages sale.
Seliger, who is from Amarillo, Texas, said Dr. Naoya and Marie Yoshida recommended the purchase. Seliger keeps his mares at the Yoshidas' Winchester Farm in Kentucky.
"I think the price was a little higher than we wanted to spend, but we're not disappointed," he said. "The bloodline was very, very attractive, very deep, and I think it will be well supported in the future."
Seliger is a relative newcomer to the Thoroughbred industry. He has horses in training with Ron Ellis, Graham Motion, Kellyn Gorder, and Michael Matz.
"My goals are probably about the same as everybody else's," said Seliger, noting that he breeds to race and to sell.
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