Buster’s Ready, a 3-year-old daughter of More Than Ready , fetched $2.4 million, the top price thus far at the Keeneland November breeding stock sale Nov. 7. Consigned by Lane’s End, agent for the Complete Dispersal of the Estate of Edward P. Evans’ Spring Hill Farm, she was bought by brothers Alain and Gerard Wertheimer.
“It was a really good mare…she was a very talented filly, very nice-looking filly, with a strong family,” said Pierre Yves-Bureau, who manages the Wertheimer’s horse operation. “We try to buy these kinds of fillies every year, and because of the dispersal, we have a lot of choice this year. But (Buster's Ready) was the big number one, so we are very pleased to get her.”
Yves-Bureau said the Wertheimers, who bred and raced the great Goldikova, plan to retire Buster’s Ready from racing and add her to their broodmare band. Plans call for the filly to be kept in Kentucky this year and bred to a local stallion.
“We’ll make time to make the right decision (on what stallion to breed her to),” said Yves-Bureau.
Buster’s Ready won the June 25 Mother Goose (gr. I) at Belmont Park. She also placed in this year’s Black-Eyed Susan (gr. II) at Pimlico and a listed stake at Aqueduct. She holds a record of 4-2-1 from 11 starts, for earnings of $354,884.
Buster’s Ready’s dam Beatem Buster (by Honour and Glory), is a half sister to champion Saint Liam (by Saint Ballado), grade III winner Congressional Honor (by Forestry), and stakes winners Quiet Giant (by Giant's Causeway ) and Dance Quietly (by A.P. Indy).
“She was expensive, but it’s the market, and based on the mares that sold yesterday, I think it’s a good value,” Yves-Bureau said, referring to the Nov. 7 Fasig-Tipton November select sale.
At the Fasig-Tipton auction, the Wertheimers bought Zaftig, winner of the 2008 Acorn Stakes (gr. I) and in foal to Candy Ride , for $1.4 million.
John Sikura’s Hill ‘n’ Dale Sales Agency, agent, consigned the 6-year-old daughter of Gone West who also captured the Nassau County Stakes (gr. III) and finished third in the Sentient Flight Group Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (gr. I) in 2008.