Grade I winner Mona de Momma, a 5-year-old mare by Speightstown , fetched $1.55 million from industry newcomer Jon Clay of Alpha Delta Stables during the last hour of the Faisg Tipton November sale.
Reynolds Bell, agent signed the ticket on Clay’s behalf for the mare, who is in foal to Malibu Moon and was consigned by Lane’s End, agent.
“First of all, she’s a grade I winner and in this market right now, what I’m looking for in my program is graded stakes winners,” said Clay of Mona de Momma, who captured the 2010 Humana Distaff (gr. I) and Las Flores Handicap (gr. III). She earned $384,399 from 13 lifetime starts.
Clay, who is based in New York and is in the sports marketing business, has been involved in the Thoroughbred industry for about five years. He keeps around 15 mares at different farms in Central Kentucky.
“(Mona de Momma) fit the bill and she also has a great page,” he said. “She’s got Mr. Greeley and (Kentucky Derby, gr. I winner) Street Sense in her family…how can you not want a piece of that family?”
Out of the Linkage mare Society Gal, Mona De Mama is also from the family of grade III winners Vestrey Lady and Tajaaweed. After bringing $100,000 as a yearling, Mona de Momma was acquired for $335,000 by Mayberry Farm at the 2008 Ocala Breeders’ Sale Co.’s March 2-year-old sale from Eisaman Equine, agent.
“My program is mostly commercial breeds and I’d like to keep a few of them to race, but I’m going to sell a lot of the offspring. I’ve got about 15 mares right now and I’m still looking to expand,” said Clay, adding he was not surprised at what he had to pay for Mona de Momma.
“When you have the opportunity to buy a grade I-winning mare with a family like this family, you’ve got to pay top dollar. I think the market is a lot stronger than it was the last couple years because of the prices some of these mares have been going for.”