Lucky One, the dam of 2010 Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) winner Blind Luck, sold for $1.85 million nearing the afternoon’s midway point Nov. 9 during the second session of the Keeneland November breeding stock sale in Lexington. Teruya Yoshida’s Shadai Farm of Japan purchased the winning 8-year-old Best of Luck mare, who is carrying a foal by Pollard's Vision that is a full sibling to Blind Luck.
The immediate underbidder was a buying team from Northern Farm led by Shunsuke Yoshida. His father, Katsumi, owns Japan-based Northern Farm and is one of Teruya Yoshida's brothers.
“Blind Luck is a very, very good racehorse and the mare also had good conformation; she is a very good mare it looks like,” said Dr. Mitsuru Ikeda, who works for Shadai.
Dr. Bill Baker’s Central Kentucky-based Fairlawn Farm, the breeder of Blind Luck, consigned Lucky One, who is a half sister to 2002 Swale Stakes (gr. III) winner Ethan Man (by Glitterman).
“It was emotional and overwhelming; words just can’t express it,” said Baker’s wife, Terry, of selling Lucky One. “We’re just so overwhelmed by everything. We love the filly Blind Luck and she’s put us in this position. It’s been very nice.”
An earner of $2,388,712, Blind Luck has won seven added-money events. In addition to the Oaks, they include the 2010 editions of the Betfair TVG Alabama (gr. I) and Las Virgenes (gr. I) Stakes and the 2009 editions of the Hollywood Starlet (gr. I) and Oak Leaf (gr. I) Stakes. The 3-year-old filly has captured nine of her 15 career races. She finished second in the Nov. 5 Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic (gr. I).
“We’re breeders and we’ve got to make a profit occasionally,” said Bill Baker, who is a well-known equine veterinarian, of the decision to sell Lucky One. “A mare like this needs a lot of money for insurance and is a lot of pressure. It feels like the weight of the world is off our shoulders. We’ve still got her weanling filly (by Successful Appeal) and she’s just like Blind Luck. She looks just like her (Blind Luck), so we’re looking for great things out of her. We’re going to keep her and race her, and then we’ll have her for breeding purposes.”
Blind Luck’s weanling half sister was entered in the Keeneland November sale, but Baker scratched her.
The veterinarian was pleased with Lucky One’s price.
“We thought she would bring seven figures, but we weren’t expecting that much,” he said. “We’re very happy. We had gotten several offers (privately) on her, but we never could get the deal done.”