The mare Eden’s Causeway, expected to be among the top sellers Jan. 11 during the opening session of the Keeneland horses of all ages sale in Lexington, was a late scratch after aborting the Tiznow foal she was carrying. The 7-year-old winning daughter of Giant's Causeway was consigned to the auction by Craig and Holly Bandoroff’s Denali Stud for Bridlewood Farm in Florida.
“It happened last night,” Craig Bandoroff said. “She had placentitis, so it had been brewing; it didn’t have to do with the stress of the sale. It was just bad luck, bad timing. She's gone to the farm where they (Bridlewood) keep their mares for the breeding season. They’ll get her cleaned up, and we hope she’s OK; you never know that for sure.”
Cataloged as Hip No. 194, Eden's Causeway is out of the Northfields mare North of Eden, a half-sister to champion Theatrical, who became a successful sire. Eden's Causeway is a half-sister to champion Paradise Creek, grade I winners Forbidden Apple and Wild Event, added-money winner I’m Very Irish, and Paradise River, the dam of English and United Arab Emirates champion David Junior.
“I thought she was one of the three best mares in the sale,” Bandoroff said. “She had a lot of interest, a lot of play. She was going to sell good. She was in here for a reason; it wasn’t just for practice.”