Buzzards Bay sold at auction.
Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) winner Buzzards Bay was purchased by Gary and Wendy Broad for $725,000 Monday at the conclusion of the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky yearling sale in Lexington, Ky. The Broads, residents of Lake Tahoe, Nev., outbid Rich Sulpizio for the 3-year-old son of Marco Bay who finished fifth in the Kentucky Derby (gr. I).Buzzards Bay, who has three victories in 10 starts, was consigned by Darby Dan Farm on behalf of Fog City Stable. A partnership of Bill Bianco and David Shimmon, Fog City Stable is being dissolved and Buzzards Bay was added to the end of the FTK sale. Previously trained by Jeff Mullins, Buzzards Bay has earned $625,746 and most recently finished fourth in the Affirmed Handicap (gr. III)."We were surprised, but we are very happy with the price we paid," said Gary Broad, noting he and trainer Ron Ellis believed Buzzards Bay would bring $1 million to $1.5 million. "We just thought it was a good opportunity to buy a horse that's a grade I winner." Broad, a stock investor who recently re-entered the horse business after a hiatus of about a dozen years, said it will be up to Ellis whether Buzzards Bay will start in the Aug. 15 West Virginia Derby (gr. III), which he was being pointed toward by Mullins. Broad said his previous horse racing involvement consisted of assisting his father with a stable comprised mainly of claimers. He and his wife now have horses in training with Ellis and Richard Mandella.Purchased by Fog City last fall, Buzzards Bay won the Golden Gate Derby in January before taking the Santa Anita Derby, in which he defeated eventual Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winner Giacomo.Darby Dan Bloodstock's Davant Latham said Buzzards Bay was offered for sale without a reserve and that neither Bianco or Shimmon bid on the colt when he was sold Monday.
