Dogwood president Cot Campbell purchased 2001 Illinois Derby (gr. II) winner Distilled privately after the colt was bought back by consignor Woodside Ranch for $160,000 at the 2000 Keeneland April sale. Grether paid $240,000 for 2001 San Rafael Stakes (gr. II) winner Crafty C. T. last year at Keeneland in April. Even though Japan has economic woes of its own, Japanese buyers remained important players at Keeneland in April. Collectively, they paid at least $2,840,000 for no fewer than 16 juveniles. Both totals were down from a year ago, when they spent $3,385,000 for 17 head. However, their expenditures accounted for 19.1% of the sale's gross, up slightly from 18.3% in 2000. "Thank God, the Japanese are here again," said Florida pinhooker Eddie Woods. "If they weren't, we wouldn't have been too busy before the sale showing our horses."
Two other juveniles sold for more than $500,000. A Gold Case--Golden Ode filly brought a $535,000 bid from Kentucky bloodstock agent John Moynihan. She was consigned by Niall Brennan Stables, agent. A Harlan--Frosted Flake colt was purchased for $520,000 by Patrice Miller, who is vice president of EQB, a consulting company that analyzes young horses scientifically for buyers. She was representing televangelist Pat Robertson's Tega Farm. Consigned by Florida pinhooker Murray Smith, the colt will be trained by John Kimmel. He was owned by Smith in partnership with Michael Eiserman and Earl Silver.Biggest SpendersPharmaceutical mogul Eugene Melnyk was Keeneland's leading buyer in terms of gross expenditures, paying $990,000 for three juveniles. Other major investors included Toshikatsu Fujita of Japan, Kay Shigeta and her Silky Green team, Centennial, North Hills Management of Japan, DiTech.com founder J. Paul Reddam, Dogwood Stable, and Californian C.T. Grether.
