A Tapit colt who is a half brother to multiple grade I winner Mucho Macho Man lit up the Keeneland bid board when purchased by Bridlewood Farm and M. V. Magnier, representing Coolmore Stud interests, for $2 million during the Sept. 14 session of the Keeneland September yearling sale.
The transaction was the second-highest at the auction; earlier in the day Beholder's half brother by Scat Daddy was purchased by Magnier for $3 million.
"In my opinion he was certainly the nicest Tapit in the sale, and he has a stallion pedigree," said Bridlewood general manager George Isaacs. "My appraisal was at the $1.5 million-$1.75 million level, so obviously somebody was right below us trying to get the horse, but at that level, another bid is usually what it takes.
"And Coolmore had asked us to consider partnering with them on a nice colt to potentially be a stallion. And you know, it's the old adage: if you can't lick them, join them. We're happy to be a part of that. (Bridlewood owner) Mr. (John) Malone has his farm in Ireland and we're trying to build Bridlewood back horse by horse to have a very nice program, and (the horse is) potentially a stallion so hopefully this is the right one. We partnered on a nice filly in Saratoga. So they're open minded to try to be like-minded business with the right people and I think we're the right people and they are too. So we're excited about it.
Isaacs said the colt will be send to Bridlewood near Ocala, Fla., to be prepped for racing.
“He's something different,” said Reiley McDonald of Eaton Sales, prior to the colt going into the ring. “He has size, pedigree, and is the best athlete we have in the sale.”
The colt, Hip 561, was produced from stakes winner Ponce de Leona, and bred in Kentucky by Brushwood Stable. Mucho Macho Man, the mare’s second foal, won nine races including the Breeders’ Cup Classic (gr. I), finished third in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum Brands (gr. I), and earned more than $5.6 million.
As if that wasn’t enough, Southern Girl, a full sister to Eaton’s Tapit colt, won a stakes race Sept. 10 at Laurel Park.
Erin Shea contributed to this article.
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