Summer Wind Upgrades Broodmare Band With Pricey Duo

Jane Lyon, regularly among the leading buyers of high-end broodmares and broodmare prospects for her Summer Wind Farm, went to $1.85 million to purchase Lil Indy, the dam of multiple grade 1 winner Maximum Security, early Nov. 6 at the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale.

A 12-year-old daughter of Anasheed, Lil Indy was consigned by Lane's End, agent, as Hip 13. She is believed to be in foal to Quality Road . The mare's dam, multiple stakes winner Cresta Lil, also produced three-time grade 1 winner and sire Flat Out  and stakes winner Our Best Man.

Maximum Security, the TVG.com Haskell Invitational Stakes (G1) and Xpressbet Florida Derby (G1) winner, won the Oct. 26 Bold Ruler Handicap (G3) at Belmont Park last out.

Lyon thought she was going to acquire the mare for less than the final bid, but that was before leading buyer Larry Best joined the fray.

"Before Mr. Best got involved, I thought I had made the deal of the century," Lyon said, laughing. "I appreciate him quitting when he did. I think she is a lovely mare and she has obviously produced a superb 3-year-old, and hopefully she can do it some more. You know me, I don't know where my maximum (price) is. Every one of my advisors were very excited about this mare. They put her at the top of my list."

Lyon said the market was understandably strong for top mares.

"I thought it was a little high last night (at The November Sale), but it is what it is," Lyon said. "I have found in this business, being a broodmare buyer, they are always a lot higher than their babies sell for. I expected this mare to bring a good price.

"I came to this sale telling everyone that my advisors said I have enough mares, so I don't need to buy a mare," Lyon added in reference to her large broodmare band. "If this is the only one I get, I'm going to be happy. I don't sell mares—I should, perhaps. I've given a few of my younger mares I'm not going to breed to some people I trust, and I know they will get the care they deserve."

Lane's End's Bill Farish said the mare landed in the ballpark price of pre-sale projections.

"We thought she would fall somewhere between $1 million and $2 million, and she was on the higher side of that, which was great," he said.

Lyon returned to the pavilion in the final moments of the sale to purchase Gloryzapper, a daughter of Ghostzapper  consigned as a supplemental entry (Hip 274H) by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent for Aaron & Marie Jones. 

Lyon went to $1.5 million for the 7-year-old dark bay, who was bred in Kentucky by Adena Springs out of the Distorted Humor  mare Grand Glory, and is already a proven commercial producer. 

"I was hopeful she wouldn't go over that because I'm already past my budget, which I do at just about every sale," laughed Lyon. "We liked her physically very, very much. We like the fact that she is by Ghostzapper—especially one of my consultants was very happy that she is by Ghostzapper.

Gloryzapper's first foal, a filly by Medaglia d'Oro , was purchased for $1.1 million by New River Equine from the Taylor Made consignment to this year's Keeneland September Yearling Sale. She foaled a bay Pioneerof the Nile filly March 3 and is reported in foal to Tapit . 

"Obviously she has beautiful babies," said Lyon. "She sold the $1.1 million baby, so if she can keep doing that we can probably get our money's worth out of her." 

After the purchase of Gloryzapper, Lyon said she is finished buying mares this season and has plans to begin the process of seriously culling her current broodmare band. Total receipts for her two mares came to $3,350,000. 

"I can tell you I'm done. I am through," said Lyon. "This is my last mare that I am buying here or probably anywhere the rest of this year. I am going to take some of my mares out of production that I have now—ones that I don't really think fit the program that are pregnant. After they have these babies I'll take them out. I have a couple of older mares I'm considering retiring, so we will see what happens. I think I'm adding some good ones to the pack so hopefully they'll have beautiful, healthy babies."