Hinkle Farms Finds Value in Broodmare Trio

A dark bay Harlan's Holiday mare made an early impression on buyers attending the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale Nov. 7. 

Consigned as Hip 277 by Claiborne Farm, agent, 5-year-old Ladies' Privilege—who was offered in foal to More Than Ready —got the bidding going early Thursday morning and was purchased on a final bid of $575,000 by Anne Archer Hinkle of Hinkle Farms. 

"She is one of the nicest mares I think we've seen at the sale," said Hinkle, who said the mare made an impression on both her father, Tom, and uncle, Henry, who own and operate Hinkle Farms. "Everything about her physically is so nice, and she really checked all the boxes for all three of us. We really liked her a lot and think she could carry a really nice foal." 

Bred in Kentucky by Dorothy Matz, Ladies' Privilege is the fifth foal born to the Empire Maker  mare Vanquished and is a full sister to Longines Dixie Stakes (G2T) winner Takeover Target. Campaigned by her breeder, Ladies' Privilege made 14 starts on the racetrack, her best effort coming at 3 when she won the Hall of Fame Stakes at Parx Racing for trainer Michael Matz. 

Hinkle said the plan will be to fold the mare into their broodmare band, foal her out, and then sell the resulting foal as part of their yearling consignment. Ladies' Privilege was likely the last purchase of the sale for the farm, which bought one other mare in foal, Betsy Ross (Hip 174), and a young broodmare prospect, Ladies Night (Hip 1), during the Nov. 6 first session. 

"This will be it for us this sale. We bought a mare early yesterday (Ladies Night) to breed, and we'll probably sell back next year," Hinkle said. "The idea is that we're selling more mares than we're buying. We are always trying to improve our broodmare band, and we are so fortunate to have had the (Keeneland September Yearling Sale) that we had. We want to reinvest that and continue to improve our broodmare (band) slowly but surely. Even though we had such a great sale, we are disciplined with our budget numbers. We probably won't be buying a million-dollar mare."

Betsy Ross is a 4-year-old daughter of the Fastnet Rock mare Sea Siren, a multiple group 1 winner in Australia who earned more than US$1.7 million from 19 starts. Betsy Ross was bred in Ireland by Orpendale, Chelston, and Wynatt and sold in foal to War Front  from the consignment of Claiborne Farm. She was purchased for $520,000. 

Four-year-old Ladies Night was the first hip through the ring Wednesday. Consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent, the daughter of Eskendereya was bred in Kentucky out of the Lemon Drop Kid  mare Lemondropontherox. She is from the extended female family of grade 1-placed Roxelana and Bold Ruler Handicap (G3) winner Tiger. 

Ladies Night placed third in the Mazarine Stakes (G3) on the dirt at 2 and third in the Ontario Colleen Stakes (G3T) on the turf at 3—both at Woodbine. She was purchased for $90,000. 

With her family running one of the most successful commercial breeding operations in the industry, Hinkle said the farm's buying strategy for broodmares is the epitome of a collaborative effort. 

"We all see all of the mares, and we all have to agree on (them). Sometimes we don't agree. If something's a question, we'll go back and take another look," Hinkle said. "If two of us feel pretty good about a mare and the other is on the fence, we're pretty agreeable because it doesn't really make sense to dig your heels in with family. Everyone is bound to be wrong one time or another, and whenever you're wrong, you want your family to be there for you. My dad and my uncle set a really good example about always getting along and supporting each other."