Empire Thoroughbreds Scores G1 Producer Magical Ride

Bloodstock agent Finn Green of Empire Thoroughbreds arrived at the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale Nov. 13 with a plan. Hip 2772—a 15-year-old Storm Cat mare named Magical Ride—was his target, and there was no way he was going to be outbid. 

Stepping into the ring early in Wednesday's session, Magical Ride ignited a slow burn of a bidding war, one that pitted Green against fellow agent Donato Lanni. As the pair countered each other over several minutes, the price rose steadily until the auctioneer finally brought the hammer down in favor of Green, who was more than happy to leave the pavilion $170,000 lighter. 

"I had another bid in there," said Lanni, who congratulated Green following the sale.

"I would have just bid you up again," laughed Green. 

Bred in Kentucky by G. Watts Humphrey Jr. and Louise I. Humphrey, Magical Ride is the first foal born to Test Stakes (G1) winner Victory Ride, a daughter of Seeking the Gold. The dam of nine foals of racing age, Magical Ride has already produced an American classic-placed runner in Ride On Curlin , who finished second to California Chrome  in the 2014 Preakness Stakes (G1) at Pimlico Race Course. Another son, 6-year-old Street Cry gelding Space Mountain, took the Remington Green Stakes Sept. 29 at Remington Park.

Magical Ride was consigned to the November sale by Lane's End, agent, and offered in foal to Lookin At Lucky . 

While many breeders could have seen the mare's age as a deterrent, Green said her pedigree, her production record, and her physicality outweigh any reservation regarding age. 

"She links some of the best horses from the 19th and 20th centuries," Green said. "I'm a sap for majestic jewels like her. She's a great-granddaughter of Northern Dancer, then you have her producing grade 1 horses back through Mr. Prospector's son Smart Strike and Curlin . She's in foal to another line of that same family with Lookin At Lucky." 

Green has his own personal connection to the mare through his business partner, Dr. Kristian Rhein, who treated Magical Ride throughout her racing career. 

"She's a beautiful mare. She looks like she's about 8," Green said. "You can see her reflection now, and she was that way when she ran for Rusty Arnold—she looked the same. She's had 10 foals in a row, she has four horses that are running (in) 2019, and one of them just won a stake. She's a classic producer of a horse that ran second in the Preakness. We're extremely excited." 

Purchased on behalf of an undisclosed newly formed partnership, Green said the plan will likely be to breed the mare back to Curlin or another descendant of the Smart Strike family line. 

"That line of horses obviously has produced some good horses," Green said. "But we believe because she's not inbred very much, she would work with an awful lot of stallions. We're very, very excited."