New York-Bred Candy Ride Colt a Standout for Clement

Bidding on behalf of his father, trainer Christophe Clement, Miguel Clement stretched his budget just a little further than intended to purchase a $280,000 Candy Ride  colt during the Jan. 14 session of the Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale.

Clement said much of the appeal for the yearling, consigned as Hip 478 by Stuart Morris, agent for Waldorf Farm, lay in the colt's status as a New York-bred, making him eligible for the bounty of perks on and off the track that come with foals registered in the regional program.

"We bid more, without a doubt, because it was a New York-bred," said Clement, who purchased the colt on behalf of an undisclosed racing partnership. "We're very thankful to have very good, loyal, and supportive owners. As you know, the stable is very much into the New York-bred program. So it's exciting and hopefully we can see him on the racecourse."

According to the New York State Thoroughbred Breeding and Development Fund, there are more than 45 stakes races and 800 overnight races run throughout the year at New York Racing Association tracks for registered New York-breds each year. 

"We actually think (being a New York-bred) is very appealing. The New York-bred program is a great program. We strongly advise many of our owners, if they breed, to make them (eligible), for our sake," Clement said. "It makes it beneficial for them to be New York-breds. It's a great state-bred program."

Bred by Dr. Jerry Bilinski, the colt is the seventh foal out of the Western Cat mare Sweet Aloha, who has also produced stakes winners Filibustin and Indy's Lady as well as stakes-placed Man O Manassas. The colt's third dam, Mauna Loa, was a half sister to Capote, a grade 1-winning son of Seattle Slew who was named champion 2-year-old colt of 1986, and to Exceller, an 11-time grade/group 1 winner who scored on both the dirt and turf at the highest level in both the United States and Europe.

"The colt was very, very well received," said Stuart Morris. "He sold well past his reserve. I thought he could be in that price range but it's hard to get any horse into that price range in the market. He's a lovely colt. And he's in great hands with Christophe (Clement), but there were bidders all over the house on him; he was a very well-received colt."

"I thought this was probably the best colt here in the sale," continued Clement. "So it was a no-brainer for us. He's a very exciting horse and we're very lucky to get him. Hopefully he goes to the stable and Christophe will take it from there."