Whisper Hill Lands $1.1M Half Sister to Constitution
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Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt
The Medaglia d'Oro filly consigned as Hip 58 in the ring at the Keeneland September Sale
The first filly to break the seven-figure glass ceiling at the Sept. 13 opening session of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale was Hip 58, a $1.1 million filly by Darley stallion Medaglia d'Oro purchased on behalf of Mandy Pope's Whisper Hill Farm.
"It was a little over (what we were expecting to pay)," said Todd Quast, who signed the ticket on Pope's behalf. "It was about what we expected though. It was a little more than we wanted to spend, but you are not going to get a bargain on a filly of that quality, even in this sale right now. We were super happy with her physical. We think she is a racehorse, but obviously she will be a broodmare later."
Bred in Kentucky by Bridlewood Farm and the Don Alberto Corporation and consigned by Denali Stud, Hip 58 is out of the Distorted Humor mare Baffled, who has already produced grade 1 winner and sire Constitution , group 2 winner Boynton, and grade 3 winner Jacaranda.
"This filly was bred in partnership with Bridlewood," said Don Alberto's Fernando Diaz-Valdes, noting that the mare is back in foal to Curlin and carrying a filly. "We have some foals out of her (together), including a filly who is at the farm. We're very excited. She did what we wanted her to."
A commercial breeder with a penchant for purchasing well-bred fillies and mares, Pope has spent big in the past to acquire some of the most impressive race mares in recent memory, including Horse of the Year Havre de Grace and champions Songbird and Groupie Doll.
During last year's September sale, Pope went to $8.2 million to secure a filly by Ashford Stud's American Pharoah out of Leslie's Lady. The filly is a half sister to leading sire Into Mischief , champion Beholder, and grade 1 winner and millionaire Mendelssohn .
Taking into account the high standards of Pope's operation, Quast said Hip 58 should fit in nicely with the group.
"(Pope) is a commercial breeder, but we race too and we are happy to have a good physical to race, and when you have the pedigree side to go with it, it is a win-win," Quast said.
"The good ones are still selling good like always. Everybody is on them. There are soft spots in the middle, but not on the top. The middle (market) is going to be a little softer than usual."
Todd Quast at Keeneland
As a breeder, Pope had a handful of horses from her high-class mares consigned to Book 1 of the Keeneland September sale but scratched several of the yearlings, including Hip 400, an Arrogate filly out of Songbird. Quast said the decision to pull the filly was partially based on the spottiness of the market, which continues to feel the adverse affects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
"We didn't really have a good Fasig (Tipton Selected Yearlings Showcase) sale," Quast said. "We love this filly and compare her to Songbird, so we just thought, 'Why sell her?' She is already back in Ocala."