Sales Graduates Bring Hefty Price Tags to Derby, Oaks

With the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) and Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) back in their rightful place on the North American racing calendar and a throng of fans—while still severely pared down—waiting to spend the weekend in the stands at Churchill Downs, it's worth taking stock of the histories of each classic contender and, in many cases, their journey from sales ring to starting gate. 

Of the 33 sophomores slated to participate in the Oaks and Derby this year, 21 have been sold at public auction during some point in their short lives. In total, seven of the 14 fillies entered in the Kentucky Oaks—half the field—have been previously purchased (only 13 are set to run as Ava's Grace  will scratch). Fourteen of the 20 Derby contenders were also presented at auction. 

In terms of priciest buys, this year's sale topper is Oaks morning-line favorite Malathaat , who was sold through Denali Stud, agent for Stonestreet Bred & Raised, at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale where she was purchased by the late Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum's Shadwell Estate for $1.05 million. A daughter of the two-time Horse of the Year Curlin  , Malathaat is out of the equally impressive Frizette Stakes (G1) victress Dreaming of Julia . 

Conrad Bandoroff of Denali Stud remembers the filly being a standout from the start. 

"She was one of those that when we go in June to Stonestreet to see the horses we are going to be selling for them for the first time, she took two steps out of the barn and just immediately captivated your attention and drew you in," said Bandoroff. "It was like, 'Woah. What is that?' My dad and I just looked at each other and said, 'She's not coming.' Barbara (Banke) has a tendency to keep these kinds of fillies. But it was a sale year and they sell horses, and this was the year where they sold I believe, $20 million in yearlings, which is incredible. 

"She was every bit of a million-dollar filly. With pedigree and her physical, she had such class and an air of quality about her. She was a queen in every sense of the word, and she's obviously lived up to her price tag. She was a lot of fun to be around. She had a pretty head to her with big ears, and she would stand at the barn and just pose. It was easy to pick her out from the consignment." 

Trained by Todd Pletcher, Malathaat has certainly run to her purchase price as she is unbeaten in four starts, including the Demoiselle Stakes (G2) and Central Bank Ashland Stakes (G1). Her earnings to date are $412,150. 

Denali also sent the second-highest Oaks seller through the ring as a yearling just one month before Malathaat at The Saratoga Sale, Fasig-Tipton's select yearling sale in New York. Now named Travel Column , the filly was purchased by Larry Best's OXO Equine for $850,000. The daughter of Frosted   out of Swingit (by Victory Gallop) holds a special place in her consignor's heart, as she was co-bred by the farm with Mr. and Mrs. Bayne Welker Jr. 

"We co-bred her with the Welkers and it's been a great ride," said Bandoroff. "We fly our horses to Saratoga so they get there on an afternoon before they start showing the next day. Larry Best was hanging around our consignment in Barn 7A with his adviser at the time, John Dowd. We were just chatting and Larry said, 'My plan is to buy colts by proven stallions this sale.' We thought well, we have something that will work but every time he came by our consignment, his eye kept getting caught by the gray filly that was out showing. It just goes to show how the best-laid plans can fall by the wayside. 

"She was a filly that when I'd be standing on the other side of the courtyard you would notice her across the way. She came to the sale perfectly and did everything right. We knew she was popular but had anyone told us she would bring $850,000, we would have laughed. She's been a rewarding filly from the start." 

The highest-seller trying for Kentucky Derby glory is King Fury , a son of Curlin who was purchased by trainer Kenny McPeek for Paul Fireman of Fern Circle Stables for $950,000 at The Saratoga Sale. 

"I expected to go higher," said McPeek immediately following the sale of the colt. "I really did. I thought he was going to be even stronger than that. I feel kind of lucky we got him for even that number."

McPeek should know a good son of Curlin when he sees one as the trainer actually purchased the powerhouse stallion as a yearling for only $57,000 back in 2005. Bred by Heider Family Stables, King Fury is the first foal out of the Flatter   mare Taris , winner of the Humana Distaff Stakes (G1) at Churchill Downs who earned more than $1 million during her time on the track. 

King Fury arrives at the Derby off a win in the Stonestreet Lexington Stakes (G3). He has won three of his six starts and earned $262,739. The colt drew into the Kentucky Derby field following the defection of Dream Shake  and Hozier . 

Another pricey Derby hopeful is Dynamic One , who was purchased for $725,000 by Repole Stable and St. Elias from Claiborne Farm's consignment to the Keeneland September sale. Bred by Phipps Stable—who retained a share in Dynamic One—the Union Rags   colt is out of the Smart Strike mare Beat the Drums.