Lynnhaven Racing Goes to $1 Million for War Front Colt
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Photo: Keeneland Photo
The War Front colt consigned as Hip 309 in the ring at the Keeneland September Sale
Jim and Dana Bernhard of Lynnhaven Racing continued their foray into the Thoroughbred industry at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, springing for a $1 million War Front colt during the Sept. 14 second session.
Advised by Equine Analysis Systems' Matt Weinmann, the Bernhards secured a full brother to 2015 European champion 2-year-old winner Air Force Blue . The colt was bred in Kentucky by Stone Farm, which consigned him to the sale as Hip 309.
"Physically he was a standout striking individual," Weinmann said. "What really drew us to him was his physiology. I work with Equine Analysis and basically what we're doing is we're putting numbers on physiology. The easiest way to explain it is the philosopher Galileo, he said, 'Measure what is measurable and make measurable what is not.' And that's what we're trying to do with horses. We're putting numbers on horsemanship and we're using statistics and algorithms to kind of help us narrow it down and pick the best individual."
Weinmann said the Bernhards, who are from Baton Rouge, La., are making their way into the Thoroughbred side of the horse industry.
(L-R): Dana and Jim Bernhard at Keeneland
"They have a beautiful farm in Baton Rouge. They own Friesians and just recently they decided to get into the Thoroughbred game," Weinmann said. "We bought three horses in Fasig-Tipton July. We bought a horse yesterday—a beautiful Justify colt—and this colt today is the one we had to have."
Weinmann added that the yearling will be trained by Maryland-based Michael Dickinson.
Hip 309 is out of the stakes-placed Maria's Mon mare Chatham . His full brother Air Force Blue was a superstar juvenile overseas, wining the Keeneland Phoenix Stakes (G1), Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes (G1), and Dubai Dewhurst Stakes (G1). His second dam, Circle of Gold (Seeking the Gold), is a full sister to 1994 champion 2-year-old filly Flanders.
Stone Farm's Lynn Hancock was thrilled with the result.
"We hoped for it. You always hope for it. I say that every time," Hancock said. "You come up here with a nice horse, but you've got to have the buyer there. People liked him on the sales grounds. He's a beautiful physical—we think he's one of the nicest that the mare has thrown. We're heavily invested in the family and we love the family. The mare has been great to us. We're really happy that some nice people ended up with him. Can't be upset with a sale like that."
Lynn Hancock at Keeneland
During Monday's opening session, Lynnhaven Racing bought a $400,000 Justify colt that is the first foal out of 2016 Chandelier Stakes (G1) winner Noted and Quoted (The Factor ). The colt was consigned as Hip 94 by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent for Aaron and Marie Jones, who bred him in Kentucky.