Hard Not to Love to Gainesway, Whisper Hill for $3.2M

Hard Not to Love 's name rang true at The November Sale, Fasig-Tipton's premier breeding stock sale in Lexington Nov. 9, when Gainesway and Whisper Hill Farm partnered to purchase the one-eyed grade 1 winner for $3.2 million.

"She's beautiful and having one eye makes her even more beautiful," said Whisper Hill's Mandy Pope. "It obviously didn't bother her at all, which just shows what a great heart and temperament she has that she will throw to all her babies."

Gainesway's Antony Beck said the plans are to breed Hard Not to Love, a 5-year-old Hard Spun   mare. The farm's three-time leading stallion Tapit   is a possibility, but the buyers said the mare could be bred to any stud.

Beck said he expected to pay that price to secure Hard Not to Love.

"Spectacular physical, and we're thrilled to have her," he said.

Hard Not to Love was bred in Ontario by Anderson Farms out of the Vindication mare Loving Vindication. She is a half sister to Canadian Horse of the Year Wonder Gadot , who was also a graded stakes winner stateside and second in the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1), and to stakes winner Solemn Tribute . 

West Point Thoroughbreds and Vosburgh paid $400,000 to purchase Hard Not to Love in 2017 from her breeder's consignment at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale. The bay mare was trained by John Shirreffs for Mercedes Stables, West Point, Scott Dilworth, Dorothy Ingordo, David Ingordo, and Steve Mooney. She won the 2019 La Brea Stakes (G1) and 2020 Santa Monica Stakes (G2) competing in Southern California. Her last start came in February and she retired with a 5-3-2 record in 12 races with earnings of $593,480.

Hard Not to Love was consigned to The November Sale by Lane's End, agent as Hip 184. She was reported bred to Curlin   for 2022 but aborted. 

Gainesway and Whisper Hill partnered again Tuesday on Sanenus , a 5-year-old Chilean bred daughter of Scat Daddy that cost $550,000. Sanenus was a group 1 winner in her native country and won the La Canada Stakes (G3) early this year after she was transferred to trainer Michael McCarthy in the U.S.

Haras Matriarca bred and raced Sanenus, who is out of the Tale of the Cat   mare Belgian Chocolate. 

Sanenus was consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent, as Hip 228.

Gainesway and Whisper Hill's third and final purchase together Tuesday was Miss Stormy D , a stakes winner this year in California. The 5-year-old Tapizar   mare hammered at $500,000.

Miss Stormy D was bred in Kentucky by Lantern Hill Farm, Phil Needham, and Judy Needham out of the Mr. Greeley mare Miss Relentless, also the dam of stakes winner Evil Lyn . The mare's third dam, Candy Girl, produced top sire and grade 1 winner Candy Ride   and is also the third dam of grade 1 winner Tom's d'Etat  . 

Keith Brackpool previously purchased Miss Stormy D for $37,000 from Lantern Hill Farm at the 2017 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. The mare went on to earn $273,040 from a 4-4-2 record in 18 starts with trainer Carla Gaines. She was offered by Hill 'n' Dale Sales Agency as Hip 206.