Pink Sands Brings $2.3M in Foal to Into Mischief

Japanese buyer Masahiro Miki continued his search for top broodmares in Kentucky at Book 1 of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale, buying a trio at the Nov. 10 opening session topped by $2.3 million Pink Sands .

A night earlier at The November Sale, Fasig-Tipton's premier breeding stock sale across town in Lexington, Miki purchased a pair of $3 million mares. His five purchases over the two days bring his current spending at the Kentucky November sales to $9,675,000.

Pink Sands, consigned as Hip 183 by Gainesway, was offered in foal to leading general sire Into Mischief  . The 6-year-old Tapit   mare was campaigned in partnership by Antony Beck, CEO of Gainesway, with Andrew Rosen, and won a pair of graded stakes while in training with Shug McGaughey.

"You never really expect something like that to happen, but I had a feeling something good would happen because she's a beautiful mare in foal to the right horse and expected a good result," Rosen said. "But this was fantastic.

"I'm never overly confident but I felt really good this mare would sell very well because she had all the right ingredients—a great race record, great pedigree, a good physical, and in foal to a great stallion. And by a great stallion in Tapit, so everything was there."

Pink Sands was the second-highest purchase during session 1 at Keeneland Wednesday. In addition to her owners, she had Gainesway general manager Brian Graves excited for what was to come in the sales ring.

"She exceeded what we thought we'd get for her coming here, by a bit," he said. "It wasn't a lot more than we felt we could possibly get for her, but obviously everybody's really happy. She was really quality. We felt we had a chance to be one of the best mares in Book 1 with her, and we're just really thrilled with that." 

Bred in Kentucky by KatieRich Farms, Pink Sands is out of the 2011 Prioress Stakes (G1) winner Her Smile , a daughter of Include  . She was purchased for $625,000 by Hugo Merry Bloodstock in 2016 from her breeder's consignment to The Saratoga Sale, Fasig-Tipton's select yearling sale in New York. Her biggest victories on the track came in the 2020 Inside Information Stakes Presented by Runhappy Matchmaker Series (G2), 2019 Rampart Stakes (G3), and 2019 Lady's Secret Stakes.

"I think the racing business and the breeding business, it's just fantastic to be involved," Rosen said. "I've been involved for so many years, my father (Carl) before me was involved, so it's great to get a result like this. It's really exciting and it makes all of the tough days a lot easier because you can have days like this."

Not long after Pink Sands went through the ring, Miki secured the graded stakes winner New and Improved , in foal to 2020 Horse of the Year Authentic  , for $700,000. The 5-year-old Cairo Prince   mare was consigned as Hip 199 by ELiTE, agent. 

New and Improved was bred in Kentucky by Sun Valley Farm out of the Giant's Causeway mare High Style and is a half sister to graded stakes-placed All Star Bub . Her second dam is Tout Charmant, winner of the 2020 Matriarch Stakes (G1T) and 1999 Del Mar Oaks (G1T).

Agent Mike Ryan previously purchased New and Improved for $320,000 from Eaton Sales' consignment to the 2017 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Trained by Chad Brown for Klaravich Stables, the mare was successful in the 2019 Sands Point Stakes (G2T).

Miki's first purchase of the day was graded stakes winner La Signare , who sold on a final bid of $675,000. The 6-year-old Siyouni  mare was consigned as Hip 147 by Hunter Valley Farm, agent.

La Signare was bred in France by Moussa Mbacke out of the Beat Hollow mare La Teranga, who produced another stakes winner in Le Baol. After beginning her career in France, she moved stateside and was campaigned by Madaket Stables, Tim and Anna Cambron, and Bradley Thoroughbreds. She won the 2018 Wonder Again Stakes (G3T) with trainer Brian Lynch and the 2020 Sand Springs Stakes after being moved to Brendan Walsh. La Signare was three times grade 1-placed in 2021, finishing in the money in the Coolmore Jenny Wiley (G1T), Gamely (G1T), and Diana (G1T) stakes.

Lauren Gash contributed to this report.