Two $1.35M Colts Bolster Uncle Mo at September Sale

Ashford Stud's Uncle Mo   finished a respectable second to leading sire Into Mischief   during opening day of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale with three of his yearlings bringing seven-figure prices.

Aside from Hip 154, a half brother to grade 1 winner and sire Collected   that brought $2 million, Uncle Mo was represented by a pair of $1.35 million colts.

Hunter Valley Farm proved how deep the buying bench was for the first session of the sale by selling one of the $1.35 million colts immediately after the session sold its top seller, a $2.3 million Into Mischief filly (Hip 92). Hunter Valley's Hip 94 offered plenty of sizzle as a half brother to multiple grade 1 winner and champion Midnight Bisou  (Midnight Lute  ) and grade 1-placed, Indiana Derby (G3) winner Verifying . The colt was bought by Chuck Sonson along with Woodford Racing, West Point Thoroughbreds, and LEB as agent.

"It really blew out our reserve," said Fergus Galvin, who runs Hunter Valley with Adrian Regan. "We knew he was a lovely horse. He had the right pedigree. Deep down we were hoping he would get into the seven-figure range. We're thrilled. We bought the mare Diva Delite several years ago carrying Verifying. We gave a good number for her, but she's paid us back."

Bloodstock agent David Redvers signed the ticket on Diva Delite  when she sold for $1.2 million during the 2019 Fasig-Tipton November Sale out of the Taylor Made Sales Agency consignment. The mare by Repent won the Florida Oaks (G3) and two other stakes among her eight career wins.

Sonson, who owns an aviation company, has been involved in racing partnerships with West Point Thoroughbreds and began buying horses on his own during Fasig-Tipton's The Saratoga Sale, the select yearling sale held in New York. The September sale brought him to Lexington for the first time.

"I think this colt is going to be a big winner. We are very excited," he said about Hip 94. "We researched him a lot. We are happy to be close to the sale-topper. We will get more. This is just the beginning, we hope."

Penn Sales, as agent for breeder Bar C Racing Stables, sold the second $1.35 million Uncle Mo colt (Hip 130) to Coolmore Stud associate M.V. Magnier. The colt is out of the War Front   daughter Forever for Now, who is a half sister to group 3-placed winner Carlisle Bay. Coolmore bred Carlisle Bay, a son of its leading international sire Galileo who was eventually raced by longtime partners Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith. The colt has additional ties to Galileo as his fourth dam, All Too Beautiful, is the sire's full sister.

"He is a very nice horse. (Longtime Coolmore adviser) Paul Shanahan really liked him when he saw him the other day. He is a nice athletic horse," said Magnier, adding that the colt will stay in the United States for the time being.

John Penn said the colt has been a standout since the day he was born.

"He is a very pretty, nice-moving horse. If he can run he'll make a stallion," Penn said. "He was born as a smaller version of what he is; all we did was not get in his way."

Pam and Neal Christopherson of Bar C Racing bought Forever for Now in foal to Uncle Mo for $210,000 at the 2021 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale out of the Hill 'n' Dale Sales Agency consignment.

"Obviously they hit a home run," said Penn. "We're normally in the middle (of the sale) but when you have a horse like this it moves you up."