Starlight Racing partnered on a $600,000 Army Mule colt during Day 5 of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, joined by Harrell Ventures and co-breeder St. Elias Stables. The colt was consigned as Hip 1455 by Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa to the Book 3 opening session.
The January-born colt is out of the winning Factor mare, She Beast, who is half sibling to King's Bishop Stakes (G1) winner The Big Beast . The son of Yes It's True followed his grade 1 win up with a second-place effort in the Forego Stakes (G1) and Alfred G. Vanderbilt (G1) for Alex and JoAnn Lieblong, who campaigned the colt with trainer Anthony Dutrow to a record of 4-3-1 in 9 efforts.
"Everyone on our team loved him," Corbin Blumberg, director of racing and bloodstock for Starlight Racing, said. "I showed him to Jack (Wolf), and Doug Cauthen looked at him for the Harrells. We bought a horse the other day with St. Elias; they bred this horse and wanted to keep him, so at the last second, they put a partnership together."
Elevage II and St. Elias Stables bred the colt in Kentucky.
Blumberg added: "This was the first purchase for the group, but we have partnered with each other separately before, so this just came together. I think we had to reach a little bit (on the price), but he's nice, and it seems like that's how it's been going today."