Graded Broodmare Prospects on Offer at Keeneland Day 2

Chris Walsh said California Angel  has been part of the family, so the decision to enter her 4-year-old filly in the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale was not one made lightly. 

Consigned as Hip 599 by Bill Murphy of Ballinswood Farm, the daughter of California Chrome   is among the graded stakes-winning broodmare prospects set to enter the Lexington sales ring Nov. 9.

"It's very difficult," said Walsh. "We have thought about this the entire summer. Since we decided to retire her and we are in our 70s, and at the current time, we do not have any of our horses home with us. And actually, just before acquiring her, we were talking about getting out of the business because of our age, and the fact that we wanted to do a little traveling. So here we are, we love this horse and we love our other horses, but she's been very special to us, and she's not able to be with us at home on the farm. And we decided she deserves more than that."

California Angel last ran May 9 in an allowance optional claiming race at Horseshoe Indianapolis, which was her only start of the year. For her career, the chestnut was 2-2-2 from 12 starts including running in the 2021 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T) at Keeneland. 

Trainer George Leonard III purchased the filly for $5,500 out of the Little Farm Equine consignment at the 2021 Ocala Breeders' Sales June 2-Year-Olds & Horses of Racing Age Sale. 

"Her mind is something that has really impressed me ever since we got her at the farm," said Bill Murphy of Ballinswood. "And here at the sale, in particular, she hasn't turned a hair since she's been here. Also her looks. I mean, she's just beautifully conformed. She's very correct, very pretty looking, and she's got legs like a supermodel; she's just gorgeous."

Walsh said she and her husband have placed a reserve on California Angel—Plan B—and if the reserve is not met, then they will make arrangements to keep her on their farm so that they can be with her more often. 

Another graded stakes-winning broodmare prospect is Cheetara , consigned as Hip 614 by Greenfield Farms.

Cheetara has been a durable runner with 27 starts over five years including a grade 2 triumph in her native Chile. Her competitiveness certainly is a draw as she's finished in the top three in 19 races. 

"She's kind of a bit of an outcast for pretty much everything that's here," said Greenfield's Michael Callanan. "(Sire is) Daddy Long Legs, and (grandsire Scat Daddy) looks like he's an emerging broodmare sire. So I think she should match up with anything here. In the (United) States or in Japan or Europe, it's hard to get mares who are fast. I think that's a very important thing. Speed is a very underrated thing."