Minnesota Ready Tops Lothenbach HORA Dispersal

The Lothenbach dispersal of horses of racing age, conducted Jan. 29-Feb. 2 on Fasig-Tipton Digital, closed with 66 horses sold for $4,840,000. The average was $73,333 and the median was $41,000. Sixteen horses sold for $100,000 or more. Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent for Lothenbach Stables Complete Dispersal, consigned.

Minnesota Ready  (Hip 1) topped the dispersal when sold for $380,000 to Richard C. Colton Jr. Offered as a racing prospect, the 5-year-old son of More Than Ready was third, beaten just a half-length, in the Duncan F. Kenner Stakes at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots Jan. 20 in his most recent start. A three-time winner and stakes-placed in his two most recent starts, Minnesota Ready has earned $298,312 to date under the tutelage of trainer Neil Pessin. He was bred in Kentucky by Lothenbach.

Four other horses sold for $300,000 or more, including:

• Dazzlin' Dictator  (Hip 11), a 3-year-old racing/broodmare prospect purchased for $360,000 by Rodolphe Brisset, agent for Ann Harrison. A daughter of American Pharoah  , Dazzlin' Dictator won her two most recent starts, including a 2 1/4-length victory in maiden special weight company Dec. 23 and a two-length score in an allowance Jan. 5, both at Turfway Park. A winner in two of four starts, Dazzlin' Dictator has earned $87,800 to date for trainer Ian Wilkes. The filly was bred in Kentucky by Lothenbach.
• Happy American  (Hip 14), a 6-year-old racing prospect, sold for $340,000 to trainer Neil Pessin. By Runhappy  , Happy American has won five of 25 starts to date, including a victory in the 2023 Louisiana Stakes (G3) at Fair Grounds. He also placed in last year's Stephen Foster Stakes (G1) at Ellis Park. He has earned $630,216.
• Tickle Me Unclemo (Hip 31), a 3-year-old horse of racing age, purchased for $320,000 by Robert Salome. Unraced, the Uncle Mo   colt has been working steadily at Fair Grounds. The colt is out of Tickled Pink , a stakes-placed Shackleford  half sister to grade 1 winners Majestic Harbor and Danza and to the dam of graded stakes winners Totally Boss  and Super Steed .
• Practically Dark  (Hip 4), a 3-year-old horse of racing age, purchased by C2 Racing Stable. Recently second in his debut in maiden special weight company Jan. 15 at Fair Grounds, the son of Practical Joke   has earned $10,400 for trainer Chris Block. Practically Dark is a half brother to Delaware Oaks (G3) winner Midnight Stroll  (Not This Time  ).

The sale saw 741 potential buyers from 46 states and seven other countries register to bid. Those bidders placed 3,047 total bids, averaging approximately 46 bids per offering. Veterinarians representing those bidders viewed the repository 580 times, nearly 10 views per horse.

"All I can say is, 'wow,'" said Leif Aaron, Fasig-Tipton's director of digital sales. "We have to thank the estate of Mr. Lothenbach for trusting us with this dispersal of racing stock. This is exactly what the digital platform was built for: horses and buyers from all over the country. These are phenomenal results."

The second phase of Mr. Lothenbach's dispersal—his breeding stock and yearlings—will be offered during the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Winter Mixed sale Feb. 5-6. The catalog is available online.

Full results for the Lothenbach Dispersal of Horses of Racing Age are available online.