Stopchargingmaria in F-T November Sale

Stopchargingmaria, winner of the 2015 Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I) will be offered at the Fasig-Tipton November sale, announced Town & Country Racing Sept. 29.

Recently retired from racing, the 5-year-old daughter of Tale of the Cat  —Exotic Bloom, by Montbrook, finished her career with nine wins from 18 starts including the Coaching Club American Oaks and Alabama stakes (both gr. I).

"As far as I'm concerned, Stopchargingmaria ranks right up there in talent and class with other great race mares I've trained such as Ashado, Rags to Riches, Fleet Indian, and Princess of Sylmar," said trainer Todd Pletcher.

It has been five years since the public has had a chance to bid on a Breeders' Cup Distaff winner, when Royal Delta brought $8.5 million at the 2011 Keeneland November breeding stock sale. Stopchargingmaria will be consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency a the Fasig-Tipton sale, which will be held Nov. 7.

Stopchargingmaria had been offered by her previous owner Mike Repole at the 2014 Fasig-Tipton November sale, where she was bought back $3.15 million. Town & Country's mother/daughter team of Louise and Kiki Courtelis contacted Repole after the sale through Pletcher, bought her privately, and returned her to racing. In Town & Country's colors, Stopchargingmaria won the Allaire DuPont Distaff Stakes (gr. III) and the Shuvee Handicap (gr. III) on her way to winning the Distaff. Just in 2015, she earned $1.43 million of her $3,014,000 in career earnings. 

"We struggled with the decision about whether to keep Stopchargingmaria as a part of our broodmare operation or to offer her at public auction," said Shannon Potter, president of Town & Country Racing. "Our main goal is to operate a first-class breeding operation, which requires diversification among many high-end broodmares and we feel selling 'Maria will allow us the best opportunity to expand and improve our breeding stock."

"Opportunities to purchase a Breeders' Cup Distaff winner like Stopchargingmaria do not come along very often," commented Boyd Browning, president and CEO of Fasig-Tipton. "She has it all—race record, pedigree and conformation. Everyone at Fasig-Tipton is thrilled to offer a mare of her caliber at our November Sale."

Mark Taylor, vice president of marketing and public sales operations at Taylor Made, said Stopchargingmaria has "all the ingredients" to become a foundation broodmare.

"Not only was she able to perform consistently at the very highest level over four racing seasons, she hails from a great family developed by Greentree Farm and the Whitney Family," Taylor said. "It is a privilege to be able to consign a broodmare prospect of this quality."