Will Take Charge Weanlings Well Received

At the current Keeneland November breeding stock sale, Three Chimneys Farm’s Will Take Charge   leads sires with first foals of 2016 going under the hammer, with 18 sold for $2,312,000 through Nov. 15. That equates to an average price of $128,444, a figure that is 3.2 times the $30,000 fee, with $350,000 the highest price paid.

November mixed sales offer the buying public the first opportunity to see the first foals of sires that entered stud the previous year with the marketplace evaluating the weanlings by what they're willing to pay for them.

A son of Unbridled’Song, Will Take Charge was one of the best 3-year-olds of 2013 when he made 11 starts at eight different tracks with five stakes victories including grade I scores in the Travers Stakes and Clark Handicap. He retired to Three Chimneys with a record of 21-7-6-1 and earnings of more than $3.9 million.

If his first crop is any indication, the stallion’s progeny are inheriting his looks and athleticism.

“I’ve had other breeders say they like what they see, the way he stamps the foals,” said Grant Williamson, Three Chimneys director of stallion nominations and sales. “They are very athletic, correct, good-moving, and have plenty of size to them. They just keep improving. I think we’ll see even better next year. He has been stamping them very well.”

Williamson said Three Chimneys is pleased with how well the weanlings have sold, but the farm is holding the fee at $30,000 for 2017.

“The commercial market is very important and we’re happy his average is up there," Williamson said. "We think that will go up at the yearling sales.

“He’s been booked full the last two years at $30,000 and demand is good again at $30,000; he’s filling up fast for next year. We’ve been very careful about pricing our horses. We feel like we price them fairly in the marketplace and giving breeders a chance to make money. In the long term that will help us succeed as well. If breeders can make money, they will return and bring us better mares. You hope that leads to the horse’s success.”