Mubtaahij Top-Priced Sale Buy Among Classic Contenders

Mubtaahij and Arrogate, part of the Bob Baffert brigade set to contest the $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) Nov. 4, are the most expensive of the eight horses sold at public auction in the 11-horse field.

Trained by the white-haired Hall of Famer for Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al Maktoum, Mubtaahij was purchased as a yearling in France for €450,000 ($599,760) when consigned by Haras de l'Hotellerie to the 2013 Arqana Deauville August yearling sale. Steep as it was, that purchase price appears a worthy investment, as the son of Dubawi (IRE), bred in Ireland by Dunmore Stud, won group/graded stakes in Dubai and the U.S. and has earned more than $4.5 million.

In his first start since finishing fourth behind Classic favorites Arrogate and Gun Runner in the Dubai World Cup Sponsored By Emirates Airline (G1), the 5-year-old horse dominated the field in the Awesome Again Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita Park in his Classic prep.

Bred in Kentucky by Clearsky Farms, Arrogate was sent through the ring at the 2014 Keeneland September yearling sale by his breeder and departed on a final bid of $560,000 from Juddmonte Farms. The 4-year-old Unbridled's Song colt clearly surpassed his price tag, as he has earned more than $17.3 million and is seeking to defend his 2016 Classic title.

Another Baffert trainee, Gary and Mary West's West Coast, was bought by Ben Glass, agent for the owners, for $425,000 out of the Hermitage Farm consignment to the 2015 Keeneland September yearling sale. A romp in the Pennsylvania Derby (G1) following a win in the Travers Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) pushed the Flatter  colt's earnings past $1.5 million and he comes into the Classic with a five-race win streak. West Coast was bred in Kentucky by CFP Thoroughbreds.

Kretz Racing's Win the Space will try to atone for his 2016 Classic, in which he was bumped and eventually eased at odds of 74-1. The fourth-most expensive Classic entrant is listed as a 30-1 morning-line outsider.

Bred in Kentucky by Spendthrift Farm, the 5-year-old Pulpit horse trained by George Papaprodromou was a successful pinhook for Kings Equine, which paid $65,000 for him at the 2013 Keeneland September yearling sale from Taylor Made Sales Agency's consignment. Gayle Van Lear then went to $360,000 to buy Win the Space from King's Equine at the 2014 Fasig-Tipton March sale of 2-year-olds in training. Win the Space is winless in stakes company, although he has placed second or third in three grade 1 stakes and earned $330,141.

Collected was another yearling-to-juvenile pinhook. The Baffert-trained son of City Zip was acquired by owner Speedway Stable for $170,000 from the SGV Thoroughbreds offerings at the 2015 Ocala Breeders' Sales March sale of 2-year-olds in training. Bred in Kentucky by Runnymede Farm and Peter Callahan, the colt was previously purchased by SGV from Runnymede as a 2014 Keeneland September yearling. His victory in the $1 million TVG Pacific Classic Stakes (G1) was the eighth win in 11 starts for Collected, and pushed his earnings to more than $1.2 million.

War Story, listed at 30-1, is an auction ring veteran. Initially purchased by Nick de Meric for $90,000 at the 2013 Keeneland September sale from Brookdale Sales, agent for Kentucky breeder Jack Swain III, the 5-year-old Northern Alfeet gelding was a $58,000 buy-back by de Meric at the 2014 OBS March sale. De Meric then sent the colt to the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-year-olds in training sale two months later, where War Story was bought by Harry Rosenblum for $51,000. At the 2015 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky horses of racing age sale, the gelding went unsold at $545,000.

Racing for Loooch Racing Stables, Glenn Ellis, and Imaginary Stables, the Jorge Navarro-trained War Story has earned more than $1.2 million, with his best win a victory in the Brooklyn Invitational Stakes (G2).

Pavel, Reddam Racing's lightly raced 3-year-old son of Creative Cause , was bought by McMahon & Hill Bloodstock for $90,000 from Brereton Jones (co-breeder with WinStar Farm) at the 2014 Keeneland November sale. Subsequently bought back for $80,000 when consigned by Hidden Brook as a Keeneland September yearling, the colt has earned $317,400 with two wins in four starts, including the Smarty Jones Stakes (G3).

The least expensive Classic contender purchased at public auction is Margoth's Gunnevera. The Antonio Sano-trained son of Dialed In  whose more than $1.5 million in earnings far exceed his $16,000 price. He was bought out of the 2015 Keeneland September yearling sale, where he was offered by breeders Brandywine Farm and Stephen Upchurch. The colt, a 30-1 morning-line starter, has won five of 13 starts, including victories in the Xpressbet Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) and $1,000,000 Delta Downs Jackpot Stakes (G3).