Junior Little's Influence Felt at Fasig-Tipton

Although Marvin Little Jr., a Thoroughbred breeding industry stalwart, died last year at age 79, his enduring influence was evident July 10 at The July Sale, Fasig-Tipton Kentucky's selected summer yearling sale in Lexington.

With Taylor Made Sales Agency acting as agent, the Little family sold an Into Mischief  colt (Hip 52) for $300,000 and a Street Boss  colt (Hip 10) for $160,000.

The longtime manager of legendary Newstead Farm in Virginia before it was dispersed, Little, widely known as "Junior" in the industry, relocated to Kentucky. Among the horses he bred was champion Hansel, winner of the 1991 Preakness (G1) and Belmont Stakes (G1).

The Into Mischief colt was bought by agent J. J. Crupi, agent for St. Elias Stable and was bred in Kentucky by Henley Farms, and Little's three children—Jeff Little, Teresa Little, and Marilyn Little. The colt is out of the stakes-placed Congrats  mare Silverest and is from the female family of $3-million earner and sire Peace Rules and grade 2 winner and sire Corfu, among other black-type winners.

"He is very, very correct," said Crupi, who bought and sold grade 1 winner Audible and grade 3 winner Engage, both sons of Into Mischief. "The pedigree may be a hair light, but they will make their own pedigree if they can run. And you'll have to pay twice as much at Keeneland. I'm into striking early."

The Street Boss colt acquired by Jay Em Ess Stable was bred by the Littles and is out of Patsy's Kim, an unraced daughter of Dixie Union out of multiple grade 3 winner Romy, the dam of multiple stakes winner My Ro.

"Both my father and mother would have been proud to see it," Jeff Little said of the prices brought by the only two yearlings they had in the July sale. "We are working to continue his legacy."

Little said he and his siblings had never sold at the summer yearling sale before—they have 10 entered in the Keeneland September Yearling Sale—but were persuaded to send these two colts after Taylor Made's team saw the yearlings.

"He (Marvin Little) was one of the best horseman I've been around," Mark Taylor said. "Both of these colts were very well bred, very well raised, and very well prepped. Junior Little would have been proud. I think Junior was up there pushing us along."