Fast Anna Filly Wonderful Surprise for Breeder Pitts

When Avla Pitts' filly entered the ring during the Jan. 9 third session of the Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale, the veteran breeder's nerves were already in knots. 

But when the hammer came down on a final bid of $100,000, those nerves gave way to tears, and words failed.

"That was a surprise, a wonderful one," Pitts said. "I feel weak. My knees are still shaking, but it's so exciting." 

Known to everyone as "Poppet," Pitts entrusted her filly to Adrian Regan of Hunter Valley Farm, which consigned her as Hip 989 to Book 2 of the four-day sale. Introduced to Pitts through mutual friends Gary Murray and Chris Welker almost a decade ago, Regan has consigned all of the foals from Pitts' farm for the past eight years. 

"I was delighted," said Regan. "I thought she'd sell pretty well, but I never saw it coming like that. In fairness, 'Poppet' brought the foal in super condition."

The Maryland-bred filly was foaled on Pitts' farm out of the Anees mare What Will Be and is by Three Chimneys Farm stallion Fast Anna , who stands for $7,500.

"I think all the Fast Annas have a wonderful temperament," Pitts said. "I liked his looks, and Adrian helped me pick him out. I'm thrilled—it couldn't be better." 

Purchased by Caroline and Grey Bentley of Runnymede Racing, the filly is a half sister to their 3-year-old Alwaysmining, who took the Dec. 8 Maryland Juvenile Futurity and Dec. 29 Heft Stakes at Laurel Park. 

"There was a lot of action, and I told people outside the barn that the horse that is a 3-year-old now from the same dam is very, very good," said Regan. "And it turned out the people that bought him also bought her. So I wasn't spreading false information."

"She had a nice update (courtesy of Alwaysmining), and I bought her for the owners of Alwaysmining," said Gabriel Duignan, who signed the ticket. "She will probably go on and race for the owners. I thought she might come a little cheaper, but (her price) doesn't totally surprise me. I knew she was popular. The market is very competitive for the nice ones."

Although the update to the filly's catalog page no doubt helped increase her popularity in the ring, Regan said he's had plenty of luck selling Pitts' progeny in January, and he wasn't about to stray from tradition. 

"We simply weren't going to change what wasn't broken," said Regan. "In fairness to 'Poppet,' she sends her foals up after November. They come in super shape every year."  

A lifelong horse lover, Pitts inherited her farm in Maryland from her stepfather and has been running it ever since. Although she has only the two mares, Pitts said she would gladly expand her operation, but she would need a bit more help to handle all the work that comes with breeding. 

Pitts, whose daughter is Thoroughbred trainer Helen Pitts, plans to return home to her farm Jan. 10 where her mares will be anxiously awaiting her return. What Will Be has already been bred back to Darby Dan Farm's Shackleford . 

"I have a little help on the farm but not much," Pitts said. "If I had more help, I'd probably have more mares. I love this business."