Phoenix Swoops In for $750,000 Into Mischief Filly

Phoenix Thoroughbreds made its presence known at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training April 25 when it went to $750,000 to secure an Into Mischief  filly (Hip 787) from the consignment of de Meric Sales.

"I feel like I've got good taste, just expensive," joked Phoenix director of U.S. operations Tom Ludt, who was on the grounds Thursday, bidding from the back ring. "That was my last bid. Really, it's the truth—that was my last bid. We thought she was going to be expensive. I said I'd love to get her for $600,000, but we would go to $750,000."

Bred in Kentucky by WinStar Farm out of the Unbridled's Song mare Unbridled Ridge, the filly was purchased for $220,000 by de Meric Sales from Select Sales' consignment to the Keeneland September Yearling Sale. A half sister to stakes-placed Divisor, she counts grade 3 winner Puxa Saco and three-time champion Gio Ponti  among her extended female family.

Working a quarter-mile during the under tack show, the filly breezed in :21 1/5. Though Ludt was unable to attend the breeze show in person, he said the video was more than enough to convince his team she was the perfect match for Phoenix. 

"She's just beautiful," Ludt said. "She had a great move—smooth, balanced. Everything you want. You have to pay for them right now. I wasn't here in time for the breeze show, but we watched the replays, and she's beautiful. She just leaned like she was really within herself and comfortable. Let's hope that carries on and she's ready to go."

"(This filly) has been unbelievable," Tristan de Meric said. "She was big and immature when we bought her. She's a May foal, and she was already 15.2 (hands) when we bought her at the September sale. She's just continued to develop the right way. She never went through an awkward stage. She just grew altogether and stayed balanced.

"She's very athletic and was a very nice filly. She did everything right for us. We were expecting her to do really well. After all the activity we've had at the barn the last few days, we were not overly surprised with the result, even though it was at the high end of what we were thinking."

The price was the second-highest paid for a horse from the de Meric consignment during the current sale. The operation sold Wednesday's sale topper, a $1 million Quality Road  filly (Hip 444) purchased by Narvick International. 

"We were lucky enough to put a package together, and the horses have been stepping up," Tristan de Meric said. "They jumped through all the hoops, and people have been there for them. It's just a refreshing feeling to see the market like this. We stuck our neck out a little bit and bought more expensive horses than we usually do. They've all come to it in good shape, and we're really proud of them and thrilled for our partners. We're just proud and still letting it all sink in right now." 

Phoenix purchased a six-figure juvenile Wednesday, going to $475,000 for Hip 532, a Carpe Diem  filly out of the Carson City mare Rebuke. Consigned by Wavertree Stables, the filly breezed a quarter-mile in :20 3/5.