Partners Score With Daughter of Twirling Candy

Carrie Brogden is a passionate horsewoman who buys, breeds, and sells at major markets and delights in bringing new people to the industry.

During the April 23 first session of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training, Brogden was thrilled when a daughter of Twirling Candy  sold for $335,000 on behalf of a group that included Machmer Hall Farm—owned by Brogden and her husband Craig—de Meric Sales, and a group of partners who are relatively new to the game.

Agent David Ingordo purchased the filly, consigned by de Meric as Hip 109, on behalf of Belladonna Racing, also a partnership group.

Ingordo said he is infinitely familiar with the filly's female family, as his step-father, John Shirreffs, trained multiple grade 2 winner Mr. Commons, a half brother to the filly's dam, the Corinthian mare Henley. 

Ingordo, who is bloodstock director at Lane's End Farm, where Twirling Candy stands at stud, said the sire played a role in his decision to acquire the filly.

"I love Twirling Candy," Ingordo said. "I think he is the next Lane's End stallion that is going up the flagpole. This is a beautiful filly."

Despite the strong headwinds that impacted some horses during the April 15 first under tack show session of workouts, Ingordo said the filly showed her talent by breezing a quarter-mile in the day's fastest time of :21.

Ingordo, who plans to buy five or six horses like the Twirling Candy filly on behalf of the partnership, said he and his team that watched the under tack shows may have a leg up on the other buyers because they physically experienced the grueling conditions.

"People are just sorting it out," Ingordo said of buyers who are trying to evaluate the first work day horses. "By being here a long time I think we have a bit of an advantage. The horses that breezed that day and showed talent I think you'll hear about, like this filly and others that breezed well the first day."

"I love shepherding new partners into the industry," said Brogden. "I love the industry and, yes, we're in a combative time. I'm on the left, others are on the right, but the one thing we have in common is we are super passionate and this is our lives."

The filly was bred in Kentucky by Machmer Hall and D + J Racing Stable, and was purchased by de Meric for $62,000 from Select Sales, in which Brogden is a partner, at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Brogden and the other partners then joined de Meric in ownership. Brogden said the additional partners in the filly are Gus Schoenborn, Gus King, and the family of Stacy and Joe Amaismeier.