$725,000 Curlin Filly Does Newtown Anner Stud Proud

A striking chestnut filly by Curlin  did Newtown Anner Stud proud during the Aug. 5 first session of The Saratoga Sale when she sold to Charlotte Weber's Live Oak Plantation for $725,000.

Consigned by Blake-Albina Thoroughbred Services as Hip 38, the filly was bred in Kentucky out of the unraced Indian Charlie mare Kateri, a daughter of grade 3 winner Sue's Good News, also the dam of grade 1 winner and millionaire Tiz Miz Sue and multiple stakes winner Bulletin.

"I think she's very compact, she has a nice pedigree, and we will see where she goes from here," Weber said. "The plan right now is to take her back to Florida and let her grow up a little."

Hanzly Albina, who manages Newtown Anner and is a partner in Blake-Albina, said the satisfying sale was especially poignant given his close association with the filly.

"Once our mares come to our farm, we rarely sell a broodmare," he said. "So they're ours. That's their home. We make our own hay, we have all our own land. These horses are our babies until they come up here and someone buys them. And if they don't, they're our babies still, and we race them.

"There's definitely a part of this where you have an attachment to these horses because you've been with them from their first breath until they do something like this or come and cross the line first in a grade 1, or whatever their accomplishments may be."

Curlin stood the 2019 season for $175,000 at Hill 'n' Dale Farms. When Hip 38 was conceived, his fee was $150,000.

"We've got a lot of horses that we bred, and she was one of our best. That's in line with what we think she's worth," Albina said. "With a $150,000 stud fee and a mare whose family is exploding, I think Mrs. Weber bought herself a tremendous filly. In my mind, it's one of the top three fillies in the sales, maybe the best.

"She's the image of her father—she has a speedy look. She's got so much hip and she's got a great walk, great disposition. She's the total package. Every year, Curlin just proves himself to be a better and better sire. And the price is in line with the value this horse should be."

Kateri produced a Maclean's Music  colt in 2019 and is back in foal to Curlin. Her 2-year-old by Tiznow —named Hedonistic—sold for $420,000 to Red Oak through Brick City Thoroughbreds' consignment at this year's Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training, and Newtown Anner retained an interest. Hedonistic is in training with Greg Sacco and worked three furlongs Aug. 4 at Monmouth Park in :36 flat.

"That horse breezed a couple days ago magnificently," Albina said. "Red Oak is in charge of that horse—we're just along for the ride—and they're doing a great job with him. With Greg Sacco, we hope he'll run here soon, maybe Saratoga."