Preferred’s David Reid and Northwood’s Bob Boni shine a light on some of the notable horses they are selling Monday at The Meadowlands.

by Dave Briggs

The first Tattersalls Winter Mixed Sale of the COVID-19 era is on tap on Monday afternoon (Jan. 18) at The Meadowlands, but sale manager David Reid said while health protocols will be in place, what hasn’t changed from previous years is, “it will be “a very active racehorse sale, for sure.”

The sale, which starts at noon on the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday in the Big M paddock, will see some 120 head, as well as some 20 stallion shares and 12 breedings being offered by Crawford Farms to support standardbred aftercare (full story here).

For complete sale details, visit: http://www.tattersallsredmile.com/.

For a story about what buyers should expect, click here.

“Anybody racing at the Meadowlands knows that the (COVID-19) protocols that have been in place have been very successful at the Meadowlands and we’ll continue to do so,” Reid said.

“There will be a health screening upon arrival and social distancing and wearing masks… We’re going to offer online bidding as well… we’ve had high interest in the sale and people are making arrangements if they can’t come, to have someone come for them. Or they have done some pre-sale work prior to this weekend.”

Reid said due to COVID-19 food will not be available and physical distancing will be in place in the paddock.

“It’s very spread out. We’re going to use the whole paddock to spread out our operation,” Reid said.

Fewer chairs will be available and those that will be there will be spaced out. The sales office will be in an open-air location and the doors to the paddock will be open to allow for lots of fresh air.

“The forecast is looking good,” Reid said. “Nice weather so that’s always good for January.”

Those that can’t be at the Meadowlands can bid remotely via ProxiBid (information here).

“I think it’s a good blend to have a live sale with horses viewable and visible to the public for full inspection and the sale has had a proven history for a long time. It provides a lot of racehorses for the venues in the area and neighboring states, even reaching out to Ohio and Ontario.”

As for the catalogue, Reid said, “the quality is very good. The sale is a bit compact as far as numbers, but the quality is very, very good,” with emphasis on racehorses.

“There’s breeding stock in here as well. There’s a nice group of race mares in here that could be bred or raced and then there’s a nice assortment of stallion shares.

“I just encourage people to look at the past performance lines that have been updated.”

The two consignors — Preferred Equine and Northwood Bloodstock — took some time to tout a few of their offerings to HRU.

PREFERRED’S HIGHLIGHTS

Reid said his Preferred consignment is pleased to offer, “a very good consignment. We’ve got some well-bred fillies that are going to be racing and excellent breeding prospects.”

“I would say, Hip 48 (Midpoint) is a nice breeding prospect. Hip 50 (Seven Wood) is a very nice prospect. Hip 58 (Karmas Delight), despite being unraced, comes from a great family.

“Hip 59 (Sweet Chapter) has been really very well. Hip 61 Warrawee Vicky) is a very accomplished filly. Hip 62 (Wayside) is a nice Somebeach mare that sells with a Sweet Lou breeding, so a little bonus there.

“Then, you’ve got 72 (Major Battle), that’s a nice Art Major mare and Hip 80 (Wingding Hanover) is another nice Somebeachsomewhere mare that’s got a lot going for her. So those are the ones I’d highlight.

“Racehorse-wise, Hip 105 (The Candyman Can) is one of a number of horses we’re selling for Ron Burke. The Candyman Can set a career best mile of 1:49.4 on January 9that the Meadowlands.

“Blake MacIntosh is selling Hip 85 (Beach Blanket Book) and Ray Schnittker’s got a handful of horses in here, including Hip 88 (Captain Groovy) and Hip 98 (Lake Charles).

“Tony Alagna has multiple ownership groups with horses in the sale. The highlight there would be Hip 91, Chief Mate, and Hip 100, Put To Right, who has won his last two starts since cataloguing. And then you’ve got Hip 96 (King Alphonso), a son of Muscle Hill – he was a winner here in his last start. Hip 120 (Somebaddude) won his last start here, he’s a nice prospect. And the proven trotter Hip 123, The Veteran, she’ll attract a lot of attention.”

BONI’S BEST

Northwood Bloodstock’s Bob Boni highlighted six horses from his consignment, including the very first horse in the ring, Hip 1 (No Clouds Bluechip). “She is one of only two broodmares in the sale. She is a stakes winner of nearly $400,000 and her first foal, a colt by Always B Miki, sold for $90,000 last fall. She is in foal to the leading sire American Ideal and she could very well be carrying a brother or sister to a stakes winner or two.

“Hip 43 Business Casual is a good 2-year-old winner by Andover Hall and is Pennsylvania eligible. She is the first foal from a $200,000 winner by Cantab Hall and is a race prospect with future breeding value.

“Hip 66 Cathedral Belle is by Father Patrick and Hip 73 Miss Wilia is by Andover Hall. Both are very attractive young stakes winners from the same immediate family of the standouts Major Athens (2,1:55f, 3,1:53.3f, 1:53.2 ($774,615)) and Dover Miss (2,1:57.1, 4,1:56.1f ($277,392)) and the Merrie Annabelle winner Miss Wisconsin (2,1:56.3, 3,1:55 ($515,074)). Both mares clearly have the ability to market select sale yearlings and would be quality additions to any broodmare band.

“Hip 93 Force N Fury is a very talented son of Captaintreacherous from a world champion… The brother to Stay Hungry (p,3,1:47.3) won the Kindergarten Final at 2 and he has shown he can race over any size track… He is a former $300,000 yearling purchase that could be ready for a big bounce back year.

“Hip 118 Nicholas Beach is one of the more talented pacers in the sale and the winner of nine of 10 starts in the abbreviated 2020 racing season impressively pacing to his record 1:49f from post eight with a :27 flat last quarter and a half mile track winner at Yonkers in 1:52.2h; a proven winner that is fresh and ready to start back and he could be an open pacer again in ’21 at many racing circuits.”