Vieux Carre Farms’ Mark Egloff sporting an optimistic view

by Chris Lomon

Mark Egloff of Vieux Carre Farms (Gettysburg, PA) is feeling optimistic heading into this year’s Lexington Selected Yearling Sale. He has more than a few reasons to have that rosy outlook.

“We have a nice consignment, including a really nice group of Always B Mikis, Sweet Lous and a Captaintreacherous colt. We’re very happy with the horses we have heading into this sale. I have two special ones that I’m very excited about.”

Those “special ones” should garner some serious interest.

Don’t Fly Economy (hip 55), is an Always B Miki out of Economy Terror. He’s a half-brother to One Eight Hundred, who we sold down here two years ago for a world-record price for a pacer (Hip 114, $800,000). He’s pretty special. He’s a little bit rangier and a taller colt, more like the Mikis are, but he’s outstanding. I expect him to be well received.”

The bay, bred by Chuck Pompey, Howard Taylor and Edwin Gold, isn’t the only one Egloff is bullish on.

“I have another who I think is extra-special as well. She’s hip 31, (Sweet Amira) a Sweet Lou filly out of Bolt of Thunder. I just don’t know how to fault her. She’s about as nice a yearling that I can remember bringing to a sale. I’ve been doing it for 40 or 50 years, so she’s pretty special.”

Egloff has high hopes for the sale, one that he believes will offer a little bit of something for everyone.

“I am optimistic. All the other preliminary sales have seemed to be strong, and I think there is some pent-up demand – that people didn’t get out and do as much as they normally do in the horse business last year because of the pandemic. I believe there is some pent-up demand and I hope I’m right. I guess we’ll get our answer in a week.”

VALUE PICKS

When it comes to tabbing a diamond-in-the-rough, fly-under-the-radar type, Egloff has a few that come to mind.

The first one, a pacer, is part of family tree that is enjoying some record success, courtesy of a veteran broodmare who has produced several standouts over the years, including 29-time winner Malicious, as well as Beach Body, Ms Malicious, Captain Malicious and Silk Purse.

“I’ve got a Captaintreacherous colt (hip 107, Gung Ho) out of Silky that I really like. He’s a nice colt. That mare is getting older (18) now, but she’s just been an amazing mare for us, and the family has heated up big-time here with Sea Silk (Downbytheseaside-—Silk Purse) breaking the world record (1:51.2) for 2-year-old filly pacers at Scioto Downs on September 5. And she just ripped them up at The Red Mile recently (1:50.3, on October 1). She’s a nice one.

“We also have two other ones to sell out of that family. We have a Sweet Lou colt (hip 178, Silk Road) and an Always B Miki filly (hip 346, Ambushed) out of the same Silky family. Those I expect to get some attention too because Sea Silk has really heated that pedigree up again. So, it was good timing.”