by Matthew Lomon

Winbak Farm returns to its regular post at the Lexington Selected Yearling sale with a promising group of 79 yearlings and a positive mindset to boot.

“We’re feeling good about the sale,” said yearling manager Jimmy Ladwig. “We have a great group of yearlings, as usual, and we’re optimistic heading in.”

Ladwig, who’s been with the multi-regional operation since 1999 (flagship property in Maryland, with other facilities in Delaware, New York, and Ontario), spotlighted a trio of youngsters from Chapter Seven, Papi Rob Hanover, and Walner with intriguing family ties.

“We have a great-looking Chapter Seven filly out of Tosca, Hip #58 Seven Winds,” Ladwig said. “We’re really excited about her. She’s great looking and she has some family out there doing really well.

“Hip #84 Encryption is a Papi Rob [Hanover] out of Code In. He’s a great looking colt, and his 2-year-old Cattlewash brother [Power Code] is performing quite well, so we’re definitely keen on him.

“There’s a Walner colt out of Mets Life, Hip #113 You Can Dream who’s a nice colt. His brother [Amazing Catch] was third in the Hambletonian and we’re thinking he might be pretty good in his own right.”

Ladwig’s watchlist for this esteemed team of sires includes another appealing Chapter Seven–Debra Hall colt in Read The Room, Hip #300.

“I could go on and on,” Ladwig said, laughing.

Alongside the familial favorites, Winbak’s deep sales roster also features a steady dose of Cattlewash (seven) and Bettor’s Delight (five) progeny.

While Ladwig noted that his Winbak partners are “really high” on their quintet of Cattlewash’s, a group that includes Nugget Hugit, Hip #655, a pacing colt out of Thong, and A Clean Deal, Hip #558, a pacing filly out of Ideal Talker, he is particularly impressed by a physically imposing Bettor’s Delight–Pleasant Yet Bad filly (Naughty Delight Hip, #405).

“She’s got a real good look to her,” said Ladwig. “You don’t see too many that big.”

Winbak’s clubhouse leader by number of yearlings is American Ideal with nine.

American Ideal’s offspring also accounted for the lion’s share of Winbak’s 83-horse catalog in last year’s Lexington sale (nine).

“It seems like you can spot American Ideal’s from a long way away,” said Ladwig. “He stamps them. They’re all pretty correct, ‘typey-type’ horses. They’re consistent and come with a lot of desirable qualities. They almost take care of themselves.

“They’re just a good, consistent, reliable horse and it shows up in the results.”

So, it should come as no surprise that one of Ladwig’s sleeper selections comes from his most trusted source.

“We have an American Ideal out of Logan’s Girl [Quickaway, Hip #585] who’s a nice-looking colt, videoed great,” he said. “He certainly fits that bill.”

Ladwig also anointed the underdog tag to Flippin Liz, Hip #322, a pacing filly from Stay Hungry out of Flipit To Winit.

“We’re very impressed with her,” he said.

The yearling sale specialist made a point to give Masked Singer, Hip #318, and Devil’s Mark, Hip #354, two Tall Dark Stranger spawns, their flowers.

“They might get overlooked a little bit by being Tall Dark Strangers, but these two are great individuals,” Ladwig said. “Great videos, great pedigree. They’re absolutely ones to keep an eye on.”

He also highlighted Winbak’s quartet of Courtly Choice babies.

“They’re looking promising for New York, especially after Courts On Fire won the pace final [New York Sires Stakes 2-year-old colt and gelding] at Yonkers [Sept. 7, 2024].”

Ladwig rounded things out with a pair of shutouts for Margarita Wish, Hip #199,a pacing colt from Bettor’s Wish–Margarita Monday, and a “tall, rangy” filly out of Perfect Sting, Bee Perfect, Hip #600.