NEWS
Mine That Bird’s half brother added to Timonium sale
Posted: Tuesday, May 05, 2009 12:07 PM
by Pete Denk
A half brother to Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) winner Mine That Bird has been added to the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic sale of two-year-olds in training, scheduled for May 18-19 in Timonium, Maryland.
The Yonaguska colt is the second foal out of the eight-year-old Smart Strike mare Mining My Own. Pinhooker Cary Frommer, as agent, purchased the Yonaguska colt for $72,000 at the 2008 Keeneland September yearling sale.
Frommer brought him to the 2009 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co. March sale of selected two-year-olds in training, where the colt worked one furlong in :10.40 but did not attract much attention.
“At OBS I really liked the horse and I told people if he didn’t bring a certain amount I was going to sell him to my client,” Frommer said. “If somebody was going to get a bargain, I wanted it to be one of my long-term clients.”
Bloodstock agent Craig Wheeler signed the ticket for $100,000 on behalf of Frommer’s client, whose name has not been disclosed.
Fasig-Tipton Chairman Walt Robertson said the company is delighted to offer the colt.
“After the Kentucky Derby, one of Cary’s long-standing clients decided to make hay while the sun was shining by offering the colt at Timonium,” Robertson said. “You don’t get a better pedigree update than a Kentucky Derby-winning half brother.”
Frommer said the colt is a “lovely, almost black horse–average size and correct.”
“He worked good at OBS, jumped through all the hoops, and did everything,” Frommer said. “But at that time people weren’t that keen on Yonaguska and nobody really knew Mine That Bird other than the Canadian people. Now Yonaguska has jumped up with [Kentucky Derby third-place finisher Musket Man], and everybody knows Mine That Bird.”
Frommer said a decision has not been made whether the colt will breeze or gallop in Maryland. He has been stabled at Abracadabra Farm in Ocala since the March sale.
“He came out of OBS in great shape. He didn’t have shins or anything and he’s been training all along,” Frommer said. “We’ll do whatever the owner thinks he wants to do, because the horse can do whatever we ask of him.”
Frommer said she likes the colt’s potential as a racehorse.
“With two-year-olds it’s anybody guess, but he’s never taken a wrong step since I had him,” Frommer said. “I like his temperament and tenaciousness. His ears are pinned back and he won’t be headed in company. He’s very competitive, and he doesn’t want anything taken away from him.
“I think that’s what you’ll find with the horse who won the Derby. I wonder if that isn’t what that mare brings to the table.”
Mine That Bird’s half brother will be cataloged as hip number 107, a previously-withdrawn lot, on the first day of the sale. Under-tack shows are scheduled for May 13-14.
To view the colt's workout at the OBSC March sale, click here and select video for Hip 302.
For video of Mine That Bird's win in the Kentucky Derby, click here.
Pete Denk is sales editor of THOROUGHBRED TIMES
