NEWS
Lavender Sky sells for $340,000
Posted: Monday, February 08, 2010 5:17 PM
by Pete Denk
Bloodstock agent Bill Lockridge, representing an undisclosed client, bought Grade 2 stakes placed winner Lavender Sky for $340,000, the highest price so far on Monday at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky winter mixed sale in Lexington.
Based in Georgetown, Kentucky, Lockridge is best known for founding Ashford Stud and selling Terlingua, in foal to Storm Bird, to the late William T. Young of Overbrook Farm. The resulting foal was Grade 1 winner and epochal sire Storm Cat.
Lockridge said he bought Lavender Sky on behalf of an overseas client who wished to remain anonymous.
“He has farms all over the world, and he is rapidly becoming a major player in the game,” Lockridge said. “This is the first of a lot of things we’re going to do together.”
Lockridge said he was drawn to Lavender Sky, a six-year-old Mt. Livermore mare out of Munnaya, by Nijinsky II, because of her pedigree.
“Kamar her third dam is one of the great mares of all time,” Lockridge said. “I love the whole pedigree.”
Lavender Sky’s best placing was a second to champion Wait a While in the San Gorgonio Handicap (G2) at Santa Anita Park in 2008. Bred in Kentucky by Gainsborough Farm, Lavender Sky retired with two wins from 19 starts and earnings of $195,852.
“I’ve bred my share of good horses, and most of the mares I’ve had success with were mares that could run,” Lockridge said. “But also they have to be out of one of the blue hen families, and certainly this mare is. I learned a long time ago that the mares who beat this mare are no more likely to have a top horse than she is. She couldn’t beat the best, but she ran with the best. And given her pedigree, I’m just crazy about this mare. She is very correct. I wish she was a little larger, but she’s very well made.”
Three Chimneys Sales, agent, consigned Lavender Sky on behalf of the partnership who raced her: Tom Lenner, Howard Litt, Margie Strauss, Arnold Zetcher, and Alex Solis II.
“We knew she was one of the best horses on the grounds, and we were happy with the price,” said Three Chimneys’ Guinness McFadden. “Expectations weren’t all that high for this market, and the sale is pretty much where I thought it would be. It’s tough right now and there are a lot of culls in this sale. Lavender Sky was definitely not a cull. She was brought here to stand out, and that’s what she did.”
Lockridge said his client will leave Lavender Sky in Kentucky to be bred.
Pete Denk is sales editor for Thoroughbred Times
