After a relatively slow start to the Jan. 13 opening session of Book 2 at the Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale, a fast-paced bidding war ensued when Hip 1019, From the Hood, entered the ring.
Knocked down to Chris Baccari of Baccari Bloodstock on a final bid of $375,000, the mare hails from one of the more active female families in the industry—a selling point Baccari said he couldn't ignore.
"The thing with her family, that female pedigree, all of those daughters are reproducing if you look down the list right now. All of them are reproducing," said Baccari. "I have a daughter of Folklore named Miss Moon, and we sold her (second) yearling (Savile Row) and (Bob) Baffert has it now, and it won first time out, by Quality Road . That mare that I have just throws really good-looking individuals that can run. It's very hard to find, for me as a person who races and sells commercially, one who does both. If I am selling commercially, you have to have mares that are going to throw the quality look that you need with the pedigree behind it. And she has that. I think it is one of the best new activated families today."
Bred in Kentucky by Godolphin, From the Hood is a 6-year-old daughter of Darley stallion Street Sense out of the unraced Storm Cat mare Contrive. From the Hood's half siblings include Alberto VO5 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) winner and champion 2-year-old filly Folklore (Tiznow), graded stakes-placed stakes winner Divided Attention (A.P. Indy), and grade 3 stakes-placed Delightful Quality.
Delightful Quality has made her own mark on the breed in recent months as the dam of Essential Quality (Tapit ). Racing for Godolphin and trainer Brad Cox, Essential Quality was undefeated in three starts at 2, winning both the Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (G1) and TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (G1). With 30 qualifying points toward the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), Essential Quality currently sits atop the 2021 Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard.
Across the Pacific Ocean, Hip 1019's pedigree has also made a significant mark as Folklore is the granddam of Contrail (Deep Impact), who was the undefeated winner of the Japanese Triple Crown in 2020. The colt has won seven of his eight starts and banked $7,466,204 in purse earnings.
From the Hood was offered in foal to Three Chimneys Farm stallion Fast Anna. She was consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency.
"I thought that she would bring in that range," said Mark Taylor of Taylor Made Sales. "I actually thought maybe she could bring a bit more. It's arguably the hottest pedigree going. You could have a (Kentucky) Derby winner out of that pedigree, and you have Contrail, who is a Japanese equivalent to a Triple Crown winner. The whole page has just exploded.
"I think it was a fair price. I had her in the $350,000 to $500,000 range. She's a beautiful mare, and I think Chris Baccari made a good buy. I think that he's got a good shot to make money in the long run whether he keeps her or turns her over."
While From the Hood was the only purchase Baccari had made at the sale to that point, the veteran horseman agreed that the mare was well worth the wait and the price.
"The best thing about this mare is you can breed her to anything. She has the size, the scope, the strength, she has enough bone. There is nothing really to fix on her.
"I really want to have the best mares I can get my hands on to bring them back to the farm. And people will know that we raise a good quality horse, and you have to have good mares who can get big results."
