Al and Salley Pike's Pike Racing sold the $1.1 million sale-topping Uncle Mo colt at last year's Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale, and the Louisiana-based operation is back this year with another promising consignment that is bound to appeal to prospective buyers during the two-day sale at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium, Md., May 17-18.
"We are very excited," Al Pike said. "We've brought a real solid group here. We have a couple of very nice Into Mischiefs. We have a beautiful Medaglia d'Oro filly, a colt by Gun Runner who had a great update, and a gorgeous New York-bred Curlin colt who is a really nice horse. They all have some pedigree, they have the looks, and they performed well on the racetrack, so we're excited."
Among the Pike Racing offerings this week is Hip 41, a gray or roan filly by Medaglia d'Oro out of the unraced Free House mare Mo Chuisle. The filly, who breezed an eighth-mile in :10 2/5 at the under tack preview, is a half sister to the late Eclipse champion and grade 1 winner Points Offthebench, grade 3 stakes winner Bench Points, and Molto Allegro, a stakes winner in Japan.
Bred in Kentucky by Town and Country Horse Farms, Frank Taylor, and Kim Taylor, the filly was previously purchased by Pike, agent, for $235,000 at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Selected Yearlings Showcase.
"She is a really nice filly," Pike said, "and she just looks beautiful on the racetrack."
Hip 160 is from the first crop of Horse of the Year and 2017 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) winner Gun Runner. The colt hails from an accomplished female family replete with black type. He is produced from the Bernardini mare Secret Jewel, a half sister to Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1T) winner Shared Account and stakes winner and graded stakes-placed Colonial Flag. This is also the immediate family of Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T) winner Sharing.
The colt's catalog page received a timely enhancement when his half sister, Twenty Carat, by Into Mischief , captured the Beaumont Stakes Presented by Keeneland Select (G3) at Keeneland last month in just her third lifetime start. Bred in Kentucky by Three Chimneys Farm, the colt, a $45,000 acquisition for Pike, agent, at last year's Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October Yearling Sale, breezed an eighth-mile in :10 2/5 at the under tack preview.
Hip 277 is a dark bay or brown colt by Curlin out of the winning Rockport Harbor mare Whisper Wisdom, a half sister to grade 1-winning millionaire Connect , who is also by Curlin. Bred in New York by Pine Ridge Stables, the colt, who breezed an eighth-mile in :10 2/5 at the under tack preview, was a $210,000 RNA in the Paramount Sales consignment at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October Yearling Sale.
The pair of juveniles by perennial leading sire Into Mischief sell for Pike Racing as Hips 338 and 522.
Hip 338, who breezed an eighth-mile in :10 1/5, is out of the Quiet American mare Bashful Bertie, a full sister to multiple graded stakes winner Allamerican Bertie. Bred in Kentucky by Nancy Shuford, the bay colt is a half brother to Arlington Million XXXV (G1T) winner and multiple grade 1 winner Beach Patrol, an earner of $2,532,945 by Lemon Drop Kid. This is also the family of near-millionaire Hurricane Bertie, grade 1 winner Traitor, Sun King, and Ocean Drive. Pike, agent, purchased the colt last year at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale for $200,000 from the consignment of Elm Tree Farm.
Hip 522 is a bay filly produced from the stakes-placed Indian Charlie mare Indian Rush. A half sibling to stakes winners March X Press and Harlan's Honor, the filly breezed an eighth-mile in :10 1/5 at the under tack preview. Bred in New York by Pine Ridge Stables, the filly was purchased by Colt Pike, agent, for $200,000 from Stuart Morris' consignment at last year's Ocala Breeders' Sales October Yearlings, 2-Year-Olds, and Horses of Racing Age Sale.
When it comes to what Pike looks for when identifying pinhook prospects at the yearling sales, the veteran horseman is clear in what key ingredients he seeks out.
"A fast, two-turn horse is what everyone is looking for," Pike shared. "That's what we look for; something with pedigree and a little stretch to it, and we like them to look athletic. Those attributes are hard to buy because that is what everyone is looking for."
With a strong 2-year-old sale season winding down, Pike expects the momentum in the market to continue to the end.
"The market is really good. We were at OBS March and it was strong. We weren't at the (OBS) April Sale, but everyone said it was incredible," Pike shared. "We always take some (horses) to the Texas sale (Texas Thoroughbred Association), and what a sale that was as well.
"We're looking forward to another good sale here," Pike continued. "If you have a nice horse and they jump through all the hoops, everyone will be rewarded."
