Hill 'n' Dale Farm at Xalapa's first-crop yearling sire Army Mule has gotten off to a strong start at the summer sales, with 14 of his progeny selling for an average of $181,071 through the Fasig-Tipton New York-Bred Yearlings Sale that ended Aug. 16.
Army Mule is a 7-year-old son of Friesan Fire and was a highly regarded 2-year-old bought by the late J.J. Crupi for $825,000 at the 2016 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale out of the Scanlon Training and Sales consignment. The colt would be undefeated in three starts and become a grade 1 winner for Vinnie Viola's St. Elias Stable and trainer Todd Pletcher. Army Mule won his debut at 3 at Belmont Park by 8 1/2 lengths. He got some time off and came back at 4 to win an allowance/optional claiming race at Gulfstream Park by 7 1/2 lengths and then won the seven-furlong Carter Handicap (G1) that spring by 6 1/4 lengths in near-record time of 1:20.94 (the record of 1:20.04 was set by Artax in 1999).
As a stallion, St. Elias partnered with Hill 'n' Dale and stood the horse for $10,000 for his first two seasons and then for $7,500 this year. Army Mule bred 140 mares his first year at stud and 47 mares his second year. Breeders, however, must have liked what they saw in his first foals because his book rebounded to 93 mares this year, according to Hill 'n' Dale president John Sikura.
"From the first time his foals were presented at auction, multiple people commented on how typey and athletic and racey they were. The momentum has continued to build and now you have a critical mass," Sikura said.
Army Mule has been represented by 10 six-figure yearlings at the three Fasig-Tipton sales held so far—The July Sale, The Saratoga Sale, and the New York-Bred Sale. A colt and a filly both bred by Hill 'n' Dale each sold for $400,000 during The Saratoga Sale. The colt (Hip 140), out of the Maclean's Music stakes winner Made Me Shiver, was sold by Hill 'n' Dale to St. Elias and West Point Thoroughbreds. The filly (Hip 148), out of the Unbridled's Song stakes-winning daughter Melody Lady, was bought by West Bloodstock on behalf of St. Elias out of Taylor Made Sales Agency's consignment.
"We love the horse," Sikura said. "Some people felt he was a little unorthodox being by Friesan Fire, but Friesan Fire is by A.P. Indy and out of an established group 1 sprinter in Australia in Bollinger, which creates some internationalism. Bollinger is by Dehere, who is a son of Deputy Minister, and Deputy Minister is a huge supplement to any pedigree that I love to see either through him or his sons."
Bollinger is a daughter of Bint Marscay, one of 28 fillies to win the Golden Slipper Stakes (G1), which is Australia's richest race for 2-year-olds. Bint Marscay was Australian's champion 2-year-old for 1993 and winner of the Tooheys Golden Slipper Stakes that year. She was retired to Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement Farm in Georgetown, Ky., where she died at 28 years old in 2019.
"In this horse, I see nothing but positives," Sikura continued about Army Mule. "His ability was brilliant, not just good, and he was never beaten. I like talent, and too many people have preconceived notions about what works and what doesn't work. Like Maclean's Music or Candy Ride or Stormy Atlantic, we've had many horses that were successful and weren't the obvious horse. You can't deny talent.
"I'm realistic; they have to run, but I think they'll do well at the 2-year-old sales. They are going be athletic and look like they'll be fast. We'll see if they have the quality and class and the soundness to achieve on the racetrack. I'm excited about getting them to the races," he said.
