Seize the Grey took the Thoroughbred ownership experience by storm when the son of Arrogate clinched wins in the Pat Day Mile (G2) and two weeks later returned in the Preakness Stakes (G1) to beat Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Mystik Dan.
On the evening of Aug. 6, Mill Ridge Sales offers Hip 152—a yearling filly who is a half to stakes-placed Smart Shopping—the dam of Seize the Grey.
The bay filly is out of the stakes-winning mare Shop Again. Consigned as Hip 152, the filly is by Mill Ridge Farm's stallion Oscar Performance who has sired graded stakes winners such as Red Carpet Ready and Trikari—winner of the Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes (G1). She was bred by Jamm.
The Mill Ridge offering is also a half to Power Broker, winner of the FrontRunner Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita Park at 2 and the Indiana Derby (G2) at 3. She is also a half to stakes winning Fierce Boots.
Shop Again has nine daughters who have produced, making it a family rich in successful runners. She is out of the Private Account mare Shopping. Shopping is the dam of 11 foals to race, with nine winners. Shop Again is a half sister to millionaire Miss Shop, winner of the Personal Ensign Stakes (G1) at Saratoga. She is also a half sister to speedy graded-stakes winner Trappe Shot, winner of the True North Handicap (G2).
"People can dream about racing her and developing your broodmare band," Price Bell Jr., general manager of Mill Ridge Farm, said of Hip 152.
Bell brought two fillies in 2021 to the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale by Oscar Performance, one of them being Red Carpet Ready and the other being graded-stakes placed filly G Laurie. His confidence in the stallion has paid off tenfold. He hopes this year brings the same success.
Bell said there are similarities between Hip 152 and Seize the Grey. The family shines through.
"She's not a huge horse either, but man she's so classy when she drops her head and walks.
"(Seize the Grey) wasn't a big, robust, fully furnished horse; but he was lovely, really good athletic mover, light on his feet," said Bell who also sold Seize the Grey at the Saratoga Sale in 2022.
Seize the Grey broke his maiden last year on Jim Dandy day, defeating eventual Belmont Stakes (G1) winner and Haskell Stakes (G1) winner Dornoch . Now a winner of more than $1.8 million, Seize the Grey will attempt to improve off flat finishes in the Belmont and the Jim Dandy, with a return in Saratoga's prestigious Travers Stakes (G1) Aug. 24.
Bell offered positivity for the time provided to look at the boutique offering at this sale. It gives buyers time to fall in love with a horse—or maybe out of love too.
"We want people to fall in love with a horse and be able to go on and hopefully live the dream with the horse," he said.
"This is a great place to see to dream."
