McPeek Purchases Top-Priced Filly at F-T July Sale

Kenny McPeek, trainer of 2024 Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna, was active at the Fasig-Tipton July Selected Yearling Sale July 8, purchasing eight horses for a total of $1,445,000, including the top-priced filly—Hip 141 by 2024 leading first-crop sire Vekoma. McPeek has always been a strong supporter of the July Sale, as he has achieved graded stakes success with horses picked up at this auction. He purchased the filly Fun and Feisty in 2021 for $100,000 from Machmer Hall Sales; she went on to win the Pocohontas Stakes (G3) the following year at Churchill Downs. "Every year I come here, there's always good quality individuals," McPeek said. "I've always enjoyed the Fasig (July) Sale. It's not a high-pedigree sale, but they have a lot of individuals." McPeek purchased the Shawhan Place-consigned filly for newcomers Brett Vasseur and his wife Tiffany, saying that he (Vasseur) really wants a good horse. "I thought she (Hip 141) was an exceptional standout," he said. "I think she's very much a classic-type filly, a (Kentucky) Oaks filly, or an Alcibiades, Ashland (Stakes), fingers crossed, Alabama (Stakes), that kind of filly. "She looked like she had the Vekoma speed and looked like she'd carry it; nice long hip on her. I bought a couple for them, and I'm excited for them. I thought she was the best filly in the auction by far." Hip 141 is the first foal of the Bernardini mare Sundar and was bred in Kentucky by Shawhan Place. In addition to the Vekoma filly, McPeek purchased a colt by first-crop sire Jack Christopher, whose offspring were in high demand Tuesday, for $270,000. The colt is the first foal out of the Union Rags mare Inviting and was consigned by Lane's End, agent. "They're all assorted, different people," said McPeek about the clients he was buying for. "I buy a lot of horses on spec, and I worry about it later. It looks like all of them are placed, except maybe half of a couple, and we'll get that sorted out in the next few days. "All these horses are physically horses that could take you to some nice races. In this business, you've got to be optimistic, right?" McPeek's keen eye for horseflesh has given owners the confidence to put their support in him. He is highly regarded among his peers for being able to find top racehorses at a reasonable price. He is responsible for finding horses such as two-time Horse of the Year and successful stallion Curlin, whom he purchased for $57,000; 2024 Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna, who hammered down to McPeek for $40,000 in 2022; Daddy's Lil Darling, Swiss Skydiver, Take Charge Lady, and others. New this year, Fasig-Tipton is offering a trainer's bonus of $25,000 awarded to the trainer who purchases the highest number of yearlings at the July Selected Yearling Sale. To receive the bonus, the trainer must be in attendance at the sale and sign the ticket for each yearling purchased personally. "I've bought out of this sale for decades. I wish they'd retroactive that and go back," said McPeek when asked about the appeal of the trainer's bonus. "I don't think there was any guessing that I'll always participate. McPeek was the leading buyer of the yearling session with eight purchases for $1,445,000. "Most of my clients haven't bought any horses since October (Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Yearling Sale). We will concentrate on the rest of the sales season—obviously Saratoga, Keeneland in September, we might even go to the French sales and some others.