Known for featuring high-level broodmares and racing/broodmare prospects, Fasig-Tipton's The November Sale near Lexington is commonly referred to as "The Night of the Stars."
One star is already slated to be sold there this fall: 2024 Broodmare of the Year Puca. Her owner, John Stewart of Resolute Racing, told Ron Flatter on his Horse Racing Nation podcast that he intends to run her through the prestigious sale and "we'll see what happens."
Stewart noted the mare is 13 years old and did not get in foal this year after foaling late in the season.
He told Flatter he would set a strong reserve and suggested it would take "north of $5 million to buy her."
Stewart said he plans to be active as a buyer at that sale and in seeking fillies and mares to acquire in private transactions as he grows his broodmare band.
A daughter of Big Brown, Puca has produced two classic winners: 2023 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Mage and 2024 Belmont Stakes (G1) winner Dornoch , both sons of Good Magic . Puca has also produced the twice classic-placed Baeza, a son of McKinzie who was third in both the Derby and Belmont this year and has twice been second in other graded races, plus Gunning, a stakes-placed daughter of Gun Runner .
Gunning, Mage, Dornoch, and Baeza were her initial four foals. She was not bred in 2022 before foaling a Good Magic colt, a full brother to Mage and Dornoch, in 2024. Another full sister was born this year.
Stewart bought Puca for $2.9 million in foal to Good Magic in 2023 from the Case Clay Thoroughbred Management consignment at the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. Robert Clay's Grandview Equine acquired the stakes-winning, graded-placed Puca for $475,000 in foal to Gun Runner five years earlier at Fasig-Tipton's November sale.
Gunning, Puca's first foal, would be born the following April. Grandview Equine was her breeder, and also for Mage, Dornoch, and Baeza.
Grandview Equine partnered with Lee and Susan Searing's C R K Stable to race Baeza with trainer John Shirreffs after the colt's purchase for $1.2 million by Mayberry Farm from the Runnymede Farm consignment to the 2023 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Beyond the $948,500 he has earned and the potential to amass more, Baeza is considered a valuable stallion prospect.
Mage stood this year in Kentucky for $25,000 at Airdrie Stud, while Dornoch stood his initial season for $40,000 at Spendthrift Farm. Mage entered stud in 2024.
