Multiple G3 Winner Bishops Bay Sells for $1.3 Million

Three-time grade 3 stakes winner Bishops Bay kicked off the opening hour of the Keeneland November Horses of Racing Age Sale by selling for the top price of $1.3 million to Pedro Lanz, agent for KAS Stables. The $1.3 million price is a record for the sale, which Keeneland began in 2022 after including horses of racing age in the November Breeding Stock Sale. ELiTE, as agent, consigned the 5-year-old son of Uncle Mo, who recently won the Nov. 2 Forty Niner Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct Racetrack. That victory was his fifth in seven starts this year with earnings of $468,600. After a runner-up finish in an optional claiming race at Oaklawn Park in early January, he added an allowance optional claimer at Oaklawn, as well as the American Pharoah Stakes there. He then added the Westchester Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct and the Salvator Mile (G3) at Monmouth Park. A sixth-place finish in the Forego Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course preceded his victory in the Forty Niner. He also ran well as a younger horse for trainer Brad Cox, placing in the 2023 Peter Pan Stakes (G3) and 2023 Ohio Derby (G3) at age 3. He has a career record of 8-3-0 in 12 starts, making $702,800 for owners Spendthrift Farm, Steve Landers, Martin Schwartz, Michael Dubb, Ten Strike Racing, Jim Bakke, Titletown Racing, Kueber Racing, Big Easy Racing, Rick Kanter, Michael Caruso, and WinStar Farm. Lanz said there are two discussed plans for the newly required horse, one of which would lead to Bishops Bay running again in New York this year in the $500,000 Cigar Mile (G2). The latter race is Dec. 6, and he has an automatic, paid entry by virtue of winning the Forty Niner Stakes. "We talked to Brad Cox and that's a possibility," Lanz said. "If it's too soon for the horse, we have the option to continue training the horse in quarantine for the King's Cup (otherwise known as The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup) in Saudi Arabia; it's not confirmed yet. That race would be Jan. 17; that's similar to Rattle n Roll's plans that they did last year. They won the race, so that's a possibility." The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup (G3) is a prep for the Saudi Cup (G1) in February. Both races are run at King Abdulaziz Racecourse. "If we win the King's Cup against local-trained horses, we have a direct pass through the race, we qualify. If we win the Cigar Mile and we have a nice, high rating, that's another way. We have to receive an invitation from the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia." Lanz said Bishops Bay has been on his radar all year, and he recommended the horse to Prince Faisal bin Khaled bin Abdulaziz, owner of KAS Stables. "I was watching the replays, and I recommended this horse because he's a very honest horse," Lanz said. "If you see his 12 starts, three seconds, and only one bad start with a horrible trip in the Forego (Stakes) at Saratoga. He could have even won the race with a better trip. He's a very honest horse." Lanz said he was not surprised at the $1.3 million it took to secure the multiple graded stakes winner. "That's usually what happens when we have the Middle East fighting for the same horse," Lanz said. "He was, for me, the best horse—two turns, long-distance horse. So, I told Prince we have to be ready." Bred in Kentucky by WinStar Farm, Bishops Bay is out of the Pioneer of the Nile mare Catch My Drift, who has produced two other black-type horses: 2024 Louisiana Derby (G2) winner Catching Freedom (Constitution) and Stava (Into Mischief), who showed in the 2022 Ellis Park Derby. His dam has produced four winners from five foals to race. Seven of her foals are of racing age. Bishops Bay was a $450,000 yearling purchase by BSW/Crow Colts Group from the 2021 September Yearling Sale from the Warrendale Sales consignment. The BSW/Crow Colts Group, organized by Brad Weisbord and Liz Crow of ELiTE, bought yearling colts with the aim of them potentially developing into promising racehorses and potential stallions.