An athletic, rangy daughter of Gun Runner became the first juvenile May 19 to sell for seven figures during Day 2 of the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale, going to bloodstock agent Pedro Lanz for $1.375 million.
Lanz bought the Gun Runner filly for KAS Stables, for whom he also bought a $2.1 million Flightline colt on the sale's opening day. The filly (Hip 357) was bred by Chester and Mary Broman in New York and consigned by Sequel Bloodstock.
"Beautiful filly, May foal. She still has time to develop and get bigger and stronger," Lanz said. "Beautiful mare (Modest Maven) by Uncle Mo. I remember Arctic Arrogance (half brother) fighting in that Kentucky Derby race (Withers Stakes) in New York, and finishing second, a tough race. She has everything you can ask for."
The Bromans bred the filly out of the unraced Uncle Mo daughter Modest Maven, who is the dam of graded-placed stakes winner Arctic Arrogance (Frosted).
Lanz said the filly will stay in the United States to race under trainer Brad Cox.
"We needed a filly," he said. "I was reviewing the results of the prior sales. This was the first chance at this sale; there was one (Gun Runner) yesterday, but she (Hip 357) was my favorite. So I told them, if you want the best filly, in my opinion, she is the one."
Chester Broman purchased Modest Maven for $1 million from the Pike Racing consignment at the 2016 edition of the Midlantic May Sale. Celebrating the sale of Hip 357 brought things full circle, honoring the friendship between the late Al Pike, Becky Thomas, and Carlos Manresa.
"Linda Rice got that horse (Modest Maven), and that horse had incredible ability," Mancesa said. "I think there were several people who saw this filly and saw a lot of the same talent and class that Modest Maven herself had, and I think it was a very good full-circle moment for all of us."
Thomas echoed the sentiments about Al Pike.
"Al Pike was one of my closest friends," she said. "We worked together for many, many years, and he was located at the barn right next to ours, so that's why it was so special.
"His son, Colt, has shortlisted for us for many years, and we're glad to have that part of him. Colt was very instrumental in Al's operation."
"We bought a horse from them (Bromans) out of Bar of Gold (Metallix for $600,000) two years ago, and they are amazing breeders; they always have the best," he said. "When you see Sequel Bloodstock's consignment this year, you say this is a serious consignment."
Sequel has had a terrific sale so far, selling the highest-priced colt and filly of the sale. Thomas said the new format changes implemented by Fasig-Tipton have only helped her consignment's success.
"We have been thrilled (with the new format)," she said. "We had a horse that chipped a knee last year, and he was our big horse. He was literally a $1 million Uncle Mo, and we loved him. If we'd have had him on the gallop day, that would not have happened. So, we are big fans of the format, and at all times we were going to come here with what I call farm breezes, which is letting those horses roll."
Thomas said the new format did present some challenges, as her horses are used to training on a 1-mile track.
"We're breezing here around the dogs (cones), there's a lot of horses that hit the wrong lead, and because it's such a sharp turnaround to be able to go, you're not only on the wrong lead, then they're like, 'Well, do I switch now or do I not switch?' So you have to account for the fact that going around the dogs like that, especially horses that aren't used to that.
"But, overall, we are thrilled with the new format."
