After last year selling a trio of colts at Fasig-Tipton's The Saratoga Sale, two of which have already gone on to debut victories on the track, Bridie Harrison, agent for breeder Peter E. Blum Thoroughbreds, is back at the sale of selected yearlings this year with four more promising colts.
One from that quartet to catch our eye is Hip 194, a good-looking chestnut named Nobility. The son of Gun Runner —Etiquette, by Tapit , is a full brother to two-time grade 1 winner Society, who, as a homebred for Blum, captured top-level races at ages 3 and 5. Trained by Racing Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, Society won the 2022 Cotillion Stakes (G1) at 1 1/16 miles at Parx Racing and the 2024 Ballerina Handicap (G1) sprinting 7 furlongs at Saratoga Race Course.
Society was the second foal for Etiquette. Blum tried some other stallions with the mare before going back to Gun Runner in 2022 and getting a filly now named Poise who recently ran third for Blum in a Saratoga maiden special weight. The mare was bred again to Gun Runner in 2023 but did not produce a 2024 foal. A return engagement resulted in the colt Nobility, and Etiquette has been bred back to Gun Runner this year. Harrison said going back to Gun Runner was an obvious option.
"Absolutely it makes sense as Gun Runner is one of the best stallions out there," Harrison said of a colt who has the potential to win early and develop in later years. Society's track record suggests the colt could sprint or route in top races. "He has a great mind. He takes everything in stride; he's just so chilled out and mellow. We like him. He's always been very easy to take care of."
Society won a maiden race on debut in her lone start at 2 and then registered at least one graded stakes win at ages 3, 4, and 5, closing her career with a runner-up finish in the 2024 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) at Del Mar after which she was retired.
While Nobility is a full brother to Society, looks-wise, Harrison noted they're two different horses.
"As a filly, she was more refined as a yearling," Harrison said, "but he has more substance and bone. He's stronger."
Last year at this sale Harrison sold a trio of colts bred by Blum to top owners and two have won on debut this year. CHC Inc., Maverick Racing, and First Go Racing went to $575,000 to land a Quality Road —Remarkable, by Indian Charlie, colt. Now named Excellent, the colt won Aug. 9 at Colonial Downs for those owners (WinStar Farm, CHC, First Go Racing) when he rallied from sixth to capture a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight race on the dirt for trainer Rodolphe Brisset.
The other winning colt to sell, a son of Bolt d'Oro —Spark, by Speightstown, went to Amo Racing USA after a bid of $1.4 million. Now named Regent's Park, the colt won a maiden special weight race May 25 at Monmouth Park for trainer Jorge Delgado before finishing fifth in the Sanford Stakes (G3) July 4 at Saratoga.
The third colt, now named Dynasty, is a full brother to 2023 Preakness Stakes (G1) winner National Treasure . Case Clay Thoroughbred Management purchased the son of Quality Road for $750,000 on behalf of Wathnan Racing, but he has not yet started.
The first two of Harrison's consignment went through the ring Aug. 10, each selling for $500,000. Hip 88, a Practical Joke colt out of the Indian Charlie mare Spirit, sold to Centennial Farms while Flying Dutchmen purchased Hip 102, another full brother to National Treasure.
