On the heels of Jas' successful introduction to the Kentucky Derby (G1) trail with a victory in the Street Sense Stakes (G3) Oct. 25 at Churchill Downs, the market was hot for his dam Flag Day Nov. 3 at the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale.
By the end of the bidding, it was Mandy Pope's Whisper Hill Farm that landed the mare consigned as Hip 79 for $2.9 million, the farm's second seven-figure purchase of the day.
The 10-year-old mare was offered as part of a complete dispersal of Earle Mack's breeding stock, which is being handled by Denali Stud. Flag Day is by Giant's Causeway and is out of the winning, stakes-placed Street Sense mare Sense to Compete, making her a half sister to multiple graded stakes-placed Street Ready and stakes-placed Robin Hood. The family also includes grade 1 winner Diversify through Sense to Compete's half sister Rule One.
It was that pedigree that enticed Pope.
"I love Giant's Causeway mares. I know he's kind of ancient at this point, but I think he's still one of the top broodmare sires that we've had," Pope said. "Also being out of a Street Sense mare, I think a good broodmare type. She's already produced now two stakes horses, with the second one being the 2-year-old."
The 2-year-old is Jas, a son of Justify who outdueled promising maiden winner Staunch in the stretch of the Street Sense while making his dirt debut. He had previously finished second in the Juvenile Mile Stakes on the Kentucky Downs turf to How's Al Today, who was the morning line favorite for the Oct. 30 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T) and finished fifth behind a strong European contingent.
Flag Day is in foal to elite sire Gun Runner , making that soon-to-be-born foal a full sibling to grade 3 winner Hall of Fame. Pope is hopeful she will be able to recoup her money on just that one foal.
"The plan would be to foal her out and come back with that one as a yearling and get three, three-and-a-half million for it," Pope said.
The $2.9 million price point was higher than Pope expected. She was hopeful to get the mare for $2 million, but was not surprised she needed to go higher given the current market.
"Everything is bringing a lot of money," Pope said. "If you want these kind of mares, it's what you have to do."
Earlier in the session, Pope bought a weanling Good Magic filly (Hip 19), who is a half sister to grade 1 winner Finnegans Wake and Broodmare of the Year Puca, the dam of 2023 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Mage and 2024 Belmont Stakes (G1) winner Dornoch . Hip 19 was consigned by Nursery Place as agent.
