Seize The Grey's First Two Mares Confirmed In Foal

We are excited to report that first two mares bred to Seize the Grey have checked in foal (pregnant)! Those two mares are Above the Sun (by Bernardini) and Queen of God (by Paynter). 

We also received a video update from Ryan Norton, the stallion director at Gainesway Farm this week, taken from the aisle in front of "Ceasar's" stall where he was milling around inside and looking magnificent. 

Mr. Norton related just a few of the mares who have been or are slated to be bred to Seize The Grey, and all had impressive breeding, race records or both. 

So far, so good for our very rare, multiple G1 winning son of Arrogate! 

SIMPLY ENCHANTING to be Retired/Bred to Curlin

So...big change of plans for our girl "Ella"!

After weighing options and discussion with trainer Phil D’Amato and the other partner on the filly, the decision was made to send Simply Enchanting to the breeding shed with a plan to sell her at the November breeding stock sales later this year.

This decision was due to several factors. While she came out of her last race in fine order, it is clear that she just hasn’t stepped up after showing early promise. At this point, it’s hard to envision her being competitive at the allowance level (or better) on one of the top circuits, and she is simply worth too much as a broodmare to run for a claiming tag. To allow her any chance to return to top form we would likely have to give her significant time to reset, probably pushing us past the 2025 breeding stock sales in the process.

Given she has significant breeding value, we believe the best plan for her is to take advantage of beginning her broodmare career now.

An opportunity has arisen to breed Simply Enchanting to Curlin and since her female family is so deep, and her sireline (Nyquist/Uncle Mo) has crossed exceptionally well on Curlin, this could result in a sales price of $500k or more for Simply Enchanting in foal to Curlin. He currently stands for  $225k.

While we are somewhat disappointed by the decision to call it quits on Simply Enchanting’s racing career, we look forward to experience the excitement of the breeding and auction process. The nice thing about a filly of this quality is that we have this opportunity for her—even when one avenue hasn’t panned out perfectly.

Fancy Quality to be Sold

 After conferring with trainer Kenny McPeek and the other partner, a decision was made to enter Fancy Quality in Fasig-Tipton’s March Digital Sale. The catalogue for that online auction will be released, and bidding opened, on March 13th. It closes on March 18th.

Fancy Quality definitely has some broodmare value given she’s by top European sire Wootton Bassett (GB) (who is commanding a €300,000 stud fee in 2025) and from a deep female family, however there is probably not significant upside in attempting to get her in foal to sell later in the year due to the added expenses/carrying costs. There is also not much point in holding her until the fall and then selling her open (without being bred).

We expect to get a follow-up report once bidding has opened for the sale.

Simply Enchanting Result

Simply Enchanting has once again left us scratching our heads.

She could only manage 8th place Friday at Oaklawn Park. Off a step slowly (we thought we saw a stumble in the footage), she found herself a bit farther back than we would have hoped for. Hung slightly wide, she didn’t seem to be loving the racing surface down the backside, but tried to mount a bid into the far turn. Asked hard from there, she never got going.

This was a disappointing showing for sure. Despite training well over the Oaklawn surface in the mornings, we have reason to believe she might not love that track—it was tough to determine that from previously as that race came in the slop. With that being said, it’s also fair to say that she just hasn’t realized the early promise that she displayed in her first few starts.

The team will weigh options for a path forward. We'll share the game plan as soon as we have it.

Blue Devil Update and Possible Next Stakes Race (in NM!)

The team chatted with Steve Asmussen about what could be next for your son of Uncle Mo. Steve has his eyes on the $200,000 Sunland Park Handicap for Blue Devil, which is to be run on April 6th. 

We'll keep an eye out for opportunities in between should something pop up, but Steve is comfortable training up to the race if need be.

Tiffany's Mo and Natural Beauty Approach Foaling Dates

Our next two broodmares are "up at bat."

Both Tiffany's Mo (in foal to Liam's Map) and Natural Beauty (in foal to Violence) have anticipated foaling dates of 2/28/2025, though word is out that many mares seem to be foaling late this spring.

Both have been moved to the Foaling Barn at Gaineway Farm where they will be closely monitored over the coming days. 

Community Adjusted/Quality Road Filly Update

We stopped by to see Community Adjusted and her Quality Road filly at Chanteclair Farm this afternoon. The duo had just been brought into the barn after a lovely spring-like day out in their paddock. Plans are to move them to the back barn on the property where they keep the mares and foals once it has been a month’s time since birth. Here they will be paired up with another mare and foal with whom they will share a larger paddock for the time being.