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Tip Top Thomas Tops Keeneland November Horses of Racing Age Sale

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Tip Top Thomas (Volatile), winner of last year’s GIII Indiana Derby and runner-up in the previous term’s GI Champagne S., brought $460,000 from Blandford Bloodstock to top Thursday’s Keeneland November Horses of Racing Age Sale.

Keeneland sold a total of 84 horses for $7,798,000, for an average of $92,834 and a median of $52,500. Compared to the 2025 sale–topped by the $1.3-million KAS Stables purchase and subsequent three-time graded winner Bishops Bay (Uncle Mo)–the gross declined 25.41% from 10,455,000, and the average dipped 4.10%. The median jumped 31.25% from $40,000.

From 87 head offered, all but one horse found a buyer. Two additional horses that did not meet their reserves through the ring were successfully sold post-sale.

“There is a real appetite for racehorses in the market right now, and the clearance rate is a clear reflection of that demand,” Keeneland Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy said. “As owners and trainers look ahead to a new racing season, there is an opportunity to add new talent, strengthen their stables and find horses that fit their plans. This sale is well-positioned to meet that demand by giving buyers a chance to make those additions and sellers an opportunity to connect with an active audience.”

The 4-year-old Tip Top Thomas, a $160,000 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall yearling graduate previously campaigned in partnership by James Bakke and Gerald Isbister and trained by Todd Pletcher, will continue his racing career in Dubai. He was runner-up in an optional claimer at Belmont Park last out Oct. 4.

Tip Top Thomas earned ‘TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard’ honors following a game 2-year-old debut victory on Travers Day at Saratoga in 2024. The field that day included last year’s Horse of the Year and this year’s brilliant GI Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Sovereignty (Into Mischief), who finished fourth on debut.

A half-brother to multiple stakes winner Gray Attempt (Graydar), Tip Top Thomas is out of the winning Consolidator mare Attempt to Name.

Stuart Boman | Keeneland

“He will go to Dubai for the Carnival races (at Meydan),” Stuart Boman of Blandford Bloodstock said. “This is for an existing client, who I usually buy for in Europe. We decided to come to America to try to buy some dirt horses. (Tip Top Thomas) is a quick horse with good gate speed. He is lightly raced with a big future ahead of him. Americans lead the way in breeding dirt horses. A lot of countries come to America to source these kinds of horses. We are lucky to get him.”

Boman added, “We are enthusiastic about this sale. Buying horses like this privately is not an easy  process. So, when opportunities like this come along, you grab them.”

Tip Top Thomas was consigned by ELiTE, agent, the auction’s leading consignor with sales of $3.2 million for 32 horses, including three out of the top four lots.

Tiztastic (Tiz the Law), winner of the 2025 GII Louisiana Derby and an earner of $1.8 million, sold to Winchell Thoroughbreds for $400,000. He was consigned by ELiTE, agent.

Winchell Thoroughbreds had been racing Tiztastic–previously a $335,000 Keeneland September yearling–in partnership with Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor and Derrick Smith. He finished fifth in the GIII Fayette S. at Keeneland last out Oct. 24.

Winchell Racing Manager David Fiske said that Tiztastic will return to training with Steve Asmussen at Churchill Downs.

Last year’s GI Hollywood Derby winner Salamis (Speightstown), most recently fourth in a Keeneland allowance Oct. 8, sold to Fergus Galvin, agent, for $350,000. A half-brother to MGISW Segesta (Ghostzapper), the Juddmonte homebred was consigned by Lane’s End, agent for Juddmonte.

“He likely will go back to (trainer) Chad Brown,” Galvin said. “Grade I winner as a 3-year-old last year and good runs this year. His last run was very good here at Keeneland. His form is at the top level, and we hope it can stay that way.”

Heartwood Farm paid $320,000 for Midway Memories (Cairo Prince), a 4-year-old winning half-sister to 2022 GI Toyota Blue Grass winner Zandon (Upstart). She was consigned by ELiTE, agent.

“This is a purchase for a partnership,” said Juan Aguilar, who co-owns Heartwood Farm with Sarah Sutherland. “The plan is to breed her next year–no more racing. She will go back to Heartwood and hopefully have some nice babies for us.”

Plus Investments led all buyers, purchasing five horses for $790,000.

The post Tip Top Thomas Tops Keeneland November Horses of Racing Age Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Life Is Good’s I Like to Party Wins Career Debut at Churchill Downs

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Flying Dutchmen’s I Like to Party (Life Is Good–Lady Aces, by Constitution), installed the 1-2 choice in his unveiling, a six-horse affair at Churchill Downs on Thursday afternoon. Prompting the pace as With You (Practical Joke) carved out an opening quarter in :22.49, the $400,000 Keeneland November grad poked his head in front through a half in :45.11. Confronted by Drain the Bourbon (Drain the Clock) late, I Like to Party held on late to win the bob by a head.

I Like to Party, the 15th winner by his Freshman Sire (by Into Mischief), is the first foal out of MGSP Lady Aces. The daughter of Constitution is also responsible for a year-younger full-sister, who sold for $275,000 at Keeneland September this season, in addition to a foal sister by Quality Road. This is the family of multiple Grade I winner Paradise Woods (Union Rags).

1st-Churchill Downs, $116,724, Msw, 11-12, 2yo, 6f, 1:10.48, ft, head.
I LIKE TO PARTY (c, 2, Life Is Good–Lady Aces {MGSP}, by Constitution) Sales history: $400,000 Wlg ’24 KEENOV. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $69,088. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel Racing.
O-Flying Dutchmen Breeding and Racing LLC; B-CHC Inc. (KY); T-Brian A. Lynch.

The post Life Is Good’s I Like to Party Wins Career Debut at Churchill Downs appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Tip Top Thomas Tops Keeneland November Horses of Racing Age Sale

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Tip Top Thomas (Volatile), winner of last year’s GIII Indiana Derby and runner-up in the previous term’s GI Champagne S., brought $460,000 from Blandford Bloodstock to top Thursday’s Keeneland November Horses of Racing Age Sale.

Keeneland sold a total of 84 horses for $7,798,000, for an average of $92,834 and a median of $52,500. Compared to the 2025 sale–topped by the $1.3-million KAS Stables purchase and subsequent three-time graded winner Bishops Bay (Uncle Mo)–the gross declined 25.41% from 10,455,000, and the average dipped 4.10%. The median jumped 31.25% from $40,000.

From 87 head offered, all but one horse found a buyer. Two additional horses that did not meet their reserves through the ring were successfully sold post-sale.

“There is a real appetite for racehorses in the market right now, and the clearance rate is a clear reflection of that demand,” Keeneland Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy said. “As owners and trainers look ahead to a new racing season, there is an opportunity to add new talent, strengthen their stables and find horses that fit their plans. This sale is well-positioned to meet that demand by giving buyers a chance to make those additions and sellers an opportunity to connect with an active audience.”

The 4-year-old Tip Top Thomas, a $160,000 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall yearling graduate previously campaigned in partnership by James Bakke and Gerald Isbister and trained by Todd Pletcher, will continue his racing career in Dubai. He was runner-up in an optional claimer at Belmont Park last out Oct. 4.

Tip Top Thomas earned ‘TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard’ honors following a game 2-year-old debut victory on Travers Day at Saratoga in 2024. The field that day included last year’s Horse of the Year and this year’s brilliant GI Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Sovereignty (Into Mischief), who finished fourth on debut.

A half-brother to multiple stakes winner Gray Attempt (Graydar), Tip Top Thomas is out of the winning Consolidator mare Attempt to Name.

Stuart Boman | Keeneland

“He will go to Dubai for the Carnival races (at Meydan),” Stuart Boman of Blandford Bloodstock said. “This is for an existing client, who I usually buy for in Europe. We decided to come to America to try to buy some dirt horses. (Tip Top Thomas) is a quick horse with good gate speed. He is lightly raced with a big future ahead of him. Americans lead the way in breeding dirt horses. A lot of countries come to America to source these kinds of horses. We are lucky to get him.”

Boman added, “We are enthusiastic about this sale. Buying horses like this privately is not an easy  process. So, when opportunities like this come along, you grab them.”

Tip Top Thomas was consigned by ELiTE, agent, the auction’s leading consignor with sales of $3.2 million for 32 horses, including three out of the top four lots.

Tiztastic (Tiz the Law), winner of the 2025 GII Louisiana Derby and an earner of $1.8 million, sold to Winchell Thoroughbreds for $400,000. He was consigned by ELiTE, agent.

Winchell Thoroughbreds had been racing Tiztastic–previously a $335,000 Keeneland September yearling–in partnership with Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor and Derrick Smith. He finished fifth in the GIII Fayette S. at Keeneland last out Oct. 24.

Winchell Racing Manager David Fiske said that Tiztastic will return to training with Steve Asmussen at Churchill Downs.

Last year’s GI Hollywood Derby winner Salamis (Speightstown), most recently fourth in a Keeneland allowance Oct. 8, sold to Fergus Galvin, agent, for $350,000. A half-brother to MGISW Segesta (Ghostzapper), the Juddmonte homebred was consigned by Lane’s End, agent for Juddmonte.

“He likely will go back to (trainer) Chad Brown,” Galvin said. “Grade I winner as a 3-year-old last year and good runs this year. His last run was very good here at Keeneland. His form is at the top level, and we hope it can stay that way.”

Heartwood Farm paid $320,000 for Midway Memories (Cairo Prince), a 4-year-old winning half-sister to 2022 GI Toyota Blue Grass winner Zandon (Upstart). She was consigned by ELiTE, agent.

“This is a purchase for a partnership,” said Juan Aguilar, who co-owns Heartwood Farm with Sarah Sutherland. “The plan is to breed her next year–no more racing. She will go back to Heartwood and hopefully have some nice babies for us.”

Plus Investments led all buyers, purchasing five horses for $790,000.

The post Tip Top Thomas Tops Keeneland November Horses of Racing Age Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Life Is Good’s I Like to Party Wins Career Debut at Churchill Downs

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Flying Dutchmen’s I Like to Party (Life Is Good–Lady Aces, by Constitution), installed the 1-2 choice in his unveiling, a six-horse affair at Churchill Downs on Thursday afternoon. Prompting the pace as With You (Practical Joke) carved out an opening quarter in :22.49, the $400,000 Keeneland November grad poked his head in front through a half in :45.11. Confronted by Drain the Bourbon (Drain the Clock) late, I Like to Party held on late to win the bob by a head.

I Like to Party, the 15th winner by his Freshman Sire (by Into Mischief), is the first foal out of MGSP Lady Aces. The daughter of Constitution is also responsible for a year-younger full-sister, who sold for $275,000 at Keeneland September this season, in addition to a foal sister by Quality Road. This is the family of multiple Grade I winner Paradise Woods (Union Rags).

1st-Churchill Downs, $116,724, Msw, 11-12, 2yo, 6f, 1:10.48, ft, head.
I LIKE TO PARTY (c, 2, Life Is Good–Lady Aces {MGSP}, by Constitution) Sales history: $400,000 Wlg ’24 KEENOV. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $69,088. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel Racing.
O-Flying Dutchmen Breeding and Racing LLC; B-CHC Inc. (KY); T-Brian A. Lynch.

The post Life Is Good’s I Like to Party Wins Career Debut at Churchill Downs appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.