expensive date

Young mares are all the rage in Kentucky this fall, selling for off-the-wall prices to sheiks, oil tycoons and the Irish (and Frank Stronach, too. He's spent nearly $3M over the past three days on broodmare prospects. Frank is our friend.) Other groups, mostly from Europe, are also swooping in to take advantage of the discounted dollar. Reports on the sales are here and here. Mares that I recall as nice enough, but without big pedigrees nor brilliance on the track, are selling at figures well north of $1m. Appears that all it takes is the bit of black type from a decent race, a cover from the right stud and everything pointing the proper way physically and you're on your way.

Irish Smoke, winner of the Grade One Spinaway at the Spa this summer (and nowhere in the BC Juv. Fillies at MP) sold for only $750,000, a light number considering overall results. Have to imagine that something is up with the filly given the fact that she's just two years old and already the G1 winner. She was bought by a racing operation, IEAH, so we should see her back on the track. Maybe she's really crooked, I don't know.

Money seems to be flowing in the art world, too, so the high-end spenders look to be doing quite well, thank you very much. Wonder if Wal-Mart can woo them to do holiday shopping at their stores this quarter.

Hitting the road tomorrow to check out a few weanling prospects down at Bright View Farms in Burlington County. A few just shipped in from KY that are worth the trip, so Woolley will meet me there and we'll have a look. I'll bring the camera and try to have the few baby pictures to post afterwards.