by Lauren Gash, BloodHorse
CJ Thoroughbreds saw its stakes-placed runner Cancel This command the room's attention Nov. 9 during the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale, driving the bidding to $825,000 during Day 2. Lexington's own Helen Alexander and agent Larkin Armstrong gave the final nod to add the 4-year-old Malibu Moon filly to their farm.
"When Dale Romans picked her out, I remember thinking she was one of the most athletic, well-balanced yearlings we had ever bought," Corey Johnsen of CJ Thoroughbreds said. "She had a good, solid racing career, and our plan was to buy yearlings, race, and then sell as broodmare prospects. This one worked out very well."
Cancel This ran for three years and earned $241,103, including a second-place finish in the Satin and Lace Stakes this year at Presque Isle Downs. The bay filly out of dual stakes winner Catch My Fancy is a half sibling to grade 3-placed stakes winner Dubini and stakes winner What a Catch.
Her full sister Catch the Moon has produced Haskell Stakes (G1) winning sire Girvin, millionaire earner Midnight Bourbon, Iroquois Stakes (G3) winner Cocked and Loaded, and Pirate's Punch, a winner in the Salvator Mile Stakes (G3).
Another full sibling to Cancel This, Clarendon Fancy, is the dam of this year's Spinaway Stakes (G1) winner and Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) runner Brightwork.
"We purchased two mares yesterday, one for $425,000 and one for $400,000," Armstrong said. "Helen went into the sale wanting to buy some nice young mares for her breeding program, so I feel like we got stuff we're excited about."
Alexander's other two purchases on Wednesday were Weekend Away, Hip 166 for $400,000, and Candy Raid, Hip 206 for $425,000. Both mares sold from the Taylor Made Sales Agency banner, in foal to Quality Road and Not This Time.
"Today, we were waiting for this one," Armstrong said. "This mare could have sold in any sale."
CJ Thoroughbreds purchased the mare as a yearling for $180,000 at the 2020 Keeneland September Sale from Paramount Sales. She was bred in Kentucky by Castleton Lyons and Kilboy Estate.
Today's $825,000 price tag was the icing on the cake for her owner. "Of course, we got a little lucky with the pedigree booming up," Johnsen said. "It would be tough to expect something like that. We figured the market would take her as far as it would go. We're very excited; this was one that worked out."
Four Star Sales consigned the racing or broodmare prospect as Hip 601.
"It's always great to win for friends," consignor Kerry Cauthen said. "I think that was beyond our expectations by quite a number, but when you bring out the best-looking filly of the day, you're going to get rewarded."
He added: "I think the market, all in all, has been fair. It's changing a bit. It's trending towards the better stock being rewarded the most. It's getting a little stickier for the stock that is not perceived as the best. That's the nature of the market we're in right now. But I would say that it's still very vibrant."