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The Inglis Digital USA May Sale concluded with significant investment from connections of Gr.1 Kentucky Oaks runner-up Drexel Hill, as Legion Bloodstock secured her half-sister Regaled for the sale's top price of US$300,000.
Regaled, a 4YO daughter of Mohaymen, represents a strategic acquisition for Legion Bloodstock, the operation campaigning Drexel Hill with trainer Whit Beckman. The dark bay filly has established herself in graded company, finishing third in the Gr.3 Delaware Oaks and most recently placing third in the listed Allaire du Pont Distaff Stakes at Pimlico Race Course.
Bred in Kentucky by Chris Baccari, Regaled shares the same dam, Ascot Walk, with Drexel Hill. The winning Daaher mare has produced only two foals to race, both achieving notable success. Drexel Hill, sired by Bolt d'Oro, captured the listed Busher Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack before her Kentucky Oaks placing.
Kristian Villante of Legion Bloodstock explained the purchase rationale, stating: "She's a pretty filly with a solid race record to this point. We're obviously partial to the family having Drexel Hill, and we were underbidder on the 2YO out of Ascot Walk that sold last week (a Modernist filly that went to Repole Stable for US$310,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May 2YOs in Training Sale)."
The newly acquired filly will join Whit Beckman's string at Churchill Downs, continuing the successful partnership that guided Drexel Hill to Kentucky Oaks’ prominence. Villante added: "We think all three fillies have bright futures and we're just happy our clients believe the same. She's going to head to Whit Beckman at Churchill Downs and we'll let him and his team do their thing. Hopefully we can target some fun races with her this summer."
Previously trained by Samuel G. Davis for owner Brittnee Caballero, Regaled was consigned by Paramount Sales as agent. Paddy Campion of Paramount Sales commented: "We are delighted to see the ownership of Drexel Hill pick up her half-sister Regaled. We had confidence in being able to put her up for sale just as everything was falling into place for her, and couldn't be happier to see her hammered down to these connections."
The sales’ second-highest transaction involved another connection to Kentucky Oaks’ success, with an unnamed More Than Ready filly selling to Machmer Hall for US$220,000. The 4YO represents exceptional breeding, being a half-sister to the dam of Kentucky Oaks winner Good Cheer.
The filly's dam, Golden Sheba, an unraced Coronado's Quest mare, produced multiple Group One winner Wedding Toast, whose undefeated daughter Good Cheer captured this year's Kentucky Oaks. The pedigree extends further through second dam Mari's Sheba, dam of multiple Group One winner and sire Congaree.
Carrie Brogden of Machmer Hall expressed enthusiasm for the acquisition: "A More Than Ready mare with exceptional good looks out of a half-sister to the dam of this year's Kentucky Oaks winner with a huge deep family? What's not to love? Now just to come up with a good name."
Bred in Kentucky by Campo Oaks Management, the filly was offered from Santa Anita Park through consignor Leonard Powell, who noted: "I'm delighted that a filly with such an active pedigree goes to a very astute breeder in Carrie Brogden. I hope she finds success with her progeny in the sales ring. This is our first time consigning with Inglis Digital USA and couldn't have been happier with the process and the result."
The auction concluded with nineteen horses sold from thirty-two offered, generating total sales of US$625,250. The average price reached US$32,907 with a median of US$2,750.
Kyle Wilson, senior director of sales and recruiting for Inglis Digital USA, reflected on the results: "We're very pleased with the results from the May sale. The popular listings were just that—popular. There was a lot of activity around the sale, and I credit the team with assembling a quality catalog. We're going to keep working to move some of the horses that didn't get done. There's certainly still some value out there. We appreciate all the sellers and buyers that supported us."
Entries for the Inglis Digital USA June Sale remain open through June, with the catalog scheduled for release later in the month.