The prolific families of Sam-Son Farm, built under the guidance of Ernest Samuel beginning in 1972, read like a fairytale. While the farm is closing its doors, Whimsical Dance will continue to write the following chapters in Canada with breeder David Anderson of Anderson Farms, who purchased the mare in partnership with Stonereath Stud for $725,000 Nov. 9.
The 3-year-old Distorted Humor mare was consigned to the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale as Hip 989 with Sam-Son Farm. The lightly raced filly is a half sister to 2020 Sovereign Award Champion Turf Male Say the Word and 2020 Canadian Stakes Presented by the Japan Racing Association (G2T) winner Rideforthecause.
"I have admired the Sam-Son Farm operation my entire life growing up in Canada. I have strived to be even remotely close to as good a breeder as they have been," Anderson said. "This is a filly from their absolute best family. I took one look at her—the Distorted Humor over Giant's Causeway is all broodmare sires down to Dance Smartly. It is something I really wanted to have in my program, and this was the last stop for the Sam-Son train. I'm thrilled to have her."
The filly has made three starts since the catalog was printed, winning first time out at Woodbine in a maiden special weight in August. She finished just off the board in September in the Wonder Where Stakes and followed up with a win on the same track Nov. 5 in an allowance optional claiming race. While the ultimate goal is the broodmare band, a return to the track might be in the cards.
Anderson added: "I'm going to take a look at that; obviously, we would love to get some black type on her, but at the end of the day, I bought her for her ovaries, and she'll be a long-term mare for our program."
Further down the page, the filly goes back to the foundation mare line of Dance Smartly for Sam-Son Farm. The fast filly by Danzig was the 1990 Canadian Champion 2-year-old filly, Canadian Horse of the Year, and Champion 3-year-old filly the following year, while also claiming the Canadian Triple Crown. In 2001 she became the Canadian Outstanding Broodmare after her progeny Dancethruthedawn started to leave her mark by becoming the Canadian Champion 3-year-old filly the same year.
"My father died twelve years ago yesterday, and he and Mr. Samuel (of Sam-Son Farm) were great friends and did a lot of business together over the years, so it really is an emotional purchase for me, for sure," Anderson commented.
