The list of accomplished horses that Nick Sallusto has been involved with is a long one, and at Saratoga Race Course this summer, he added two to that impressive list: Chancer McPatrick and With the Angels.
On his own or with partners, Sallusto played a role in buying or developing Big Brown , winner of the 2008 Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness Stakes (G1); multiple grade 1 winners Kip Deville, Mind Control , and Court Vision; and graded winners Caledonia Road, Violence , I Want Revenge, and Bella Sofia.
One of Sallusto's recent high-profile purchases is Chancer McPatrick, a 2-year-old colt by freshman sire McKinzie . Bred in Kentucky by Rigney Racing, the bay colt sold as a yearling for $260,000 from the consignment of Denali Stud at last year's Fasig-Tipton The July Sale. While Sallusto wasn't involved in the bidding for the colt at that sale, he and partner John Kimmel led it at this year's Ocala Breeders' Spring 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale, going to $725,000. The colt was consigned by Caliente Thoroughbreds.
"Fortunately, we have a client who is willing to risk that kind of money," Sallusto said, referring to Sean Flanagan of Flanagan Racing, which owns Chancer McPatrick. "The hardest part of the business is finding clients who want to spend that much. It's easier to find good horses."
Chancer McPatrick is out of the Bernardini mare Bernadreamy, and his second dam is the grade 1 winner Dream Empress (Bernstein), who retired with earnings of more than $763,000.
Sallusto began buying for Flanagan this year, after the latter had had some horses at the former's Thorostock training center in Morriston, Fla., about 30 minutes northwest of Ocala.
"Mr. Flanagan is very astute in figuring out what the market is, and he'll sometimes choose to go above the perceived value," said Sallusto. "Our appraisal of this horse fell between $600,000 and $800,000."
Beyond the obvious attractive elements of the horse, such as his speedy work and pedigree, Sallusto and Kimmel were particularly drawn to his demeanor.
"His work looked to be fairly effortless, and he was physically near perfect," said Sallusto. "But the crowning factor for me was his mentality. He was totally relaxed and laid-back, a 100% cool customer."
Chancer McPatrick is one of five winners from 35 runners in McKinzie's first crop, good enough to be ranked seventh on the leading freshman sires list. Two of those winners have come at this Saratoga meet; in addition to Chancer McPatrick's win, Briland won a maiden special weight Aug. 18.
"John and I continue to see a lot of positive things from the McKinzies at the sales," said Sallusto. "He's a horse that really interests us, and Bernardini is a terrific broodmare sire."
McKinzie stands at Gainesway in Lexington for $30,000.
Sallusto didn't do the shopping for With the Angels (Omaha Beach ), but he was instrumental in putting together the filly's eventual ownership group.
Among his clients is Winning Move Stable, a partnership that has owned horses in New York for nearly two decades and that focuses on New York-bred fillies. Outbid at auctions multiple times earlier this year, Sallusto was approached by colleague Justin Casse after the latter bought With the Angels for $350,000 at this year's OBS April sale from Wavertree Stables.
"Justin bought the filly on spec, not for a definite client," Sallusto explained. "John and I had absolutely loved her, but we didn't have the money to buy her. He asked if I'd be interested in buying her, and I made one call, to Steve Sigler of Winning Move."
"Do you love her?" asked Sigler about the horse.
"I love her," replied Sallusto.
"Then do it," said Sigler.
Winning Move owns With the Angels in partnership with John Oxley, Lady Sheila Stable, and Rideau Racers.
"Steve is a very good handicapper," said Sallusto. "He sees some weaknesses in New York-bred routing fillies, and I agree that that's a good category to shop in. He buys fillies for precociousness, but also with the pedigree and physicals to stretch out."
With the Angels was bred by Joseph DeRico. He and his father have bred five generations of the filly's family, going back to a 1983 foal named Margaret's Charm. With the Angels' pedigree includes multiple stakes winner Dr. Disco and five other horses that have earned six figures, many of which were sired by Disco Rico, purchased by DeRico's father in 1999 for $82,000.
"The filly was jaw-dropping," said Sallusto of With the Angels. "She had a top breeze, and she's very typical of the War Front line. Like Omaha Beach, she's compact and beautiful. And like I did with Chancer McPatrick, I loved her disposition. She's got the same great mind."
Omaha Beach stands at Spendthrift Farm in Lexington for $40,000. The son of War Front moved to the top of the leading second-crop sires list after his most recent stakes winner, Caitlinhergrtness, won the King's Plate Aug. 23 at Woodbine.
While Sallusto's partnership with Kimmel is relatively new, the two have literally been on the same (pedigree) page with many of their purchases.
"John's about as level-headed a person as I know, and we have a good back-and-forth when we air our viewpoints," said Sallusto. "The majority of the time, we're in the same place before the conversation even starts."
