As a buyer, Thoroughbred auctions have treated owner Jeff Ganje well, led by his acquisition of eventual graded stakes winners Shotgun Hottie and Beatbox for $45,000 and $70,000, respectively, in a sport where six- and seven-figure purchases are not uncommon.
Now, he looks to be on the receiving end of sales fortune when he sells the two next month at Keeneland.
A 5-year-old daughter of Gun Runner consigned as a racing and/or broodmare prospect with Taylor Made Sales Agency, Shotgun Hottie appears to be one of the highlight horses of the opening session of the November Breeding Stock Sale Nov. 5 as Hip 220. The Lane's End-consigned Beatbox, a 6-year-old son of Pioneerof the Nile, sells days later as a stallion prospect as Hip 3083.
Shotgun Hottie, bought from the Gene Recio consignment to the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training in 2021, made $1,104,757 in winning six of 22 starts for Ganje and co-owner Omar Aldabbagh.
Advised on her purchase by the late bloodstock agent and consignor Mike Recio, Gene Recio's brother, Ganje calls buying Shotgun Hottie "the best decision I ever made in my life."
Beatbox, acquired as a maiden winner at the November Breeding Stock Sale in 2021 by Newport Steele, earned $427,248 over his career, the bulk of that for Ganje and co-owner Rob Comestro.
Both horses had multiple trainers over their careers, with Cherie DeVaux most recently conditioning them.
Shotgun Hottie is expected to be popular due to her achievements and the appeal of Gun Runner, one of North America's top stallions.
By deciding to sell her next month at Keeneland, Ganje said, "I kind of wanted to have her stand out a little bit, and I think if you look at the catalog, I think she stands out as definitely their brightest star for the Keeneland sale, or one of them."
Beatbox, selling strictly as a stallion prospect due to a torn suspensory that occurred this summer, is unlikely to command as large a price, owing to differences in the stallion and mare marketplace.
Beginning a stallion career in Kentucky without being a grade 1 winner is challenging. As a grade 3 winner on turf, Beatbox's appeal is more likely to come as a stallion in a foreign country or domestically in a regional market outside the Bluegrass State.
A $2.1 million yearling before Ganje purchased him as a racehorse, Beatbox has looks and pedigree, being a half brother to three-time grade 1 winner Guarana.
Ganje, 55, an Orange County, Calif., resident who worked in real estate development, said horse racing is now his full-time focus.
"This is all I do for a living," he said.
He owns about 24 horses, many in partnership, primarily utilizing trainers Jeff Bonde, Billy Morey, and DeVaux. Ganje said he and DeVaux have a 24% win mark together, with four of their six wins being stakes victories.
Though Ganje plans to sell two next month, he also wishes to reload.
"I'll probably buy two broodmares that are in foal, and I may buy a couple of weanlings, either to pinhook or to eventually race," he said. "I'll definitely be active at the sale. I can't help myself. I probably have an addiction to buying horses."
