Top-Priced Flightline Brings $2.2M at Keeneland

A filly (Hip 338) from 2022 Horse of the Year Flightline's first crop brought $2.2 million from LSU Stables during the Sept. 9 second session of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Bred by Mandy Pope's Whisper Hill Farm, the filly was the co-top-selling lot of the day and became Flightline's top-priced offering to sell at public auction. Hip 338 is the first foal out of the multiple graded stakes winner Four Graces, who was purchased by Whisper Hill Farm in 2022 at the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale for $2.3 million. The filly was consigned by Gainesway as agent. I'm really happy for Mandy (Pope)," said Brian Graves, general manager of Gainesway. "She's good for the game. She puts a lot into it. She puts her thoughts and heart and soul into the matings and raises those things up. It's nice to see her rewarded. "The filly (Hip 338) was a queen. She was just absolutely beautiful. She had beautiful angles. Everybody in this place loved her. I think she was one of the best fillies here, and she proved it." Graves said she brought a little higher than anticipated. "She was absolutely stunning. We weren't sure at her size if she was going to break through like that, but all the best judges found her." LSU Stables made two other purchases Tuesday—all fillies by Flightline. Hip 294, bred and sold by Clearsky Farms, was purchased for $750,000. The filly is out of the graded stakes-winning Blame mare Daisy, making her a half sister to multiple stakes winner Botanical. Hip 329 is the first foal of the stakes-winning mare Feeling Mischief, who brought $600,000. She was bred by Orpendale and consigned by Lane's End, agent. Larry Sarf, co-owner of LSU Stables, said the plan is for the fillies to get their early training at Mayberry Farms in Florida, and then to trainer Miguel Clement for next year's Saratoga Race Course meet. "Mr. Sarf selected them, and was very keen on them," said Clement of the fillies. "The whole LSU team is very excited about Flightline. "He (Larry) thought she (Hip 338) was the best one in the sale. Yes, it's a lot of money, but that's what the market is right now for Book 1 at Keeneland." LSU Stables' most successful horse to date is multiple grade 1 winner Far Bridge, who has won graded stakes races from ages 3-5, including a win this summer at Saratoga in the Bowling Green Stakes (G2T). "His big vision is to compete at the highest level in New York," Clement said. "That's the whole LSU Stables mantra. He's got all of his horses based in New York. He's had a phenomenal season with his horses, and he's decided to rebuild his stable here at Keeneland, so I'm very lucky."