Naylor Goes to $600,000 for Bolt d'Oro Filly

Susan Naylor (formerly Moulton) found herself in a bidding war at Keeneland's September Yearling Sale when she went to $600,000 to secure the top-priced filly (Hip 1722) by Bolt d'Oro during the Sept. 14 session. Hip 1722 is the second foal from the stakes winning Summer Front mare Shea D Summer. She was bred in Virginia by South Gate Farm and consigned by Bluegrass Thoroughbred Services. "She looked really fast," said Naylor of Hip 1722. "She walked with confidence. She's a really nice filly. That is the most I've ever paid for a horse. But, I loved her, and I just couldn't stop." The filly's half brother It's Our Time (Not This Time), broke his maiden impressively this summer at Saratoga Race Course, winning by 17 3/4 lengths for trainer Tom Amoss. "She (Hip 1722) seems to have the class to do what her brother did, and I'm hoping the brother goes on to do great things," Naylor said. Naylor added the filly will go to trainer Michael Stidham. "They've done really well for us down there, and there's no reason to change that." Naylor said she specifically looked at Virginia-bred yearlings at the sale, noting she loves the state-bred program and enjoys going to Colonial Downs. In addition to Hip 1722, she also purchased Hip 855, a filly by Essential Quality from the same connections during last week's third session for $120,000. "We've got enough on our own that if I need to keep some of mine and race, I'm really happy because I know what I have," she said. "But, we don't have Virginia breds." Naylor has plenty of experience with talented Virginia-bred horses as she campaigns Tufani, who was crowned 2024 champion older mare and 2023 champion 3-year-old filly in Virginia. The 4-year-old daughter of Distorted Humor has won six races for Naylor and racked up earnings of $406,442. Naylor started out with trainer Wayne Catalano years ago when she bought a Virginia-bred mare called Altamura, who she still has as a broodmare on her farm—Safari North near Versailles, Ky., formerly called Paul's Mill. "We had so much fun with her (Altamura)," Naylor said. "We won three stakes in a row, and she's been a really good broodmare for us." Naylor currently has around 80 head on the farm, including 25 broodmares, and 20 horses in training. She breeds to sell, but will keep them to race if she doesn't get them sold. Last week, she sold three horses during the third session of the September Sale—Hip 855, a colt by Corniche for $600,000 to BC Stables; Hip 894, a Life Is Good filly for $275,000 to SGV Thoroughbreds, and Hip 895, a filly by Cyberknife to Libero Bloodstock for $180,000. She will offer more homebreds next week during Book 5. Naylor, a native of Texas, is the daughter of a rancher who credits her father for getting her involved in racing. They pinhooked horses, mainly yearlings to 2-year-olds, and she galloped and breezed horses at Retama Park Racetrack near Selma, Texas. "My dad loved racing, so he's the one who really got me into it in my early years," she said. "I use his silks now." Naylor's most well-known horse was fan favorite and millionaire Manny Wah. His most notable win came in the 2022 Phoenix Stakes (G2) at Keeneland. The son of Will Take Charge currently stands in Arkansas at Leadem Farm. She also bred and campaigned Andthewinneris, who won the 2022 Bourbon Stakes (G2) and the 2024 Knickerbocker Stakes (G3).