Jay Goodwin was poised coming into Book 3 of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale Nov. 7 to bring a colt that accurately represented his confidence in a stallion that holds a special place in his heart—2023 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Mage .
Goodwin did just that when the colt consigned as Hip 1090 by Vinery Sales—where he works as account manager—soared to $310,000, purchased by Cherry Knoll Farm.
"It's the highest horse I've ever sold that I own," Goodwin said. "We sold one for $260,000, we've sold some higher than that for clients, but a personal horse; this means so much. My guys do such a great job, and we're out in the middle of nowhere.
"My son (Cam Goodwin) who's managing the farm now is doing a great job, and I'm gone (a lot) and doing all the sales and trying to see kids, so he kept everything together very well, and it all paid off for all of us."
Goodwin purchased the colt's dam American Sway, a daughter of 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah , at the 2021 Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training for $20,000 from SBM Training and Sales. Always looking for a mare with a good pedigree to add to his broodmare band at Good Win Farm near Paris, Ky., he said she fit the bill.
American Sway is out of the grade 1-placed and graded stakes producer Light the City. She hails from the immediate family of multiple graded stakes winner and millionaire Tumbarumba, who was prepped at Good Win Farm before selling as a yearling at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton October Yearling Sale to trainer Brian Lynch.
"Susan Montanye, who's a good friend of mine, called me and said 'Hey, I've got this big pedigree mare,' which I always look for at the 2-year-old sales; she said 'It's not going to bring much, so just watch her.' I loved the pedigree, and I can't get pedigrees like that unless something's not quite right or there's a hole somewhere.
"So, we bought her for $20,000 at the 2-year-old sale, and with plans all along just to have a mare that we normally wouldn't have with a pedigree like that in our broodmare band, and move us up a little bit."
Goodwin, who bred Hip 1090 with Cloyce Clark Jr., said American Sway's big, stretchy build fit perfectly with Mage, who stands at Airdrie Stud near Midway, Ky.
"She's a 16.3 (hand) mare," he said. "I mean, she's a big mare, and Mage is so typey, he's good-sized, but if you put them two together, you would hope to get exactly what we got. They just complement each other so much. She gave him a little length and stretch, and he gave her a little more hip than normal.
"Ramiro (Restrepo) owned Mage and is one of my best friends, and me and (wife) Rachel were in the winner's circle at the Kentucky Derby for the first time with him. He had a huge spot in our hearts, and then when we went and saw him, he was just the perfect sire to physically match the mare."
Goodwin said the $310,000 price, which is the co-highest price for a weanling from Mage's first crop, far exceeded his expectations.
"I thought this morning we could get $200,000," he said. "I thought $200,000 was possible, but $310,000, I mean, it took me an hour to catch my breath and just let it all sink in, and it's finally sinking in.
"I was in tears, I had Puddins (daughter Jaylynn) with me, which was special for her to see that. It was just about as good a day as I could have."
