Lundergan Goes to $800K for Uncle Mo Filly

Early into the second day of the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October Yearlings Sale Oct. 20, Donato Lanni, agent for Lundergan Stables, stretched to $800,000 for a filly from the last crop of the influential sire Uncle Mo. Jerry Lundergan of Lundergan Stables said the filly's appeal was her strong physical presence and her pedigree. "This filly was, as I understand it, supposed to go to The Saratoga Sale and got sick, and ended up being here at this sale, so we're lucky to end up with her," Lundergan said. Lundergan said he did not plan on having to stretch to $800,000 and he originally pegged her around $350,000-$400,000. He said the influence of Bob Baffert kept him in the bidding. "Because Mr. Baffert, this was his favorite filly, and he told me that this was the horse," Lundergan said. Hip 426 was bred in Kentucky by Christian and Karin Bradeen. She is out of the stakes-placed Tapit mare Velvet Crush, who is out of the multiple stakes-winning and graded stakes-placed mare White Clover. White Clover is a full sister to grade 1 winner and 2006 Kentucky Oaks (G1) runner-up Ermine. Hip 426 is a half sister to Guns of Roses (Gun Runner), who was recently third in a maiden special weight at Belmont Park for Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. She finished 1 length behind the winner. Just a few hips earlier, Lundergan also bought Hip 419, a colt by Good Magic, for $230,000. The colt is out of the winning Uncle Mo mare Uyuni, who is out of the multiple graded stakes-winning mare Pachattack. Hip 419 was consigned by Gainesway and bred by A.R. Enterprises and Gainesway. The colt went through the sales ring last month at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, where he failed to meet his reserve, attracting a final bid of $335,000. "We're very excited we got both a colt and a filly today here as Fasig-Tipton. Today, we've got a Derby winner and an Oaks winner," he said with a smile. Lundergan said, including the two yearlings purchased today, that brings his stable total to three. He is relatively new to owning Thoroughbreds, but has long been involved in the industry—from a different side. "As a young man, I used to do all the food service here at Fasig-Tipton," Lundergan said. "My company that we own, Lundy's Catering, we did all the food service here. I've had an inkling for horses for a long time. You have to wait until you get so old in life before you have the money to buy." Lundergan said his purchases would head to Florida for the early breaking process and then join the barn of trainer Bob Baffert.