Ack Naughty didn’t fit the normal standards that Chester and Mary Broman look for at a sale; but when the mare is in foal to Upstart and has a son pointing towards the Kentucky Derby (G1) — exceptions will be made.
When the opportunity to purchase the 10-year-old mare consigned as Hip 420B during Day 1 of the Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale for $500,000 presented itself, the price was too good to pass up.
Selling from the ELiTE consignment, Ack Naughty’s half a million dollar price tag was the second-highest for the Jan. 9 session.
Becky Thomas, who has worked for the Bromans for several years, said she is normally “not allowed” to make such a purchase for her clients.
“She falls out of every criteria I’ve been given,” she said.
Ack Naughty’s only foal of racing age, Practical Move , currently sits eighth in points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard by virtue of winning the 2022 Los Alamitos Futurity (G2).
As for what the Broman’s have planned for Ack Naughty, Thomas said, “He told me not to call him until tomorrow morning. Mr. Broman has one of the original breeding rights to Into Mischief from the very beginning so I have a feeling she might be going to Into Mischief.”
At times, the market during Day 1 of the sale could be frustrating with the RNA rate coming approximately 6.5% higher than the opening session at last year’s sale.
But patience can often pay off for sellers as well as buyers.
“We were really happy with the price,” said ELiTE’s Liz Crow. “It was a fickle market and one of the toughest markets I’ve sold in. We found that we were RNA’ing every other horse; it was really tough getting some of them moved. But we had some really nice high-end mares.”
By Champion 3-year-old Afleet Alex , Ack Naughty is out of the General Meeting mare Dash for Money. The dam has six starters from seven foals, five of which are winners including 2013 Virgo Libra Stakes victor So Lonesome and No Spin who captured the 2013 Arapahoe Park Classic Stakes.
Ack Naughty was bred by Waterville Lake Stables and campaigned by Nantucket Thoroughbred Partners and Sheep Pond Partners. She raced exclusively in New York for trainer Chad Brown with a 4-7-1 record in 15 starts.
Upstart, who was the session 1 leading covering sire with five mares selling for gross receipts of $670,000, stands at Airdrie Stud for an advertised fee of $30,000.
By Joe Perez – Bloodhorse
