Winchell Thoroughbreds has confirmed that recent Fasig-Tipton August Digital sales topper Snow Face Princess will head to Kentucky Downs, trainer Steve Asmussen told TDN Wednesday.
The 2-year-old daughter of Crusin Alone, who recently captured the 5 1/2-furlong Bolton Landing Stakes at Saratoga Aug. 17, will stretch out to 6 1/2 furlongs for the $1-million Untapable Stakes Sept. 7.
Winchell Thoroughbreds, co-owner of the Kentucky Downs track in Franklin, KY, acquired the filly for $775,000 in Tuesday’s digital auction. Snow Face Princess remains undefeated since transitioning to turf racing and has accumulated over $140,000 in career earnings through just three starts under previous trainer Todd Pletcher.
The filly’s family has already demonstrated affinity for the Kentucky Downs surface. Grand Sonata, out of Crusin Alone’s half-sister A. P. Sonata, established a course record last year in the GII FanDuel TV Kentucky Turf Cup Stakes.
“She’s a stakes winner on the turf so that made her attractive to us,” said David Fiske, Winchell’s racing manager. “We’ve had good luck with a previous Bolton Landing Stakes winner [Winchell homebred Simple Surprise, the dam of MGISW and young sire Gunite].”
While Winchell Thoroughbreds has previously sold horses through the Fasig-Tipton Digital platform, Snow Face Princess represents their first digital acquisition.
“I told Steve [Asmussen], I called him yesterday and said we bought that filly and I’m not sure what the next step is now,” Fiske said laughing. “So that’s our entry into the digital world.”
Fiske acknowledged that a strong performance in the Untapable could position Snow Face Princess for Breeders’ Cup consideration in November.
“That’s a long way off,” he said. “She’s already made three starts and Kentucky Downs would be four with a ship [from Saratoga]. But I think if she ran well, we’d have to take a look at it.”
Ascot Walk Joins Erdenheim Farm
Ascot Walk, the top-selling broodmare in the August Digital Sale, will join the Erdenheim Farm broodmare band after commanding $550,000.
The 10-year-old daughter of Daaher has produced three stakes runners from as many foals, beginning with GSP Regaled and followed by Drexel Hill, who is returning to training after a minor injury suffered when finishing second in the GI Longines Kentucky Oaks. Her 2-year-old daughter Grazie recently placed third in the Seeking the Ante Stakes at Saratoga Aug. 22 for trainer Todd Pletcher and Repole Stable.
“She’s a proven broodmare,” said Erdenheim owner Peter McCausland. “And we’re looking for a few really good, different broodmares. Physically she’s a great individual and we’re glad to have her. [The price] was within the range that we were expecting.”
Ascot Walk sold in foal to Horse of the Year Cody’s Wish, whose first crop arrived earlier this year.
“Cody’s Wish is unproven,” McCausland said, “but we had someone look at a few of his foals and they’re very attractive so that was a minor factor [in the purchase].”
Future mating plans remain undetermined for Ascot Walk, whose youngest offspring is a yearling Redesdale filly.
Erdenheim Farm has been active at recent Fasig-Tipton sales, including a $1.475 million acquisition of a Gun Runner filly (hip 200) out of GI Kentucky Oaks winner Shedaresthedevil at the Saratoga Sale earlier this month.
