Keeneland will showcase Rigney Racing’s expanded yearling consignment this week, marking a significant milestone for the operation that bred Eclipse Award finalist Chancer McPatrick (McKinzie), winner of last year’s GI Hopeful and GI Champagne.
The Kentucky-based operation arrives at the September Sale with 17 yearlings — a substantial increase from their single-lot offering at Fasig-Tipton Saratoga last month that commanded $1.4 million from the partnership of Repole Stable and Grandview. Denali Stud will handle the consignment.
“It’s a nice mix between homebreds and weanling purchases,” said Phil Bauer, Rigney Racing’s private trainer. “It’s fairly even between homebreds and [pinhooks] this year. They both have the physical, which is the main thing and we’re excited to see what the public thinks about them.”
Early in Monday’s session, Rigney Racing will present Hip 27, Madison’s Freggie, purchased by Richard Rigney for $425,000 at Keeneland September in 2021. Though unraced, she offers an impressive pedigree as a half-sister to MGSW Canoodling (Pioneerof the Nile) with a second dam who is a full-sister to champion Shanghai Bobby.
“I had her and she showed a ton of ability and got hurt before she ran so that’s why we went ahead and kept her,” Bauer explained. “You keep your fingers crossed that they produce pretty foals and for her first foal, she is a great physical and is by Tapit.”
Later in Monday’s session, Hip 72 — a $190,000 weanling purchase at Keeneland November — will enter the ring. The yearling is out of unraced mare Pioneer Princess (Pioneerof the Nile), herself out of a sister to Grade I winner and producer Marylebone (Unbridle’s Song).
“She is a beautiful horse and Practical Joke is picking up enough steam that she’ll be sought after as well,” noted Bauer.
The partnership between Rigney and Bauer began when Bauer was an assistant to trainer Kenny McPeek. After initial growing pains, their collaboration has evolved into a comprehensive breeding, selling, and racing operation.
Rigney Racing now maintains 20 broodmares at Denali Stud in Kentucky, with approximately 100 horses across all aspects of the operation.
The recent seven-figure yearling sale at Saratoga represents a significant achievement for the growing enterprise.
“We loved the horse on the farm and felt like it went really well up there. He had all the right people on him,” Bauer said. “It’s really the perfect storm of what you need to have when you’re selling a horse.”
“[The sale] was Rigney Racing coming full circle. We bought the mare and won a stake with her. She was the beginning of what we hope will be a glimpse of things to come for us with the breeding program.”
Bauer credits bloodstock agent John Moynihan with accelerating the operation’s growth since joining the team.
“He’s steering the boat and we are fortunate enough to be there,” said Bauer. “We work well together. But he’s definitely the driving force behind this.”
The trainer emphasized that Rigney’s vision and passion remain central to the operation’s success.
“Mr. Rigney is a big-picture kind of guy,” he said. “I think when we’re buying these horses as weanlings and yearlings, we anticipate that they will hopefully reach a level where we can bring them to the broodmare band and create a brand that we have worked hard to develop.”
“Rigney Racing has reached that level breeding a horse like Chancer McPatrick. With the graded stakes mares on the farm now producing nice foals by really good stallions, it’s definitely a recipe for success. It’s coming together and hopefully it continues to do well.”
