Gordon Waterstone

Lexington, KY — Following a record-breaking opening session Monday night, day two of the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale at Fasig-Tipton on Tuesday afternoon set new all-time highs, with 227 horses selling for $20.4 million — an average of $90,013.

Leading the way on Tuesday was the $500,000 purchase of Flashback Bi, a son of Greenshoe purchased by Courant Inc. from breeder M Biasuzzi Stable as part of the Hunterton Sales Agency consignment.

Tuesday was another strong session for my sponsors, Steve and Cindy Stewart’s Hunterton Farm and Hunterton Sales Agency as in addition to Flashback Bi, Hunterton also sold for $235,000 on Tuesday a Captaintreacherous colt named Captain’s Quarters to Herb Holland, acting as agent for Richard Stiles. Hunterton had another $200,000 seller in Piquancy, a Walner colt who went to John Cancelliere.

Hunterton Sales Agency sold 28 on Tuesday for $2.411 million, an average of $86,107. Overall, Hunterton has sold 49 thus far for $7.548 million. And you can’t wipe those smiles off Steve and Cindy’s faces.

Tuesday’s sale action actually got underway an hour earlier with the Breeders Crown Charity Challenge “Cocktails For A Cause.” I arrived at Fasig-Tipton at 1 p.m. for the festivities, and sat at a table with Boss Kathy and James Witherite.

Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton is interviewed by Dave Brower at the Cocktails For A Cause charity function at the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale. Gordon Waterstone photo.

There was a nice gathering for a good cause in the Kentucky Room, with more than $800,000 already raised to date for charities. The festivities even brought Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton out and she did an interview with Dave Brower, as you see in the photo.

My two co-workers decided to head outside to the new patio area and I tagged along as it was a beautiful afternoon in the Bluegrass. Boss Kathy and James got up shortly and as I sat there alone Mitchel Skolnick came over. Mitchel told me he had high hopes that the Hall of Fame in Goshen, N.Y., could have a patio like the one at Fasig-Tipton where future Hall of Fame induction dinners could be held. I told Mitchel he had my backing all the way. If you’re in town for the sale make sure you head over to the patio area adjacent to the back walking ring.

I saw my co-worker Wendy Ross standing at the back ring so I went over to say hello and was stopped by James Nielsen, who I didn’t know. He introduced himself and told me he’s an avid reader of Backstretch With Gordon. Of course I thanked him and was honored that he took the time to greet me. Since I had a vet appointment for my cat Willow, who is still not feeling 100 percent — sorry Emma for the cat mention but I had to do it — I didn’t stay too long at the sale. On my way out I stopped to talk to Andrew Cohen for a second.

After spending a quiet night at home I made it to The Red Mile at 8:30 this morning and was pleased to see a fully-stocked breakfast table. Cindy Solverson was on the loudspeaker telling everyone that food and coffee were available, with today again being sponsored by The Deck trainers.

I stopped first in the judges’ office as I wanted to ask PJ Cooksey how yesterday’s TV interview with WLEX’s Nancy Cox with Bulldog Hanover and his connections went and when the segment will air. I found Jeff James in the office and he was joined by Trackman Greg. PJ wasn’t there but Jeff told me that the segment is scheduled to air tonight on the 7 p.m. news broadcast. I told Jeff and Greg that a clip of Nancy getting nipped by Bulldog yesterday was posted online by the TV station and that it had a lot of views.

Trackman Greg asked me if I wanted to ask him any questions about dirt, and when I told him I didn’t, I decided to then head to the back of the barn area to stop and see trainer Tony Alagna. I wanted to check to see if Tony had any money left for the next three yearling sale sessions and he assured me he did. Over the first two days, Tony told me he bought 15 yearlings for more than $2.4 million.

“I’m very pleased so far as we got some really nice pacers and trotters that checked all the boxes,” Tony told me.

Tony also told me that he is looking to purchase a farm in Kentucky and he has eyes on one that he is working on. That will mean that Tony won’t be training at The Red Mile in the future. He said with Kentucky set to have three racetracks open in 2023 — The Red Mile, Oak Grove and Corbin, the latter opening next year — he wants to be in the Bluegrass. He already has a farm in New Jersey and he told me that this upcoming winter would likely be his last training in Florida.

I then headed over to see Bulldog Hanover and all I found was Johnny cleaning the stall. Johnny told me trainer Jack Darling was out on the track with Bulldog Hanover as they were filming a segment with Wendy Ross. Johnny did the interview with Nancy Cox and he told me it went well. He said Bulldog nipped her because he’s been getting so much food from people that he was looking for some from Nancy.

As I walked up to the track Carter Pinske came by and said hello and he was with somebody who I don’t remember. I didn’t take the time to write it down so of course my memory is failing, so my apologies. It’s not the first time I didn’t write a name down and forgot who it was. I then saw Alaina Alexander taking photos of a horse being handled by her husband, Travis, and he told me that it was her horse so she wanted the photos. Paul Kelley and then Nifty Norman came by and I asked who he was taking to the track and he told me it was Venerable, and I say I know that filly trotter very well.

I grabbed a bagel from the breakfast table and looked to sit down but the seats on The Deck were all taken. I went over to sit on an outside sofa but realized the cushions were wet. I walked to a picnic table but that too was wet from the morning condensation. So I went up to the fence and Wire To Wire’s Matt Franklin was there and he told me he watched as I tried to find a dry spot.

I saw Jack and Bulldog Hanover on the infield track with Wendy on a horse jogging alongside. The rest of the team of Kyle, Rich and Mark were also out there as they filmed the segment for the USTA social media pages. I decided then to head out and as I did, Trackman Greg’s brother, Trackman Dan, came by.

The yearling sale continues Wednesday and Thursday afternoon and then Friday night. And there is a mixed sale Saturday night. Racing resumes Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m. and the forecast looks great. We’re going to be about 74 degrees today and we might hit 80 on Thursday, but then it’ll cool down to the low 60s on Friday and maybe hit 60 on Saturday. The high on Sunday is now expected to reach 63 for the Kentucky Futurity card that includes Bulldog Hanover in the Allerage final.

I’ll be back with you on Thursday and once again, gas prices remain the same around town.