Reprinted from Thoroughbred Daily News
Cauthen Swoops Late for Gulf Coast Horses
By six o’clock Thursday evening, former WinStar Farm president Doug Cauthen had signed for only one horse at Keeneland November–hip 1131, a daughter of Sharp Cat named Extra Sharp(Cherokee Run), who went for $280,000. But Cauthen poured it on late, securing no fewer than eight horses from the Gulf Coast Farms dispersal that followed the day’s scheduled selling. Cauthen said he was making the purchases on behalf of three different clients, including Bill Casner. Casner, who was onhand, co-owned WinStarFarm along with Kenny Troutt, but recently was bought out by his partner. In early November, Cauthen announced he was leaving the farm to establish his own independent consulting service. Cauthen’s eight buys ranged in price from $18,000 to $62,000. The latter was the price tag attached to hip5073, the 10-year-old MSW and MGSP Marwood (Marlin), who sold in foal to Bluegrass Cat. Taylor Made Sales Agency is handling the Gulf Coast dispersal.
It’s just a golden opportunity, Cauthen said after the sale. I used to work for [Gulf Coast principal] Jerry Bailey for several years, and they had a great program. A lot of those mares have great pedigrees, great physicals, and a lot of race record. For some reason, the market wasn’t there. It’s been there all week, but
wasn’t for those mares in the dispersal.
He added, I did the homework on all the mares in the dispersal. I mean, a mare in foal to Mr. Greeley for $18,000 [hip 5050, 11-year-old SW Balmy, by Salt Lake]? From a mare that gets good physicals? It was a great opportunity. Some of those mares were $100,000 mares going for $20,000, $30,000. I got a really nice young half-sister to Cowtown Cat (Distorted Humor) for $60,000 [hip 5063, Cowtown Kitty, by El Corredor].
Cauthen said he hadn’t planned on buying so many of the Gulf Coast horses, but thought some of the horses that went through Monday’s dispersal were undervalued. I was surprised on some of the early hips–there were some really good buys in there, he said. And I was hoping there would be value today. But I didn’t expect that.
For longtime friend and client Bill Casner, DC signed for 1/2 sister to the Belmont winner in the 2010 November sale. “This filly was a great physical at the sale and has always had an excellent pedigree – she was already 1/2 sister to 1 G1 winners when purchased, that being Champagne D’Oro. Now she’s a half to 2 G1 winners, one being a Classic winner! Bill deserves a lot of credit for the purchase – he loved the pedigree and dug in to secure her , as the bidding was competitive. She has developed into a lovely yearling -very athletic She will probably be retained for racing and an eventual breeding career. We have high hopes for her! “
