By B. Jason Brooks
A deep dive into the pedigrees of the yearlings selected for the 2026 Saratoga Sale identifies a dozen descending from Phipps female families – an impressive number given Fasig-Tipton’s highly selective standards based on conformation and pedigrees.
The group comprises nine colts and three fillies representing nine different Phipps female families: three from the family of Baby League; two from the family of Dorine (ARG); and one each from the families of Belle Histoire, Big Hurry, Erin, Grey Flight, Minstress, Ten Cents a Dance, and White Favor.
The yearlings are also by some of the industry’s most sought-after stallions. Four are by Not This Time, two by Uncle Mo, and one each by Justify, Into Mischief, Candy Ride (ARG), Quality Road, Life Is Good, and Arabian Lion.
The Phipps family’s century-long breeding program continues to exert an extraordinary influence throughout the Thoroughbred stud book. The occasional sale of Phipps-bred mares has allowed other breeders to develop successful branches of these attractive families, producing classic winners and champions. One recent example is 2022 Horse of the Year and exciting freshman sire Flightline, whose second through sixth dams are Phipps mares.
The Phipps influence was particularly evident at last year’s Saratoga Sale, where eight yearlings from Phipps female families sold for a combined $8,095,000 and averaged $1,011,875. Three of them brought seven figures, led by the sale-topping $4.1 million Into Mischief colt. (For more details sale, see “Saratoga Sale Yearlings from Phipps Families Average More Than $1 Million,” Aug. 20, 2025.)
Phipps bloodlines have received even greater attention following Phipps Stable and St. Elias Stable homebred Golden Tempo’s victories in the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Belmont Stakes (G1), making him the first Phipps homebred to capture two Triple Crown races. This success will likely enhance the support for Saratoga Sale yearlings from Phipps families this year.
Among those to watch is Hip 65, a Not This Time colt out of Phipps-bred three-time winner Sabbatical, by Medaglia d’Oro. Bred by D. J. Stable and consigned by Taylor Made Sales, the colt is a half-brother to Phipps homebred Dreams of Tomorrow, by Speightstown, who placed in the 2021 Henry S. Clark Stakes.
From the successful Get Lucky branch of Phipps foundation mare Baby League, Sabbatical is a half-sister to Browse, by Medaglia d’Oro, the dam of Six Speed, by Not This Time, winner of this year’s U.A.E. Two Thousand Guineas (G3) and a Kentucky Derby (G1) alumnus. Sabbatical is a half-sister to Imagining, by Giant’s Causeway, winner of the 2014 Man o’ War Stakes (G1), who placed in four other grade 1 races. Another half-sister, Snooze, by Forestry, is the granddam of Chocolate Gelato, by Practical Joke, winner of the 2022 Frizette Stakes (G1). This family also includes 2010 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Super Saver, by Maria’s Mon, and juvenile champion Rhythm, by Mr. Prospector, among numerous other grade 1 winners.
Another attractive Not This Time colt from the Phipps family of Baby League is Hip 129, bred by Stonestreet Farm and consigned by Taylor Made Sales. The colt is out of Way Too Pretty, by Pioneer of the Nile, a half-sister to Spendthrift Farm’s Callback, by Street Sense, winner of the 2015 Las Virgenes Stakes (G1).
Way Too Pretty is also a half-sister to Defy Gravity, by Bandini, winner of the 2011 Smart Halo Stakes and granddam of Solitude Dude, by Yaupon. An eight-length winner of last year’s Inaugural Stakes, Solitude Dude followed it up this year with a 3¾-length victory in the Swale Stakes and a two-length victory in the Bay Shore Stakes. He also placed in the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) and Amsterdam Stakes (G2).
A third yearling generating considerable buzz is Hip 91, a colt by Into Mischief out of multiple graded stakes-placed Stellar Sound, by Tapit. The colt shares the same Into Mischief–Tapit cross with six stakes winners, four of them graded, including Godolphin homebred Pretty Mischievous, who won the 2023 Kentucky Oaks (G1), Acorn Stakes (G1), and Cotillion Stakes (G1) in succession.
Bred by Don Alberto Corp. and consigned by Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms, the colt is from the Versailles Treaty branch of Phipps foundation mare Ten Cents A Dance. He is a full brother to the 2025 Saratoga Sale topper, purchased for $4.1 million by the Coolmore partners and White Birch Farm.
The first dam is three-time winner, Stellar Sound, by Tapit, who placed in the Las Virgenes Stakes (G2) and Bayakoa Stakes (G3) in 2020 and the Rancho Bernardo Handicap (G3) in 2021.
The second dam, Siren Serenade, by Unbridled’s Song, is a half-sister to the Coolmore partners’ George Vancouver, by Henrythenavigator, winner of the 2012 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1). Siren Serenade is also a three-quarter sister to Phipps homebred Saarland, by Unbridled, winner of the 2001 Remsen Stakes (G2) and runner-up by a neck in the 2003 Metropolitan Handicap (G1). Another half-sister, Rhineland, by Mr. Prospector, is the granddam of Calumet Farm-bred Mongolian Groom, by Hightail, who won the 2019 Awesome Again Stakes (G1) by 2¼ lengths.
The third dam is Shug McGaughey-trained Phipps homebred Versailles Treaty, by Danzig, who earned four grade 1 victories. In 1991, she won the Test Stakes (G1) by 2¾ lengths, the Alabama Stakes (G1) by 4½ lengths, and the Gazelle Handicap (G1) by a half-length in succession. She added the Ruffian Handicap (G1) the following year and twice finished runner-up in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1).
The yearlings listed below represent those in the Saratoga Sale from prominent Phipps female families. The list includes the Phipps-bred dams tracing back to the foundation mares acquired by the Phipps family.
2026 SARATOGA SALE YEARLINGS FROM PHIPPS FEMALE FAMILIES
Hip 38, colt (KY), Not This Time – Not Sure, by Lonhro (AUS); 2nd – 5th dams: Possibility / Personal Ensign / Grecian Banner / Dorine (ARG). Consignor Claiborne Farm, Barn 8.
Hip 40, filly (KY), Candy Ride (ARG) – Off Topic, by Street Sense; 3rd – 7th dams: Swinging / Pennant Champion / Personal Ensign / Grecian Banner / Dorine (ARG). Consignor Scott Mallory, Barn 5.
Hip 65, colt (KY), Not This Time – Sabbatical, by Medaglia d’Oro; 1st – 9th dams: Sabbatical / Daydreaming / Get Lucky / Dance Number / Numbered Account / Intriguing / Glamour / Striking / Baby League. Consignor Taylor Made Sales, Barn 10.
Hip 77, filly (KY), Uncle Mo – Shifty She, by Gone Astray; 3rd – 7th dams: Perilous / Educated Risk / Pure Profit / Clear Ceiling / Grey Flight. The broodmare sire, Gone Astray, is also Phipps-bred. Consignor VanMeter Sales, Barn 8.
Hip 91, colt (KY), Into Mischief – Stellar Sound, by Tapit; 2nd – 4th dams: Siren Serenade / Versailles Treaty / Ten Cents a Dance. Consignor Hill ‘n’ Dale, Barn 2.
Hip 129, colt (KY), Not This Time – Way too Pretty, by Pioneer of the Nile; 2nd – 10th dams: Quickest / Supercharger / Get Lucky / Dance Number / Numbered Account / Intriguing / Glamour / Striking / Baby League. Consignor Taylor Made Sales, Barn 7B.
Hip 151, colt (KY), Arabian Lion – Battle Bridge, by Arch; 2nd – 9th dams: Board Battle / Proxy Statement / Deputation / Wedding Party / Betrothed / Vowed / Narrative / Belle Histoire. Consignor Vinery Sales, Agent, Barn 3.
Hip 161, colt (KY), Uncle Mo – Canteen, by Candy Ride (ARG); 4th – 7th dams: A Pretty Smile / Marking Time / Allemande / Big Hurry. Consignor Gainesway, Barn 6.
Hip 189, filly (KY), Not This Time – Earth Strike (IRE), by Zoffany (IRE); 3rd – 5th dams: Storm Song / Hum Along / Minstress. Consignor Taylor Made Sales, Barn 10.
Hip 201, colt (KY), Life Is Good – From the Hood, by Street Sense; 5th – 8th dams: Stolen Base / Bases Full / Striking / Baby League. Consignor Taylor Made Sales, Barn 7B.
Hip 212, colt (KY), Justify – Good Omen, by Smart Strike); 8th – 9th dams: Hopefully / White Favor. Consignor Warrendale Sales, Barn 1.
Hip 223, colt (KY), Quality Road – Inlovewithlove, by Bernstein; 5th – 7th dams: Leix / Bold Irish / Erin. Consignor Gainesway, Barn 6.
B. Jason Brooks is a Thoroughbred racing and pedigree researcher, writer, and social media manager residing in Saratoga Springs, New York. He can be followed on X at @bjbrooksNY.
