Saratoga Sale Graduate Flightline is One of a Dozen Recent Grade 1 Winners from Phipps Female Families, Highlighting the Current Success of These Influential Families

The recent graded stakes wins of Saratoga Sale graduates from Phipps female families is quite impressive, with Grade 1 winners including Flightline, Sharing, Flagstaff, and Queen Goddess, and graded stakes winners Pink Sands, Thoughtully, Jouster, and Tizamagician. (See list below.)

A deep dive into the families of the 214 yearlings to be offered at the boutique Saratoga Sale finds that 17, or 8 percent, are out of top-class mares from families with Phipps female lines, including descendents of Personal Ensign, Blitey, Lady Be Good, Get Lucky, Ten Cents A Dance, and La Troienne mares Belle Histoire and Big Hurry, among others.

On top of their first-rate female families, these blue-blooded yearlings are sired by some elite stallions, including Tapit (hips 4 and 179), Curlin (hip 15), Into Mischief (hips 74, 75, 102, 131, 164), Uncle Mo (hips 98, 160, 210), War Front (hip 69), Arrogate (hip 79), Catalina Cruiser (hip 39), Kantharos (hip 211), Oscar Performance (hip 182), and Union Rags (hip 73). (See the full list below.) Also of note is that Hip 179 is a filly that shares the same sire (Tapit) and Phipps female family (Blitey) as Flightline.

The 2022 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale will provide buyers another chance to purchase yearlings with top-class pedigrees from influential Phipps families which are currently excelling in at the top levels of racing. Like Flightline, some of the yearlings making their way through the sales ring of the Humphrey S. Finney Sales Pavilion in August will become the Thoroughbred stars of tomorrow on the track and subsequently carry on the Phipps legacy in the breeding shed.

A version of this story by B. Jason Brooks was published in Thoroughbred Daily News on July 17, 2022.

Recent Graded Stakes-Winning Saratoga Sale Grads from Phipps Female Families (PDF)

2022 Saratoga Sale Yearlings from Phipps Female Families (PDF)

RECENT GRADED STAKES-WINNING SARATOGA SALE GRADS FROM PHIPPS FEMALE FAMILIES

Flightline (KY) c, MG1W (Tapit – Feathered, by indian Charlie): G1 Metropolitan H. (2022), G1 Malibu S. (2021), 2nd-6th dams are Phipps: Receipt / Finder’s Fee / Fantastic Find / Blitey / Lady Pitt, Consignor Lane’s End

Sharing (MD) m, G1W/MGSW (Speightstown – Shared Account, by Pleasantly Perfect): G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (2019), G2 Edgewood S. (2020), 5th-7th dams are Phipps: Leix / Bold Irish / Erin, Consignor Upson Downs Farm

Flagstaff (KY) g, G1W/MGSW (Speightstown – Indian Giving, by A.P. Indy): G1 Churchill Downs S. (2021), G2 San Carlos S. (2020), G3 Commonwealth S. (2021), 5th-8th dams are Phipps: Bravissimo / Batter Up / Striking / Baby League, Consignor Lane’s End

Queen Goddess (KY) f, G1W/MGSW (Empire Maker – Royal Story, by Lemon Drop Kid): G1 American Oaks (2021), G3 Santa Anita S. (2022), 2nd-7th dams are Phipps: Bauble / Just Reward / Heavenly Prize / Oh What A Dance / Blitey / Lady Pitt, Consignor Ballysax Bloodstock”              “

Pink Sands (KY) m, MGSW (Tapit – Her Smile, by Include): G2 Inside Information S. (2020), G3 Rampart S. (2019), 6th-8th dams are Phipps: Diary / Narrative / Belle Histoire, Consignor KatieRich Farms

Thoughtfully (KY) f, GSW (Tapit – Pension, by Seeking the Gold): G2 Adirondack S. (2020), 1st-4th dams are Phipps: Pension / Furlough / Blitey / Lady Pitt, Consignor Gainesway

Jouster (KY) f, GSW (Noble Mission {GB} – Playtime, by Street Cry {IRE}): G2 Appalacian S. (2021), 1st-6th dams are Phipps: Playtime / Storm Flag Flying / My Flag / Personal Ensign / Grecian Banner / Dorine (ARG), Consignor Lane’s End

Tizamagician (KY) h, MGSW (Tiznow – Magic Union, by Dixie Union): G3 Tokyo City Cup S. (2021), G3 Cougar II S. (2021), 5th-10th dams are Phipps: Royal Dilemma / Queen Empress / Irish Jay / Irish Witch / Witchlike / Romanesque, Consignor Woodford Tb.

2022 FASIG-TIPTON SARATOGA SELECTED SALE YEARLINGS FROM PHIPPS FEMALE FAMILIES

Hip 4 – b. f. (KY) 4/5/21 (Tapit – Laskarina, by Distorted Humor) 5th-7th dams are Phipps: Leix / Bold Irish / Erin, Consignor Woodford Thoroughbreds, Barn 8

Hip 15 – b. f. (KY) 2/14/21 (Curlin – Luminance, by Tale of the Cat) 2nd-4th dams are Phipps: Siren Serenade / Versailles Treaty / Ten Cents a Dance, Consignor Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms, Barn 2

Hip 39 – b. c. (KY) 3/21/21 (Catalina Cruiser – One Show Only, by Distorted Humor) 3rd-10th dams are Phipps: She’s A Winner / Get Lucky / Dance Number / Numbered Account / Intriguing / Glamour / Striking / Baby League, Consignor Machmer Hall Farm, Barn 5

Hip 69 – b. c. (KY) 1/24/21 (War Front – Seek and Destroy, by Verrazano) 2nd-9th dams are Phipps: Search and Seizure / Search Party / Deputation / Wedding Party / Betrothed / Vowed / Narrative / Belle Histoire, Consignor Indian Creek, Barn 6

Hip 74 – b. c. (KY) 4/7/21 (Into Mischief – Shopit, by Yes It’s True) 4th-5th dams are Phipps: Impish / Lady Be Good, Consignor Blake-Albina Thoroughbred, Barn 7A

Hip 75 – b. c. (KY) 2/7/21 (Into Mischief – Siren Serenade, by Unbridled’s Song) 1st-3rd dams are Phipps: Siren Serenade / Versailles Treaty / Ten Cents a Dance, Denali Stud, Barn 7A

Hip 79 – gr/r. c. (KY) 4/20/21 (Arrogate – Smart Shopping, by Smart Strike) 4th-5th dams are Phipps: Impish / Lady Be Good, Consignor Mill Ridge, Barn 5

Hip 98 – b. c. (KY) 3/12/21 (Uncle Mo – Sunshiny Day, by Bernardini) 2nd-3rd dams are Phipps: Storm Song / Hum Along, Consignor Baccari Bloodstock, Barn 2

Hip 102 – b. c. (KY) 2/21/21 (Into Mischief – Teresa Z, by Smart Strike) 2nd-6th dams are Phipps: With Flying Colors / My Flag / Personal Ensign / Grecian Banner / Dorine (ARG), Consignor Lane’s End Farm, Barn 7C

Hip 131 – b. f. (KY) 3/3/21 (Into Mischief – Astray, by Bernardini) 6th-7th dams are Phipps: No Fiddling / Big Hurry, Machmer Hall Farm, Barn 5

Hip 160 – gr/r. f. (VA) 2/24/21 (Uncle Mo – Coming Attraction, by Tapit) 1st-6th dams are Phipps: Coming Attraction / On Parade / My Flag / Personal Ensign / Grecian Banner / Dorine (ARG), Consignor Brookdale Farm, Barn 3

Hip 164 – b. c. (KY) 4/6/21 (Into Mischief – Curlina, by Cuvee) 3rd-6th dams are Phipps: Private Seductress / In Full Cry / In Hot Pursuit / Lady Be Good, Consignor Mulholland Springs, Barn 4

Hip 179 – dk.b/br. f. (KY) 3/5/21 (Tapit – Faithfully, by Smart Strike) 2nd–6th dams are Phipps: Distinctively / Heavenly Prize / Oh What a Dance / Blitey / Lady Pitt, Consignor Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms, Barn 2

Hip 182 – b. c. (KY) 2/22/21 (Oscar Performance – Fastbridled, by Unbridled’s Song) 2nd-6th dams are Phipps: Broad Pennant / Pennant Champion / Personal Ensign / Grecian Banner / Dorine (ARG), Consignor Mill Ridge, Barn 5

Hip 210 – dk.b/br. c. (KY) 3/17/21 (Uncle Mo – Inlovewithlove, by Bernstein) 5th-7th dams are Phipps: Leix / Bold Irish / Erin, Consignor Gainesway Farm, Barn 6

Hip 211 – b. c. (KY) 1/22/21 (Kantharos – Inspector Havers, by Tiznow) 1st-8th dams are Phipps: Criminologist / Search Party / Deputation / Wedding Party / Betrothed / Vowed / Narrative / Belle Histoire, Taylor Made Farm, Barn 7B

Bred by Phipps Stable and owned by the vaunted racing operation in partnership with Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable, four-year-old colt Dynamic One earned his breakthrough graded stakes win on July 9th in the $400,000 Suburban Stakes (G2) at Belmont Park. (Video below.)

Covering a mile and a quarter on the dirt with jockey Irad Ortiz aboard, Dynamic One was angled in around the first turn, settling in the two path as the trailer in the five-horse field. He remained last while being reserved down the backstretch before being roused at the half-mile point. He went three to four wide around the far turn and made an outside bid at the five-sixteenths. He then dropped to the inside of two foes at the three-sixteenths and battled on to win by a nose.

Entering the race, Dynamic One was coming off of a win of the listed Blame Stakes at Churchill Downs on June 4th, his second career stakes win.

Additionally, as a three-year-old, he finished second in the Wood Memorial Stakes (G2) at Aqueduct in April before finishing off the board in the Kentucky Derby (G1). He returned over the summer to win the listed Curlin Stakes at Saratoga in July before his last start of his sophomore campaign, an off-the-board finish in the Travers Stakes at The Spa.

Sired by Lane’s End stallion Union Rags, Dynamic One hails from the great Phipps female line of Breeders’ Cup champions Personal Ensign, My Flag, and Storm Flag Flying.

The Suburban Stakes win is the 22nd graded stakes race won this year in the U.S. and Canada by a horse from a Phipps female family.

Thoroughbred pedigree expert and columnist Sid Fernando has a front-page story in the July 6th edition of Thoroughbred Daily News on the influence of the Phipps family’s breeding program.

He writes about the success that horses from Phipps female families are having this year, noting that “[t]hrough Saturday, there were 225 graded races contested… [T]he winners of 20, or almost 9%, descend from families developed or bred by the Phippses. That’s significant influence.“

Detailing how such widespread influence has occurred at the highest levels of racing, Mr. Fernando writes “The Phippses emphasized quality over quantity and developed a limited number of deep families from mares they’d acquired, and through the years there have been many beneficiaries of Phipps breeding who got into these families as the principals culled them. These families have given past and present breeders a deep foundation on which to build upon and create their own top-class horses, and that is one of the important legacies of the Phippses.“

Read the full TDN story here.

Dynamic One lived up to his name in the $200,000 Blame Stakes at Churchill Downs on June 4th, earning his second career stakes victory and setting him up for a major Breeders’ Cup prep race in either the G2 Stephen S. Foster at Churchill or the G2 Suburban Stakes at Belmont Park.

Covering a mile and an eighth over the dirt, he was settled off the pace by jockey Tyler Gaffalione. He went to the four path around the far turn and inched closer to the leader before spinning five wide into the stretch. He took the lead in the final furlong to win by a length.

Dynamic One’s previous stakes win came in 2021 in the $120,000 Curlin Stakes at Saratoga Race Course. His career earnings now total $479,950.

The four-year-old Union Rags colt has finished on the board in three graded stakes races. As a three-year-old, he was a close runner-up in the G2 Wood Memorial in April at Aqueduct. As a four-year-old, he took third in the G3 Challenger Stakes in March at Tampa and second in the G3 Ben Ali Stakes in April at Keeneland.

Bred by Phipps Stable, Dynamic One was purchased by Repole Stable and St. Elias Sable for $725,000 at the Keeneland 2019 September Yearling Sale. After the purchase, Phipps Stable accepted an offer to buy back into him and join his new owners as partners.

Dynamic One comes from one of the most elite families in the sales book, including second, third, and fourth dams Storm Flag Flying, My Flag, and Personal Ensign, all Breeders’ Cup champions bred and owned by the Phipps family.

Photo: Breeder and co-owner Daisy Phipps Pulito in the Churchill Downs winners’ circle with Blame Stakes winner Dynamic One and jockey Tyler Gaffalione.

The Phipps broodmare band has resided at the Hancock family’s Claiborne Farm in Paris, Kentucky for generations, producing champions, classic winners, and dozens of Grade 1 winners. The band includes 20 well-bred mares, producing some of the most sought-after bloodlines in Thoroughbred racing. Below are photos of some of the beautiful foals born this year.

Cover Model ’22 filly by City of Light

Fly So High ’22 colt by Curlin

Parade ’22 filly by Justify

Power Move ’22 colt by Ghost Zapper

Puzzling ’22 colt by Street Sense

Salute ’22 colt by Sky Mesa

Side of Sass ’22 colt by Astern (AUS)

Phipps Stable had a strong racing year in 2021, with four stakes wins (two graded) and total earnings of $1.37 million (including partnership-owned horses), an amount that ranks among the top 50 earnings among owners in North America. From 68 starts, the stable’s win rate was 22 percent and 47 percent of finishes were among the top three.

The stable’s graded stakes wins included four-year-old colt Performer capturing the G3 Fred W. Hooper Stakes at Gulfstream Park and four-year-old filly Vigilantes Way winning the G3 Eatontown Stakes at Monmouth. Phipps Stable also won two non-graded stakes, with three-year-old colt Dynamic One, owned in partnership with Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable, winning the Curlin Stakes at Saratoga and Vigilantes Way winning the Miss Liberty Stakes at Monmouth.

Stakes-placed honors were earned by four-year-old colt Dreams of Tomorrow who finished third in the Henry S. Clark Stakes at Pimlico. Also, Dynamic One, a Kentucky Derby contender, finished second in the G2 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct and Vigilantes Way took second in the G3 Gallorette Stakes and third in the Dahlia Stakes, both a Pimlico.

Horses in training sired by Phipps-bred stallions or out of Phipps-bred broodmares did well on the track in 2021, winning an impressive 34 stakes races, 11 of which were graded and one a Grade 1. The graded stakes wins included the following:

G1 Bruce D Stakes (3/c Point Me By, by Point of Entry)

G2 Appalachian S. (3/f Jouster, o/o dam Playtime, granddam Storm Flag Flying)

G2 San Clemente S. (3/f Madone, o/o Indian Love Call, granddam Mood Music)

G3 Discovery S. (3/c Miles D, o/o Sound the Trumpets, granddam My Flag)

G3 Eatontown S. (4/f Vigilantes Way, o/o Salute, granddam Personal Ensign)

G3 Fred W. Hooper S. (4/c Performer, o/o Protesting, granddam On Parade)

G3 Louisiana S. (6/h Title Ready, o/o Title Seeker, granddam Personal Ensign)

G3 Matchmaker S. (5/m Great Island, o/o Voyage, granddam Matlacha Pass)

G3 Noble Damsel S (5/f Shifty She, by Gone Astray)

G3 Singspiel S. (6/g Corelli, by Point of Entry)

G3 Suwannee River S. (5/m Great Island, o/o Voyage, granddam Matlacha Pass)

In the sales ring, seven Phipps-bred broodmares were offered, with six of them selling for a gross of $5,997,000 (ranking third in North America among breeders), an average of $999,500 each. The Keeneland November breeding stock sale saw previously sold Phipps-bred broodmare Magical World and her three-time Grade 1-winning daughter Guarana, both covered by Into Mischief, selling for $5.2 million and $4.4 million respectively.

95 years after Gladys Mills Phipps and her brother Ogden Mills established Wheatley Stable, the Phipps family’s private breeding and racing stable continues operating among the highest levels in thoroughbred racing.

Photo: Phipps Stable’s homebred five-year-old multiple graded-stakes winner Performer after winning the G3 Fred W. Hooper Stakes at Gulfstream Park.