Not This Time Share Purchased by Hill ‘n’ Dale for $3 Million
BY KEENELAND PRESS OFFICE (Edited)
LEXINGTON, KY–Michael and Jules Iavarone went to $1 million to secure a 25% fractional interest in Florida-bred Bentornato, the morning-line favorite for Saturday’s $2 million Cygames Breeders’ Cup Sprint (Grade 1). The interest was consigned by Jose D’Angelo as agent.
“We’re really excited,” Michael Iavarone said. “He’s a beautiful horse—17 hands and really super fast. I’ve been trying to get a horse with Jose forever, so he knew that I was on this horse. I hope I paid right—we will see. That [price]’s where we thought he’d be, so we knew what we were spending.”
Bentornato is by Bridlewood Farm stallion Valiant Minister out of Her Special Way, by Put It Back and was bred in Florida by Tanma Corp. An earner of $1,282,180 for Leon King Stable Corp., the stable name of Angel Lozano of Miami, Fla., Bentornato has won six of 10 career starts with two seconds and two thirds including the 2023 Dr. Fager and Affirmed divisions of the FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes at Gulfstream Park and the 2024 Gallant Bob (G2) at Parx Racing.
Hill ‘n’ Dale at Xalapa paid $3 million for a share in leading sire Not This Time to record the highest price of the second Keeneland Championship Sale on Wednesday evening in the Paddock at Del Mar, site of the 2025 Breeders’ Cup World Championships.
The share was consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent for Aaron and Marie Jones. In a unique feature of the offering, the buyer will receive all income from Not This Time’s 2025 breeding season. The 11-year-old son of Giant’s Causeway stands at Taylor Made Stallions in Nicholasville, Kentucky.
Hill ‘n’ Dale at Xalapa also acquired the 20% fractional ownership interest in reigning Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna for $1 million. The filly was consigned by McPeek Racing Stables as agent for Richard M. Edwards.
Hill ‘n’ Dale already was a partner in the ownership of the 4-year-old daughter of Fast Anna, who has been retired and will begin her broodmare career at the farm in 2026.
Two additional offerings at the Championship Sale sold for $1 million apiece.
Emerald Edge, agent, paid $1 million for a share in the WinStar Farm stallion Life Is Good consigned by Christie DeBernardis, agent.
In other sales,
- RB Bloodstock, agent for Storyteller Racing, paid $700,000 for a 25% fractional ownership interest in Breeders’ Cup Sprint-contender Mullikin. The offering was consigned by WinStar Farm, where Mullikin will stand in 2026.
- Morplay Racing purchased a stallion share in Grade 1-winner, millionaire and Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1)-contender Mindframe for $550,000. The share was consigned by Claiborne Farm as agent. Mindframe will enter stud at Claiborne in 2026.
- Bowen Thoroughbreds paid $425,000 for a 25% fractional ownership interest in Grade 3-winner and Grade 1-placed Bracket Buster. The interest was consigned by Royal Oak Farm (Damian and Braxton Lynch) as agent for BBN Racing.
Keeneland created the Championship Sale to be an opportunity for buyers to participate in the highest level of Thoroughbred racing while enjoying a festive event in the days before the Breeders’ Cup.
“We are so pleased to return to the Del Mar Paddock for the second annual Keeneland Championship Sale and we couldn’t have asked for a more memorable evening,” Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin said. “The atmosphere was exceptional. The buyers turned out in full force and the results truly speak for themselves.
“It’s incredibly exciting for Keeneland to help build momentum for the World Championships,” Arvin added, “bringing people together at the highest level of our sport and carrying that energy and enthusiasm into the remarkable weekend ahead.”
2025 Breeders’ Cup Florida-bred Contenders
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