Smart mare Don’t Leave Me tops Pin Oak Stud Sale at $650,000

The remaining broodmares, weanlings, and some racing fillies from Josephine Abercrombie's Pin Oak Stud went through the ring without reserve on Sunday evening at Fasig-Tipton's Newtown Paddocks in Lexington.

The atmosphere was complete with the utmost respect and appreciation, which spoke to the past six decades of quality and care the Pin Oak team has cultivated.

Twenty-three horses changed hands for gross receipts of $3,999,000, with an average price of $173,870. The sale, handled by Denali Stud as agent for Pin Oak, was headed by the Lemon Drop Kid mare Don't Leave Me, who brought $650,000 from Woodford Thoroughbreds.

Don’t Leave Me, winner of the Bourbonette Oaks at Turfway Park and the Ontario Colleen Stakes at Woodbine, sold in foal to Spendthrift Farm's fashionable sire Authentic. She is a daughter of Pin Oak's Grade 1-winning See How She Runs, by Maria's Mon.

"A lovely mare, the right pedigree, [and] we like the sire," said Lincoln Collins, who signed the ticket on behalf of Woodford Thoroughbreds. "As a commercial operation, you have to consider these first-season sires, and [Authentic] will be very popular.

"If the mare can throw as lovely foal as the weanling, we are in a good spot," Collins added. "I was underbidder on the weanling - she was full of class, had a beautiful walk. I hope it will end up to be a beautiful yearling."

Lincoln Collins signed for top lot Don't Leave MeCredit: Fasig-Tipton Photos

The weanling filly by Medaglia d'Oro (hip 19) sold for $370,000 to Rigney Racing.

"She's a lovely filly - she presents a lot of options, there is a good chance she will end up in Barn 7A at Saratoga," said Denali's Conrad Bandoroff, who signed the ticket on behalf of the buyer.

"It was a strong market, as it should be," Collins said. "Ms Abercrombie is a great breeder. We were at the top of our limit with Don't Leave Me."

"We thought all along if we could make a standup sale, shine the light on the achievements of Pin Oak Stud, the horses and the consignment would take care of itself, and shine is what they did," said Bayne Welker, executive vice president of Fasig-Tipton.

Pin Oak Stud, recognised as the 1995 national Thoroughbred Breeder of the Year, has produced or campaigned over 100 stakes winners. Peaks and Valleys, Broken Vow, Confessional, See How She Runs, Hasten To Add, Laugh And Be Merry and Missed The Storm are on their roster of graded winners and champions.

"It's been Ms. Abercrombie’s baby for 60-plus years; it was nice to showcase it here tonight and leave a legacy," Pin Oak manager Clifford Barry said. "I'm in debt to her. The last 35 years, it's been a magic carpet ride. I'm very proud of my staff, and it was a tough day we broke the news. Friday was tough putting those mares on the van.

"I'm a small part of the operation - the staff rolled up their sleeves and worked very hard over the last 30 days getting these horses ready; I'm the proudest of them," Barry added.

"I wish Ms Abercrombie could be here; she is an amazing woman," said Craig Bandoroff of Denali. "I am thankful and grateful to the community for coming out and acknowledging her life's work."

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