ADIVA, a two-year-old daughter of Street Sense originally purchased by North American Thoroughbreds at last year’s Keeneland September Yearling Sale, topped the Glen Todd dispersal, hosted as an ‘online only’ event through the Fasig-Tipton digital platform.
Out of the Hard Spun mare Black Diamond Girl, the eye-catching dark bay (above) was knocked down to NJP Racing for $200,000.
There were two other six-figure Hips. Washington Oaks and Emerald Distaff heroine, PRINCESS OF CAIRO made $115,000 and was also purchased by NJP Racing, while BC Derby winner FIVE STAR GENERAL went to Kenny Alhadeff (Elttaes Stable) for $110,000.
The sole BC-bred offering, a two-year-old by Texas Wildcatter named REMEMBERTHEALAMO, was snaffled by Swift Thoroughbreds and was one of several horses who may be returning to Canada.
In total, all 31 horses catalogued sold for an aggregate of $1,197,500 and at an average price of $38,629. The median was $24,000. The electronic format proved popular, with 250 registered bidders making more than 1,300 bids. Eight of the horses sold made $50,000 or more.
Hastings Horse of the Year Nominees
Over the next week or so, we’re going to profile each of the nominees for the 2021 Horse of the Year beginning, in alphabetical order, with BAYAKOAS IMAGE.
BAYAKOAS IMAGE, dk b filly 2018 by LENT – TEMPERED STEEL (TEMPERED APPEAL)
Owned: Nite and Day Stable & Joanne Todd
Breeder: Nite and Day Stable
Trainer: Brian O’Connell
A homebred daughter of Lent and former BC Oaks winner Tempered Steel, Bayakoas Image made a big impact in the region last season, winning five of six starts and subsequently starring in two of the most memorable races of the year.
A May foal, Bayakoas Image made a promising debut in September of her juvenile season, before completing her two-year-old campaign with a last-place finish in the Sadie Diamond Futurity.
Any lingering doubts over her second career start evaporated rapidly the following spring when she kicked off with a maiden victory, before imposing her talent on the sophomore fillies’ division with two wins and a neck-second from her next three starts.
The best was yet to come. In August, connections took the short trip to Seattle for the $50,000 Washington Oaks at Emerald Downs where, given a positive ride by Alex Marti, Bayakoas Image destroyed her rivals; leading early and romping to a near six-length victory. Fellow Hastings raider Broad Approval was second.
A month later, Bayakoas Image returned to Seattle to repeat the dose in the 450,000 WA Cup Fillies and Mares Stakes.
This time, displaying immense courage, she was hooked into an almost race-long duel with subsequent runner-up Brilliant Bird. The pair went at it all the way to the wire and, despite looking as though she may give way close home, Bayakoas Image rallied magnificently under strong driving by Marti, landing the spoils by a neck and sealing a campaign for the ages.