Pocket Aces Racing LLC is thrilled to introduce the fourth, and what should be final purchase out of the 2024 Keeneland September Sale…a colt by Silver State out of Gris Gris by Spring At Last.
This colt actually caught our attention when we were looking at a filly, a couple hips in front of him. We had trouble focusing on her because we kept wanting to look at him. Finally, we let the filly go and concentrated on him. The more we saw of him, the more we liked. While we went to the sale today hoping to add a horse in the $20,000 – $30,000 range, after spending a little time with this colt, we knew we were going over budget. We decided to go to $50,000 on him. It seemed to be coming down to us and one other bidder. When the competition hit at $50,000, Marc turned to Jared who quickly encouraged him to do what he needed to do. It took two more bids, but we were finally able to bring him home for $57,000.
He has good size, scope and strength. He tracks very well through the fore and hind limbs. He has an exceptionally powerful hind with a big hip and strong gaskins. He’s got one of the better engines we’ve seen this week. He’s correct through his knees and ankles and has a very good shoulder that ties in well with his neck. For such a powerful hind end, he has a very fluid and athletic walk. He’s agile behind and strides out well. Everything moves through a straight line with his forelimbs which should help him stay sound. He was cool and collected the entire time in the back and then again in the pavilion. That’s an early indication he has a good mind. His first crop of foals are yearlings.
Silver State is by Hard Spun out of the Empire Maker mare, Supreme. He was a winner at 2, 3 and 4 with an overall record of 7-3-2 with earnings of $1,933,094 from 14 starts. He won the Metropolitan-GI defeating such horses as Knicks Go, By My Standards and Lexitonian. He also won the Grade II Oaklawn Handicap, The Essex Handicap and the Fifth Season Stake. He was third to Knicks Go and Maxfield in the Grade I Whitney.
Gris Gris was a talented racehorse in her own right. She is a stakes placed daughter of Spring at Last out of a Speightstown mare. She was 3-0-6 with earnings of $133,997. Her family is speed on speed (Silver Deputy and Speightstown.) Partners involved with Nineteenth Street may remember her from races against her at Churchill Downs.
With that hip, the quality and speed in his pedigree and the presence he exhibited in the ring, we could not be more excited about this colt.
