Bloodstock agent Eddie Woods consistently presents a fine gathering and in 2009 led all two-year-old consignors by gross. In his estimation, Woods believes he has a “really nice colt” by Henny Hughes for the Select sale. He described him as “big and strong and he looks like he’s quick.”
Offered as hip 159, Woods’ strapping chestnut is one of three foals registered by Gaines-Gentry Thoroughbreds from Henny Hughes’ first crop. The colt’s dam Playcaller (Saratoga Six) is a strong-willed, multiple listed winner with a key ability to pass along her edge. All eight of her runners have succeeded to win. Among them are Diplomat Lady, who set all the fractions in both the G1 Hollywood Starlet and the G2 Stonerside Beaumont S; and Dream Play, who simply toyed with rivals in the eight-furlong G2 Comely S. By way of Hennessey, Henny Hughes and Dream Play share half-blood; thus Woods’ colt comes as a three-quarter brother to Dream Play.
Madcap Escapade, a G1 millionaire and winner of seven of nine races also hails from a Hennessey/Saratoga Six cross. Madcap Escapade was so highly considered by her trainer Frank Brothers that he told The Blood-Horse magazine that she is “probably one of the most brilliant filly sprinters that I've seen.”
Dr. Jerry Bilinski’s New York-foaled Henny Hughes filly fetched $160,000 last July at Newtown Paddocks. Now prepping at Niall Brennan Stables in Ocala, the copper-hued filly out of Open Window (Trempolino) is scheduled to debut as hip 147.
Brennan stated, “Obviously we liked her when we bought her in July. We could see a lot of Henny Hughes and a lot of Hennessy in her. She’s done extremely well. She has grown and lengthened since the sale.”
Over the course of months Open Window’s daughter has transformed into a tall and scopey individual. Brennan commented, “She’s a very nice filly at this point. We are very happy with her. She’s a real athlete - a great mover on the track. She has a very forward mind. In fact all the Henny Hughes [babies] I have at the moment, are very forward. I like them all.”
This season, Brennan has had five of the world champ’s fillies at the farm. Brennan reiterated their precocious nature and said, “They are all good sized.”
Open Window has produced three winners including G2-placed Wild Chick. Her sire, Trempolino, a winner at 2400 meters in the prestigious Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, is finding a niche as a broodmare sire of Breeders’ Cup celebrities, namely Round Pond and champion juvenile Action This Day. Adding perspective to his filly’s future, Brennan added, “She is very quick and she has so much scope to her and such a big stride. It is early, but I would have to think she would go a mile; especially with the stamina on the dam’s side.”
Leprechaun Racing will present a bay filly (hip 73) out of Go for It Lady (Mr. Prospector), dam of the crack sprinter Spring Meadow - a four-time stakes winner. Previous Fasig-Tipton graduate Spring Meadow is the offspring of Henny Hughes’ own broodmare sire Meadowlake. Among her credits is the G3 Las Flores H and three grade one placings.
A dark brown Florida-bred colt out of Hobeau Farm’s six-figure earner Miss Shoplifter (Exuberant) sells under the banner of Hoby & Layna Kight. Exuberant was a precocious juvenile stakes winner, who at top level, finished second to General Assembly in the Hopeful S, and Jose Bin in the Arlington-Washington F. Hip 133 is a January colt and will be a magnet for horsemen in the Florida market. His half brother is G2 winner Put it Back – victorious in five straight sprints at three and now is a leading sire in the Sunshine State.
Dr. Jerry Bailey, who developed Henny Hughes to preview a lightning fast nine-seconds at Barretts has been one of the freshman stallion’s greatest advocates. In advance of joining the Darley Stable, Henny Hughes - under the flagship of Bailey’s Gulf Coast Farm and Martin Cherry - rose to fame as America’s leading juvenile.
Speaking confidently of his home-bred that is scheduled for auction at Barretts on March 22, Dr. Bailey said, “His action looks good and we are pleased. He is right on track to preview well at the sale.”
“How does he compare to his dad,” we asked.
Dr. Bailey expressed amusement, “They look so much alike, it’s scary.” But was quick to give praise, “Same color, same build. I think [Henny Hughes] has done that very well.”
