Invoice Justice, a decades-long figurehead for farm actual property in Kentucky, stretched his affect to the Keeneland gross sales ring Sept. 10 when a colt he bred dropped the hammer for $1 million through the second session of Ebook 1. Justice, who entered the world of breeding to raise his understanding of the horsemen he sells to, has gained a higher perception into the business along with experiencing the highs and lows of elevating a horse from conception to the racetrack.

The Justify   colt, consigned as Hip 273 by Woods Edge Farm, was a son of one in every of 5 mares Justice owns named Undercover Justice. Justice spoke with BloodHorse about his enterprise into breeding horses, Undercover Justice and her offspring, and his future objectives within the business.

BH: How lengthy have you ever owned and bred horses?

BJ: I have been promoting horse farms for a very long time. I obtained my actual property license in 1978. By the mid-Eighties I used to be the main farm dealer in Kentucky. Our data of the horse farms was simply unmatched within the business however I acknowledged that I did not know the horse enterprise that effectively. And so my involvement within the horse enterprise was actually to assist me to raised perceive and promote horse farms. I used to be fortunate sufficient to have met folks like Dr. (Naoya) Yoshida and his spouse Marie (former house owners of Winchester Farm). After I offered them their first farm, I purchased a horse with them. And I’ve had a horse with them yearly till they offered their farm this yr. They had been very, very instrumental together with Kara McDermott, their worker, in serving to me perceive the enterprise. It is actually helped me to know the enterprise and helped me to promote farms. I can now perceive what folks undergo—the trials and tribulations and the enjoyment of elevating and racing these horses—it is simply unbelievable.

BH: What number of mares do you at present personal? I do know you have raced a few of your personal horses however do you usually goal to breed to promote or race?

BJ: I’ve 5 mares and I’ve obtained three yearling fillies that I’ll race. I have been related to Carolyn Conley, who has an incredible eye for a racehorse and has an incredible work ethic so I wish to race extra. I am 75 years previous now and I really take pleasure in elevating these horses however I wish to take pleasure in extra on the observe. I wish to journey round to wherever to see my horses run. I wish to get extra concerned within the racing side.

BH: Hip 273 beforehand offered for $400,000 on the Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale, the place he was consigned by Conley’s Conley Bloodstock. What do you recall about this colt as a child? What do you suppose made him stand aside?

BJ: He was the second-highest-priced (brief yearling) that offered within the January Sale. He was all the time a standout, very effectively put collectively and he appears to be like similar to Justify. The truth is, I introduced the Coolmore folks on the market to have a look at the horse.

He was a Could 20 foal and we had been going to promote him as a weanling. However (the Justifys) offered so effectively ultimately yr’s September and October gross sales that he was as sizzling as anyone could possibly be so we made the joint resolution to place him within the January Sale. We had been ecstatic when Peter and Jenny O’Callaghan (of Woods Edge Farm) purchased the horse (signed beneath P B Bloodstock). They’re reported to be the perfect choose of horse flesh from the brief yearling to yearling gross sales.

The Yoshidas do such a beautiful job of elevating a horse. And I am unable to thank them sufficient for what they did for me.

BH: Do you continue to personal the colt’s dam, Undercover Justice (Lawyer Ron)? It appears to be like like she’s been fairly the producer for you.

BJ: It is a lengthy story and begins with Naughty Notions. Naughty Notions was offered at Keeneland as an older mare. Kara (McDermott) known as me and instructed me I had to purchase this horse. She did not convey a lot cash. I used to be capable of get just one foal out of her and that was Undercover Justice.

We introduced Undercover Justice to the racetrack however she did not make it as a racehorse. Her first foal was by Uncle Mo. I’ve discovered within the horse enterprise your first 2-3 foals are essential. I took the Uncle Mo filly to the sale, purchased her again for $70,000, and instructed Invoice Harrigan we’ll promote her on the Keeneland 2-year-old sale the following yr. Keeneland ended up canceling the 2-year-old sale that yr so we introduced her to the Ocala sale that June and she or he labored in :09 4/5 and she or he offered for $425,000. (Named Conquest Babayaga) She turned graded stakes-placed.

It labored out very very effectively. Undercover Justice has had 5 horses to the observe and all of them have been winners.

I really personal and raced one in every of her foals, a stakes-placed mare named Sorrentina Lemon (by Lemon Drop Child) who has a good looking Justify filly on the bottom. I am very excited in regards to the filly. She’s even higher wanting than the colt (Hip 273) My preliminary ideas are to race her however the Justifys are doing so effectively and she or he’s so beautiful I could have Carolyn (Conley) promote her for me. And (Sorrentina Lemon) is in foal to Nyquist. He is as sizzling as you may get now.

BH: Why did you initially resolve to mate Undercover Justice with Justify?

BJ: I’ve an ideal relationship with Coolmore/Ashford. I’ve offered them some property. And the mare and Justify matched up very effectively. The primary foal I ever bred was by Uncle Mo, a Coolmore stallion. I do analysis on them, I take a look at pedigrees and I take a look at numbers. Carolyn does a greater job of that although than I do.

BH: What’s the most fulfilling factor to you about being concerned within the horse business?

BJ: Elevating a horse and breeding, choosing the breeding, and watching them foal is simply completely fascinating and super. The people who meet you within the horse enterprise, from everywhere in the world, I’ve established great relationships due to my involvement within the horse enterprise. And I actually treasure that.