Repole & St. Elias nab $400,000 Vino Rosso colt in Book 1 at KEESEP

Familiar connections snatched up the first offering by Vino Rosso in Book 1 of the Keeneland September sale.

Mike Repole of Repole Stable and Vinnie Viola of St. Elias Stables made the winning bid of $400,000 to secure a handsome colt from the first crop of Vino Rosso, who the ownership duo campaigned to a Breeders’ Cup Classic victory and Eclipse championship as Leading Older Dirt Male of 2019.

Selling as Hip 240, the dark bay colt out of the Tiznow mare Fair Huntress was consigned by Woods Edge Farm which purchased the colt for $340,000 last November as a weanling at Keeneland. He was bred by John and Tanya Gunther’s Glennwood Farm – also the breeder of Vino Rosso himself.

“I am either buying horses by Vino Rosso, or Uncle Mo and out of mares that I have had winning siblings out of, so it’s been very fun,” said Repole. “We’ll go to Tony’s (restaurant) tonight. Enjoying plenty of vino rosso and plenty of good food.”

Vino Rosso exited Book 1 with the second highest average among freshman sires, with only Omaha Beach’s being higher.