Grade 1 winner Point Ashley, an Eclipse Award finalists as champion two-year-old filly who was purchased for $1.8-million by Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm owner John Sikura at Monday’s opening session of the Keeneland January horses of all ages sale, has been retired from racing and will be bred to Storm Cat.
“Point Ashley is already a Grade 1 winner by Horse of the Year and six-time Grade 1 winner Point Given, which is why we went to $1.8-million to purchase her,” Sikura said. “As it was uncertain if she could make the Kentucky Oaks (G1) with the time off that she had, we felt it prudent to breed her this year.”
Previously campaigned by Ahmed Zayat’s Zayat Stables, Point Ashley earned her first stakes win in the Del Mar Debutante Stakes (G1) on September 4. The bay filly finished second, 4 3/4 lengths behind Cash Included, in her career finale in the Oak Leaf Breeders’ Cup Stakes (G1) on September 30 at the Oak Tree meeting at Santa Anita Park.
Storm Cat, the world’s leading commercial sire, stands for $500,000 at Overbrook Farm in Lexington.
