Ms Bad Behavior (Can) (Blame {USA}) is one of the recent success stories of the Fasig- Tipton November Sales - catching the eye of Jon Freyer in 2019; secured for the Arrowfield Stud band.
Originally a US$75,000 (AU$115,400) yearling - purchased by Brooke Hubbard (bloodstock agent and racing manager for SAYJAY Racing) at the 2016 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, Ms Bad Behavior (USA) embarked on a successful racing career that saw her win four of her 18 starts.
In the placings at her first two before breaking through at her third outing - a 1300-metre maiden at Santa Anita - the bay was competitive in two (fourth and second) Listed contests before winning at that level - the China Doll S. - over a mile at Santa Anita.
Watch: Ms Bad Behaviour (USA) takes out the 2018 Listed China Doll S.
Sent out favourite in that contest, Ms Bad Behavior stalked the leader before hitting the front early in the straight and getting clear to win by 2.25l.
“I have always liked this filly,” trainer Richard Baltas said on the day, “I think she is a very good horse.”
Continuing to race well in stakes company, including a fourth in the G1 Del Mar Oaks - Ms Bad Behavior was five time-Group placed before taking out, at her penultimate outing, the G2 Ladies Turf S. at Kentucky Downs.
Taking the lead a long way from home, she impressed her rider Jose Ortiz, who noted that “she got going pretty quickly and when we got to the top of the hill, she put the ears up and was very relaxed going down the hill.”
“I just let her be her, let her get comfortable. And when I asked her to go by the three-sixteenths, she just rebroke.
“She is a good filly with a lot of heart and class,” reported the stable, “and it showed today.”
Second to her that day was Simply Breathless (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}), a mare who had already been purchased by Arrowfield having won at Group 3 and Listed level. She too roams the stud's paddocks; her first filly by Written Tycoon sold to Andrew Williams Bloodstock (FBAA) for $100,000 at Inglis Easter this year with her second and third foals being a daughter and a son of Maurice (Jpn).
Ms Bad Behaviour (USA) | Image courtesy of Coady Photography
Upon her retirement heading to the 2019 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky November Mixed Sale, Ms Bad Behavior caught the eye of Jon Freyer, who secured her on behalf of Arrowfield for $600,000.
Much to the delight of Brooke Hubbard who noted that “she had the biggest heart and she was a gritty racehorse, let's see her pass that onto her foals!”
When considering the state of the Australian dollar, Ms Bad Behavior was a hefty buy with Freyer noting that “it was pretty expensive getting her... but thank goodness we did!”
“It was pretty expensive getting her (Ms Bad Behavior)... but thank goodness we did!” - Jon Freyer
For Ms Bad Behavior is already well and truly proving her worth with her first born foal fetching $1.5 million to the bid of Tom Magnier at this year's Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
The son of Snitzel was, Freyer said a standout from early days.
“He was a beautiful colt all the way through and he was our highest-priced seller for the year. He is a classic Snitzel type, not all that big but strong with tremendous movement.
“We were extremely pleased that he sold so well, particularly as he was purchased by Coolmore who are well established as great judges of young stock - their endorsement was a real bonus.”
Named Switzerland, the Chris Waller trained bay is “from all accounts showing them a good deal," Freyer said. “And we are hoping to see him in the better races in the autumn.”
Switzerland as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Purchased with Snitzel in mind, Ms Bad Behavior has another two colts by him; the yearling due to head to Easter with the other being a recent arrival, described by Freyer as “a little beauty!” And she is due to visit him again this week.
Ms Bad Behavior's physical affinity with Snitzel was one of the reasons Freyer was keen to secure her but there were a few other reasons to chase her.
“Firstly she is just a magnificent specimen," he enthused - “a glorious type.”
“And we were very keen on Blame as a broodmare sire,” noting that the multiple Group 1 winning successful sire was showing signs that he could make an impact in that department.
“And in the few years since he has really kicked on - his stats are as good as any.”
Ms Bad Behavior (Can) | Image courtesy of Benoit Photo
The Claiborne based stallion is certainly faring nicely, his daughters producing 107 runners amongst their first 170 starters and 14 of those are stakes winners, including the four times Group 1 winner Forte (USA) (Violence {USA}).
Interestingly it was the presence of Blame in the pedigree that also caught the eye of Tom Magnier, who told TTR AusNZ at the time he purchased Switzerland that “he is something you love to see in a pedigree.”
He described Switzerland as “a very nice type who all the team really liked. You need some luck buying colts, but he's one of the stand-outs of the week - a lovely type with great quality.”
“A very nice type (Switzerland) who all the team really liked. You need some luck buying colts, but he's one of the stand-outs of the week, a lovely type with great quality.” - Tom Magnier
Freyer was also taken by Ms Bad Behavior's line-breeding patterns - namely her 6 X 6 cross of the wonderful mare Rough Shod (GB) (Gold Bridge {Fr}), the fifth dam of Blame and the fourth dam of Ms Bad Behavior's dam sire Stormy Atlantic (USA).
“It is always a positive for a mare to be in-bred to that number 5 family, particularly when they have shown ability.”
Ms Bad Behavior's family also impressed, her dual stakes-winning dam Cumulonimble (USA) (Stormy Atlantic) having also produced the stakes winners One Bad Boy (Can) (Twirling Candy {USA}) and Blessed Truly (Can) (Souper Speedy {USA}).
“One Bad Boy won the Queen's Plate which is just about the best race in Canada,” Freyer said.
“So there was a lot to like about her and I think she could prove to be a really important mare for Arrowfield.”
“So there was a lot to like about her (Ms Bad Behavior) and I think she could prove to be a really important mare for Arrowfield.” - Jon Freyer
And part of the success story that is the Fasig-Tipton sale for Australian breeders, one Freyer describes “a fantastic sale that any serious racing person should attend. If for nothing else just to see one of the greatest collections of race and broodmares in one place.”
