After the Auction: Fantastic Vow

As an avid fan of sales with possible aspirations to become an adviser/bloodstock agent, auctions are one of my favorite topics to write about on Past the Grandstand. “After the Auctions” feature horses I selected in sales that have found success after the sale. 

The hammer fell after a final bid of $150,000, giving the handler of the bay colt that stood in the ring the cue to lead the son of Broken Vow out of the auditorium. One of my selections from the 2012 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, the colt now belonged to Jim and Susan Hill.

Placed in the barn of trainer William Hickey, the colt was given the name Fantastic Vow. Making his career debut in a mile and one-sixteenth maiden special weight on the synthetic surface at Keeneland, Fantastic Vow was sent off as the longest shot in a field of seven. But, after coming from off the pace, the colt shocked betters by rallying to capture the race by a neck.

Could more success be in Fantastic Vow’s future? His pedigree suggests it just could be.

Fantastic Vow is a son of Broken Vow, who has yielded the likes of the grade one winners Cotton Blossom, Sassy Image, and Unbridled Belle. A son of Unbridled, Broken Vow shares his sire with numerous spectacular stallions, including Empire Maker and the late Unbridled’ Song.

But the strongest aspect of Fantastic Vow’s pedigree is undoubtedly his dam’s side. His dam, Fantastic Shirl, was a stakes winner who placed in two graded stakes races. In addition to Fantastic Vow, she has produced the graded stakes-placed Fantastic Song and the stakes-placed Magnificent Shirl.

Fantastic Vow’s broodmare sire is Fantastic Light, a brilliant son of the outstanding damsire Rahy who earned more than $8 million and captured six group ones on various continents. His granddam (the dam of Fantastic Shirl), Lady Shirl, is a Reine De Course mare responsible for producing 2011 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (gr. I) victress Perfect Shirl, the multiple grade one-winning Shakespeare, and the multiple graded stakes-winning Lady Shakespeare.

Fantastic Vow has yet to work out, yet alone race, since his debut, but should he surface yet again, I will certainly be keeping my eye on him.