By Dan Kenny

When Mula Gula won the Bay Meadows Derby to become the second graded stakes-winner for Lil E. Tee, we felt a surge of pride in having purchased the dam ... for $2,700 Canadian!

Night Tan failed to win at the races, but the Ascot Knight filly had the pedigree ingredients that Lil E. Tee needed. Mula Gula is her first foal and he won stakes on dirt at two in Seattle before migrating to run with the best California turf sophomores.

We bring this up because it is now time for the broodmare sales in Central Kentucky and elsewhere. Our slugging percentage has been hefty the past few years and we offer a few examples for your perusal:

IN NEON ... Broodmare of the Year after having been purchased in 1994. In Neon went through the ring unsold at a reserve of $160,000. Minutes later I had bought her on behalf of a client for $200,000 and she went on to produce two Grade One winners, Sharp Cat and Royal Anthem. Why did I think she was worth more than $160,000 when no one else at Keeneland did? Give me a call and I'll tell you.

SOPHISTICATED SAM, SUNNY SARA, CONSTANT CHANGE Each of these mares was also bought at Keeneland November 1994. The latter two were carrying stakes horses Zippersup and Highfalutin who are still racing and have combined career earnings over $700,000. Sophisticated Sam's in-utero foal brought $135,000 as a 2-y-o and her next foal (mated at my suggestion) is stakes-winner Sophisticated Man, a winner of over $400,000.

Total cost for three mares: $95,000.

DONNA ROBERTA ... Bought for $17,000 in-foal to Geiger Counter. Next foal is SW Ryson, with earnings well over $300,000 and still racing.

SONG OF SYRIA ... Dam of Chilukki was found at Keeneland November 1997 when that undefeated star was a weanling. Bought for $72,000 in-foal to French Deputy. That foal was sold privately for $500,000 as a yearling.

SINGLE BLADE ... Grade I winner was bought for $50,000 at Keeneland November 1997. Her prior foal Comeonmom won the Remsen the next year and was sold to Godolphin for $3 million. Her in-utero foal brought $50,000 as a weanling and $115,000 as a yearling.

SENSORIOUS ... Another productive find at Keeneland November 1997. Daughter of the great broodmare sire Vice Regent was bought in-foal to Private Terms for $9,000. She was thirteen at the time and had but one winner. What caught my eye, however, were her foals on the ground by Red Ransom and Dehere.

Her Red Ransom is now a Group III 4-year-old in England and the Dehere is Riviera Colleen, a stakes-placed winner of $126,238.

FLAMING STAR, HALO'S STAR ... dams of current 3-y-o stakes-winners Bamboo Memory and American Halo purchased for $20,000 or less.

Over the years our criteria for success in finding quality mares at the right price have proven themselves. We've gotten results for our buyers. We can do it for you, too.

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