After the Auction: Sustainable

Selected by Mary Cage from the 2012 Fasig-Tipton July Sale as hip 308 – Purchased for $200,000

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. These posts are generally just brief overviews of these horses’ racing records and pedigrees.

Second in her debut at Belmont Park in September, Sustainable was a disappointing fourth as the favorite in her second career start. Taking more than two months off, the dark bay filly returned on New Year’s Eve at Aqueduct, competing in a five and one-half-furlong maiden special weight, which would be the shortest distance at which she had ever raced.

Pressing the pace throughout, Sustainable seized a narrow lead turning for home, but was threatened by rivals on both sides. Digging in gamely, the filly refused to be passed, beginning to edge clear from these adversaries. However, the favorite – Sun and Moon – was quickly gaining ground on the outside as the horses neared the finish line. But she was too late. Sustainable acquired the victory by a nose.

Pedigree Analysis

Sustainable is a daughter of Forestry, a son of Storm Cat best known for producing the multiple grade one-winning Shackleford. In addition to Shackleford, Forestry has also produced the grade one winners Diplomat Lady, Discreet Cat, and Forest Danger. As aforementioned, Forestry is a son of Storm Cat, a legendary sire responsible for producing at least thirty-five grade/group one winners.

Out of the Mt Livermore mare Normandy’s Nell, Sustainable is a half-sister to the multiple black-type-winning Culotte.  Normandy’s Nell is a half-sister to the grade one-winning Famous Digger, the graded stakes-placed Hecandigit, and multiple black-type-placed Naviator. Notably, this filly’s fourth dam produced the French champion Argument.

This filly is bred on the same Storm Cat/Mt. Livermore cross as the graded stakes winner Strike the Deal, sharing the same successful broodmare sire. Mt Livermore is also the maternal grandsire of the grade one winners Flashy Bull and Sweet Reason.


Where could Sustainable's career take her? Now that she has tasted victory, many more could be in her future.