For the past two and a half years, I have been working on a series of videos showcasing the beauty of the Thoroughbred at all stages of life. I have recently published the first video in the series, covering the first two years. The video is shot at 120fps to give it a cinematic quality. To accompany the video, in this post, I will be sharing some photos I have taken from the early stages of a foal’s life up through yearling sales. Keep reading to watch the video at the end of the post!
There is nothing like seeing a foaling. In 2023, I got to witness the foaling of Overheated’s Yaupon filly at Mahoney Eden Manor in Saratoga. This photo was taken just seconds after she was born. Want to see what she looks like all grown up? Keep reading!
While human babies don’t get up on their feet for almost a year, foals stand and nurse within an hour, sometimes with a little help. Here, Sean Mahoney helps Overheated’s Yaupon filly as she stands for the first time.
A 2022 Caravaggio filly out of Hennyville, now named, Carae, stands in her stall at Mahoney Eden Manor at just hours old.
Nominate looks down at her day old 2022 More Than Ready filly at Mahoney Eden Manor. Now named Phoebeinwonderland, she graduated at first asking in May at Belmont at the Big A!
Some thoroughbreds have very unique markings. This 2023 Munnings colt out of C’Est La Vie at Mahoney Eden Manor has an unforgettable question mark on his face. Want to see how different it looks on him as a yearling? Keep reading!
Last year, the first foal for Independence Hall was born at Mahoney Eden Manor, a colt out of Seascape. I photographed him at days old in the snow. This photo was on display in the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame last year as part of their annual Photo Finish exhibition.
Qualifying and her 2022 King for a Day colt, now named Valentine for Aday, play in the snow at Mahoney Eden Manor.
Britt Wadsworth kisses Big Time Lady’s 2024 Yaupon filly at Mahoney Eden Manor.
It’s fun to watch the foals get their exercise. Pictured here is a 2023 Tacitus filly out of Lady Joan at Irish Hill Century Farm in Stillwater, NY.
Foal yoga! Big Time Lady’s Yaupon filly sows her oats at Mahoney Eden Manor.
A winter wonderland! Goodyearforroses and her 2023 War Front filly run in the snow at Mahoney Eden Manor. Want to see what the filly looks like all grown up? Read on!
Farm manager Lolly gives a kiss to a 2024 Jackie’s Warrior colt out of Sassy Sienna at Thirty Year Farm in Saratoga.
All Over the Map and her 2023 King for a Day colt enjoy a brisk winter day at Mahoney Eden Manor.
A 2024 Pinehurst colt out of The Important One stands close to his mama as she grazes at Mahoney Eden Manor.
Sometimes an unthinkable situation happens, and a foal is orphaned. Such was the case with this 2024 Maximum Security colt out of Indian Splendor, who tragically lost his mother within a day of being foaled at Mahoney Eden Manor. Shortly thereafter, nurse mare Romance Dance arrived at the farm, and thankfully, the pair bonded quickly.
Martini and her 2024 Jackie’s Warrior filly keep warm on a winter morning at Mill Creek Farm in Stillwater, NY.
Too little to see out! A 2024 Mandaloun colt out of My Precious shows off his adorable ears at Mahoney Eden Manor.
This 2024 Aloha West colt out of Goodbye Brockley at Irish Hill Century Farm has a special connection for me. His damsire is Cosmonaut, who spent his retirement at Old Friends at Cabin Creek in Greenfield, NY where I volunteer.
Seascape and her 2024 Global Campaign filly enjoy some downtime at Mahoney Eden Manor.
Seeing the foals interact with each other is so exciting. A 2024 King for a Day colt out of Sage Hall (left) and a Warrior’s Charge colt out of Lavender Hill check each other out at Irish Hill Century Farm.
As the winter turns to spring, more foals are born. This 2024 McKinzie filly out of Girardi at Claiborne Farm in Paris, KY was only a day old when I took this photo.
On a very brisk April afternoon, this 2024 Munnings colt out of Arabian Gazelles put on a show for visitors to Airdrie Stud in Midway, KY.
It’s exciting to see successful race mares go on to be broodmares. Pictured is Champion Turf Female Regal Glory and her 2024 Into Mischief filly at Claiborne Farm.
A 2024 Munnings filly out of Wonderful goes for a run at Denali Stud in Paris, KY.
Rose Sapphire and her 2023 Nyquist filly take a jog at Godolphin’s Gainsborough Farm in Versailles, KY.
Lady Lawyer bonds with her 2023 Kitten’s Joy colt at Gainsborough Farm.
Valentine for Aday takes a nap while mom Qualifying has a snack at Mahoney Eden Manor.
Miss Munnings and her 2022 Always Dreaming colt, now named Always Grateful, go for a walk at Mahoney Eden Manor.
Just starting to be able to peek out the window! Hennyville looks out from the barn at Mahoney Eden Manor while her 2023 Raging Bull colt tries his best to join her.
Lots of action! Gemini Witch and her 2023 Big Brown colt, The Brown Egg, demonstrate their athleticism at Mahoney Eden Manor.
Jen White walks a 2024 Highly Motivated filly out of Caribbean Breeze back to the barn at Mahoney Eden Manor. Jen was present for the filly’s foaling.
As spring turns to summer, the foals are at different stages, with some having just been born a month or two ago, and others at nearly six months old. In the summer of 2022, I visited Old Tavern Farm in Stillwater, NY for the first time. This boutique breeding farm is located in a picturesque setting overlooking Saratoga Lake. You can visit the farm during the summer as part of NYRA’s Breakfast and Breeding Farm Tour.
Pictured above is a 2022 Munnings filly out of To the Moon Alice, now named Shoot it True, at Old Tavern Farm. She was three months old at the time of the photo. Last year, this lovely lady was the highest selling filly of the Fasig-Tipton New York Bred Yearlings sale, and this year, she broke her maiden at first asking at Keeneland.
2022 colts King Phoenix (King for a Day – All Over the Map) and Always Grateful (Always Dreaming – Miss Munnings) share a special moment at Mahoney Eden Manor
Miss Munnings and Always Grateful graze at Mahoney Eden Manor.
As the summer turns to fall, the foals are weaned from their mothers and become weanlings. Pictured above are two 2022 weanlings at Old Tavern Farm.
A group of 2022 weanlings walk in the field at Old Tavern Farm. Can you spot Shoot it True from a few photos ago? She’s second from left. On the far left is Under Who’s Radar, a Violence colt out of Comme Chez Soi who broke his maiden first time out at Saratoga this past summer and is now stakes placed.
2023 weanlings let out some energy at Mahoney Eden Manor. From left to right are: The Brown Egg (Big Brown – Gemini Witch colt), Rageville (Raging Bull – Hennyville colt), Fairweatherlover (King for a Day – Qualifying filly), and Presley (King for a Day – All Over the Map colt).
Some weanlings are sold at auction in the fall. Pictured is a 2021 Audible filly out of Boom Boom Vroom, who sold for $8,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Fall Sale. She is now named Audible Mischief, and according to Equibase, has not made any starts.
A 2021 weanling is shown at Fasig-Tipton.
Come January 1, the weanlings are now yearlings. They still have a lot of growing to do, though! Pictured above are a 2022 Jimmy Creed filly out of Kipling’s Joy, now named Honey’s Creed, and a Majestic City filly out of Sage Hall, now named Bustling Town, at Irish Hill Century Farm.
A pair of 2023 colts look my way at Irish Hill Century Farm.
Yearling colts especially can get into mischief! Pictured are 2022 colts at Sugar Plum Farm in Saratoga.
A 2022 Vino Rosso filly out of Sugarille, now named Neri, is shown at Song Hill Thoroughbreds (owned by trainer H. James Bond and his wife Tina).
A 2021 Uncle Mo filly out of To the Moon Alice gets a pet at Old Tavern Farm.
Many yearlings are sold at auction in the spring, summer, and fall. The Saratoga Sale at Fasig-Tipton is one of the most prestigious yearling sales in the United States. Pictured above is Mc Vay, a 2021 Constitution colt out of Dothraki Sea, who sold for $1.25 million at the 2022 Saratoga Sale. He is currently graded stakes placed.
This 2022 Into Mischief colt out of Rachel’s Valentina, now named Valentinian, is a grandson of Rachel Alexandra (she is the colt’s granddam). He sold for $1.5 million at the 2023 Saratoga Sale, and according to Equibase, has not made any starts.
Multiple graded stakes winner Prince of Monaco (2021 Speightstown – Rainier colt) sold for $950,000 at the 2022 Saratoga Sale.
Rasheed Pinnock gives a pet to a 2023 Charlatan filly out of Swingit, now named Little Georgie. She sold for $630,000 at the Saratoga Sale this year. Sadly, this filly is the final foal for her dam, who passed away shortly after she was born.
Amy Molina gives a kiss to a 2023 Practical Joke colt out of In My Time, who sold for $185,000 at the Saratoga Sale this year.
This 2023 Not This Time colt out of Kayce Ace sold for $3.4 million at the Saratoga Sale this year. He was ultimately the sale topper.
Sometimes the horses get anxious when they are standing in the sales ring. Here, a handler gives a reassuring pet to a 2022 Quality Road colt out of I’m a Looker, who sold for $1.1 million at the 2023 Saratoga Sale. According to Equineline, he is still unnamed.
This 2023 Gun Runner colt out of Secret Sigh sold for $1.9 million at the Saratoga Sale this year.
Remember that Independence Hall colt jumping in the snow earlier in this post? Well, here he is all grown up! He sold for $25,000 at the Fasig-Tipton New York Bred Yearlings Sale this year.
Remember the unmistakeable question mark on the Munnings colt from earlier in this post? Well, here he is as a yearling! He sold for $150,000 at the New York Bred Yearlings Sale this year.
Remember the War Front filly running with her mom in the snow? Here she is getting a pet before the New York Bred Yearlings Sale this year, where she sold for $10,000.
Remember the Yaupon filly whose foaling I witnessed? Here she is all grown up. She sold for $190,000 at the New York Bred Yearlings Sale this year.
Fasig-Tipton has both a lower level and an upper level, and on the upper level there is an art gallery. Here, a 2021 Dialed In filly out of Mary Grace, now named Gibunjoeunmal, sells for $42,000 at the 2022 New York Bred Yearlings Sale. According to Equibase, she has not made any starts.
Finally, here is the first video in the series. Email subscribers, click here to watch the video.
In my next post, I will share my next video, showcasing the training and racing years of a Thoroughbred’s life.
To see more of my equine photography be sure to follow me on Instagram and Facebook. All photos and videos in this post © Samantha Decker and may not be reused without permission.
Liked this post? Subscribe by email below to receive future posts!
Loved these!