Blues for Sale, the Argentine broodmare who has a magnet for big victories in the United States

Mother of the champions Blue Prize and Blue Stripe, she is now the granddam of Layabout, who won the William L. McKnight Stakes this Saturday

Layabout was one of the stars this Saturday at Gulfstream Park / ADAM COGLIANESE

HALLANDALE BEACH, Florida (Special for Turf Diario).— On a vibrant day during the tenth anniversary of the Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park, Layabout proved that stamina and speed can go hand in hand. Under a masterful ride by David Egan, the Patrick Biancone trainee claimed the William L. McKnight (G3), a 2,400-meter turf race with a $225,000 purse.

Beyond his solid performance on the track, the victory holds a special significance for South American racing. Layaboutis a son of Laoban, but his maternal line stands out due to the presence of his granddam, the Argentine mare Blues for Sale.

The daughter of Not for Sale was a high-quality runner in Argentina, winner of multiple group stakes—including the Belgrano (G2), Brasil (G3), Sauze (G3), and Centurión (L). She later proved to be a fundamental piece in breeding, transmitting the athletic ability that Layabout displayed today over the demanding mile and a half distance. Notably, Blues for Sale is the mother of champions Blue Prize (Pure Prize) and Blue Stripe (Equal Stripes), both G1 winners in the United States, as well as the G2 winner Blue Caviar (Equal Stripes).

As for the race itself, it was a monologue by the winner. Egan did not hesitate to put the 4-year-old gelding in front from the start, setting fractions of 22.97 and 47.85 for the half-mile. Despite the challenge of facing older horses for the first time in a commitment of this caliber, Layabout maintained a steady pace of 1:37.85 for the mile and finished strongly to cross the wire in 2:25.27.

"He’s a fantastic horse. Long distance is his thing," stated trainer Patrick Biancone. "I told David not to try any subtleties: take the lead and make the others run. He’s much better when he’s in front."

One of Layabout's peculiarities is the use of a special mask with mesh goggles, known in Australia as a pacifier. According to Biancone, the horse used to be very skittish, and the equipment was key to calming him down and allowing him to concentrate exclusively on the competition.

Padiddle (Empire Maker) attempted a late charge under Manuel Franco but had to settle for second place, 1 1/4 lengths back, finishing just a neck ahead of Balnikhov (Adaay), who completed the trifecta with Joel Rosario.

With this victory, Layabout not only confirms his evolution after winning the Tropical Park Derby but also once again highlights the value of Argentine breeding and maternal lines in the demanding United States circuit.