As the page turned on 2020, the new year began with the last major sale of a very atypical season. Front and center at Keeneland January was the most significant phase of the Sam-Son Farm dispersal, with 21 in-foal mares sold across a single session for a total of $6,733,000.

The fantastic family behind recently retired Gr1 winner Instilled Regard was well-represented at Keeneland, via two half-sisters sourced for purchase in 2017.

First, Heavenly Tap, an unraced daughter of Tapit, saw her newly-turned juvenile colt by Maclean's Music bring $200,000. The following day, Heavenly Sis, twice runner-up at Saratoga, brought a final bid of $180,000 from WinStar Farm.

Bred by KatieRich Farm, Instilled Regard made the transition from Kentucky Derby participant (4th in 2018 to Justify) to high-class turf campaigner. Over his last five career starts, the son of Arch won three stakes, including a breathtaking finish to the Gr1 Manhattan in what would be his career finale.

Both Heavenly Tap and Heavenly Sis were acquired prior to Instilled Regard's 2yo stakes debut in the Los Alamitos Cash Call Futurity, in which he placed 2nd.

The start of that same week saw an update on another 2017 purchase via England where Woke Media was a comfortable maiden winner at Southwell Racecourse for trainer David Simcock. The now 3yo daughter of Orb was acquired in utero with the purchase of her dam Distorsionada, half-sister to dual Gr1 European winner Lady Aurelia.

By Distorted Humor, Distorsionada was resold for $320,000 at Fasig-Tipton November, where a year later breeder/co-owner Stonestreet Farm bought out the partnership which raced Lady Aurelia to secure the Royal Ascot star outright for $7.5 million.