Dr. Mitchell Downey had to pinch himself when he was able to obtain regally-bred stakes-winning pacer Blood Money from the Standardbred Horse Sales Company's 2020 Mixed Sale.

When it came time to review the catalogue, he turned the page down on Blood Money but he didn't think he would actually get to own him.

"I really had my heart set on bidding on a horse later in the sale (than Blood Money)." explained Dr. Downey. "Turned out that horse ended up being out of the sale".

Having bid on two other horses prior to Blood Money entering the sales ring, he really thought the horse would go for more than his $32,000 sale price.

"I was in a bit of shock. The horse's pedigree page reads like a dream."

Blood Money is a brother to two Somebeachsomewhere siblings with more than $500,000 in earnings -- Blood Brother ($880,000) and Blood Line ($504,000). His resume is also solid. He was a fast two-year-old with two runner-up finishes both timed in 1:49.3 (KYSS Final and International Stallion Stake). He was a Grand Circuit stakes winner at two, capturing the Matron Stakes as well as legs of the Kentucky Sires Stakes. He was runner-up in his Breeders Crown elimination and third in the Governor's Cup final. At three, he captured a division of the Pennsylvania All-Stars and was second in his Art Rooney Elimination. He sports more than $430,000 in career earnings along with a 1:50f record.

The further one reads down Blood Money's pedigree page, the more impressive it becomes. His second dam is Arterra, the dam of If I Can Dream -- a world champion and sire of nearly $13 million -- and the great Western Terror, sire of winners of more than $97 million.

Once the horse had settled in it was decided to race him a start or two to feel him out. "[Mike Downey, Mitch's dad] spun him in (1):58.2, which is a heck of a trip in November over Exhibition Park Raceway," said Downey. After the new connections entered him at Red Shores Charlottetown, the Saint John, N.B. region went to orange level (or restricted movement) due to a spike in COVID-19 cases the very next day.

"We thought it in everyone's best interest to just stay home. His debut would have to wait."

With the recent announcement by Horse Racing New Brunswick of the New Brunswick Breeders Stake, foals sired by Blood Money will be eligible as New Brunswick-bred. Blood Money is standing at Lakeview Standardbreds in Jemseg, N,B.

"I'm looking forward to seeing what he can do on the track and in the breeding shed," continued Downey. "I'm a big fan of Sweet Lou and love the Artsplace sire line paired with a strong maternal Western Hanover line."

(HRNB)