Instant Impact

A late April foal with plenty of frame to grow into and a nice, forward walk, the MyRacehorse team’s confidence while bidding grew when they noticed McPeek was who they were going up against. McPeek’s prowess in finding future superstars for value prices at the sales is well documented. He picked out eventual $10.5-million earner and super sire Curlin for only $57,000; champion 3-year-old filly and G1 Preakness heroine Swiss Skydiver for $35,000; and this year’s Kentucky Oaks & Breeders Cup Distaff, Thorpedo Anna for only $40,000.

With an already established relationship, it was a no-brainer for MyRacehorse and McPeek to team up on this colt too.

A MGSW/MG1SP earner of more than $1.7 million, Upstart was a pure dirt router and that’s what the majority of his progeny are as well. He’s been responsible for 2022 G1 Blue Grass winner and 2023 G2 Woodward S. hero Zandon–a $2.2-million earner who just completed his first year at stud–and four other graded winners going a route of ground.

Dam Perfect Impression (Shackleford) is a young half-sister to hard-knocking MGSW Take Charge Paula (Take Charge Indy), whose sire also hails from the A.P. Indy line like Upstart. Take Charge Paula’s 2-year-old daughter Long Neck Paula (Uncle Mo) was a sharp debut winner at Churchill in May and subsequently stakes-placed at Saratoga. It’s early for Shackleford as a broodmare sire, but he already has three stakes winners and a graded-placed runner as a dam sire. Considering Shackleford is by the very good broodmare sire Forestry, it would be no surprise to see his daughters continue to pop up with more standouts.

First Impression ‘23 will go right into McPeek’s successful development program, starting off at his Magdalena Farm in Lexington, KY before heading to Silverleaf Training Center in Ocala, FL as his lessons progress.

This colt was purchased from the same consignor–Mill Ridge Sales–as MyRacehorse’s 2024 Preakness winner Seize the Grey.