Butch Wise & Freddy Carmona: Inside Solo Select Racing's 51-Head Ruidoso Consignments

Hello everyone, Freddy Carmona here with Mr. Bushwise. Today we're going to talk about one of the biggest stages in quarter horse racing world, in the quarter horse racing world, which is the Ridoso Select Geerling Sale. You know it is going to be September 4th and 5th, starting at noon, two sessions. Our first session will be Friday. It's going to have hit 1 through 206. Saturday is going to have 207 to 413. 400 of the finest race-based yearlings that go to that sale with big, big numbers. Mr. Butch, you want to tell us about your experience with the Rio Doso select sale? How many years have you been going to that sale? I think since 1980, 81. What's been the biggest things you've seen change, grow in the industry since 1980, 81?

Oh, I think at Rio Doso, you know, so many people, it's new to them. But, you know, we used to sell out of tents there. And, you know, since they built the new big barn there, I mean, it's just kind of like Neiman Marcus now. But, you know, then it was a little bit fakey. So the Redoso Sales Pavilion didn't exist in the 80s? No. It was nothing but tents? Tents. When did the Redoso Sales Pavilion? Oh, I don't remember. I don't remember when they built that big barn, but it's been quite, you know, 20-plus years ago. But anyway, it made it so much better, so much more comfortable for the clients. Every horse that goes through that sale, every yearling that goes through the sale, is eligible for the Triple Crown Futuritis Arvidoso.

That's a big benefit when it comes to buying a horse, in your opinion? Well, yeah, I think it's really a good add-on. I mean, they don't have to go and make the late pays because after June, the next payment is in November. And so they're already paid up to that date. Last year's numbers, they sold $26.8 million, averaging about $70,000 per yearling. You know, that's 413. How many were there last year? Do you know? About 470 was cataloged, yeah. But the reduction was by choice this year in an attempt to really concentrate on quality and make it more comfortable over two days. So we have to complement sale management on that. The sale manager, Mr. Walt Wiggins, said that there is full brothers and half siblings to 14 millionaires, this year in the catalog. So it's pretty, pretty deep. Good, really real bred horses in there.

You know, there's every year. If you go to Rio Dosa, you'll get the earliest birthdays, the best bred horses. The horses that have had the best care throughout their life, and there's a reason that they average $70,000 because so many of the variables are removed from those horses, and that's why they bring a lot of money. Tell us a little bit about the process of the select part, the Ridoso select sale, about the selection of the yearlings that go through that ring. Well, you know, Walt tries to inspect as many of those yearlings as he possibly can. He doesn't get to see them all, but he gets to see a vast majority of them, but that's only part of the process. I mean.

When they go to the farm, they inspect those horses, they make copious notes, and they're looking for a particular kind of horse, a horse that will fit kind of that Ria Dosa model. You know, they like a horse that's maybe a little bit larger than average, a very correct horse, but a horse that looks like he can get a quarter of a mile. And that's what we are trying to achieve is we're trying to sell an all-American winner. Really quick, how many horses do y'all go look at to select 413? I think we went to 96 farms. I can't tell you how many we looked at, but we went to 96 different farms and, I can't tell you how many states, but a lot, you know, and everybody thinks that's a real glamorous thing to do.

But, you know, you leave the hotel at 7 in the morning, you get back sometimes 7, 8, 9 o'clock at night. So there's a lot of miles to get put on. So whenever y'all are looking at these select yearlings, pedigree, number one, confirmation, the way they walk, what's most important? All of them combined. Yeah, I mean, so, you know, he'll go through, look at all those horses, make the notes, come back and do the pedigrees, and then inform the people of the horses that he feels will best fit the Rio Dosa sale model. From your perspective. Solo select racing, this is going on the third year of presenting yearlings to the select sale. Y'all have had some qualifiers to the All-American Futurity out of the first year y'all went there.

2024, y'all qualified three to the All-American Futurity. In 2025, and then another one this year. Another one this year. In 2025, yeah, it was sold in 2024. 2025, that's when they qualified. And are those big shoes to fill there? I mean, how do y'all get that? And, you know, somebody asked me recently, how do I qualify a horse to the All-American Fraternity? And my response was, you've got a better chance of walking out in the middle of that racetrack and being struck by a meteorite. You know, I mean, it's incredibly difficult because you're taking five each day. Everything has to go right to get there. But, you know, you see some of the same people every year, you know, or every other year they've got one there.

So the dream is to not only get there, but to win it. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And it. Takes a lot of luck, would you say? I think it's a tremendous amount of luck, but good horses bring their luck with them, I've found. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. And also, well, we're not running in Ridoso, but just in New Mexico, the Mother Nature part also made it very difficult when it was running in Ridoso. Would you say that? Absolutely. but I don't think we got away from it very much in Albuquerque this year either. No, no. I mean, the wind conditions are a significant aspect of qualifying. There's no doubt. We were both there. But that's what also what makes it, Why everybody wants to achieve it, you know, to get over all those hurdles with a really good horse and then you own the winner. Yes, yes, yes, yes.

We were there during the trials for the Futurity, for the All-American Futurity. And Derby, and we saw some fast, fast times. I asked the press, because I kind of know them all, I asked them if they've ever seen something like this before, and they said no, they've never seen nothing like that before. were a lot of sub-21s. What's your take on that? Well, I mean, it's a very good racetrack. I mean, it's been a very good racetrack for quite some time, and several world records have been set there in the past, probably more world records set between Albuquerque and Sunland Park than any other place, you know, over the years. But, you know, when you demolish the track record by 20 hundreds, like they did in the derby trials, I mean, And that tells you everything was going right for that horse that day.

Yes, sir. Yes, sir. And I hope she comes back. We all do. Yeah. We want to see a superstar, a monster, a hero like that in the game. So I'm happy for that feeling. Now, really quick, let's talk about Solo Select Racing Fitting Program. Tell us a little about that. Y'all are taking 51 yearlings to the Solo Select, I mean to the Redoso Select sale. Let's talk about those yearlings, Mr. Mitchell. Well, you know, I'm going to give you some amazing statistics that I put together yesterday that I think are amazing. Please. Related to these 50-plus yearlings, okay? These yearlings that we're offering, they're full or half siblings to five individual champions, okay? Yes, sir. Ten are full or half siblings to grade one winners.

Wow. All right? One's a half to an All-American winner. Okay. Six more or fuller halves to All-American finalists. Wow. Wow. All right. And this total may increase here real quickly because HIP-337 is a half to Flying Cowboys Candy, which is bred by the Peavey House family. And we sold that one last year at Rio Dosa, and it is now in the finals of the $3 million All-American fraternity. He's never been off the board in seven starts, multiple great-estakes placed. And made $90,000 already. And so you got to kind of watch for that horse. I mean, that horse is very consistent. He doesn't make many mistakes. And so he could very well add to the total in this bunch. So we're excited to have that, to follow that horse all the way through the All-American.

It is, you know, it's very gratifying to pick out horses and then run them through the program and take them to the sale and sell them and have them do well for those buyers. I mean, it's the greatest achievement I think that we as vendors have is to see those people, their judgment justified. Also in this year's consignment, there are full or half siblings to 56 individual stakes horses. Wow. 56. Yes. So 15 of the first dams here Are stakes winners 3 are grade 1 stakes winners Okay, Fifteen of the first dams are stakes winners. All right. Eight of the first dams. Pardon me. Twenty-eight. Reemphasize. Twenty-eight of the first dams are stakes horses. Wow. So more than half of this consignment are stakes horses.

And that's a pretty big deal. All right. So I think the quality is there. The history is there. Because, you know, history has a tendency to repeat itself. And those good mares certainly have probably an advantage over some of these other mares. I think also out of, I think it's just important to note that there's a certain group of people in this business that are very much fans of first foals. They love to buy colts and fillies out of. This is the first time they've had one being offered. Well, 12 of those are being offered in this consignment out of young, well-bred mares. This is their first foes. So, you know, know that there'll be some of those there for you. I know a lot of, well, not a lot, but quite a few guys that like to like the first foe out of that mare. They just, there's something about it.

Yeah. What do you think's a benefit on that? Well, I don't know. I don't know that there is specifically. Yeah. Maybe, maybe because it's the first one out of this mare, maybe they take better care of them. I don't know. But I mean, but there seems to be this legend in the business that, you know, you, you know, don't look past those first foes because a lot of them come up and do very, very, very well. Yes, yes, yes, yes. That is correct. That is correct. What about the sires? Top sires in the, you know, we've got a, we've got a really good, broad range of sires, proven sires throughout the sale. I mean, the horses that you want. I mean, there's all the big names. They're all there. I mean, and so now it's down to the individuals and the.

You know, if we all liked the same thing, we'd all have the same mother-in-law. So, I mean, but we've got horses to fit most everyone and what they're doing. Some of those horses will be suited for the first half of the year. Some of them will be suited for the second half of the year. Some of them will be horses that will mature later in the year. Some of them will be as good all year long as they can be. If we could pick that one, then we'd really be in good shape. I always say that people, we really don't know what we're doing because if we knew what we were doing, we would buy the All-American Futurity winner every year, you know? So, tell me a little bit about the Solo Select Racing consignment.

When do y'all receive the horses so you can start getting self-rapped? Well, we like to have them, you know, obviously we like to have 90 days. Sometimes shipping arrangements and moving horses around, it doesn't always end up with 90 days. Sometimes you end up with more, sometimes you end up with less. But, you know, the thing about whenever you bring in horses, you're, you know, you're changing the environment. A lot of these horses have never been up in a stall before. Okay. You're changing location. You're changing feed. You're changing water. You're changing everything about that horse's life. And so for usually for the first couple of weeks, they'll actually back up on you. So you need enough time to catch up on that initial culture shock and get that horse going the right way.

So the more time you can give us, we always feel like the better product we can take to the sale for you. Dustin and Dawson Price, they do a tremendous job. I've been here visiting y'all. Last couple of weeks, and I've seen them work those babies, you know, keeping them like that. And they're really, they're not just working them. They're actually being horsemen with them. And I think that's a great start. And I guess we see it in the results, you know, qualifying those big races. It starts from the breaking, from the handling, would you say? Well, I think one of the advantages, and a lot of trainers will tell you, that the horses they get from this particular group, and Dustin and Dawson and the other guys that are there, these horses are broke.

And so when they go off to get their early training, it's simplified for the trainers. I mean, they've already had the bath. They know they're on the walker. They're on the free walker. You can pick their feet up. You can do anything. around that horse so they get to galloping on the racetrack faster than those horses that you have to start from square one on yes sir yes sir yes sir and like i said i saw that i've been visiting, the ranch and i sneak up on the guys and they're always working with them they're they're handling like like i said a horseman is just it's just it's, he's just not a horse they're actually preparing him for the success in the future and an old horseman said whenever you break them it's forever if you break them right or you break them wrong and they're going to show it forever That's exactly right, that's exactly right.

And, you know, fortunately, over the years, we've been selling horses for some of the same people for 30 years. And so we've got daughters and granddaughters of some of those things that we sold, you know, previously. And some of these traits that go through these families, you know, we're very familiar with because we've seen it. We know what how they do and what they do. And so it makes it a little easier for us, and thus it makes it easier for the people that buy the horses. So generation after generation, you've just been dealing with the same families as owners and with the same genetics, I would assume. That's correct. Awesome, awesome, awesome. Tell me about the depth that you have here. It's just not one or two.

I mean, you got, I mean, every single one of them is pretty well. You told me once these were kind of also kind of selected. that, I mean, you like to represent good horses. Absolutely. You know. So, the selection process is a big part of it. I mean, anybody that thinks they can, you know, walk out there in a field and pick an All-American winner, you know, I got some oceanfront property I want to sell you, you know. But there are certain things that we do see. I mean, you know, I've been associated since 1980, 81. We have marketed seven All-American fraternity winners. Seven. And so, you know, there's kind of a common theme among those horses. And, you know, most of them got a really good attitude. They really want to try.

And, you know, we've sold 15 millionaires, you know, 28 champions over the years. I mean, all those horses have a common theme. And this sale right here is like the NFL draft or the NBA draft. I mean, it is, in my opinion, some of the best horses that'll be offered in 2026. I would say it's 413 best race yearlings in the country that are going to go through that ring. Certainly. And every single one of those is eligible for the 2027 Triple Crown Futurities in Reduzil. That's correct. And so there's, this is a well-conformed group of. Excellent potential racers, I think, that they've got all their radiographs in the repository. And, you know, you have every opportunity to assure yourself that this is the horse you think will excel in 2027.

And I believe the 51 of them are in SoloselectRacing.com or SoloselectRacing.com under Redoso Sale. And they can go through it and there's videos, there's everything there. so you can even see them before you even step into Redoso. It's interesting. The walking videos have proven to be, when we started doing that a few years back. It didn't seem like it was as big a part of the evaluation process as it is now because I've had numerous people tell me that, hey, boy, I just love how that horse walked in his video. Yes. You know? Yes. So, and usually, you know, you know, sometimes horses here at the farm and I often caution people, you know, don't categorize a horse simply because of one photo or one video, because just like people, they may have had an off day or something may have distracted them, you know, and they, but, you know, go and look at those horses at the horse sale.

If they fit your criteria pedigree-wise, sex-wise, age-wise, birthday-wise. If they fit you, make sure you go and look at them because I can promise you the photos and the videos are six to eight weeks old by the time we get to the horse sale. That's a dramatic amount of time in these horses' lives, so they're going to change tremendously. So don't pigeonhole a horse because of what you saw that's six weeks or eight weeks old. What would be your recommendation when someone that's buying a horse for the first time what are the two or three key points that you look at for it in a yearling.

You know, I think in buying a yearling, Freddie, I think it is most people, whether they'll admit it or not, require some help. You know, now they may be able to pick a good horse, but still, once you get to that point, you may have somebody else look at it with you. And then you're going to have, hopefully you're going to have some veterinarian, that goes through and looks at those films for you. And i think get as much help as you possibly can i think that's the i think that's the big key now there's a but we know guys that, we'd give them their our checkbook there's very few but there are guys that we would do that but for a lot of people that are coming into this game, you know don't be afraid to ask for help don't be afraid to ask somebody say would you come and look at this horse? Am I missing anything?

Is there something I need to know about this? And for the most part, I think everybody will be very glad to assist you. Yes, sir. Yes. Everybody's got to give an opinion on what they think of a horse. So yeah, definitely. Definitely. I agree with you. I agree with you. Uh, so the sale starts Friday at 2 PM. Yes. 100, no, 206 the first day. Correct. Without outs. So, you know, there'll be some outs. There'll be some outs. Yeah. And then And Saturday, same thing, 2 p.m. From 207 to 413. The horses we're going to be able to see. How many do you have in each day? Oh, I don't know. You don't know? Okay. I don't know.

You're not on top of that, huh, Mr. Rich? I'm always asking you some difficult questions, aren't I? No, no, no. That part right there, it makes no difference how many there are to me. I mean, but they're pretty evenly split for us, as I remember. It's almost an even split. And on sale day What's Butch Wife doing? You know, on sale day? Yes, sir. Well, you know, in the morning, we're getting those last-minute looks. Those guys are coming back for their second and third looks, you know. I mean, they just want to assure themselves they've got a short list that they're working off of. And so many of the guys, and I'm referring to mostly trainers. You know, they'll come back for a last minute look with an owner and they're going to try to allocate their assets on certain horses.

But, you know, if they don't get this horse, then they've got to have a backup plan. So they're going to come and look at this horse. So, you know, a lot of the sale day, the actual Friday first morning is, you know, last looks and be ready to go. Once the sale actually starts, then we'll be behind the ring, making sure everything is coming in everything's going everybody's looking you know and be up there in case people have questions, also you know as you well know there are updates that apply to that pedigree that is now eight or nine weeks old so if there's something significant there, that needs to be brought to someone's attention then you're there in the back and you can tell that they're that they're standing there looking by the way this horse got a half brother disqualified for something You know, and it hopefully adds to the value and adds to their interest.

Do you have a favorite one in this, the 51 group? Do you have a favorite yearling that you like most? Do you have one that you think is going to do well or just. How does this or is that a difficult question for you? That's an impossible question. And, you know, there is no way to answer that. Yes, we've got horses that we all like. But even within our group here, we don't all like the same horses, you know. Some of us like different ones, you know. Like I said, we all like the same thing. Yeah, exactly. We would have the same mother-in-law. Correct, correct, correct. Because I fell in love with one, and you know which one I like. The extraordinary one. The what? Extraordinary. Oh, yeah. To me, if you were to ask me, I would tell them. That's my favorite one.

If people are going to ask me this, because they've called and asked me, Freddie, pick three out of those. And she's number one. I think she's got the pedigree. She's proven. And, I mean, she's got a full sister that's a champion. So, you know, to me, that adds a lot of value. Pretty Philly. Pretty Philly. But, you know, there's a lot of pretty Phillies in there. There's a lot of pretty, really, really good Colts. And I think there's some stallion prospects in there, you know. And we're sorely in need of some new stallion prospects, obviously. And those Tufu brothers, Tempting Nash brothers, those are pretty great. I mean, there's just some really, really, really good horses, and we're really anxious to show them to them.

You know, you and I went to the trials for the All-American, and we passed out those picture books out there, and those guys really, really anticipate getting those. And so it's fun to go in the barns in the morning after you passed out those those picture books and, and they'll be over there arguing over which one oh I like this one better no I like this one better you know and and I mean it's it's it's amazing how much they appreciate that resource I just want to hear you say one favorite one from your mouth but I'm never going to get that I know.

Talking about the books they were a big hit because I saw people just really studying the book They were like reading They were just They weren't glancing at it They were like reading Reading and two guys Looking at one I remember me Here don't worry about it I'll give you another one You know Passing them out With a lot of people So great benefit, It gives a lot of information About the yearlings And I really do think That Solo Select Racing Is doing a phenomenal job On presenting these Yearlings to the world I think the crew here Does an outstanding job From the photographs From the videos From the, And, of course, we've already talked about the fitting process, but, you know, I mean, this resource that owners have behind the scenes is almost immeasurable.

I mean, these people deserve a lot of credit. Yes, from the barn people to the marketing people to the girls that take pictures to Dustin and Dawson, you know, the Price family. It really shows, and everyone that's involved in solo select racing really takes a lot of pride in what they do. I mean, this would be your third year, and you've had some two tremendous successful years. We've been very fortunate. We've been very fortunate, and we hope that continues, obviously. But, you know, if you have good horses and they get in the right hands and they have good luck, good things will happen. Well, I mean, they also have a good bloodstock agent. I mean, yourself, a lot of experience. Matt Whitman, you know, being part of this whole thing. I mean.

Having the right connections and having the, I mean, good product to offer to the buyers. You know, I think that's one thing that's often overlooked is that, you know, we've had a long time connection with a lot of these trainers over the years. Yeah. We know the kind of horse that, for the most part, that they like, and they don't all like the same type of horse. But by the same token, you know, when we get to the sale, and one of the things I think is important is on occasion during the day, certain guys will come in and we'll try to put two or three of them together at the same time, and we'll do what we call an all show. We get every horse out and they go through. And so out of that 400, you know, they'll get to see 51 of that group.

And we're happy to do that. So, you know, if you want to be a part of that all-show group when we put it together, we'll call you. We'll let you know what the deal is, and you come, and we'll make it happen. Okay, good deal, good deal, good deal. Well, Mr. Butch, is there anything else you want to add to the people that are listening to our podcast and remind them something that I might be missing for this. This year's select sale? No, I think we just want to invite everyone to come to Riodosa. When I left there Sunday before last, after the breed sale, I left there at 4 o'clock in the morning, and it was 56 degrees. So if you're tired of the heat in the central part of the United States, they still call it the cool pines of Riodosa. So you're going to enjoy the time that you're there, and you'll get to see a really outstanding group of horses.

And there may be a few announcements about what's going to happen at ria dosa going forward there'll be i think there'll be a lot more clarity by the end of, end of the week and hopefully you get there you find a really good horse and you buy it yourself or you buy it for your partners so i think i'm, i never fail to get excited about this part of the year i mean this is there's a A lot of hard work goes into this that starts way back in the spring. And so this is the culmination of all those efforts of all those people, even starting back from the people that bred them and are kind enough to give them to us to let them market them for us. So it's a long process, but we're really excited to show you these horses this year.

Well, thank you so much, Mr. Bush, for being here with me one more time. And thank you all for listening. Looking forward to seeing everyone They're in Redoso Sales Pavilion September 4th and 5th 2pm, two sessions Friday and Saturday, 413 of the best Red racing yearlings Will be there in that ring And they're all qualified for the 2027 Triple Crown Futurities in Redoso And many of them also are, You know, there's steaks and some of the stuff in California, some of the stuff. And, you know, and then, of course, the state bread aspects of some of these things are also important now. So, you know, if they're Texas bread, Oklahoma bread, New Mexico bread, all those things apply. And there's something for everyone. So we look forward to seeing everyone out there. Si, como no. Yeah.