Solo Sells RUNNERS: Solo Select Racing Graduates Translate Sales Ring Investments into Track Success
- Melanie Smith
- 23 hours ago
- 5 min read
Updated: 2 minutes ago
"Sale fitting is where it all begins," Solo Select founder and owner Ty Smith said. "Our goal is to not only present a horse at its physical best but also position it perfectly in the market so that it brings top dollar for our clients."
From the sales ring straight to the winner's circle, Solo Select Racing has surged from an unknown newcomer two years ago to a premier market force.
SOLO SELECT RACING IS COMING BACK TO RUIDOSO IN 2026
After grossing millions at major industry sales—including nearly $4 million at its debut Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale and $1.123 million to top the 2024 Heritage Place November Sale—the program is now validating those financials with high-caliber racetrack winners.
While the sales figures provided a strong commercial foundation, the organization measures its primary success by track performance. From its first graduating crop, Solo Select Racing saw three horses qualify for the $3 million All American Futurity. Rovos Rail, Dee Favorite Tacha, and Lethal Lobo represented 30 percent of the field in the Grade 1 final, proving the organization's ability to source and prepare competitive racing prospects.
About the Solo Select Racing Fitting Program
The foundation of the program relies on the evaluation and conditioning methods of its leadership team. Veteran horsemen Butch Wise and Matt Witman handle the selection process, working alongside Solo Select founders and owners Melanie Smith and Ty Smith. Rather than focusing solely on commercial appeal, the team prioritizes scouting and acquiring prospects that possess the physical tools to translate their pedigrees into track performance.
Acting as the program's bloodstock agent, Wise noted that selecting the right horses requires a meticulous, detail-oriented approach.
"When evaluating yearlings for Ruidoso, it takes far more than a good pedigree page. The obvious things we look for are conformation, pedigree and size," Wise said. "Then it comes down to the details—balance, correctness and “the look”. “The look” is related to a physical profile that indicates that individual might compete at 440 yards, the All-American distance. We show yearling prospects at this sale to a very sophisticated buying clientele. These trainers and owners know what they are looking for in a racing prospect and they are looking for the total package. Our job is to have what they need and then have those individuals go and perform at the highest level the following years.”
𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘨𝘩 𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘦.
𝗧𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝗼 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗙𝘂𝗹𝗹-𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗙𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝘀
Once selected, the yearlings enter a dedicated conditioning program. Veteran horseman Dustin Price has managed the fitting process for numerous Champions, G1 winners and superior runners for the past 20+ years. His son, Dawson Price, is now assuming responsibility for daily preparation. Together, they are a formidable team.
Utilizing decades of combined industry experience, the staff oversees every individualized phase of each horses' development, guiding the prospects from early conditioning through their final presentation in the sales ring.
Learn more about Solo Select Racing Fitting by listening to our podcast episode
On-Track Performance Demonstrates Program’s Impact
The success of Solo Racing's program is measured by more than strong sale results—it's reflected in the performance of its graduates at the racetrack.
When sale graduates from Solo Select's debut consignment to the 2024 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale launched their racing careers in 2025, Lethal Lobo made a convincing statement to lead the way. The colt by Favorite Cartel, a 1/2 brother to All American Futurity G1 winner JM Miracle, brought a final bid of $200,000. He went on to qualify for the $3,000,000 All American Futurity in 2025, finishing a a tough 3rd in the final. He's lit the board in 5 of 7 starts and earned a lifetime bankroll of $269,030.
Lethal Wind sold for $105,000 at Ruidoso in 2025, then went on to make the final and finish 2nd in the $1,000,000 Ruidoso Futurity G1 this year.
Cyber Blues, was a repurchase at Ruidoso in 2024, and has since earned $75,223 and trips to the finals in the $910,508 Texas Classic Futurity G1 in 2025 and $335,800 Heritage Place Derby G2 in 2026.
Photo 1: Lethal Wind at 2025 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale / Photo 2: Lethal Wind securing a second-place finish in the 2026 $1 million Ruidoso Futurity | Photo: Speedhorse
Solo Select Racing's early sale offerings are highlighted by many more talented runners like:
◼︎ Won Salty Corona $63,442
2nd TQHA Sires' Cup Futurity G2, finalist Sam Houston Derby Challenge
Sold by Solo Select, agent for LeAnn J. Burns & Stone Chase Stables for $35,000 at the 2025 Heritage Place Yearling Sale
◼︎ Flying Cowboys Candy $62,459
2nd Four Corners Futurity, 2nd West Texas Juvenile
Sold by Solo Select, agent for PV Quarter Horse Farms LLC for $39,000 at the 2025 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale
◼︎ Kiss My Nine Eleven $58,898
$1,158,940 Heritage Place Futurity G1 finalist
Sold by Solo Select, Agent for Turner Farms for $20,000 at the 2025 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale
◼︎ Fire N Speed $51,105
Finalist $335,800 Heritage Place Derby G2, Speedhorse Futurity G3 and the Golden Driller Stakes
Sold by Solo Select, Agent for Speed LLC for $80,000 at the 2024 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale
◼︎ Nena C $31,974
Finalist $435,395 Oklahoma Futurity G2
Sold by Solo Select, Agent for Stone Chase Stables LLC for $25,000 at the 2025 Heritage Place Yearling Sale (Name changed from Lonesome Kiss)
◼︎ Valiant Sass $28,291
Finalist $435,395 Oklahoma Futurity G2
Sold by Solo Select, Agent for $102,000 at the 2025 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale
◼︎ Kisses N Candy $25,814
Finalist $971,955 Remington Park Futurity RG1
Sold by Solo Select, agent for PV Quarter Horse Farms LLC for $65,000 at the 2025 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale
◼︎ Flying Sin Tacha $23,410
$960,000 Ed Burke Memorial Futurity G1 Qualifier
Sold by Solo Select, agent, for $70,000 at the 2025 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale
◼︎ Kissin What
Finalist $270,810 Firecracker Futurity G2
◼︎ Bolo Cowboy
Finalist $270,810 Firecracker Futurity G2
From the sale ring to the winners circle, Solo Select Racing graduates continue to deliver.
Building on this early momentum, Solo Select Racing is preparing its largest consignment to date for the upcoming auction season. The operation is scheduled to offer prospects at the Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale, the Heritage Place Yearling Sale and the Heritage Place Fall Mixed Sale, aiming to continue supplying the market with competitive racing prospects.
Buyers seeking market value and strong potential on the racetrack should look closely at the Solo Select Racing consignment during the upcoming sales season. The sport's next winner could easily be standing in the Solo Select Racing alleyway, making it a priority stop for buyers evaluating this year's market.
SOLO SELECT RACING IS COMING BACK TO RUIDOSO IN 2026
Yearlings pictures and videos COMING SOON!
Stay tuned-Follow Solo Select Racing
Any questions?
𝗦𝗼𝗹𝗼 𝗥𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗙𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺
Matt Witman: 405-613-0047
Butch Wise: 405-640-2234
