Hartley, DeRenzo Buy Mezinka Colt for $700,000
The colt, Hip 942, sold at the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale and is the third horse the pair has acquired out of the mare Mezinka.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Equestrian
Hartley and DeRenzo purchased a colt out of Mezinka for $700,000 at the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale on Nov. 5, 2026. They bought the colt, Hip 942, as agent for Tom Durant.
Why it matters
The purchase extends the pair's record with the Mezinka family, which has produced multiple winners and a graded stakes-placed runner. It also signals continued demand for yearlings by the freshman sire Life Is Good.
Hip 942 sold for $700,000, and the Mezinka family has produced three racing-age foals and one of five winners, with Harlocap earning $285,253 and becoming graded stakes-placed. The colt's sire, Life Is Good, will stand for $125,000 next year at WinStar Farm in Kentucky.
The players
Hartley/DeRenzo
The bloodstock agents who purchased Hip 942 and have previously sold a Flightline colt for a record $10.5 million.
Tom Durant
The Texas owner for whom Hartley and DeRenzo acted as agent in buying the colt.
Keeneland
The Kentucky racecourse and sales venue that hosted the November Breeding Stock Sale.
The details
The colt was consigned by Blandford Stud and was foaled in Kentucky, and Hartley and DeRenzo were drawn to him by his female family and his sire. DeRenzo said the plan is to pinhook Hip 942, meaning to buy him now and resell him later.
Timeline
2024 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale: Zedan was purchased as a weanling for $575,000.
Spring 2026 Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale: A Flightline colt was sold for a record $10.5 million.
Nov. 5, 2026: Hip 942 was purchased for $700,000 at Keeneland.
Next year (2027): Life Is Good will stand for $125,000 at WinStar Farm.
Roadmap
The purchase reflects the continued importance of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale as a venue where pinhook buyers chase high-priced yearlings. It also fits a broader pattern of bloodstock agents building resale value around proven female families and rising freshman sires.
The pinhook plan means Hip 942 will be resold rather than raced by its buyers, so its eventual racing career will depend on the next owner. For fans tracking the Mezinka family, the colt's price adds another data point to its record at the sales.
The takeaway
Strong female families and sires with rising stud fees continue to command premium prices at the top sales. Readers following thoroughbred markets can watch how Hip 942 performs in its resale.
Further reading
Explore more Equestrian coverage for context on the thoroughbred sales market.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Blood Horse Interactive.
