Courtesy of the TDN
Bloodstock agent Mike Ryan has picked out dozens of Grade I winners over the years. He has also bred Grade I winners, most notably Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming (Bodemeister) and his half-sister Hot Dixie Chick (Dixie Union), and he's even raced a few, including 2008 GI Spinaway Stakes victress Mani Bhavan (Storm Boot) and 2019 GI United Nations Stakes winner (Tiz Wonderful)

Courtesy of the BloodHorse

By Molly Rollins 
​Aworld-renowned bloodstock agent and an inimitable figure in the sales ring, Irishman Mike Ryan has steadily built up an expansive resume as a breeder for the last three decades. Ryan achieved the ultimate dream in 2017 when Always Dreaming  , whom he bred in partnership with his late friend Gerry Dilger, won the Kentucky Derby (G1). The shrewd horseman, responsible for sourcing 34 grade 1 winners throughout his career, elevated his status as a respected breeder even further Jan. 25 when his homebred filly Be Your Best  surged to a dramatic victory in the Pegasus Filly and Mare Turf Invitational (G2T) at Gulfstream Park.

Bloodstock agent Mike Ryan has not ruled out offering his recent Grade II winner Be Your Best (Ire) at a European sales house but explained that priority number one was to bag a victory at the highest level with his homebred daughter of Muhaarar (GB).

Courtesy of the YDN
Agent Mike Ryan has been busy filling orders this week, securing a bevy of babies from several of the best stallions in the country. One of the most sought-after sires that had eluded Hip 818 | Keeneland Ryan through the initial three sessions was Gun Runner. However, that changed Thursday when the agent extended to $750,000 for Hip 818. Consigned by St George Sales, agent for Phase II of the Dell Ridge Farm dispersal, the Dell Ridge-bred colt is out of stakes winning Giant Mover. The daughter Giant's Causeway produced GII Indiana Oaks scorer and GI Alabama third Family Tree (Smart Strike), who in turn foaled Grade II Heroic Move (Quality Road). The colt's dam is also responsible for GII Golden Rod winner and GI Kentucky Oaks runner-up Liora (Candy Ride {Arg}). In foal to Army Mule, Giant Mover most recently sold for $90,000 at Keeneland November last fall.

"It was pretty spirited bidding for that horse. It was really nice," said Archie St George moments after the sale. "He had a lot of action and a lot of big players [on him]. He's a very nice horse." St George continued, "Gun Runner is a brilliant stallion. Arguably a top stallion in North America and out of a good mare. He was raised by a very good farm and I would like to thank Dell Ridge Farm. Des [Ryan] and Dell Ridge do a wonderful job."Thanks to Chad Brown and his team. We wish them the best of luck. We couldn't do this without the buyers and hopefully Chad has got a runner and he's got a nice horse. Fingers crossed."-

Courtesy of the TDN
Early in Wednesday's opening Book 2 session, agent Mike Ryan signed the ticket on hip 468, a colt by Uncle Mo. Consigned by Lane's End, acting agent on behalf of breeder Jane Lyon's Summer Wind Equine, the bay is out of Irish listed winner Key to My Heart (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), a daughter of GI Frizette Stakes scorer and 'TDN Rising Star' A Z Warrior (Bernardini). This is the family of GSWs and GISP Jojo Warrior and E Z Warrior, both former 'Rising Stars'.

Courtesy of the BloodHorse
The 3-year-old colt is named for Gerry Dilger, a revered horseman who died in 2020.​

Mike Ryan's Dilger  will kindle plenty of emotion when he goes to the post for the 42nd running of the $400,000 Lexington Stakes (G3) April 13 at Keeneland. The 3-year-old colt is named for Gerry Dilger, a cherished Central Kentucky breeder, owner, and bloodstock agent who died at age 61 in 2020. 

Courtesy of the TDN
Mike Ryan's Dilger (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) won at Gulfstream Park for conditioner Saffie Joseph, Jr. in mid-March (video). A product of the Demers Bloodstock breeding programme, the son of Post Perfection (Majesticperfection) is the second foal and first winner for his dam, while he also has a yearling halfsister by Essential Quality.

His dam was covered by Nyquist last year. He is from the family of GII Nassau County Breeders' Cup S. winner and GI Acorn S. runner-up Hello Liberty (Forest Camp), as well as multiple graded winner Cairo Memories (Cairo Prince), herself placed twice at the highest level, as well as GI Blue Grass S. hero and young sire Zandon (Upstart).

Ballylinch Stud's Lope De Vega is the sire of 41 winners in the U.S. from 76 runners (54%). His three Grade I winners, Newspaperofrecord (Ire), Program Trading (GB), and Aunt Pearl (Ire), anchor his eight total stakes winners there (10.5%).

Courtesy of the TDN
Bloodstock agent Mike Ryan has given the lowdown on the top Chad Brown-trained juvenile prospects that were selected at last year's Book 1 session at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale. CLICK HEADLINES TO READ MORE

Courtesy of the TDN

“He's a beautifully bred horse,” Ryan said of the yearling. “He's going to be a two-turn horse. He has plenty of size and stretch and scope for an Into Mischief. He's got a serious pedigree. If he can perform on the racetrack, he's got a lot of appeal as a stallion.”

The bay colt, bred by My Meadowview and consigned by Denali Stud, is out of multiple graded stakes winner Tin Type Gal (Tapit), who is a daughter of Grade I winner Miss Shop (Deputy Minister). “They are averaging $750,000 for the yearlings,” Ryan said of Into Mischief's knockout season at the sales this fall. “The median is $525,000. So this [final price of $320,000] is less than half the average. Of course it's the end of the year, but this horse has a lot of upside if he can perform.”

Courtesy of the TDN
By Katie Ritz

...Co-owner Mike Ryan has had his share of pinnacle moments in racing as the bloodstock agent for multiple Breeders’ Cup champions, most recently Structor (Palace Malice) and Bricks and Mortar (Giant’s Causeway). But he said he remembers watching that race at Monmouth like it was yesterday.

Structor enters the winner's circle after the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Santa Anita Park

Anne M. Eberhardt

Mike Ryan | Fasig-Tipton By Steve Sherack

With the OBS March Sale slated to kick off the 2-year-old auction season Mar. 17 & 18, TDN’s Senior Editor Steve Sherack caught up with prominent bloodstock agent Mike Ryan for a Q&A session.

The Medaglia d'Oro filly consigned as Hip 167 in the ring at the OBS March Sale Photos by Z

The colt by Palace Malice consigned as Hip 325 in the ring at the OBS March Sale -photos by Z

BloodHorse MarketWatch reviews leading yearling buyers

By Eric Mitchell 

Sharp eyes are required to comb through the yearlings offered at auction and find the ones with the most athletic potential.

First Saturday in May: Industry figures relive Kentucky Derby (G1) memories.
By Mary LaRue 

As Always Dreaming  neared the finish line 2 3/4 lengths in front in the 2017 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1), track announcer Larry Collmus shouted, "And the dream comes true."

That was exactly what happened for Anthony Bonomo and the other connections of the Bodemeister  colt.

Mike and Mary Ryan at Churchill Downs - Anne M. Eberhardt

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