Billy Love came to Florida to play rodeo, but he said divine intervention gave him the chance to pursue a career in the Thoroughbred industry. This week in Saratoga Springs, NY, a new chapter in his story begins that he never imagined possible.

Towards the end of the second session of Fasig-Tipton’s The Saratoga Sale on August 6, Love will offer Hip 229—an athletic-looking filly by Yaupon This is his first consignment to the Boutique Select Yearling Sale and an opportunity he does not take for granted.

“I am very happy to represent a Grade 1 champion mare example,” said Love. “Many people like me spend years searching for a top quality horse that is hopefully good enough to be catalogued in such a prestigious sale.”

Clovis Crane of Crane Thoroughbreds introduced Love to renowned 2-year-old pinhookers Brandon and Ali Rice of RiceHorse Stables in 2016. He started working for them that fall, originally as a part-time job, and by the summer of 2017 he had worked his way up to stable manager.

At RiceHorse, Love was able to begin building a foundation in the industry. From preparing weanlings and yearlings to helping sell two-year-olds, he soaked up as much of Rice’s work as he could.

In 2019, he had his first, albeit modest, showing at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales. He sold three of the eight yearlings offered under the Love’s Equine name at the October 2019 Yearling Sale for a total of $23,500.

By spring 2021, Love’s Equine was fully operational. Love raised weanlings, prepared yearlings for sale, and acted as an agent for clients.

Fast forward to the summer of 2024, when Love’s Equine will have its first consignment at the Saratoga Sale. It’s just a one-horse consignment, but that doesn’t detract from the quality of his filly, Love said.

The Saratoga Sale has been the goal for this filly since Love first saw her at the Fasig-Tipton Winter Mixed Sale. He said he was impressed by her strong body and precocity.

“She has the classic physical condition that we all want for the big races,” he said.

The bay filly is by millionaire Belle Gallantey, who won the Delaware Handicap (G1) and the Beldame Stakes (G1) in 2014. The mare is a half-sister to the multiple stakes winner Avana (Wine Rosso ).

Hip 229 comes from a yearling father from the first crop Yaupon whose other progeny were well received at the sales. He was among the top three first weanlings of 2023 of 10 or more sold, with his most expensive weanling bringing in $450,000.

He was the top yearling sire of the first crop at last month’s Fasig-Tipton July Sale, selling for $162,909. A Yaupon colt out of the mare Twitterpated, consigned by Ballysax Bloodstock, sold to de Meric Sales for $285,000. The top filly was consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency and sold to US Racing Stables for $275,000.

“In this business, timing is critical. You have to strike while the iron is hot. Since November, Yaupon has been an impressive presence in the sales ring,” Love said. “What stands out about (Hip 229) is her mind and demeanor on the sales floor. She’s calm, moves really well, is elegant and poised. She has a great gait.”