An in-utero foal by Apollitical Jess and out of proven producer Swingin Cartel brought $80,000 in the recent Fastrack September Flash Sale, marking a significant investment in a pedigree that has continued to gain momentum at the highest levels of Quarter Horse racing.
The timing of the sale made the offering particularly intriguing. Just days before the Fastrack Sale, Swingin Cartel's son Effortless Favorite delivered a standout performance on one of racing's biggest stages, winning the $1,079,992 All American Derby (G1). The victory pushed Effortless Favorite's career earnings beyond the $1 million mark and added another major accomplishment to the resume of his already-proven dam.
For Cole Morehead, agent for David Morehead, the success of Effortless Favorite only further demonstrated what the Swingin Cartel and Apollitical Jess cross could produce.
"This cross just had all the right ingredients," Cole Morehead, agent for David Morehead, said.
Those ingredients start with Apollitical Jess, one of the most influential sires in the Quarter Horse racing industry, and Swingin Cartel, a mare whose production record has continued to elevate her value as a broodmare. Swingin Cartel has produced more than $2.3 million in progeny earnings, with notable offspring including Effortless Favorite, Apollitical Scout and Flashin Dynamite. Her influence also extends through an accomplished maternal family. She is out of Swingin Alive, whose produce record includes Rainbow Futurity (G1) and Ruidoso Derby (G1) winner Swingin Val and AQHA Dam of Distinction Swingin Otoole.
But while the pedigree on paper was impressive, Effortless Favorite has continued to provide the kind of on-track performance that makes this cross especially compelling.
"He just really goes out and gives it his all,” Morehead said of Effortless Favorite. “If he's in the gate he deserves the respect.” That respect was on full display when Effortless Favorite captured the All American Derby, giving the family another major accomplishment immediately before the in-utero foal entered the Fastrack online auction.
"With a really excited buyer and a really excited seller, what more could a guy ask for? This was a great opportunity for a sale and we're excited to be a part of the story," Cole Morehead, agent for David Morehead, said.
The excitement surrounding the transaction was amplified by the fact that the foal was offered at a moment when Swingin Cartel's production was receiving significant attention. In the world of Quarter Horse racing, proven maternal lines carry tremendous value.
Apollitical Jess brings the strength of an elite sire line, while Swingin Cartel provides the proven maternal foundation. Add in the recent success of Effortless Favorite, and the timing created a compelling opportunity for a buyer willing to invest in the next generation. The $80,000 price tag ultimately put a number on that confidence.
