Photo Finish™ LIVE Virtual Racehorse Sells For Record $50,000.01
The final Sunday of a season isn't typically all that newsy. But Season 17's Foal's Day Eve went offscript.
Minutes before the calendar turned to Season 18, Foal In One and Solmate Stables shook hands on the largest horse sale agreement in Photo Finish™ history—a $50,000.01 agreement for an SS- Colt named Foal of Pinkabet.
The sale comes in a penny more than RVA Racing's, which sold the S+ Colt Ovation to Solanaut Stables in November 2023.
We contacted Foal-in-One Stables and Solmate Stables to understand how the record-breaking sale went down and how both stables feel coming off making PFL history.
Behind the Purchase
Originally listed for $69,000, Solmate Stables promised to decrease the sticker price of Foal of Pinkbet by $1,000 a day until it hit $51,000. But just hours before taking the horse off the market, he gave it one last try at $50,000 + 1 $DERBY—$50,000.01.
At that price, Foal In One jumped on the deal. According to them, the purchase made sense after breaking down the potential it could bring to their stable and, eventually, the profits it would garner in the breeding barn.
“We saw immense potential in the Foal of Pinkabet,” they said. “This purchase is as much about placing our faith in the Photofinish platform as it is about the particular foal.
“We believe in the potential of this game based on their leadership team and owning a strong horse in the breeding barn, which positions our stable to grow as the game grows.”
For those asking – Foal in One says the horse's new name has not been determined but hopes the community welcome might help them decide shortly.
Check out Foal of Pinkabet's bloodline here.
The Agreement Process
Foal In One says the deal came together quickly – mainly because Solmate did a great job advertising the horse on Twitter.
“Solmate had been tweeting about the potential sale of this foal, which caught our eye. My stable partner and I discussed the possibility of diving headfirst into this platform and agreed it was a great idea.”
After some light coordinating in the DMs and a few minutes in Season 17 to spare, the deal was done, with the mutual agreement to ensure the sale broke the record.
“Records are made to be broken, and with Photofinish's trajectory, it is only a matter of time before this record sale is broken by a multiple of ten.”
On the seller's end, Solmate Stables had mixed feelings about the sale. “We were torn all week as we know the SS-Colt will be a great one to have on the track and likely even better in the breeding barn,”
“We are very happy he ended up in a newer stable's hands.”
Looking forward to Foal's Day, Solmate Stables anticipates exciting new prospects.
“One of the best things about the game is that you never really know what you will get on Foal's Day, which makes each new season interesting.”
With the breeding window moved to Week 2 for the first time in Season 18, Solmate says they're happy to have Foal's Day and the rest of the week or gather their thoughts and $DERBY before making the next beast in the breeding lab.
“We look forward to having more time to see what we bred this season.”
Future Plans
While the Foal of Pinkabet is expected to run in his fair share of juvenile races as a 2-year-old, Foal in One says his primary role will be in the breeding barn.
“This purchase was made with a long-term breeding outlook centered around the game's growth,”
“We'll run him in his fair share of juvenile races as a 2-year-old, but odds are he will likely become available to breed the next generation of winners after that.”
Racing or breeding aside, Foal of Pinkabet is more than just a purchase; it's a strategic cornerstone for Foal In One's future.
“This purchase will be the cornerstone around which we build the stable. My stable partner and I have always loved competing at the highest level in anything we do, and this sets us up to do so for many generations of foals to come.”
With Season 18's excitement around the corner, Foal In One looks forward to what lies ahead.
“We have only briefly been in the PFL community but have felt very welcome. Even in the one season we have played, the game has evolved, and we believe that is due to the highly qualified team of leaders whose long-term vision is supported by daily actions that grow the game.”
Their new purchase, the Foal of Pinkabet, will not hit the track until Season 19, giving Foal In One a season to continue studying the game and learning from the largest stables' successes on the track and in the breeding barn.
Congratulations to Foal in One and Solmate Stables on making Photo Finish™ history!
