The Keeneland September yearling sale’s second half runs this week, consisting of Books 4, 5, and 6. Savvy shoppers from both domestic and international stables can scout out elite athletes in this group who are perhaps from less-fashionable pedigrees, or who are physically immature at the moment.
In 2024 alone, these later books are represented by Grade/Group 1-winning graduates Gaming and Muth (Book 4), Du Jour and Kabirkhan (Book 5), and Tuz (Book 6).
Most of the exceptionally blue-blooded horses are sorted into the earlier books, meaning the physical impression of these yearlings becomes even more important to buyers in this second week. However, that’s not to say there’s a dearth of black type on these pages – catalog updates have left siblings to two new Grade 1 winners in these later books. Here is a list of some of the hips to watch in Books 4, 5, and 6, accounting for updates and outs through Sept. 15.
Book 4, Session 1
Monday, Sept. 16
Hip 2024, colt by Instagrand - Forget Me Not, by Uncle Mo. Consigned by Clarkland Farm, agent.
This colt, by a freshman son of leading sire and sire of sires Into Mischief, is a half-brother to Howard Wolowitz, recent winner of the Grade 1 Franklin-Simpson Stakes at Kentucky Downs.
Hip 2116, filly by Maxfield - Marwa, by Exceed And Excel. Consigned by Runnymede Farm, agent.
Maxfield has emerged as one of this class’s outstanding first-crop sires, with multiple seven-figure yearlings here at Keeneland. This is a half-sister to World Record, dazzling winner of the Grade 2 Amsterdam Stakes this summer at Saratoga.
Hip 2159, filly by Hard Spun - Passion, by Came Home. Consigned by Lane's End, agent.
Grade 3 winner Passion is the dam of five winners from as many starters. Those include stakes winner Devine Aida, dam of Canadian Horse of the Year Moira.
Hip 2186, filly by Gun Runner - R Gypsy Gold, by Bernardini. Consigned by Denali Stud, agent.
Getting deeper into the catalog, the number of foals on offer by leading sires becomes fewer, giving buyers the opportunity to acquire sires such as Gun Runner or Curlin, the leading sires of Book 1, at relative bargain prices. Grade 1-placed stakes winner R Gypsy Gold is the dam of two winners, including a full brother to this filly. R Gypsy Gold is a half-sister to graded stakes winners Broadway’s Alibi and Golden Lad. Broadway’s Alibi, runner-up in the Kentucky Oaks, is the dam of champion sprinter Elite Power. This is the extended family of champion Eliza and Grade 1 winner Dialed In.
Hip 2252, filly by Curlin - Sweet Bliss, by Street Cry. Consigned by Lane's End, agent for Pamela Wygod and the Wygod Family Revocable Trust.
Grade 2-placed Sweet Bliss is the dam of three winners from as many starters. Her granddam is Broodmare of the Year Sweet Life, dam of Breeders’ Cup winners Life Is Sweet and Sweet Catomine.
Hip 2266, colt by Essential Quality - Thin Disguise, by Yes It's True. Consigned by Denali Stud, agent.
This is the first crop for two-time Eclipse Award champion Essential Quality. The winning mare Thin Disguise, a half-sister to millionaire Naughty New Yorker, is the dam of seven winners from as many starters, including Grade 3 winner Holiday Disguise, stakes winner Midnight Disguide, and Grade 1-placed Forest Caraway.
Book 4, Session 2
Tuesday, Sept. 17
Hip 2394, filly by Maxfield - Dancing Alone, by Kingmambo. Consigned by Scott Mallory, agent.
This is a half-sister to Grade 3 winner Dancing Solo and to Grade 1-placed Dancing – the latter by Bernardini, sire of Maxfield. Unraced Dancing Alone is a full sister to Grade 1 winner and stakes producer Voodoo Dancer; Grade 1 winner Pool Play also appears on this catalog page.
Hip 2420, colt by Beau Liam - El Fasto, by El Prado. Consigned by Airdrie Stud.
This is the first crop for the fleet Beau Liam, who stands at Airdrie and was supported by some of its best mares. That is evident here. El Fasto is the dam of 10 winners from 12 starters, led by 2012 Kentucky Oaks winner Believe You Can – now a multiple graded stakes producer herself.
Hip 2586, filly by City of Light - Passion Flower, by Tapit. Consigned by Warrendale Sales, agent for Stonestreet Farm.
This is a half-sister to Grade 3 Monmouth Oaks winner Scalable. Passion Flower is a half-sister to Breeders' Cup Distaff winner Stopchargingmaria.
Book 5, Session 1
Wednesday, Sept. 18
Hip 3047, filly by Charlatan - Soaring, by Tapit. Consigned by Hill 'n' Dale, agent.
Grade 1 winner Charlatan is represented by multiple seven-figure yearlings from his first crop. This is the first foal out of stakes-placed Soaring, a daughter of Grade 1 winner Streaming. This female line traces directly to Broodmare of the Year and multiple classic producer Better Than Honour, who in turn is out of Kentucky Oaks winner and prominent producer Blush With Pride.
Hip 3051, colt by Game Winner - So Stylish, by Johannesburg. Consigned by Lane's End, agent.
This is the full brother to Gaming, who won the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity on the final day of the Del Mar summer meeting to provide a major update to this book.
Hip 3209, filly by War of Will - Closing Statement, by Blame. Consigned by Columbiana Farm, agent.
This is an extended Phipps family that has added two new stakes winners since the catalog: And One More Time won the Grade 1 Natalma Stakes, while Simply In Front, Grade 1-placed last year, took the Grade 2 Music City. Both are bred on the same War Front sireline as this filly.
Book 5, Session 2
Thursday, Sept. 19
Hip 3445, colt by Vino Rosso - Sacred Psalm, by Awesome of Course. Consigned by Mulholland Springs, agent.
This stakes-placed mare is the dam of eight winners from nine starters, including Spirit Wind. Already a Grade 3 winner, she took the Grade 2 Honorable Miss during the Saratoga meet. Sacred Psalm is also the dam of stakes winner Sing Praises and two other stakes-placed runners.
Hip 3595, colt by Charlatan - Bounding, by Lonhro. Consigned by Taylor Made Sales, agent for Stonestreet Farm.
Bounding, a champion sprinter in Australia, is the dam of two winners from three starters – including one who was a seven-figure Keeneland yearling.
Book 6, Session 1
Friday, Sept. 20
Hip 3653, colt by Raging Bull - Elle Stormin', by Tale of the Cat. Consigned by Paramount Sales, agent.
Grade 1 winner Raging Bull has been a popular first-crop sire at his price point. Elle Stormin' is the dam of five winners from as many starters, including Yo Daddy, Grade 3-placed this summer at Saratoga.
Book 6, Session 2
Saturday, Sept. 21
Hip 4038, filly by Constitution - Dark Artist, by Paynter. Consigned by Bluegrass Thoroughbred Services, agent.
This is the second foal out of a stakes-winning mare; Grade 1 winner and stakes producer Fleet Renee appears on the catalog page.
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