The Keeneland September yearling sale opened with its usual fireworks in its elite Book 1 portion, but Book 2, on Sept. 11-12, should provide plenty of highlights as well. Last year’s second book produced seven seven-figure yearlings, and there is plenty of pedigree power in this year’s edition. Here is a short list of those who, on paper, bring particularly strong credentials. This list accounts for outs and catalog updates as of Sept. 9.
Session One – Wednesday, Sept. 11
Hip No. 395, colt by Gun Runner – Drumette, by Henny Hughes. Consigned by Denali Stud, agent for Bridlewood Farm.
Gun Runner, a new Hall of Famer and prominent young sire, was represented by multiple seven-figure lots in Book 1. This is a half-brother to two-time Eclipse Award champion Monomoy Girl, whose major wins included the Kentucky Oaks and two editions of the Breeders’ Cup Distaff. Broodmare of the Year Drumette also produced Grade 2 winner Mr. Monomoy.
Hip No. 423, filly by Essential Quality – Galloping Ami, by Victory Gallop. Consigned by Hill 'n' Dale, agent.
This is the first crop for two-time Eclipse Award champion Essential Quality. This is a half-sister to Canadian champion and classic winner Amis Gizmo, additional graded stakes winners Ami’s Flatter and Kopion, and stakes winner Aragon Ami.
Hip No. 453, filly by Uncle Mo – Inject, by Frosted. Consigned by Upson Downs Farm, agent.
By multiple classic sire Uncle Mo, this is the first foal out of Grade 3-placed stakes winner Inject. The second dam is Grade 1 winner Appealing Zophie, dam of Belmont Stakes winner Tapwrit and multiple graded stakes winner Ride a Comet.
Hip No. 502, colt by Into Mischief – Mary’s Follies, by More Than Ready. Consigned by Highgate Sales, agent.
Into Mischief is the nation’s five-time reigning leading sire and a perennial commercial juggernaut. Multiple graded stakes winner Mary’s Follies is the dam of multiple Grade 1 winner and Eclipse Award champion Regal Glory, Japanese Grade 1 winner and champion Cafe Pharoah, and multiple graded stakes winner Night Prowler.
Hip No. 509, colt by Charlatan – Midnight Lucky, by Midnight Lute. Consigned by Hill 'n' Dale, agent.
This is the first crop for Grade 1 winner Charlatan, who has already sired multiple seven-figure lots this summer. Multiple Grade 1 winner Midnight Lucky is from the immediate family of Grade 1 winners Aquaphobia, Hookedonthefeelin, Jimmy Creed, and Pussycat Doll.
Hip No. 579, filly by Constitution – Ranier, by Medaglia d’Oro. Consigned by Gainesway, agent for Stonestreet Farm.
This is a half-brother to Grade 1 winner Prince of Monaco, and by a popular young classic sire.
Hip No. 600, filly by Charlatan – Serene Melody, by Street Cry. Consigned by Denali Stud, agent.
Stakes winner Serene Melody, already the dam of Grade 3 winner War At Sea, is out of Hall of Fame racemare and blue hen Serena’s Song. That makes Serene Melody a half-sister to Group 1 winner Sophisticat, graded stakes winners Grand Reward, Harlington, and Schramsberg, and stakes winner Serena’s Tune. This is the immediate family of champion Honor Code.
Hip No. 614, colt by Maxfield – Sophia's Song, by Bellamy Road. Consigned by Clearsky Farms, agent.
First-crop sire Maxfield was a Grade 1 winner as both a juvenile and older horse. He sired the most expensive weanling of his class last year and notched a seven-figure yearling during Book 1. Stakes winner Sophia’s Song is the dam of Grade 1 winner Bright Future. Champion Housebuster and Grade 1 winner Nutella Fella appear on this catalog page.
Hip No. 745, filly by Not This Time – Catch My Drift, by Pioneerof the Nile. Consigned by Denali Stud, agent for WinStar Farm.
Not This Time is a rising young sire and sired the sale topper at the Saratoga selected sale last month. Grade 1-placed stakes winner Catch My Drift is the dam of three winners, all stakes horses, from as many starters. Those are led by this year’s Louisiana Derby winner Catching Freedom, who was third in the Preakness Stakes. She also is the dam of Grade 3-placed Bishops Bay and stakes-placed Strava.
Hip No. 747, colt by Uncle Mo – Chattertown, by Speightstown. Consigned by Denali Stud, agent.
This is a full brother to graded stakes winner Laoban, who was off to a promising start to his stud career before his premature death. Stakes-placed Chattertown is from the family of Grade 1 winenr I’m a Chatterbox.
Session Two – Thursday, Sept. 12
Hip No. 832, colt by Into Mischief – Happy Week, by Distorted Humor. Consigned by Elite Sales, agent.
Stakes-placed Happy Week is the dam of Grade 1-winning millionaire Happy Saver. This is the extended family of Horse of the Year and leading sire A.P. Indy, as well as fellow classic winner and classic sire Summer Squall.
Hip No. 837, filly by Curlin – Havisham, by Bernardini. Consigned by Indian Creek, agent for Stonestreet Farm.
Two-time Horse of the Year Curlin has become a perennial classic sire. This is a half-sister to Kentucky Oaks winner Serengeti Empress – whose first foal brought seven figures here last year.
Hip No. 880, colt by Into Mischief – Lewis Bay, by Bernardini. Consigned by Mill Ridge Sales, agent.
Multiple graded stakes-winning millionaire Lewis Bay is, in turn, out of graded stakes winner Summer Raven. The latter also is the dam of graded stakes winner Misconnect and Winslow Homer; and of Elusive Raven, dam of Grade 3 winner Lost Raven.
Hip No. 1043, filly by Into Mischief – Vequist, by Nyquist. Consigned by Mulholland Sprints, agent for Spendthrift Farm.
This is the first foal out of Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies winner and divisional champion Vequist.
Hip No. 1064, filly by Uncle Mo – Afleet Maggi, by Afleet Alex. Consigned by Blake-Albina Thoroughbred Services, agent.
This is a full sister to Grade 1 winner Dream Tree and also a half-sibling to stakes-placed O’Maggi.
Hip No. 1121, filly by Curlin – Chatham, by Maria’s Mon. Consigned by Stone Farm.
This is a half-sister to European champion Air Force Blue, and stakes winner Peking Opera also appears under the first dam. This is the immediate family of champion Flanders and Surfside.
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