When the Keeneland September yearling sale opens in Lexington, things are going to get very interesting very quickly. Remember Playful Act (by Sadler’s Wells), who brought a world record price for a broodmare of $10.5 million last November? Her first foal, a daughter of Giant’s Causeway, is Hip No. 12 during auction’s first session Sept 8.
John Sikura’s Hill ‘n’ Dale Sales Agency, as agent, is the consignor of the yearling.
“Sadler’s Wells has been a great broodmare sire, and she’s out of a champion, a young mare that’s getting every chance in the world,” said Sikura of the filly. “She should be a yearling with international appeal. She’s very elegant, a very nice type.”
Other first session horses that consignors and buyers believe could create financial fireworks include the following:
Hip No. 18, a colt by A.P. Indy – Pure Symmetry, by Storm Cat. Consigned by Denali Stud, agent for the Robert and Beverly Lewis Trust.
“He’s from a great family and by a top sire,” said Denali’s Craig Bandoroff. “He’s the first foal out of a full sister to (group I winner) Sophisticat, and one of Sophisticat’s foals (Sefroua) is a stakes winner in France. He’s a nice horse.”
Hip No. 48, a colt by Ghostzapper – Secret Status, by A.P. Indy. Consigned by Lane’s End, agent.
“Secret Status (a grade I winner) is one of the best mares we’ve ever had and raced, and I think it’s going to be a big year for Ghostzapper, who was one of great racehorses in the past couple of decades,” said Lane’s End’s Will Farish. “This is a good, strong individual.”
Hip No. 49, a colt by Danehill Dancer – Seek Easy, by Seeking the Gold. Consigned by Runnymede Farm.
“He’s so beautiful; he’s the image of his sire,” said Martin O’Dowd of Runnymede. “He’s the only Danehill Dancer in the sale.”
Hip No. 56, a filly by Unbridled’s Song – Silken Cat, by Storm Cat. Consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent for Aaron and Marie Jones.
“She’s out of a (Canadian) champion (Silken Cat), and she’s a half-sister to a champion (Speightstown),” said Taylor Made’s Frank Taylor. “She’s a great looking filly, and her sire, Unbridled’s Song, is hot. She’s very ‘scopey’ and racy-looking.”
Hip No. 59, a colt by Dynaformer – Song Track, by Dixieland Band. Consigned by Gracefield.
“I’ve bred a lot to Dynaformer, a lot, and I haven’t always brought home the bacon, but this is the best Dynaformer that I’ve ever brought to a sale,” said Gracefield’s Ben Walden. This yearling’s dam is a half-sister to grade III winners High Cotton and Symphony Sid.
Hip No. 68, Celebrity Cat, a colt by Storm Cat -- Starrer, by Dynaformer. Consigned by Hill 'n' Dale Sales Agency, agent.
This yearling is out of a grade I winner that is a half-sister to another grade I winner, Stellar Jayne.
Hip No. 69, a colt by Storm Cat – Starry Dreamer, by Rubiano. Consigned by Claiborne Farm, agent.
“He’s bred the right way, and he’s an attractive horse,” said Claiborne’s Dell Hancock. “His dam has been a phenomenal mare with three graded stakes winners (Teammate, War Front, and Ecclesiastic).”
Hip No. 79, a colt by A.P. Indy – Swazi’s Moment, by Moment of Hope. Consigned by Lane’s End, agent for Kathryn West.
This yearling is a half-brother to grade II winner Kafwain (by Cherokee Run) and is from a good Bwamazon Farm family.
Hip No. 96, a colt by Giant's Causeway – Victory U. S. A., by Victory Gallop. Consigned by Eaton Sales, agent.
“She (grade II winner Victory U. S. A.) was one of the the best racehorses I ever owned; this is her second foal,” said Tom VanMeter of Eaton Sales. “I know there are lots of Giant’s Causeways and Coolmore has plenty of them, but he’s just a really, really nice horse. He’s medium-sized, and he’s free-walking and sturdy; he looks durable.”
Hip No. 98, a colt by Giant’s Causeway – Voodoo Dancer, by Kingmambo. Consigned by Idle Hour Farm, agent.
“He’s the second colt foal out of (grade I winner) Voodoo Dancer, and he’s a beautiful colt,” said Idle Hour’s David Hager. “He’s got a great temperament and a great attitude. He loves walking.”
Hip No. 102, a colt by Gulch – Wild Vision, by Wild Again. Consigned by Gainesway, agent.
“He is a half-brother to the very high-class, accomplished 3-year-old (graded winner) Pyro, so he’s got credibility in his pedigree,” said Gainesway’s Michael Hernon. “He’s a neat, attractive, balanced colt that has really come into his own in the last 30 days. He’s showing very well, and he’s a bright, smart horse.”
Hip No. 110, a filly by Giant’s Causeway – Yard Art, by Lasting Approval. Consigned by Four Star Sales, agent for Glencrest Farm.
“Her family has just been so extraordinarily potent,” said Four Star’s Dan Kenny. Close relatives include grade I winner No Matter What; grade II winner E Dubai; grade III winners Polonious, Gigawatt, and Ascutney; and English group III winner Raven’s Pass.
Hip No. 125, a colt by Distorted Humor – Atelier, by Deputy Minister. Consigned by Middlebrook Farm, agent.
This yearling is out of a grade II winner and is from the family of champion Althea.
Hip No. 127, Vallenzeri, a colt by A.P. Indy – Azeri, by Jade Hunter. Consigned by Hill ‘n’ Dale Sales Agency, agent.
“He’s as unique an offering as somebody could bring to a horse sale,” said Hill ‘n’ Dale’s John Sikura. “He’s Horse of the Year top and bottom (of his pedigree). I think he has a lot of Azeri’s traits and qualities. He’s very well made, and he’s completely correct. He’s very well balanced.”
Hip No. 126, a filly by Empire Maker – Aurora, by Danzig. Consigned by Middlebrook Farm, agent.
“She’s very well-made, and she looks very much like her full sister Acoma, who is a (grade III) stakes winner,” said Helen Alexander of Middlebrook. “She’s got all the pedigree in the world.” This yearling also is a half-sister to grade I winner Arch, a Horse of the Year in the United Arab Emirates, Festival of Light, and stakes winner Alisios.
Hip No. 129, a colt by Kingmambo – Balistroika, by Nijinsky II. Consigned by Eaton Sales, agent.
“He’s a real European type,” said Tom VanMeter of Eaton Sales. “He’s a full brother to one of the greatest horses of all time, (European champion) Russian Rhythm.
Hip No. 130, a colt by Distorted Humor – Baltic Nations, by Seattle Slew. Consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent for Spendthrift Farm.
“He’s got a great walk and a great body; he’s very athletic,” said Taylor Made’s Frank Taylor of this yearling, which is from the family of grade II winners Caller One and Prospect Bay.
Hip No. 141, a colt by A.P. Indy – Brushed Halory, by Broad Brush. Consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent.
“He’s a nice A.P. Indy, and he’s got more hip than most,” said Taylor Made’s Duncan Taylor. “It doesn’t show in the catalog, but his half-sister, Sly Storm, won Mongo Queen Stakes at Monmouth. He’s from the family of (Irish group II winner) Van Nistelrooy and (grade II winner) Halory Hunter.”
Hip No. 147, a bay filly by A.P. Indy – Chimichurri, by Elusive Quality. Consigned by Gainesway, agent for Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings.
“She is a special filly,” said Michael Hernon of Gainesway. “She’s a superb individual, a great physical specimen. She’s got a lot of class. Mentally, she’s very good. And she’s out of a running mare that was a graded stakes winner. There is a very good family behind her. She has attracted the major buyers, and that’s no surprise.”
Hip No. 161, a colt by Mr. Greeley – Daneleta, by Danehill. Consigned by Three Chimneys Sales, agent.
“He’s gorgeous,” said Three Chimneys’ Case Clay. “He’s one of those ‘wow’ horses when you first see him, and he has a great European family (whose members include Italian champion Sholokhov).”
Hip No. 162, a colt by Mr. Greeley – Danzig Island, by Danzig. Consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent.
“He’s a beautiful-bodied colt; he’s very racy,” said Taylor Made’s Stuart Angus. “Obviously, Mr. Greeley is a name brand overseas and here as well.” This yearling is a half-brother to grade III winner High Strike Zone and stakes winner Secret Beauty.
Hip No. 173, a filly by A.P. Indy – Esenada, by Seeking the Gold. Consigned by Mill Ridge Sales, agent.
“She’s an April foal, but she’s a very well balanced, very attractive A.P. Indy,” said Mill Ridge’s Bayne Welker. “She’s got a nice athletic walk. The best thing about her is it looks like the best of her is yet to come.” This yearling’s second dam is grade I winner Desert Stormer.
Hip No. 177, a filly by Storm Cat – Farda Amiga, by Broad Brush. Consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent.
“This is the best foal that (champion) Farda Amiga has had,” said Taylor Made’s Duncan Taylor. “She’s a really quick looking filly, and I think she could be something special.”
Hip No. 187, a colt by Distorted Humor – Golden Ballet, by Moscow Ballet. Consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent for Aaron and Marie Jones.
“He’s out of a grade I winner, and he’s very pretty horse,” said Taylor Made’s Frank Taylor. “He is a very good individual.”
Hip No. 190, a colt by Storm Cat – Goulash, by Mari’s Book. Consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent for Aaron and Marie Jones.
“His dam just does not miss; every foal she has can run,” said Taylor Made’s Frank Taylor. “He is a half-sister to (champion) Ashado, (grade I winner) Sunriver, and (grade III winner) Saint Stephen. He’s got a great walk and a big hip; he’s just a nice colt.”
Hip No. 196, a filly by Ghostzapper – Holiday Runner, by Meadowlake. Consigned by Eaton Sales, agent.
“She is very, very nice – very ‘typey,’ very racy,’ ” said Tom VanMeter of Eaton Sales. “She has a big hip; she has all the parts.”
Hip No. 210, a colt by Street Cry – Keep Me Safe, by Horatius. Consigned by the Blake Agency.
“He’s a got a great big walk,” said Ron Blake. “He’s got good balance; he’s correct. He is a middle of May foal, and he’s going to grow. There is a lot to like.”
Hip No. 217, a colt by Seeking the Gold – Lindy Wells, by A.P. Indy. Consigned by Warrendale Sales, agent for Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings.
“He’s beautiful, and he’s got this big walk,” said Kitty Taylor of Warrendale Sales. “He just kind of floats along. His hair coat is perfect. When the sun hits this horse, he just glows.”
Hip No. 222, a filly by Storm Cat – Maggy Hawk, by Hawkster. Consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent for Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings.
This yearling is a half-sister to champion and dual classic winner Afleet Alex and stakes winner Unforgettable max. Other family members include grade I winner Qualique and Italian champion Vale Mantovani.