Keeneland September: Session Five Eye-Catchers!

I am such a zealous fan of sales that I couldn’t help but do one more post regarding the outstanding Keeneland September Yearling Sale, which is the largest sale of its kind in the world. Though I said I would only cover the first four sessions, I decided to do a brief write-up of the horses that caught my eye in session five, which was the only session (other than session one) for which I was able to watch most of the yearlings. Since I’d only planned on covering the first four sessions, for which I selected horses based on pedigree, I did not study the catalog for session five ahead of time and instead picked horses off of their conformation and presence in the sales ring. This resulted in quite a large number of yearlings to be featured, but then again, there were 416 yearlings cataloged for session five! Some of the ones that caught my eye were among the highest-priced horses in the session; others were bargains. Here are the 30 yearlings that caught my eye during the procession of session five (which spanned hips 1048-1463):

*Note: I missed several intervals of hips and was unable to watch any yearlings after hip #1401.

Hip #1056: By Street Sense, this nicely built filly is out of an A.P. Indy mare that is a full sister to two stakes winners. Sold to Jerry Hollendorfer for $75,000.

Hip #1058: Another offspring of Street Sense that is out of an A.P. Indy mare, this fine-looking colt’s graded stakes-winning second dam produced several black-type horses. Purchased by Nick de Meric, agent for Klaravich, for $130,000.

Hip #1061: A well-built Bluegrass Cat colt, this yearling is a sibling to two stakes horses, including a graded stakes winners. Bought by Allied Racing Stables, LLC/Chester Thomas for $75,000.

Hip #1130: A very impressive-looking son of War Pass, this colt is out of an A.P. Indy mare and is from the family of the champion Duke of Marmalade. Purchased for $160,000 by McMahon & Hill Bloodstock, agent for Lake Lonely.

Hip #1152: By the unpretentious It’s No Joke, what this still-maturing filly lacks on the top side of her pedigree, she makes up for on the bottom side, being a half-sister to the multiple grade one-winning Weemissfrankie. Bought for $50,000 by Cheyenne Stables, LLC.

Hip #1217: An incredibly impressive Tiz Wonderful colt, this colt is out a Pulpit mare that is a sibling to several black-type horses. Sold to Stonestreet Stables for $170,000.

Hip #1242: A well-conformed three-quarters sister to the grade one-winning Zazu, this filly was bought by Ben Glass, agent, for $340,000.

Hip #1245: A racy individual, this filly, despite a bottom side dotted with black-type, is stronger on the top side of her pedigree, being by Street Sense. Purchased by Barry Berkellhammer for $95,000.

Hip #1262: A half-brother to the graded stakes-placed Elite Alex, this Hard Spun colt impressed me with his large, strapping appearance. Bought for $160,000 by Miguel Angel Rubio Fernandez.

Hip #1275: Another big, stout son of Hard Spun, this colt – from the family of the grade one-winning Careless Jewel – was purchased for $52,000 by John O’Meara.

Hip #1278: A very well-balanced son of Birdstone, this colt is from the family of the grade one-winning Imperial Gesture. Sold to Foye Genetics, agent, for $150,000.

Hip #1290: A muscular daughter of Smart Strike, this filly is a full sister to the grade one-winning Shadow Cast. Purchased by Stone Bridge Bloodstock for $75,000.

Hip #1297: With remarkable muscularity similar to that of his sire’s, this Curlin colt’s second dam produced three graded stakes winners, including a grade one winner. Bought by Stone Bridge Bloodstock for $40,000.

Hip #1300: A stunning gray with outstanding conformation, this daughter of Yes It’s True was sold to California Ventures for $110,000.

Hip #1312: A half-sister to the grade one-winning Creative Cause, this solid filly was purchased for $140,000 by Doug Cauthen, agent for Susan Casner.

Hip #1316: This sleek Divine Park filly, a sibling to several black-type horses, was bought by Santa Rosa Racing Stables, LLC for $115,000.

Hip #1320: A balanced, muscular chestnut, this Street Boss colt is a grandson of the graded stakes-winning Broad Gains. Did not reach reserve, only driving the hammer to $27,000.

Hip #1324: A very solid, balanced colt, this Awesome Again colt is a sibling to two stakes winners, including the grade one-winning Afleet Express. Purchased by Clark Hanna, agent, for just $35,000.

Hip #1329: An evenly balanced bay with a sloping shoulder, this Tiznow colt is out of a stakes-winning, grade one-placed mare. Brought $125,000 for Mark Casse, agent.

Hip #1333: A sleek, racy Colonel John filly, this yearling reached a final bid of $20,000 and did not reach her reserve.

Hip #1337: A well-balanced daughter of Dixie Union, this filly comes from a strong female family but did not attain her reserve, only driving the hammer to $37,000.

Hip #1356: A very athletically built colt, this son of Cowboy Cal is a grandson of a graded stakes-producing mare. Purchased by Wayne Sanders & Larry Hirsch for just $34,000.

Hip #1357: A well-conformed daughter of Najran, this filly is a full sister to the graded stakes-winning Buckleupbuttercup. Sold to Arch Bloodstock, LLC, agent one, for $90,000.

Hip #1367: By Birdstone and out of a half-sister to Shackleford and multiple other black-type horses, this stout colt was bought by Live Oak Plantation for $385,000 as the second highest-priced yearling in the session.

Hip #1375: A very racy, balanced colt with conformation that implies he will be very athletic, this son of Yes It’s True is a half-brother to a stakes-placed runner. Sold to Cecil Seaman for Bad Boy Racing and Whizway Farms for $62,000.

Hip #1385: A sleek, well-balanced son of Afleet Alex, this colt is out of an A.P. Indy mare. Brought $200,000 for Mark Casse, agent.

Hip #1386: An evenly balanced, spry-looking Harlan’s Holiday colt, this yearling is out of a black-type-winning mare and was purchased for $190,000 by Stonestreet Stables & George Bolton.

Hip #1389: Not only does this Tiz Wonderful colt have exceptional conformation, but his second dam produced three graded stakes winners. Sold to KV, agent for Mike Dubb, for $50,000.

Hip #1393: With a flaxen mane and tail and markings that seem fit for a Paint Horse, this stout Curlin colt was purchased by Dale Romans, agent, for $35,000.

Hip #1395: This son of Artie Schiller is not just a half-brother to the graded stakes-winning Run Away and Hide, but he has a sleek, athletic build. Bought by St. George Farm for $250,000.

It was interesting to select yearlings as they went through the sales ring, selecting them solely off of conformation and presence. They will be added to my list of horses to watch! That means I have a total of 136 selections and eye-catchers from the Keeneland September Yearling Sale to keep my eye on!