Part One: Session One, Keeneland September Yearling Sale

Keeneland sales grounds
Photo by Terri Cage

Wow! That’s the best way to describe the impression the catalog of session one of this year’s Keeneland September Yearling Sale, which begins Monday, September 10. Of course, this was to be expected, as this is the select portion of the sale, being the first of six books, which span eleven sessions. Of 132 yearlings cataloged in the first session – 3,604 are cataloged for the entire sale – I originally selected 35 yearlings. Yes, that many! I narrowed it down to my top twenty-five, just as I did for the high quality Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale, but I will also go ahead and mention the extra ten. Of course, all these selections were based on pedigree, as I am not present to evaluate the conformation of these yearlings.

Are you ready for this? Listed below are my top selections for session one, listed in hip number order:

Hip #5: By a prominent sire in Unbridled’s Song, hip 5 is a half-sister to a multiple grade one winner that has produced a graded stakes winner, as well as two other black-type horses. Consigned by Hill ‘n’ Dale.

Hip #6: This filly is very similarly bred to the dual classic-winning Drosselmeyer, as she is by his sire, Distorted Humor, and out of his half-sister, the Unbridled’s Song mare Our Golden Song. Consigned by Lane’s End.

Hip #16: By successful sire Empire Maker, this filly is the first foal out of the grade one-winning Rutherienne. Consigned by Stone Farm.

Hip #18: Sired by the outstanding Medaglia d’Oro, this colt is a half-brother to the multiple grade one-placed Dunkirk, being a son of the multiple grade one-winning A.P. Indy mare Secret Status. Consigned by Lane’s End.

Hip #22: By the consistent Tiznow, this filly comes from a strong dam line, being a daughter of a mare that is not only a half-sister to a grade one winner, but multiple black-type horses. Consigned by Mill Ridge.

Hip #32: Another offspring of Tiznow, this colt is a half-sister to the Kentucky Derby (GI)-winning Super Saver, as well as two other black-type horses. Consigned by Taylor Made.

Hip #35: By Medaglia d’Oro, this filly is a half-sister to a grade one winner and a black-type-winning grade one-placed runner. She is also out of a half-sister to the multiple grade one-winning Pure Clan. Consigned by Burleson Farms.

Hip #38: By one of the top sires in Distorted Humor, this colt is out of a multiple graded stakes-winning half-sister to two graded stakes winners and a black-type-winning, graded stakes-placed runner. Consigned by Taylor Made.

Hip #39: A daughter of the significant Smart Strike, this filly is a half-sister to a black-type winner. Notably, her second dam is the great broodmare Better Than Honour. Consigned by Hill ‘n’ Dale.

Hip #41: By the successful sire Street Cry, this colt – out of a full sister to Tiznow – is a half-brother to the grade one-winning Paynter, as well as a graded stakes winner, a black-type winner, and a black-type-placed runner. Like Paynter was, hip 41 is consigned by Taylor Made.

Hip #42: By the exceptional Giant’s Causeway, this filly is a half-sister to a grade one winner and is out of a half-sister to two grade one winners. Consigned by Hill ‘n’ Dale.

Hip #45: Sired by Smart Strike, this filly is a half-sister of the grade one-winning and multiple classic-placed Bodemeister. Consigned by Brookdale Sales.

Hip #48: A son of Medaglia d’Oro, this colt comes from a royal dam line, as his second dam is the great broodmare Weekend Surprise, dam of A.P. Indy and Summer Squall. Consigned by Lane’s End.

Hip #68: By Smart Strike, this colt is a sibling to not only a graded stakes winner, but a multiple grade one winner also. Consigned by Lane’s End.

Hip #73: By Tiznow, this colt is out of a full sister to not only the grade one-winning Bluegrass Cat, but also a black-type winner. His dam line is full of black-type. Consigned by Denali Stud.

Hip #81: By the grade one-winning Divine Park, this filly is a half-sister to two grade one winners, as well as a black-type winner. Consigned by Brereton C. Jones/Airdrie Stud.

Hip #83: Sired by Unbridled’s Song, this filly is a half-sister to the grade one-winning Eden’s Moon and is out of a half-sister to multiple graded stakes winners, including two grade one winners – one of which is a champion. Consigned by Denali Stud.

Hip #94: By the up-and-coming sire War Front, this colt is a half-brother to the multiple grade one-winning Contested and is out of a half-sister to the grade one-winning Pomeroy. Consigned by Claiborne.

Hip #99: By a leading international sire in Danehill Dancer, this filly is out of a stakes-placed full sister to a number of black-type horses, including two group one-winning highweights. Consigned by Eaton Sales.

Hip #111: Sired by the legendary A.P. Indy, this colt is a sibling to two multiple graded stakes winners. Consigned by Elm Tree Farm.

Hip #115: This colt, sired by Smart Strike, is the first foal out of the multiple grade one-winning Life is Sweet, a full sister to the champion Sweet Catomine. Consigned by Lane’s End.

Hip #120: For this filly, being sired by Unbridled’s Song is overshadowed by being a half-sister to the champion Afleet Alex, as well as a stakes-winning, graded stakes-placed runner. Consigned by Gainesway.

Hip #123: By Tiznow, this colt is a half-sister to the grade one-winning Winter Memories. Consigned by Darby Dan.

Hip #130: By the productive Pulpit, this colt is a half-brother to two Canadian champions. Consigned by Brereton C. Jones/Airdrie Stud.

Hip #132: Sired by Distorted Humor, this colt is a half-sister to the champion My Miss Aurelia. Consigned by Gainesway.

I will also be keeping an eye on these hips: 11, 13, 15, 19, 24, 69, 74, 104, 109, and 124. So many spectacular yearlings!

 I will do a follow-up piece after the sale, spotlighting these horses again with the results of the auction.