After the Auction: Onlyforyou

As an avid fan of sales with possible aspirations to become an adviser/bloodstock agent, auctions are one of my favorite topics to write about on Past the Grandstand. “After the Auctions” feature horses I selected in sales that have found success after the sale. These posts are generally just brief overviews of these horses’ racing records and pedigrees.

UPDATE 1/25/14: Congratulations to Onlyforyou on winning the Forward Gal Stakes (GII)!
UPDATE 2/22/14: Congratulations to Onlyforyou on winning the Davona Dale Stakes (GII)!

Selected by Mary Cage from the 2013 Keeneland April Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale as hip 53 – Declared out of sale

Debuting at Aqueduct on November 10, 2013, Onlyforyou prompted the pace from the outside during the early stages of the six-furlong maiden special weight on the dirt. Once the bay filly took the lead, she never looked back, kicking clear to break her maiden by 2 ¼ lengths.

A month later, after joining Todd Pletcher’s Florida string, Onlyforyou faced winners for the first time in an allowance optional claiming at Gulfstream Park. Again going six furlongs, the Glencrest Farm-owned filly again pressed the brisk pace, tracking the leaders from the inside. Gaining ground on the two fillies ahead of her around the far turn, Onlyforyou became boxed in as the field approached the quarter pole.

However, an opening arose, allowing Javier Castellano to angle the Malibu Moon filly to the outside, where she grew even with the leader entering the homestretch. Kicking clear within the final furlong, Onlyforyou drew off to win by a widening 3 ½ lengths.

Pedigree Analysis

Onlyforyou is a daughter of Malibu Moon, the sire of 2013 Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winner Orb, as well as the additional grade one winners Ask the Moon, Declan’s Moon, Devil May Care, Eden’s Moon, Funny Moon, Life At Ten, Malibu Mint, and Malibu Prayer. Malibu Moon is not the only son of A.P. Indy to have great success at stud; others include Bernardini, Mineshaft, Pulpit, and Stephen Got Even.

Onlyforyou’s dam, Erhu, is a daughter of a grade one-winning son of Storm Cat in Tactical Cat. This A.P. Indy/Storm Cat sire line cross has been incredibly successful, producing the grade one winners Dialed In, Eden’s Moon, Ice Box, It’s Tricky, Love and Pride, Mi Sueno, Overbrook, Princess of Sylmar, Sky Mesa, Turbulent Descent, and Wickedly Perfect.

The third dam of Onlyforyou, Great Finesse, is the dam of the stakes winners Glaring, Great Escape, Val d’Enchere, and Wavelength, as well as the stakes-placed Paragram. Through this dam line, Onlyforyou traces back to the Reine De Course mare Herodias, who can also be found in the tail female line of the Hall of Fame champion Skip Away, Epsom Derby (gr. I) and Irish Derby (gr. I) victor Commander in Chief, multiple group one winner Warning, and the legendary broodmare sire Prince John.

Onlyforyou is full of promise and looks to take the three-year-old filly division by storm. Her pedigree suggests that she can extend beyond six furlongs with success and should her connections choose to take that route, it will be exciting to see how she carries her brilliance to new levels.

After the Auction: Super Sky

As an avid fan of sales with possible aspirations to become an adviser/bloodstock agent, auctions are one of my favorite topics to write about on Past the Grandstand. “After the Auctions” feature horses I selected in sales that have found success after the sale. 

Princess Arabella only raced three times, but she made her brief career count, winning all three of those starts – including the Sunland Park Oaks – by a combined fifteen lengths. An injury forced her early retirement, preventing her continued display of brilliance. The racing world will never know how truly talented she was, but it does have the opportunity to enjoy the blossoming of her younger half-sister, Super Sky.

At this year’s Keeneland April Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale, Super Sky impressed me with the effortlessness with which she completed her 10 1/5-second breeze. This, combined with her notable pedigree, allowed her to become one of my twenty-five selections for the sale, at which she sold for $235,000.

Owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Gary Barber, Super Sky – a fancy chestnut who boasts unique white markings – debuted in late July at the prestigious Saratoga meet, encountering seven adversaries in a five and one-half turf dash for maidens. After breaking in the air and coming into slight contact with a nearby rival, Super Sky was left at the rear of the field – which left her at a severe disadvantage. Displaying greenness that is to be expected from a two-year-old first-time starter, Super Sky finished well to cross the wire in third.

A month later, Super Sky returned in a maiden special weight of the same conditions and was sent off as the heavy favorite in a field of seven. Exiting the gate in a much cleaner manner on this occasion, the chestnut filly tracked the brisk pace while racing on the outside and after encountering minor trouble around the turn, Super Sky rallied down the stretch, but could not match the winner, finishing ¾ lengths behind the winner to end up second.

Making her third career start in October at Keeneland, Super Sky made her first start on an all-weather surface, stretching out to seven furlongs. In the pouring rain, Super Sky broke well and went to the front before settling along the rail behind the leaders. Racing over the wet Polytrack, Super Sky remained in her position along the inside as the rain came down heavily from the sky. Around the bend, jockey John Velazquez began to ask the Todd Pletcher-trained filly for her run, to which Super Sky responded with a surge as she shot through an opening on the rail as the field turned for home. Super Sky began to draw away down the lane, extending her advantage as she left her opponents behind her to score by an easy 3 ½ lengths.

Pedigree Analysis

Unlike her half-sister, Princess Arabella (a daughter of Any Given Saturday), Super Sky is a daughter of Sky Mesa. A grade one winner at two and grade one-placed at three, Sky Mesa is the sire of the grade one winners General Quarters and Sky Diva, as well as the additional graded stakes winners Skylighter, Storm Mesa, Terrain, and Thiskyhasnolimit. The Three Chimneys Farm stallion crosses particularly well with mares from the Mr. Prospector sire line, as this cross has produced some of his best progeny, including Sky Diva and four more of Sky Mesa’s graded stakes winners.

This bodes well for Super Sky, as her dam, Tortuga Lady, is from the Mr. Prospector line, being a daughter of the legendary sire’s Kentucky Derby (GI) and Belmont Stakes (GI)-winning grandson, Thunder Gulch. In addition to producing Princess Arabella and Super Sky, Tortuga Lady is also the dam of the graded stakes-placed Dyna’s Lassie and the stakes-placed Cairo Six. As a daughter of Thunder Gulch, she provides her offspring with the same broodmare sire as the grade one winner Star Billing, in addition to the graded stakes winners Crown of Thorns, Daddy Nose Best, and Five Iron. Tortuga Lady is a full sister to Invisible Ink, runner-up in the 2001 Kentucky Derby, and from the same family as Quadrangle, winner of the 1964 Belmont Stakes (GI) and Travers Stakes (GI). 

Part Two: 2013 Keeneland April Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale

Eighty two-year-old Thoroughbreds went through the esteemed Keeneland sales ring throughout the evening of Monday, April 8. 59 of them were sold; 21 did not reach their reserves. 57 had been declared out of the sale. The average price for the sold juveniles was $197,288, up 19.34% from last year’s sale and the buy-back (RNA) rate improved from 37.89% in 2012 to 26.25% this year. Altogether, these 59 two-year-olds grossed $11,640,000, up 19.34% from the previous year’s auction.

Of my top 25 selections, 18 were purchased. Three did not attain their set reserves and four were withdrawn from the sale. My 18 sold grossed $4,010,000, averaging $222,778 - $25,490 more than the sale's average.

Listed below are the horses featured in Part One, with descriptions of the results of the auction. Refer to Part One for more details on these horses.

Hip #5: Sold to Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners for $235,000.

Hip #8: Purchased by Gary Young, Agent for $110,000.

Hip #10: Withdrawn from the sale.

Hip #13: Drove the hammer to $110,000 without reaching her reserve.

Hip #21: Bought for $130,000 by Elisabeth H. Alexander/Eutrophia Farms.

Hip #24: Sold to John McCormack Bloodstock for $180,000.

Hip #25: Reached a final bid of $210,000 but did attain her reserve.

Hip #33: Declared out of the sale.

Hip #39: Purchased by Donato Lanni, Agent for $250,000.

Hip #43: Bought by Fox Hill Farm/Tom McGreevy, Agent for $130,000.

Hip #52: Sold to Marcus Stables, LLC for $270,000.

Hip #53: Withdrawn from the sale.

Hip #54: Sold to Ken and Sarah Ramsey for $85,000.

Hip #55: Purchased by Steven Young, Agent for $535,000 as the second highest-price horse in the auction.

Hip #71: Bought by Bobby C. Barnett for the bargain price of $30,000.

Hip #78: Purchased by Marc Keller for $300,000.

Hip 78
Photo by Melissa Bauer-Herzog

Hip #87: Sold to Reddam Racing for $300,000.

Hip 87
Photo by Melissa Bauer-Herzog

Hip #91: MSS signed the $250,000 ticket for this filly.

Hip #110: Sold to Robert Elliston for $60,000.

Hip #112: Purchased by Lane Seliger acting on behalf of Baumann Stables for $350,000.

Hip #115: Bought by West Point Thoroughbreds for $280,000.

Hip #119: Patty Kanter signed the $125,000 ticket for this filly.

Hip #125: Drove hammer to $130,000 without reaching his reserve.

Hip #129: Declared out of the sale.

Hip #135: Purchased by Reddam Racing for $390,000.

Part One: 2013 Keeneland April Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale

There were times when the words “Keeneland September Yearling Sale” were simply background music to my ears. I was only vaguely aware of what the auction was and certainly did not know of any other Thoroughbred sale; all I was focused on was the racing – and a portion of the breeding – side of the Thoroughbred racehorse industry. All that – and more – changed when I first attended the under tack show for the Fasig-Tipton Texas Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale in 2010. The sales industry had been revealed to me and I was hooked.

However, the Fasig-Tipton Texas sales and the Keeneland September Yearling Sale were the only auctions I knew of or paid attention to. Even then, the Texas two-year-old sale was the single auction I gathered sale selections for. But once I launched Past the Grandstand, I delved into the world of Thoroughbred sales, choosing to cover various auctions across the nation by selecting my favorites in the sale catalogs.

Through doing so, I found my passion. The thrill of choosing a horse from a sale and later watching as it finds success is extraordinary, leaving me to become enthralled with the art of “discovering” a talented horse before its career begins.

2012 became my first year to make selections from a sale outside of the Fasig-Tipton Texas auctions, with the 2012 Keeneland April Two-Year-Olds In Training Sale being the initial auction I employed to embark on the adventure of studying additional sales. Through this, I found the most talented horse I have yet to select from a sale: What a Name, joint Two-Year-Old Champion Filly in France and recent winner of the Prix Imprudence (GIII). Although it is rather unlikely I will find another What a Name this year, I am eager to see what horses I can add to my “stable” of sale selections.

Listed below are the twenty-five horses I was most impressed with, based primarily on their performances in the breeze show, though pedigree received light consideration. Conformation was not used as a judging factor due it not being accessible for all horses. I will do a follow-up piece after the sale, spotlighting these horses again with the results of the auction.

Hip #5: Going a furlong in 10 1/5, this chestnut filly ran a bit too widely with her front legs but appeared to gallop fluidly while displaying considerable drive and impulsion of her stride.

A daughter of Sky Mesa, hip 5 is a half-sister to two stakes winners in Dyna’s Lassie and Princess Arabella, the former of which was graded stakes-placed. Her dam, Tortuga Lady, is a full sister to Kentucky Derby (GI) runner-up Invisible Ink.

Hip 5 is consigned by Wavertree Stables, Inc. (Ciaran Dunne), Agent III.

Hip 5
Photo by Melissa Bauer-Herzog

Hip #8: Appearing to just be galloping along in her 10 3/5-second breeze, hip 8 ran in a smooth, poetic motion despite struggling with maintaining the correct lead.

Sired by the terrific Giant’s Causeway, hip 8 is from the same tail female line as champion Gio Ponti and is out of a half-sister to the graded stakes-winning Puxa Saco. The filly is bred on the same Giant’s Causeway/Unbridled’s Song cross as the graded stakes-winning Hold Me Back.

Hip 8 is consigned by Niall Brennan Stables, Agent.

Hip #10: Powerfully moving over the Polytrack in her 10 2/5-second-flat work, I would have preferred for hip 10 to be slightly flatter-kneed, but she did reach impressively with her stride. The first foal out of Canadian champion Van Lear Rose, hip 10 is sired by top sire Unbridled’s Song.

Hip 10 is consigned by Niall Brennan Stables, Agent XIX.

Hip #13: Recording a brisk time of 10 seconds, hip 13 traveled in a strong manner, but did not allow as much lift to her shoulder or as much flatness to knee as I would have liked to see, though she did appear athletic.

Another daughter of the very successful Unbridled’s Song, hip 13 is out of a half-sister to Tiznow. Sisters to Tiznow have proven to be profitable broodmares, having produced the likes of the grade one-winning Paynter, the graded stakes winners Oxbow and Tiz West, and the stakes winners Awesome Patriot and Tizakitty.

Hip 13 is consigned by de Meric Sales, Agent.

Hip #21: Completing one-eighth of a mile in 10 2/5 seconds, hip 21 exhibited unnecessary knee action but was a very powerful mover, showing substantial length of stride.

The result of the mating between the sire of many grade one winners in Mizzen Mast and the unraced Mr. Greeley mare Bellamusic, hip 21’s dam is a sibling to three stakes winners, a pair of which won at the graded stakes level.

Hip 21 is consigned by Wavertree Stables, Inc. (Ciaran Dunne), Agent V.

Hip #24: A quick-strided filly, hip 24 appeared nimble while displaying significant length and reach to her stride despite possessing excessive action of the knees. She completed her work in 10 1/5 seconds.

Sharing the same sire as two champions in Exchange Rate, hip 24 is out of a Dynaformer-sired half-sister to a grade one winner. Hip 24 is among those whose works outshone their bloodlines.

Hip 24 is consigned by Niall Brennan Stables, Agent VIII.

Hip #25: Recording a quarter-mile in a quick 21 1/5 seconds, hip 25 had difficulty sustaining the correct lead and did not have particularly attractive knee action, but galloped forcefully and had good lift to the shoulder.

Sired by the productive Candy Ride, hip 25 is out of a graded stakes-winning mare that has also yielded two black-type winners.

Hip 25 is consigned by Kirkwood Stables, Agent I.

Hip #33: Running with his head held low, this colt traveled rather smoothly, covering the ground with long strides despite not showing the greatest extension of his forelegs while completing his breeze in 10 1/5 seconds.

A son of Rock Hard Ten, hip 33 is a half-brother to Sunland Oaks winner Midnight Lucky, as well as the stakes-placed Songofthecity. His dam is a full sister to the grade one-winning Hookedonthefeelin, who has produced two grade one winners.

Hip 33 is consigned by Wavertree Stables, Inc. (Ciaran Dunne), Agent.

Hip #39: Posting a final time of 10 1/5 seconds, hip 39 could have kept a flatter knee but galloped in a robust manner while lifting her shoulder to allow for imposing reach of her stride.

A daughter of the late but great sire Pulpit, hip 39 is out of a black-type-winning mare that has produced a black-type winner.

Hip 39 is consigned by Eddie Woods, Agent IX.

Hip #43: Despite being green in his 21 4/5-second quarter-mile breeze, being unable to maintain the correct lead, and showing a bit too much knee action, hip 43 exhibited significant lift to his shoulder and length of stride.

Hip 43’s sire, Lemon Drop Kid, has sired several grade one winners and the colt’s dam won multiple black-type races. The gray two-year-old is from the family the champions Northernette and Storm Bird.

Hip 43 is consigned by de Meric Sales, Agent.

Hip #52: Though running greenly and struggling to stay on the correct lead, hip 52 was a quick-legged, athletic mover.

Hip 52 is a daughter of Medaglia d’Oro, a tremendous sire of fillies, and comes from a prolific tail female line. Her dam is not only a full sister to a group stakes winner, but a half-sister to the champion Fasliyev, the group stakes-placed Maderno, and the dam of the champion Misty for Me.

Hip 52 is consigned by Niall Brennan Stables, Agent XXXIII.

Hip #53: Though there was nothing particularly special about her 10 4/5-second work, hip 53 looked athletic in her breeze in spite of running too widely with her front legs.

Sired by the on-fire Malibu Moon, hip 53 is out of the graded stakes-winning Erhu. This filly is bred on the successful Malibu Moon/Storm Cat sire line cross, which has produced the likes of grade one winner Eden’s Moon, as well as the stakes winners Managed Account, Pinkarella, and Vanderkaay.

Hip 53 is consigned by Wavertree Stables, Inc. (Ciaran Dunne), Agent XI.

Hip #54: Although the colt could have allowed more lift to his shoulder, the chestnut galloped gracefully, traveling with considerable reach and length to his stride to complete his work in 10 3/5 seconds.

By the fantastic Giant’s Causeway, hip 54 is out of the graded stakes-winning Essence. From a rather affluent female family, hip 54 is from the same tail female line as the likes of the grade one winners Marsh Side, Meteor Miracle, Pillaster, Pleasant Stage, Reenact, and Seattle Meteor.

Hip 54 is consigned by Eddie Woods, Agent XXXIV.

Hip #55: Though exhibiting too much unnecessary knee action and carrying his front legs too widely, hip 55 galloped in a very powerful fashion, driving impressively from his hindquarters to provide for an extensive stride. He finished his one-furlong work in 10 2/5 seconds.

This colt’s sire, Arch, has sired numerous champions and his dam, a daughter of Mr. Prospector, has produced a black-type-placed runner. The Arch/Mr. Prospector cross has been fairly successful, yielding the graded stakes-winning Animal Spirits and three other stakes horses.

Hip 55 is consigned by Eddie Woods, Agent VI.

Hip #71: Appearing rather professional for such a young horse, this colt lifted his shoulder notably to allow for a lengthy, reaching stride. Completing his work in 10 seconds flat, hip 71 moved with flowing strides.

A son of the outstanding Tiznow, hip 71 is out of a half-sister to the dam of the multiple graded stakes-winning Old Fashioned. The Tiznow/Mr. Prospector sire line cross on which this colt is bred has been incredibly successful, yielding the grade one winners Bullsbay and Gemologist, as well as the graded stakes winners Lovely Lil, Tizaqueena, and Tiz Miz Sue.

Hip 71 is consigned by Wavertree Stables, Inc. (Ciaran Dunne), Agent.

Hip 78: The fastest workers of the breeze show tend to be the highest-price individuals at two-year-old sales. Luckily for this filly, she was the only one to run under 10 seconds, completing her work in 9 4/5 seconds. Though the action of her front legs was rather unattractive, she displayed noteworthy reach and length to her stride, driving powerfully from her hindquarters.

Sired by the late Dixie Union, who has produced three grade one winners thus far, this filly's second dam was a champion in Canada that yielded two stakes winners and dams of stakes horses.

Hip 78 is consigned by Niall Brennan Stables, Agent IV.

Hip #87: Finishing his work in a sharp 10 seconds flat, hip 87 ran greenly and held his head too high, but was a quick-legged, attractive mover that covered much ground with his stride.

A well-bred individual, hip 87 is sired by a consistently top sire in Distorted Humor and is out of a sibling to a plethora of stakes horses, including two grade one winners, one of which is a European champion.

Hip 87 is consigned by Wavertree Stables, Inc. (Ciaran Dunne), Agent II.

Hip #91: Going a furlong in 10 1/5 seconds, hip 91 was on the wrong lead for the majority of her breeze, but traveled dynamically while displaying very long, quick strides.

Another daughter of Medaglia d’Oro, hip 91’s granddam produced the multiple grade one-winning and track record-setting Formal Gold, the black-type-winning Maple Lake, and the dam of the graded stakes-winning Noonmark.

Hip 91 is consigned by Eddie Woods, Agent LI.

Hip #110: Though exhibiting a bit too much knee action while switching his leads multiple times during his breeze, hip 110 was a rhythmic mover that traveled with remarkably long strides. The final time for this colt’s work was 10 3/5 seconds.

Sired by the flourishing Malibu Moon, hip 110 is out of the graded stakes-winning Broken Vow mare Proud Heiress. Notably, his fifth dam, the Reine de Course mare Exclusive, produced Exclusive Native, a stakes winner and influential sire.

Hip 110 is property of Wayne Mogge Racing.

Hip #112: This filly moved with elegant, flowing strides, appearing quick as she covered much ground with her stride as she completed her breeze in 10 1/5 seconds.

Hip 112 is a daughter of Unbridled’s Song and is out of a graded stakes-winning mare that has produced two stakes winners – one of which was graded stakes-placed – and a stakes-placed runner.

Hip 112 is property of The Kindergarten Farm.

Hip #115: Though running greenly while displaying an excess of unnecessary knee action, hip 115 showed impressive drive from his hindquarters and lift to his shoulder, reaching with his front legs to allow great reach to his stride.

Outshone by his work, hip 115’s pedigree is rather understated. Sired by War Chant, hip 115 is out of a half-sister to the graded stakes-winning Headache.

Hip 115 is consigned by Eddie Woods, Agent XXXIII.

Hip #119: Going a furlong in 10 4/5 seconds, this filly was a fluid mover, appearing to travel with effortless strides despite struggling to maintain the correct lead. She drove well from the hindquarters and noticeably lifted her shoulders to move powerfully.

By the exceptional Tiznow, hip 119’s granddam has produced three stakes horses, including a grade one-winning producer of a graded stakes-placed runner, as well as a course record-setting graded stakes winner.

Hip 119 is consigned by Wavertree Stables, Inc. (Ciaran Dunne), Agent III.

Hip #125: Finishing his work in a swift 10 seconds flat, this colt was slightly wide about his front legs and could have been flatter about the knee but moved in a very strong manner, quickly covering ground despite incorrectly changing leads during his work. The lift of his shoulder, as well as the drive from his hindquarters, was remarkable.

A son of Speightstown, who has proven to be an effective sire, hip 125 is a half-brother to a stakes-winning, graded stakes-placed runner, as well as a black-type-placed filly.

Hip 125 is consigned by Niall Brennan Stables, Agent XI.

Hip #129: In a final time of 10 1/5 seconds, hip 129 looked agile while galloping with smooth strides. I would have preferred for the filly to have been flatter about the knee and more greatly utilize her shoulder to extend her stride, but she appeared rather athletic.

Sired by the blossoming Ghostzapper, hip 129 is out of a half-sister to a stakes-winning, graded stakes-placed individual. The Deputy Minister/Unbridled’s Song cross on which this filly is bred has been successful, producing the grade one winner Rolling Fog, as well as a pair of additional graded stakes winners.

Hip 129 is consigned by Niall Brennan Stables, Agent VI.

Hip #135: Moving powerfully while breezing in 10 1/5 seconds, this colt could have been smoother about the knee and lifted more with the shoulders, but his stride was of notable length.

By popular sire Bernardini, hip 135’s third dam is the grade one-winning Sugar and Spice, who produced this colt’s granddam, a graded stakes winner that placed in a plethora of grade ones.

Hip 135 is consigned by Niall Brennan Stables, Agent XXXII.

After the Auction: K. O.'s Touch

As an avid fan of sales with possible aspirations to become an adviser/bloodstock agent, auctions are one of my favorite topics to write about on Past the Grandstand. This is the tenth edition in a blog series called "After the Auction" that will feature horses I selected in sales that have found success after the sale. 

Whether a horse is being pointed toward the Triple Crown or not, the beginning of a Thoroughbred’s sophomore season is always an exciting time. It is especially exciting when such a commencement is the kick-off of that horse’s career. For K. O.’s Touch, a Triple Crown bid is not the plan, but this filly seems to have a bright future ahead.

Upon debut, K. O.’s Touch set the pace in a six-furlong maiden special weight over Tampa Bay Downs’ dirt surface. Though pressured by rivals to the inside and outside of her down the backstretch, the dark bay filly only had one opponent alongside her as the field rounded the far turn. She led by about a length as the field entered the homestretch, but the favorite, Putitinmypocket, caught her in the final strides, defeating K. O.’s Touch by ¾ of a length.

After finishing third in her next start, K. O.’s Touch found the path to the winner’s circle. Breaking sharply from the rail in a seven-furlong maiden over a sealed Tampa Bay oval, K. O.’s Touch achieved an early, easy lead. After being pressed by rivals in the early stages, the filly edged away from her adversaries to lead by a comfortable distance down the backstretch. She accelerated going into the far turn, putting more ground between herself and the others. Leading by 4 ½ lengths as the field turned for home, K. O.’s Touch remained clear of her opponents, effortlessly coasting to a near-3-length victory.

A full sister to the multiple graded stakes-winning and multiple grade one-placed Crown of Thorns, K. O.’s Touch is sired by Repent, a multiple graded stakes winner that has also produced the graded stakes winners Atoned, Diva Delite, and Sweet Repent. With Preakness Stakes (GI) winner Louis Quatorze as her grandsire, Repent descends from the Northern Dancer sire line, which has been responsible for an astounding plethora of champions. In the 1970s, the Canadian-bred champion was the leading sire once in North America and four times in the United Kingdom, as well as the twentieth century’s most successful sire.

The dam of K. O.’s Touch, Crowning Touch, is a half-sister to the grade one-winning champion Smoke Glacken, the multiple graded stakes-winning Smokey Glacken, the stakes-winning and graded stakes-placed Capote’s Crown, and the graded stakes-placed Argyle Pink. Crowning Touch is a daughter of Thunder Gulch, a champion who captured three classics as a three-year-old. Sire of classic winners like himself in Point Given and Spain, Thunder Gulch has been successful as a broodmare sire, yielding the dams of the likes of the graded stakes winners Daddy Nose Best, Get Square, and Star Billing.

K. O.’s Touch’s fourth dam is 1996 Maryland Broodmare of the Year, the black-type-placed Turn Capp, who produced several black-type horses: Capp Ice, Capp it Off, Capp the Power, Say Capp, and Twilight Prince. This filly is thus a direct descendant of the Reine de Course mare, Chelandry, who is the foundation mare of family 1-n. Other direct descendants of this outstanding racemare and broodmare include Americain, Bodemeister, and Swale.

Offered as hip 125 at the 2012 Keeneland April Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale, K. O.’s Touch was one on my selections at that auction and has since become the eleventh winner of my juvenile sales picks from 2012. What K. O.’s Touch will accomplish in the future is unknown, but whether she finds more success or not, she will remain on my radar.

After the Auction: Lemon Belle

As an avid fan of sales with possible aspirations to become an adviser/bloodstock agent, auctions are one of my favorite topics to write about on Past the Grandstand. This is the ninth edition in a blog series called "After the Auction" that will feature horses I selected in sales that have found success after the sale. 

Victory is especially sweet when it supersedes disappointment. This proved true when Lemon Belle coasted to victory in her fourth career start and initial start as a three-year-old. Once a very promising filly, Lemon Belle had finished off-the-board and well-beaten in her previous three races, but had finally learned how to win.

Consigned by de Meric Sales to the 2012 Keeneland April Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale under the pending name Beyond Belle, Lemon Belle became one of my selections in the auction due to her remarkable pedigree and her impressive breeze in the under-tack show. Sold as hip 44, Lemon Belle was purchased for $400,000 by trainer Chad Brown on behalf of Martin Schwartz, a team that would later that year win the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf (GI) with Zagora.

With a high price tag and a famous sibling in Unrivaled Belle, high hopes were placed upon the bay filly. But when she debuted at Belmont Park in October, Lemon Belle finished mid-pack, running sixth in a twelve-horse field, though she did show some late acceleration. The disappointment only continued when the Chad Brown trainee finished fifth and ninth in Aqueduct and Gulfstream maiden special weights, respectively.

Lemon Belle had gone her entire juvenile campaign without even one on-the-board finish. But in her first start as a sophomore, the filly faced state-bred company for the first time, which served as a likely easier level for her. Facing four rivals in a six-furlong maiden special weight for Florida-breds at Gulfstream Park, Lemon Belle, as she had in her earlier races, displayed minimal early speed, quickly dropping several lengths off the leader as she trailed the small field. With little space separating her four rivals, who all ran ahead of her, Lemon Belle dropped multiple lengths behind.

But around the far turn, jockey Joel Rosario began to urge the filly and the newly-turned sophomore picked up the pace, gaining ground on her opponents as the track began to curve. By the quarter pole, Lemon Belle had passed a pair of her adversaries, swinging to the outside of the two leaders as the field turned for home. With the same imposing stride she displayed in her 10-second breeze in the preview show of the Keeneland April sale, Lemon Belle swept past her rivals en route to an easy 5-length victory.

Perhaps it was the easier state-bred level that allowed Lemon Belle to finally garner a win, or maybe the filly finally learned how to win. One can only hope that, with her triumph, Lemon Belle has found the confidence to perform well from now on.

Another tool that could be used to possibly assist Lemon Belle in being more successful would be a stretch-out in distance. A filly that has yet to race beyond one mile, Lemon Belle has the pedigree to go farther.

Lemon Belle is a daughter of Lemon Drop Kid, a five-time grade one winner that is best known for winning the 1999 Belmont Stakes (GI). The Champion Older Horse of 2000 has sired the grade one winners Citronnade, Christmas Kid, Lemons Forever, Richard’s Kid, and Santa Teresita. A son of the multiple group one-winning sire Kingmambo, Lemon Drop Kid has been among the top fifty sires in North America every year since 2006.

Out of the graded stakes-winning mare Queenie Belle, Lemon Belle is a half-sister to 2010 Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic (GI) victress Unrivaled Belle. Lemon Belle descends from a strong tail female family, which is largely influenced by Thoroughbreds from the British Isles. In fact, the bay filly is a direct descendant of the Reine de Course mares Admiration and Pretty Polly, the latter of which is viewed as one of the greatest racemares and producers of all-time. Winner of 22 of her 24 lifetime starts, Pretty Polly won some of Europe’s most prestigious races, including the 1000 Guineas, the Oaks, and the St. Leger Stakes, the latter in which she defeated males. Other direct descendants of this great mare include the greats Brigadier Gerard and Nearctic.

Lemon Belle’s racing career may have commenced in disappointing fashion, but the filly surely gained confidence when breaking her maiden and could certainly progress. If the potential she displayed in her breeze prior to the Keeneland April sale and her spectacular pedigree are any indication, a bright future could be ahead for Lemon Belle should she continue to improve. 

After the Auction: What a Name

As an avid fan of sales with possible aspirations to become an adviser/bloodstock agent, auctions are one of my favorite topics to write about on Past the Grandstand. This is the fifth edition in a blog series called "After the Auction" that will feature horses I selected in sales that have found success after the sale. *Note: If an "After the Auction" features a two-year-old, it will also be listed as a "Juvenile Spotlight."

The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (GI) has been viewed as one of the most prestigious races in the world, pitting Thoroughbred titans against one each other each fall in France. The “Arc” has seen such victors as the all-time greats Mill Reef, Ribot, Sea the Stars, and Sea Bird, and despite the defections of such superstars as Nathaniel, Snow Fairy, and reigning Arc champion Danedream, the 2012 edition of the Arc was still a clash of titans, featuring the near English Triple Crown-winning Camelot and Japanese Triple Crown winner Orfevre, as well as multiple other international superstars. But it was Solemia, a filly with the same owner and jockey as the great Goldikova, who caught Orfevre in an exciting finish to take the Arc, making it back-to-back years for a filly to win the renowned race.

On the undercard of the Arc was a race featuring a juvenile filly I have followed since April. This filly, What a Name, was one of my picks in the 2012 Keeneland April Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale. Sold as hip 106, What A Name was purchased by John McCormack Bloodstock for $350,000.

An Irish bred filly, What a Name made her first start for owner H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani and trainer Mikel Delzangles in a maiden at Deauville Racecourse in France, in which she finished third over soft ground. She broke her maiden next out at Deauville, dominating a seven-horse field by seven lengths over good going.

As a result of her striking maiden victory, What a Name was entered in the Prix la Rochette (GIII) at Longchamp Racecourse, the French course at which the Arc is held. Contesting against the males, What a Name accelerated impressively in the final stages of the race to overtake her rivals by nearly two lengths.

On the Arc undercard, What a Name yet again faced colts, this time in group one company: the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardre (GI). The chestnut filly settled near the back of the pack, galloping between horses as the young Thoroughbreds galloped over demanding ground. Trapped behind a wall of horses as the final stages of the contest approached, What a Name found room between horses and yet again showed a good turn of foot, gaining ground on the outside as she raced towards the leaders. Despite her courageous rally, the filly ran out of real estate, finishing a fast-closing second. In spite of not garnering the victory, What a Name had performed in spectacular fashion.

What a Name was one of my twenty selections at Keeneland April due to both her pedigree and her imposing 9 4/5-second work for one-eighth of a mile. In her one-furlong work in the preview show for the sale, the filly moved with a powerful stride, covering much ground quickly while posting one of the quickest works of the day. In fact, her work was among my favorites of all the breezes.

By the productive sire Mr. Greeley, What a Name shares the same sire as such grade/group one winners as Aruna, El Corredor, Finsceal Beo, Nonsuch Bay, and Reel Buddy. Out of the Dayjur daughter Bonnie Byerly, she is a half-sister to the multiple graded stakes-winning Diabolical. This filly’s fifth, sixth, seventh, and ninth dams are all Reine De Course mares, one of which is the dam of the grade one-winning Mehmet, Soaring. Other direct descendants of Soaring include the multiple graded stakes-winning sisters Graceful Darby and Tribulation.

With just four starts under her belt, one can only imagine what her future holds. Having selected this group stakes winner before her career even began is a tremendous feeling and I am very excited to continue to follow What a Name.

SUCCESS SINCE THIS ARTICLE:
WON: Prix Imprudence (GIII)
Named 2012 Co-Champion Two-Year-Old Filly in France

After the Auction: Brown Eyes Blue

As an avid fan of sales with possible aspirations to become an adviser/bloodstock agent, auctions are one of my favorite topics to write about on Past the Grandstand. This is the third edition in a blog series called "After the Auction" that will feature horses I selected in sales that have found success after the sale. *Note: If an "After the Auction" features a two-year-old, it will also be listed as a "Juvenile Spotlight."

Everything about her screamed top selection, which was why hip #148 of the 2012 Keeneland April Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale became my second top filly selection of the auction. The Big Brown filly landed in the hands of Twin Creek Racing for a price tag of $180,000 and was sent to trainer Dale Romans.

On Saturday, June 30, 2012, the filly, who had been given the name Brown Eyes Blue, made her debut, going six furlongs over the main track at Churchill Downs. The bay filly broke sharply, going to the lead under Shaun Bridgmohan. The filly held a 1 ¼-length lead on the others, setting the first quarter mile in 21.80 seconds.

Continuing to display her speed, Brown Eyes Blue maintained her advantage on the field as the two-year-olds rounded the turn. Despite a rally from Alluring Lady, Brown Eyes Blue proceeded to lead the twelve-horse field into the homestretch, lengthening her lead. Alluring Lady continued to close, but Brown Eyes Blue crossed the wire with nearly two lengths between her and the runner-up, becoming Big Brown’s first North American winner.

Not only did the efficient 10-second furlong work the filly posted at the preview show for the sale impress me, but Brown Eyes Blue’s pedigree did as well. Big Brown, spectacular winner of the 2008 Kentucky Derby (GI) and Preakness Stakes (GI), has quickly proven to be a productive sire. In fact, his very first starter was a winner. Big Brown is a son of Boundary, who also yielded the successful sire Pomeroy. As a son of Boundary, Big Brown is a grandson of Danzig, a highly influential stallion. Danzig himself was an incredible sire of sires, producing such productive studs as Chief’s Crown, Danehill, Exchange Rate, Langfuhr, and War Chant.

Brown Eyes Blue is the first foal out of Golden Lips, a Live Oak Plantation homebred. Golden Lips is a half-sister to the multiple graded stakes-winning Hotstufanthensome, the graded stakes-winning Silver Charades, and the multiple black-type-winning Tacit Agreement. Through her dam, Brown Eyes Blue is a direct descendant of the Reine De Course mare Golden Trail, who produced several stakes performers, including the graded stakes-winning Java Moon.

Brown Eyes Blue’s broodmare sire is Silver Ghost, the sire of 49 stakes victors. Silver Ghost is also the damsire of the graded stakes-winning half-brothers Chelokee and Salute the Sarge. The Big Brown/Silver Ghost cross on which Brown Eyes Blue is bred is similar to that of the grade one winners Pomeroy and Minardi, who were bred on the same Boundary/Mr. Prospector sire line cross.

Brown Eyes Blue's impressive work prior to the auction displayed the same athleticism she showed when winning her debut. The filly, thanks in large part to her agility and remarkable pedigree, could certainly become a top racehorse and perhaps even one of the leading juvenile fillies in the country. Just like others horses I have followed from before their racing career began, Brown Eyes Blue has proven how great of an experience it is to discover a horse before it even begins racing.



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Part Two: 2012 Keeneland April Two-Year-Olds In Training Sale

It’s all come down to this. The prepping, the preview show, and the showings to prospective buyers have led to this moment. A juvenile Thoroughbred steps into the lavish Keeneland sales ring before prospective buyers, its bright eyes taking in the unfamiliar sights around it. Thoughtfully, this horse was bred. Carefully, it was taken care of and raised. Prudently, it was handled and broke to ride. Meticulously, it was groomed and prepped. This moment is one of the biggest defining moments of this horse’s life.

This moment occurred for several two-year-old Thoroughbreds tonight in Lexington, Kentucky. The glossy, beautifully bred creatures stood within the boundaries of the sales ring as the auctioneer led the buyers to the final fall of the hammer. By the end of the sale, the juveniles had sold for a total of $9,754,000 with an average price of $165,322 and a median of $120,000. There were eleven less horses sold in 2012 than 2011, causing the gross to fall by $1,810,000 and the median to decline by $10,000. However, the average was up by a mere $122.

Listed below are the horses featured in Part One, with descriptions of the results of the auction:

Hip #8: By the powerhouse sire Medaglia d’Oro and out of the Easy Goer mare Kissing Gate, hip eight is a half-brother to the multiple grade one-winning Magical Fantasy and the stakes-winning Forward Move. Though powerful, hip eight’s work was erratic with a bit too much knee action. The colt brought $100,000 and was purchased by Dogwood Stable, Inc.

Hip #18: Yet another colt by a driving force of a sire, hip eighteen is by Unbridled’s Song and out of the grade one-winning mare Madcap Escapade. This makes him a half-brother to the grade one-winning Mi Sueno. Though quick in his work, he wasn’t extremely flashy. He did not reach his reserve.

Hip #41: A half-brother to the multiple graded stakes-winning No Advantage, hip forty-one is a direct descendant of the great, influential mare La Troienne. This bodes well for him, as other direct descendants of La Troienne include Easy Goer, Sea Hero, and Smarty Jones. In fact, four of her direct descendants have won the Kentucky Derby (GI). I did not particularly like this colt’s work, but he still brought $115,000 for F. Brothers, agent.

Hip #44: Lemon Drop Kid, a member of Lane’s End Farm's spectacular stallion roster, is the sire of this half-sister to the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic (GI)-winning Unrivaled Belle. In addition to her impressive pedigree, Beyond Belle turned in what I saw as one of the most impressive works on preview day. Her remarkable pedigree and work led her to be sold for $400,000 to Chad Brown on behalf of Martin Schwartz.

Hip #69: This half-brother to the graded stakes-winning Bittel Road posted one of the most remarkable works at the under-tack show, displaying a smooth, efficient stride while going a furlong in 10 1/5 seconds. The colt was purchased for the bargain price of $20,000 by Mongolian Stable.

Hip #115: A full brother to the grade one-winning Drill, hip one hundred fifteen turned in a very impressive work, galloping effortlessly over the Polytrack surface to post a final time of 10 1/5 seconds. However, he was declared out of the sale.

Hip #125: This full sister to the graded stakes-winning and Breeders’ Cup Sprint (GI)-placed Crown of Thorns is out of a half-sister to the champion Smoke Glacken, the multiple graded stakes-winning Smokey Glacken, the stakes-winning and graded stakes-placed Capote’s Crown, and the graded stakes-placed Argyle Pink. This filly turned in a beautiful 10 2/5-second one-furlong work, but did not attain her reserve.

Hip #133: Had this colt’s action been smoother and more visually impressive, he would be my top selection. After all, he is a direct descendant of the great Flawlessly and is a half-brother to the multiple graded stakes-winning horses Denomination and Woke Up Dreamin’. However, his relatively unremarkable work may have caused him to not reach his reserve.

Hip #148: Out of a half-sister to two graded stakes winners, this filly is by the blossoming commercial sire Big Brown, who sired the sale topper at the Fasig-Tipton Florida Sale. Bred on the same cross as two group one victors, hip one hundred forty-eight exhibited beautiful action while breezing an eighth of a mile in 10 seconds flat despite running greenly. She was my co-leading choice for fillies and was purchased by Twin Creeks Racing for $180,000.

Hip #161: By the up-and-coming grade one-winning sire Any Given Saturday and out of the multiple graded stakes-winning mare It’s Personal, hip one hundred sixty-one is a half-brother to the multiple graded stakes-winning It’s No Joke, as well as the black-type-winning horses Mildly Offensive and Keep Laughing. To describe his breeze in one word, it would be along the lines of ‘average.’ He was not flashy, but he did not look terrible, either. As the final horse to strut through the sales ring, hip one hundred sixty-one did not reach his reserve.

Honorable Mentions:

Hip #5: Though more impressive in action than in pedigree, this filly’s grade one-winning second dam is the mother of the black-type-winning sire Yankee Gentleman. One of the advantages of her pedigree is that she is bred on the very successful Unbridled’s Song/Storm Cat cross. I found her work more impressive than her bloodlines however, as she displayed an impressive drive that gave her a lengthy stride. However, she was declared out of the sale.

Hip #15: The Kitten’s Joy/Storm Cat sire line cross that this filly is produced from has been quite successful, producing such horses as the grade one- and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (GII)-winning Stephanie’s Kitten and the stakes-winning Major Magic. Her bloodlines don’t fit under the category of spectacular or terrible, but her one-furlong work could certainly be labeled as tremendous, as the chestnut filly moved effortlessly with a strong, smooth stride and imposing impulsion. Yet she did not reach her reserve.

Hip #98: Out of a full sister to Tiznow and out of the spectacular sire Medaglia d’Oro, this filly is certainly royally bred. Her work, however, was not fantastic, though she did reveal a commanding presence while galloping. She was purchased by Immensity Bloodstock for $85,000.

Hip #106: A half-sister to the multiple graded stakes-winning Diabolical, this filly does have an exciting pedigree, though it may not be as exciting as others entered in the sale. She did, though, turn in an outstanding work, being one of seven horses to complete a furlong in 9 4/5 seconds. While doing so, she thrust herself forward from her hindquarters impressively, stretching over the ground with a powerful stride. She went to John McCormack Bloodstock for $350,000.

Hip #135: This filly’s dam is a half-sister to the champion sprinter Housebuster and the graded stakes-winning Quero Quero, as well as a full sister to the stakes-winning Cat Buster. Hip one hundred thirty-five comes from a dam line full of successful producers, which bodes well for her since she’s a filly. This daughter of Corinthian also worked well, turning in a 10-second furlong while maintaining a good frame, though she needed a bit more length of stride. However, she was declared out of the sale.

The two horses with slightly unpretentious pedigrees that greatly impressed me in their works (Hip #123 and Hip #142) actually brought the highest prices of my top seventeen selections at the fall of the hammer. Hip #123 was the sale-topper, going for $700,000 to Stonestreet Stables and George Bolton while Hip #142 drove the hammer to $525,000 but did not reach his reserve.

Overall, my featured seventeen horses brought a total of $1,950,000 with a total of three horses declared out of the sale. The top ten were purchased for a total of $815,000 with one horse scratched out of the sale, the five honorable mentions were purchased for $435,000 with two declared out of the sale, and the top two workers brought a total of $700,000 with just one of the two reaching his reserve.

The Keeneland sales grounds
Photo: Terri Cage

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