2015 Keeneland September Yearling Sale: Session One

Updated Sept. 15, 2015 (the day following session one) with sales results

Sales have always fascinated me, and I have always enjoyed selecting my favorite horses from auction catalogs, seeing how much they bring at the sale, and following them throughout their racing career. I have been able to follow many successful horses because of this hobby, including the Grade 1 winners Strong Mandate and Streaming, in addition to a multitude of other graded stakes winners - including Barbados, Hebbronville, Onlyforyou, She's Not Here, and Tower of Texas. Of course, a catalog page is not every thing and, when given the chance, I much prefer to also view the sales prospects in person. However, I have only been able to do that at one major yearling auction - the 2013 Fasig-Tipton July Sale, which is where I found eventual Grade 3 Jersey Shore Stakes winner Hebbronville.

Having been very busy with school and horses, I have not had much time to go through sales catalogs as of late, but set aside some time to at least sort through part of Book 1 for this year's Keeneland September Sale - the largest yearling sale in the world - to choose my favorite horses from the first session, which will begin on Monday at 11 a.m. From 241 yearlings, I was able to narrow down my selections to 18 yearlings, in addition to three sentimental favorites:

Hip 23 - Medaglia d'Oro-Weekend Whim, by Distorted Humor
Bay filly - Consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency
$450,000 - Mike Ryan, Agent

This filly is by top sire Medaglia d'Oro, who has been an outstanding sire of female runners. Her dam, who has also produced the stakes-placed Coconut Shrimp, is a full sister to Grade 1 winner and sire Any Given Saturday, as well as a half sister to the graded stakes winner Bohemian Lady.

Hip 34 - Street Cry-Winter Memories, by El Prado
Chestnut colt - Consigned by Gainesway
OUT

This is the first foal out of the multiple Grade 1-winning mare Winter Memories, who herself is a daughter of a multiple Grade 1-winning mare, Memories of Silver. Being a son of the late, great sire Street Cry is certainly an advantage, as well.

Hip 38 - Fastnet Rock-Wonder of Wonders, by Kingmambo
Bay colt - Consigned by Eaton Sales
$350,000 - Al Shahania Stud

A son of top Australian sire Fastnet Rock, this colt is the second foal out of the stakes-winning, multiple Group 1-placed mare Wonder of Wonders. That mare is out of the group stakes-winning mare All Too Beautiful, who is a daughter of the legendary Urban Sea. This makes this colt's granddam a full sister to the tremendous sire Galileo and highweight champion Black Sam Bellamy, as well as a half-sister to the great Sea the Stars and many other outstanding runners and producers.

Hip 42 - Hard Spun-Zoftig, by Cozzene
Gray/roan colt - Consigned by Hunter Valley Farm
$60,000 - L&N Racing, LLC

By Hard Spun and out of the Grade 1-winning mare Zoftig, this colt is a full brother to the Grade 1 winner Zo Impressive and a half-brother to the Grade 1 winner Zaftig.

Hip 47 - Distorted Humor-Achieving, by Bernardini
Bay filly - Consigned by Hill 'n' Dale Sales Agency
$550,000 - John Ferguson

By leading sire Distorted Humor, this filly is out of a half-sister to the grade one winner Streaming. Her third dam is the great broodmare Better Than Honour, the dam of Grade 1 Belmont Stakes winners Jazil and Rags to Riches (the latter of which is an Eclipse Award Champion), highweight Man of Iron, and the graded stakes winner Casino Drive.

Hip 48 - Bernardini-Acoma, by Empire Maker
Bay colt - Consigned by Gainesway
$400,000 - China Horse Club

A son of Bernardini, this colt is the third foal out of the Grade 1 winner Acoma. That mare, a daughter of tremendous sire Empire Maker, is a half-sister to UAE Horse of the Year Festival of Light, as well as Grade 1 winner and sire Arch and several other stakes horses.

Hip 49 - Medaglia d'Oro-Afleeting Lady, by Afleet Alex
Bay colt - Consigned by Mill Ridge Sales
$875,000 - John Ferguson

It would be difficult for a pedigree to be more impressive than this colt's. A son of leading sire Medaglia d'Oro, this colt is out of the graded stakes-winning mare Afleeting Lady. That mare is a daughter of one of the best broodmares in recent years, Oatsee - the dam of Grade 1 winners Shackleford and Lady Joanne, as well as graded stakes winner Baghdaria and stakes winner Stephanoatsee.

Hip 72 - Giant's Causeway-Amber Grace, by Elusive Quality
Chestnut colt - Consigned by Paramount Sales
RNA ($150,000)

By top sire Giant's Causeway, this colt is out of a half-sister European champion Russian Rhythm and from the same family as an abundance of other champions and highweights, including Park Appeal, Alydaress, and Nashamaa.

Hip 73 - Tapit-Amelia, by Dixieland Band
Chestnut filly - Consigned by Gainesway
$750,000 - Shadai Farm

Being a daughter of Tapit is noteworthy enough, but this filly's female family is also impressive. His stakes-winning dam - a half-sister to group stakes winner Bertolini and stakes winner Alchemilla - is also the dam of three graded stakes winners and the Grade 1-placed He's Had Enough.

Hip 85 - Speightstown-Arania, by Dynaformer
Chestnut filly - Consigned by Gainesway
$700,000 - Joseph Allen

By one of the top sires in the nation, Speightstown, this filly is from the same female family as the aforementioned hip 48, with her dam a full sister to Japanese champion Yamanin Paradise and two other stakes winners, as well as a half-sister to UAE Horse of the Year Festival of Light and grade one winners Acoma and Arch.

Hip 96 - Giant's Causeway-Ava Knowsthecode, by Cryptoclearance
Chestnut colt - Consigned by Valkyre Stud
$300,000 - Rigney Racing

Not only is this colt a son of top sire Giant's Causeway, but his dam has produced a multitude of successful runners, including Grade 1 winner Justin Phillip and additional graded stakes winners Keyed Entry, Successful Mission, and Algorithms.

Hip 116 - War Front-Betterbetterbetter, by Galileo
Bay filly - Consigned by Timber Town
$1,450,000 - Shadwell Estate Company, LLC

A daughter of one of the country's top sires, War Front, this filly is the first foal out of the group stakes-placed mare Betterbetterbetter. That mare, a daughter of the outstanding Galileo, is a half-sister to three highweights, including the Group 1 winners Yesterday and Quarter Moon.

Hip 144 - Medaglia d'Oro-Cambiocorsa, by Avenue of Flags
Gray/roan colt - Consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency
$350,000 - Todd A. Pletcher, Agent

This colt is by outstanding sire Medaglia d'Oro and out of the graded stakes-winning full sister to California Flag, Cambiocorsa - who has foaled four stakes runners. Of those four stakes horses, two are graded stakes winners, one is a stakes winner, and the other is Grade 1-placed.

Hip 160 - Galileo-Charge of Angels, by Distorted Humor
Chestnut colt - Consigned by Hill 'n' Dale Sales Agency
RNA ($485,000)

One couldn't ask for a better pedigree than this colt's. A son of the world's best sire, Galileo, hip 160 comes from one of America's best female families. His second dam, She's A Winner, is the dam of five stakes runners - including Grade 1 winner Bluegrass Cat. Additionally, She's A Winner is a full sister to the Grade 1 winner Girolamo and the graded stakes winners Daydreaming and Accelerator.

Hip 196 - More Than Ready-Dalmiya, by Kalanisi
Gray/roan filly - Consigned by Bluegrass Thoroughbred Services
RNA ($140,000)

This filly is a full sister to group stakes winner Dalwari. Her granddam is the dam of two French Horse of the Years - Daylami and Dalakhani - as well as another group stakes winner and stakes winner.

Hip 200 - Medaglia d'Oro-Dance Quietly, by A.P. Indy
Dark bay/brown filly - Consigned by Four Star Sales
$400,000 - Rio Dois Irmaos, LLC

Another Medaglia d'Oro yearling, this filly is out of the stakes-winning A.P. Indy mare Dance Quietly, who is a half-sister to Horse of the Year Saint Liam, two other graded stakes winners, and a Grade 1-placed runner - as well as a full sister to the graded stakes-placed American Dance.

Hip 224 - Smart Strike-Distinctively, by Awesome Again
Dark bay/brown filly - Consigned by KatieRich Farms
RNA ($50,000)

By two-time leading sire Smart Strike, this filly's stakes-placed dam is a daughter of champion Heavenly Prize, who is also the dam of Grade 1 winner Good Reward, graded stakes winner Pure Prize, and stakes winner Cosmic.

Hip 227 - Bernardini-Divalarious, by Distorted Humor
Bay colt - Consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency
$375,000 - John Ferguson

By Bernardini, this colt's dam is a daughter of Irish and Italian Broodmare of the Year Alidiva. That fantastic mare is the dam of three highweights and an additional graded stakes winner.

Sentimental Favorites:

Hip 21 - Malibu Moon-Wasted Tears, by Najran
Dark bay/brown colt - Consigned by Stonehaven Standings and Bart Evans
RNA ($300,000)

This colt is the second foal of one of my favorite mares. His dam, Wasted Tears, won three editions of the now-extinct Grade 3 Ouija Board Distaff at my home track, Lone Star Park, and was always one of my favorite horses to watch.

Hip 51 - Tapit-Agave Kiss, by Lion Heart
Chestnut filly - Consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency
RNA ($435,000)

This filly is out of another one of my favorite racemares, Agave Kiss, who I followed throughout her entire racing career - which included a six-race win streak and four stakes wins (one of which was graded).

Hip 181 - Creative Cause-Comfort Zone, by Rubiano
Gray/roan colt - Consigned by Clarkland Farm
$155,000 - John Kelly

I had the chance to meet this colt - a half-brother to graded stakes winner The Pamplemousse - in May while visiting the great people and horses of Clarkland Farm.

The eye of hip 181 - May 28, 2015

After the Auction: Screen Goddess

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.

Selected by Mary Cage from the 2012 Keeneland September Yearling Sale as hip 42 – Declared out of sale

A disappointing sixth in her debut at Hollywood Park, in which she finished behind my grade one-winning sale selection Streaming, Screen Goddess sought redemption one day before the doors to Hollywood Park forever closed. On the final Saturday of racing at the Track of Lakes and Flowers, Screen Goddess went to post with Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens aboard as the heavy favorite in a field of eight.

In her previous start, Screen Goddess had traveled six furlongs over the all-weather track. Now, however, she had moved to the turf and stretched to the distance of one mile. Just as her pedigree would suggest, this change was perfectly suited for the daughter of Giant’s Causeway.

After exiting the gate in slightly sluggish fashion, Screen Goddess settled into position near the rear of the field. Stevens tucked the blaze-faced filly into a place along the rail as the pair trailed the field into the first turn while the bettors’ second choice, Abide in Me, led by a breathtaking margin into the backstretch. As Abide in Me lengthened her lead to twelve lengths, Screen Goddess gradually inched closer to her adversaries as the backstretch began to surrender to the far turn.

Steering his mount through traffic, Stevens split horses around the final bend before angling Screen Goddess to the outside as the field entered the homestretch. Although Abide in Me’s lead had dwindled drastically, several lengths still separated Screen Goddess from the vanguard with less than a quarter of a mile between her and the wire.

But the filly unleashed a remarkable turn of foot, surging forward to erase the distance that separated her from the leaders. Despite changing to the wrong lead in the final stages, Screen Goddess glided past her remaining rivals to draw away to win by a widening 1 ¾ lengths.

Pedigree Analysis

A daughter of three-time leading sire Giant’s Causeway, Screen Goddess shares her sire with twenty-five grade/group one winners, such as Aragorn, Eskendereya, First Samurai, Ghanaati, Giant Oak, My Typhoon, Our Giant, Shamardal, and Swift Temper. This bodes well for Screen Goddess, as eleven of Giant's Causeway's grade/group one winners are fillies or mares.

Screen Goddess’ dam, Topliner, is a daughter of the graded stakes-placed To the Hunt, who has also produced the grade one winners Starrer and Stellar Jayne. Topliner has carried on the ability to produce top-class runners, having yielded the grade one-winning Star Billing.

Topliner’s sire, Kentucky Derby (gr. I) and Belmont Stakes (gr. I) winner Thunder Gulch, has found success as a broodmare sire, producing the dams of the graded stakes winners Crown of Thorns, Daddy Nose Best, Five Iron, and, of course, Star Billing. Although only sixteen other horses bred on the Giant’s Causeway/Thunder Gulch cross have raced, the cross has produced five stakes winners, including the graded stakes-winning Excited.

Her ancestry makes Screen Goddess’ success on turf come as no surprise. Giant’s Causeway, winner of six group ones on the turf in Europe, has found himself within the top five on the turf sires list for five of the past eight years, topping the list in 2006. In addition, Screen Goddess’ half-sister, Star Billing, excelled on the turf, winning the Matriach Stakes (gr. I) and the Senorita Stakes (gr. III) and placing in the Del Mar Oaks (gr. I), American Oaks (gr. I), and Honeymoon Handicap (gr. II) – all of which were contested on the turf.

Perhaps Screen Goddess’ debut was not the most inspiring, but once she found her home on the turf, she displayed spectacular promise. In fact, her maiden victory was so inspiring that it earned her a spot as a TDN Rising Star. Could she join my growing list of stakes-winning sale selections?

After the Auction: Fierce Boots

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.

As one of my selections from book one of the 2012 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, Fierce Boots was sold to famed chef Bobby Flay for $200,000. Sent to the barn of Eclipse Award-winning trainer Todd Pletcher, Fierce Boots was prepared for a racing debut at the iconic Saratoga Race Course.

However, things did not go as planned when the bay filly made her debut in early August 2013. Lunging and bobbling at the break of the mile and one-sixteenth turf maiden special weight, Fierce Boots never gained the momentum she needed and crossed the wire fifth of sixth.

Although she remained at the maiden special weight level, Fierce Boots took what is viewed as a drop in class when she made her next start at Parx. Making her dirt debut, the filly settled off the pace before closing well to score by a half-length.

A return to New York saw her take on stakes company on the turf at Belmont, but the filly did not fare well, finishing eleventh of twelve. Returning to the dirt and exiting stakes company to run at the allowance level at Aqueduct, Fierce Boots gained late to be fourth, beaten just over three lengths.

Fierce Boots looked to redeem herself at the stakes level on January 4 in the Busanda Stakes at Aqueduct, which was her first stakes attempt on the dirt. Relishing the dirt surface, the bay filly led from start to finish as she coasted to a two-length victory.

Pedigree Analysis

Fierce Boots is a daughter of Tiznow, the two-time Breeders’ Cup Classic (gr. I) winner who has ranked among the top thirty sires in North America for the past six years, ranking among the top five sires in 2008 and 2009. Among his offspring are the grade one winners Bullsbay, Colonel John, Da’ Tara, Folklore, Gemologist, Morning Line, Tiz Miz Sue, Tizway, Tough Tiz’s Sis, and Well Armed, as well as the grade one-winning steeplechaser Mr. Hot Stuff. Tiznow is also the sire of one of my grade one-winning sale selections, Strong Mandate.

The dam of Fierce Boots, Shop Again, was a stakes winner who has gone on to produce Power Broker – a grade one winner at two and a graded stakes-winning, grade one-placed runner at three. Fierce Boots is a half-sister to this earner of $865,612 and with inaugural Breeders’ Cup Classic victor Wild Again as her maternal grandsire, the filly shares her broodmare sire with the likes of the grade one winners Cheiron, Emma’s Encore, Macho Again, Mea Domina, Pyro, and Wild Spirit.

Shop Again is a half-sister to the grade one-winning Miss Shop, the graded stakes-winning Trappe Shot, the stakes-winning Bought in Dixie, and the graded stakes-placed Bulling. Through this female line, Fierce Boots is a direct descendant of the Reine De Course mare Lady Be Good, a multiple stakes winner who begat the stakes winners Discipline, Disciplinarian, and Full of Hope.

After the Auction: Fantastic Vow

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. 

The hammer fell after a final bid of $150,000, giving the handler of the bay colt that stood in the ring the cue to lead the son of Broken Vow out of the auditorium. One of my selections from the 2012 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, the colt now belonged to Jim and Susan Hill.

Placed in the barn of trainer William Hickey, the colt was given the name Fantastic Vow. Making his career debut in a mile and one-sixteenth maiden special weight on the synthetic surface at Keeneland, Fantastic Vow was sent off as the longest shot in a field of seven. But, after coming from off the pace, the colt shocked betters by rallying to capture the race by a neck.

Could more success be in Fantastic Vow’s future? His pedigree suggests it just could be.

Fantastic Vow is a son of Broken Vow, who has yielded the likes of the grade one winners Cotton Blossom, Sassy Image, and Unbridled Belle. A son of Unbridled, Broken Vow shares his sire with numerous spectacular stallions, including Empire Maker and the late Unbridled’ Song.

But the strongest aspect of Fantastic Vow’s pedigree is undoubtedly his dam’s side. His dam, Fantastic Shirl, was a stakes winner who placed in two graded stakes races. In addition to Fantastic Vow, she has produced the graded stakes-placed Fantastic Song and the stakes-placed Magnificent Shirl.

Fantastic Vow’s broodmare sire is Fantastic Light, a brilliant son of the outstanding damsire Rahy who earned more than $8 million and captured six group ones on various continents. His granddam (the dam of Fantastic Shirl), Lady Shirl, is a Reine De Course mare responsible for producing 2011 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (gr. I) victress Perfect Shirl, the multiple grade one-winning Shakespeare, and the multiple graded stakes-winning Lady Shakespeare.

Fantastic Vow has yet to work out, yet alone race, since his debut, but should he surface yet again, I will certainly be keeping my eye on him.

After the Auction: Homesick Angel

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. 

Hip 149, a bay daughter of Divine Park, stepped into the sales ring at Keeneland as one of the first horses in the ring for the second session of the 2012 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. The bidding came to a halt at the price of $260,000, placing the well-bred filly into the hands of Sierra Farm.

Once ready to begin her racing career, the filly – given the name Homesick Angel – entered the barn of Philip Sims, for whom she made her first start in early October at Keeneland in a seven-furlong maiden special weight on the synthetic. While racing mid-pack, Homesick Angel encountered traffic troubles but managed to finish third in a field of nine.

The next month, she surfaced in a maiden special weight going seven furlongs on the dirt at Churchill Downs. She contended for the lead throughout, but was overtaken late, finishing second as the favorite.

Four weeks later, however, Homesick Angel proved that the third time is the charm. Facing ten other two-year-old fillies on closing day at Churchill Downs, Homesick Angel sat just off the pace while racing wide. Seizing the lead as the field turned for home, the filly kicked clear with ease to score by five lengths.

Pedigree Analysis

Homesick Angel is a member of the second crop of her grade one-winning sire, Divine Park. In his young career as a stallion, Divine Park has produced the stakes-winning, graded stakes-placed Dancinginthecircle and the grade one-placed Blonde Fog, as well as the stakes-placed Divine Ambition.

Homesick Angel is the first foal out of her stakes-winning dam, On the Menu – a daughter of Canadian Frontier. On the Menu’s dam, Don’t Trick Her, is one of the most remarkable broodmares in recent memory. An unraced homebred for Brereton C. Jones, Don’t Trick Her begat not only On the Menu, but also Check the Label, who granted her even greater success, winning four graded stakes events, including the Garden City Stakes (GI). She is also the dam of Include Me Out, who has become her best offspring yet, having won four graded stakes races as well, two of which have been grade ones.

Although an American-bred, Homesick Angel has a rather international pedigree, tracing back to numerous horses bred in Canada, France, Great Britain, and Mexico. Through her prosperous tail female line, Homesick Angel is the descendant of four Reine De Course mares.

Where could Homesick Angel’s career lead her? Only time will tell, but she is keeping good company by having raced on a “Stars of Tomorrow” card at Churchill Downs. Other horses to have done so include classic winners Believe You Can, Fort Larned, Rachel Alexandra, Shackleford, and Super Saver.

After the Auction: America

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. 

America
Photo by Ciara Bowen

There has been a plethora of racehorses given patriotic names – ones that boast monikers that include “star-spangled,” “freedom,” or “patriot.” But one of my 2012 Keeneland September Yearling Sale selections holds the most simply patriotic name of them all: America.

At the Keeneland September auction, America garnered a lofty final bid of $725,000, but did not reach her reserve. She remained with her famous breeder and owner: Bobby Flay.

Placed in the stable of Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, America made her first start at the prestigious Saratoga meet, facing nine others in a mile and one-sixteenth maiden special weight on the turf. However, she offered no serious effort and finished ninth of ten. The runner-up in the race was Kitten Kaboodle, eventual winner of the Jessamine Stakes (gr. III) at Keeneland.

A month later, America made the transition to dirt. Going one mile on the dirt at Belmont, America tracked the pace as she raced very wide. After gamely rallying down the homestretch, she drew clear in the final stages to win by 2 ¾ lengths.

America had shown enough promise to be entered in today’s Demoiselle Stakes (gr. II) at Aqueduct, in which she will face the talented, graded stakes-winning Stopchargingmaria and several other talented fillies.

Pedigree Analysis

America is a daughter of one of the finest stallions in recent Thoroughbred history: A.P. Indy. The son of Seattle Slew has produced nearly 30 grade one winners, including Bernardini, Flashing, Mineshaft, Little Belle, Music Note, and Rags to Riches. The sire of more than 135 stakes winner in total, A.P. Indy was the leading sire in North America on two occasions.

America’s stakes-placed dam, Lacadena, is a daughter of the brilliant European champion Fasliyev. In his young broodmare sire career, the late Fasliyev has produced the dams of the group stakes winners Awesome Planet and Topclas. Fasliyev is a son of the great Nureyev, who is the maternal grandsire of an abundance of grade/group one winners, including Big Brown, Just As Well, Maxios, and West Wind.

Through her dam, America stems from one of the most elite female lines in Thoroughbreds. Her great-granddam is the Reine De Course mare Blush with Pride, the brilliant Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) victress who produced Better Than Honour: the dam of Belmont Stakes (gr. I)) winners Jazil and Rags to Riches, as well as Breeders’ Cup Marathon winner Man of Iron and graded stakes winner Casino Drive. This makes America very similarly bred to Rags to Riches. Like America, Rags to Riches is a daughter of A.P. Indy and a direct descendant of the Blush with Pride line. The fourth dam of America is Best in Show, a Reine De Course mare and the 1982 Broodmare of the Year.

The biggest test of America’s career to date will take place this afternoon, but this is just the beginning. Should America live up to her pedigree and the potential she displayed in her maiden victory, she could become something special.

America
Photo by Ciara Bowen

After the Auction: Streaming

Streaming
Photo by Mary Cage

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. 

UPDATE 12/7/13: Congratulations to Streaming on becoming my
second grade one-winning sale selection with her victory in the Hollywood Starlet (GI)!
UPDATE 2/1/13: Congratulations to Streaming on her second-place finish in the Las Virgenes Stakes (GI)!

Although declared out of the 2012 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, Streaming remained on my watch list, as she was one of the horses I selected from the first session of the world’s largest yearling auction. She remained with her breeders, Hill ‘n’ Dale Equine Holdings and Edward McGhee, and was placed in the barn of Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert in Southern California.

I was fortunate enough to watch Streaming train one morning at Santa Anita while visiting for the Breeders’ Cup. The filly displayed impressive muscularity and composure for a two-year-old, galloping about the track in an easy manner.

Twelve days later, Streaming made her racing debut at Hollywood Park, facing nine others in a six-furlong maiden special weight over the all-weather track. Sent off as the heavy favorite that only included three fillies with racing experience, Streaming tracked the pace while racing a few paths off the rail. As a quick pace was set, Streaming remained a handful of lengths off the leader as the field continued down the backstretch.

Given room to run, Streaming was guided to the outside of the pacesetters around the far turn, racing very wide as the field swung into the homestretch. Traveling so far to the outside cost Streaming ground at the top of the lane, but once she changed leads, she regained her momentum, growing even with the second choice – Abide in Me – outside the eighth pole. Digging in gamely, Streaming kicked clear, drawing away to score by 1 ½ lengths.

Pedigree Analysis

Streaming is as royally bred as they come. A daughter of two-time leading sire Smart Strike, Streaming is out of a daughter of Storm Cat and the great broodmare Better than Honour. Some of the most legendary sires and dams in Thoroughbred breeding lace just the first five generations of her pedigree alone, including Mr. Prospector, Deputy Minister, Native Dancer, Blushing Groom, Classy ‘N Smart, Terlingua, and Geisha.

As a daughter of Canadian Hall of Famer Smart Strike, Streaming shares her sire with the champions Curlin, English Channel, Lookin At Lucky, My Miss Aurelia, and Soaring Free. Smart Strike is a son of Mr. Prospector, one of the most influential stallions to ever live. The Mr. Prospector sire line has produced an astounding number of champions, including six Horse of the Year honorees in the United States.

Streaming is a daughter of Teeming, who is also the dam of the stakes-winning Cascading and the stakes-placed Distracting. Teeming is a daughter of the Reine de Course broodmare Better than Honour, who was named 2007 Broodmare of the Year. This makes Teeming a half-sister to the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) winners Jazil and Rags to Riches, as well as Breeders’ Cup Marathon victor Man of Iron and the graded stakes-winning February Stakes (gr. I) runner-up Casino Drive.

Streaming’s broodmare sire is the legendary stallion Storm Cat. Not only was Storm Cat an outstanding sire of racehorses and sires, but he has also proven to be a terrific sire of broodmares, as he is the damsire of many brilliant horses, including the champions Folklore and Speightstown, as well as a multitude of grade one winners, such as Dialed In, Sky Mesa, and Sidney’s Candy.

Streaming could become something special. Having made quite the early impression in pedigree, appearance, and racing performance, Streaming holds plentiful promise. Could she become my next sale selection to win a grade one?

After the Auction: Tachi

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. 

The colt’s athletic build caught my attention as he stood in the sales ring at the 2012 KeenelandSeptember Yearling Sale, at which he was purchased for the bargain price of $34,000. Although he brought a small price, I knew this colt had the potential to become the athlete his conformation indicated he was.

The Indiana-bred colt, bred by Elm Tree Farm, made his debut at Indiana Downs on July 29, 2013, going five furlongs in a state-bred maiden special weight on the dirt. Settling several lengths off the pace, Tachi remained on the rail until he made his move in the latter stages of the race, swinging into the three path. Although he closed well, the colt could do no better than second, missing victory by a half-length.

A month later, Tachi made his second start, which again came in a state-bred maiden special weight – this time going six furlongs. Sent off as the heavy favorite, Tachi again raced quite a distance behind the leaders after being bumped at the start. Going four-wide as he made his rally, Tachi edged clear down the lane to score by 1 ¾ lengths.

In his third start, Tachi advanced to black-type company, competing in the Hillside Stakes at Indiana Downs for Indiana-bred juveniles. Utilizing his normal tactic of sitting far off the pacesetters, Tachi was left with an abundance of ground to make up. He found his best stride late, making an impressive move as he closed down the homestretch. Traveling wide, Tachi ran out of real estate despite his notable late kick, crossing the wire third – beaten just over two lengths.

Pedigree Analysis

Tachi was the first winner for the multiple graded stakes-winning Cowboy Cal. This makes him a grandson of one of the best sires in the world, Giant’s Causeway, who is the sire of numerous grade/group one-winning millionaires, including Aragorn, Creative Cause, Eishin Apollon, Giant Oak, Heatseeker, My Typhoon, Our Giant, Red Giant, Shamardal, and Swift Temper. Although fairly young, Giant’s Causeway has hinted at success as a sire of sires, producing the effective stallions First Samurai and Shamardal.

Tachi’s dam, Gioiello, is a half-sister to the graded stakes-winning La Dolce Vita and the graded stakes-placed Bijou. Gioiello is a daughter of the Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI) winner Alphabet Soup – a son of Cozzene. Cozzene has proven to be a top broodmare sire, producing the dams of the grade/group one winners Distant Way, Zaftig, and Zo Impressive. Tachi’s fourth dam, the stakes-winning Tiffany Tam, was a terrific producer, yielding not only Tachi’s Canadian Oaks-winning third dam, but also the champion millionaire Regal Intention and an additional graded stakes winner.

Part Two: 2013 Keeneland September Yearling Sale

With 18 seven-figure yearlings and a gross that surpassed that of the 2012 sale by the seventh session, it is clear that the Keeneland September Yearling Sale has experienced remarkable gains. Covering this sale in a different manner than I have ever covered a sale, I selected eleven yearlings from three consignments based primarily on conformation, though pedigree was also considered. It is my hope that these athletically built youngsters will blossom into talented racehorses.

Of my eleven selections (each of which was featured in Part One), seven sold, three did not reach their reserves, and one was declared out of the auction. The seven that were purchased totaled $1,375,000 with an average price of $196,429. Listed below are my eleven selections, along with their sale price and buyer.

Hip 17: RNA ($340,000)

Hip 273: Red Wings, $160,000

Hip 595: XIB, Agent, $190,000

Hip 725: Willis Horton, $285,000

Hip 881: Top Racing LLC, $150,000

Hip 896: Niall Brennan, Agent, $80,000

Hip 922: Ben Glass, Agent, $310,000

Hip 1067: Lavin Bloodstock, Agent for Mark Grief, $200,000

Hip 1964: RNA ($120,000)

Hip 1969: OUT

Hip 2664: RNA ($67,000)

After the Auction: Mosler

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.

Each year during the largest yearling auction in the world, the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, numerous young Thoroughbreds sell for six-figure prices. But whether these expensive youngsters ever blossom into successful racehorses is a gamble in and of itself. If they ever earn back that large sum is an even greater risk.

As for Mosler, he is progressing toward proving his $1.05 million price tag worthy. One of my selections at the 2012 September Sale, Mosler has earned $49,000 in two starts and although he has a long journey ahead to equal or surpass his purchase price, he exhibits the potential to do so.

A half-brother to the multiple grade one-winning Contested, Mosler debuted on August 10, 2013 at Saratoga, finishing fourth as the second betting choice. Both the runner-up and third-place finisher – Sound of Freedom and Tiznowforamerica, respectively – won their subsequent starts.

Approximately a month later, Mosler made the second start of his career at Belmont, facing six rivals in a one-mile maiden special weight over the dirt. Despite being brushed at the start, Mosler went straight to the lead, setting a steady pace down the Belmont backstretch. He only extended his lead from there, drawing away in the stretch to score by 3 ½ lengths.

In just two starts, Mosler has already exhibited professionalism, which speaks volumes about his potential. What the future holds for this Bill Mott trainee, owned by Adele Dilschneider, is unknown, but it certainly appears bright.

Pedigree Analysis

War Front
Photo by Terri Cage

Mosler is a son of the hottest sire in town, War Front. A graded stakes-winning son of Danzig, War Front has sired fifteen graded stakes winners to date since entering stud at the renowned Claiborne Farm in 2007. Among those fifteen horses are the grade/group one winners Data Link, Declaration of War, Summer Soiree, The Factor, and Warning Flag (Sweet Orange). Not only is War Front capable of producing a quality racehorse, but he has also proven to be a top commercial sire. Currently ranked as the ninth-leading sire of yearlings in the world, War Front is the sire of the current sale topper at the 2013 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, a $2.5 million son of the During mare Blading Gold Ring.

As aforementioned, Mosler is a half-brother to the multiple grade one-winning filly Contested. His dam, Gold Vault, is a daughter of Arch, a sire of seven grade one winners. As a broodmare sire, the grade one-winning son of spectacular dam sire Kris S has yielded the dams of the dual classic-winning champion I’ll Have Another, the multiple grade one-winning champion Uncle Mo, and the group stakes-winning Lines of Battle – the latter of which is bred on the same War Front/Arch cross as Mosler. Gold Vault is a half-sister to the multiple grade one-winning sire Pomeroy and a direct descendant of the Oaks Stakes-winning Imprudence II.

Part One: 2013 Keeneland September Yearling Sale

September marks the winding down of summer, the opening of the door for autumn. It is also home to the world’s largest, most important yearling auction: the Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Each year, thousands of yearlings stroll through the sales ring in Lexington, Kentucky as bidders from around the globe place their bids upon the young Thoroughbreds. Although these horses are just a year old, at least two years’ work has been put into this auction. Matings were chosen, mares were bred and prepared to foal, foals were cared for, and yearlings were prepped. Through blood, sweat, tears, rain, snow, and heat, these horses have been meticulously prepared for this significant point in time. Those two years of hard work and dedication all come down to these moments.

Nearly 4,000 yearlings were entered in this year’s September Sale, outnumbering last year’s auction by about 300. Beginning on Monday (September 9) at noon (Eastern time), the auction will last until Saturday, September 21, spanning five books and twelve sessions. Book 1 will cover the first four days of the sale, offering the first 875 hips. Each of these sessions will begin at noon. After a break on Friday, September 13, the sale will resume on Saturday, September 14 and end on September 21, presenting the yearlings in Books 2 through 5, with each book covering two days. Each of these sessions will commence at 10:00 AM.

Prior to this year’s Fasig-Tipton July Sale, I had never attended an auction before. Due to this, I made all of my sale selections based solely off of pedigree – and movement in breeze shows for two-year-old sales – as I lacked the opportunity to study conformation as a result of not being present for the auctions I covered, although I knew it was incredibly important. But now, having attended the July Sale and the Fasig-Tipton Texas Summer Yearlings Sale, I have fully realized the significance of conformation and will no longer make sale selections without being able to analyze sale entrants’ conformation. However, thanks to three sales agencies’ posting of conformation shots of several of their consignments, I was able to study the conformation of numerous yearlings for this renowned auction. Although not the equivalent of analyzing a yearling firsthand, this gave me the opportunity to cover the sale I have yearned to cover all year despite not being able to attend: the Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

A big thanks goes out to Denali Stud, Elm Tree Farm, and Three Chimneys Farm for posting conformation shots of several of their Keeneland September consignments. Because of these useful tools, I was able to select yearlings off of not only pedigrees, but my favorite component: conformation. Listed below are the eleven yearlings I selected from these consignments, along with information on when they are selling, their consignor, analyses of their pedigrees and conformation, and links to their conformation photos.

Note: I only selected yearlings from these three consignments, as they are the only sales agencies that posted conformation photos of most of their offerings in time for me to make selections. I chose no yearlings off of pedigree alone, as I used conformation as my most important deciding factor. 

Hip 17 – Consigned by Denali Stud (Craig and Holly Bandoroff), Agent XIII – Book 1, Session 1, Monday, September 9
Gray/roan colt; Tapit – Flock of Doves (Kingmambo)

A son of one of the top sires in the nation in Tapit, hip 17 is out of Flock of Doves – an unraced daughter of Kingmambo. Flock of Doves is a half-sister to the group one-winning highweight Pathfork. His third dam, the stakes-winning, group one-placed Imperfect Circle, is the dam of three black-type horses, including the multiple group one-winning highweight Spinning World.

A rather correct individual, hip 17 may be thick about the neck and slightly post-legged, but he is rather evenly balanced, being solid about the shoulder and topline. View his conformation photo here.

Hip 273 – Consigned by Three Chimneys Sales, Agent – Book 1, Session 2, Tuesday, September 10
Bay colt; Speightstown – Northern Station (Street Cry)

Sired by leading sire Speightstown, hip 273 is out of the black-type-winning mare Northern Station. His third dam produced three black-type horses – including the graded stakes-winning Polonius – and the dam of the graded stakes-winning Advice. This is the same family as the graded stakes-winning mares Ascutney and Words of War, who, between them, have produced the grade one winners Raven’s Pass and No Matter What – the dam of champion Rainbow View.

As a result of a sturdy, rather sloping shoulder, hip 273 boasts a short, durable topline, causing him to be very well-balanced and athletically built. The colt is very short-necked and slightly calf-kneed, but is otherwise breathtakingly correct. A conformation photo of hip 273 can be found on this page.

Hip 595 – Consigned by Elm Tree Farm LLC (Mr. and Mrs. Jody Huckabay), Agent IX – Book 1, Session 3, Wednesday, September 11
Dark bay/brown colt; Giant’s Causeway – Van Lear Rose (Stroll)

A son of the consistently elite sire Giant’s Causeway, hip 595 is the second foal out of Canadian champion Van Lear Rose. The Giant’s Causeway/A.P. Indy sire line cross on which this colt was bred has proven to be quite successful, producing the graded stakes winners Chief Havoc and Worth Repeating to date.

A colt of impressive muscularity, hip 595 displays a rounded, powerful hip that hints of great propulsion from the hind end. A very solid individual, hip 595 exhibits round muscles of great volume, but remains proportional, being short and compact over the topline. He is also very structurally correct when viewed from the side, being straight through the knees and correctly angled about the pasterns. View his conformation photo here.

Hip 725 – Consigned by Elm Tree Farm LLC (Mr. and Mrs. Jody Huckabay), Agent IV – Book 1, Session 4, Thursday, September 12
Bay colt; Tale of the Cat – Buddha Lady (Buddha)

Sharing his sire with the likes of the grade one winners Gio Ponti, Glamour Puss, Lion Heart, and Tale of Ekati, this son of Tale of the Cat is out of the black-type-winning mare Buddha Lady. This makes him a direct descendant of the foundation mare of family 1-n – the stakes-winning Reine De Course mare Chelandry – thus allowing hip 725 to descend from the same tail female line as the dual-classic-winning champion Swale, the grade one-winning, dual classic-placed Bodemeister, and the group one-winning Americain.

A uniquely-marked, flashy bay colt, hip 725 is a compact, balanced yearling who exhibits notable muscling. Perhaps his best feature is his powerful hip, which is long and full, which will likely provide hip 725 with great drive and impulsion from his hindquarters. View his conformation photo here.

Hip 881 – Consigned by Three Chimneys Sales, Agent – Book 2, Session 5, Saturday, September 14
Chestnut colt; Elusive Quality – Fiery Dancer (Atticus)

This colt’s sire, Elusive Quality, is best known for siring the dual-classic winning champion Smarty Jones, the multiple record-breaking grade one winner Quality Road, and the additional grade/group one winners Camarilla, Certify, Elusive City, Elusive Kate, Maryfield, Raven’s Pass, and Sepoy. Hip 881 is out of the black-type-winning mare Fiery Dancer, who is a full sister to the graded stakes-winning Atticus Kristy and a half-sister to the stakes-winning, graded stakes-placed Distorted Reality. This is the same family as 2011 Broodmare of the Year Oatsee, the dam of numerous graded stakes winners, including the grade one winners Lady Joanne and Shackleford.

Evenly balanced, hip 881 boasts a strong shoulder and back. Both proportional and muscular, the chestnut displays a powerful hip and heart girth, which hints at greater body capacity. A conformation photo of hip 881 can be found on this page.

Hip 896 – Consigned by Denali Stud (Craig and Holly Bandoroff), Agent XXVIII – Book 2, Session 5, Saturday, September 14
Dark bay/brown filly; Smart Strike – Giant’s Princess (Giant’s Causeway)

Bred on the same Mr. Prospectors/Giant’s Causeway sire line cross as the grade one-winning Evening Jewel, hip 896 shares her sire – Smart Strike – with numerous champions, including Curlin, English Channel, Lookin At Lucky, My Miss Aurelia, and Soaring Free. Her granddam, the graded stakes-winning Lotta Dancing, produced the graded stakes-winning Fantasticat, as well as Shootforthestars – the unraced dam of the grade one-winning Centralinteligence and three additional black-type runners. Hip 896’s third dam is Lotka, a grade one-winning daughter of Danzig.

Although thick and low-tying about the neck, hip 896 is balanced and proportional, being short about the topline and rather easily divided into thirds. She is quite muscular, having forearms and gaskins of notable volume, as well as a strong shoulder and long hip. View her conformation photo here.

Hip 922 – Consigned by Denali Stud (Craig and Holly Bandoroff), Agent XI – Book 2, Session 5, Saturday, September 14
Bay colt; Mineshaft – Hidden Cat (Storm Cat)

Hip 922 is sired by Mineshaft, Horse of the Year and sire of the grade one winners Dialed In, Discreetly Mine, and It’s Tricky. His dam, the black-type-winning Hidden Cat, has produced two black-type winners: Global Power and Pegasusbystorm. His granddam is the Canadian champion Alywow, who begat not only hip 922’s dam, but also the group stakes-winning Century City.

Although hip 922 possesses some structural flaws, he is well-balanced and athletically built, being both proportional and muscular. His depth of heart girth, length of hip, and volume of shoulder bespeak power. View his conformation photo here.

Hip 1067 – Consigned by Elm Tree Farm LLC (Mr. and Mrs. Jody Huckabay), Agent VI – Book 2, Session 5, Saturday, September 14
Gray/roan colt; More Than Ready – Red Hot Buddha (Buddha)

By elite sire More Than Ready, hip 1067 is a son of the black-type-winning mare Red Hot Buddha, who is a half-sister to a pair of black-type runners, including the graded stakes-placed Cue the Moon. His third dam produced the graded stakes-winning half-sisters Allamerican Bertie and Hurricane Bertie.

A stunning dark gray with a white face, hip 1067 is a breathtaking physical specimen, being not only very muscular, but also impeccably balanced. Having a strong, sloping shoulder that provides him with a short, sturdy topline, hip 1067 can easily be divided into equal thirds. View his conformation photo here.

Hip 1964 – Consigned by Denali Stud (Craig and Holly Bandoroff), Agent XIV – Book 3, Session 7, Monday, September 16
Gray/roan filly; Quality Road – Throbbin’ Heart (Smoke Glacken)

Hip 1964 is a member of Quality Road’s first crop. Quality Road, a multiple grade one winner who set numerous track records, is a son of the outstanding stallion Elusive Quality, who has sired nine grade/group one winners to date. Out of the stakes-winning Smoke Glacken mare Throbbin’ Heart, hip 1964 is a great-granddaughter of the dam of the graded stakes-winning, grade one-placed Count the Time, the stakes-winning granddam of the group one winner Foxwedge, and a pair of graded stakes-placed runners.

An exquisite gray/roan filly, hip 1964 flaunts a sleek, athletic build. She is a very structurally correct individual according to her conformation photo, having appropriately angled pasterns and forming a straight line through her knees. View her conformation photo here.

Hip 1969 – Consigned by Denali Stud (Craig and Holly Bandoroff, Agent – Book 3, Session 7, Monday, September 16
Bay colt; Stormy Atlantic – Toula (Bold Executive)

This colt shares his sire, Stormy Atlantic, with the grade one winners Get Stormy and Stormello, as well as the Canadian champion Leonnatus Anteas. His dam is a half-sister to the Canadian champion Sweetest Thing, in addition to the stakes-winning Medidocihospisurg and the stakes-placed Bold Thing.

Bearing an uncanny resemblance to his sire, hip 1969 is a colt of remarkable muscularity and noteworthy balance. Displaying a long, powerful hip and a heart girth of great depth, hip 1969’s build indicates strength and power. His strong, sloping shoulder allows his topline to be short and sturdy, accentuating his balance. View his conformation photo here.

Hip 2664 – Consigned by Three Chimneys Sales, Agent – Book 4, Session 9, Wednesday, September 18
Bay filly; Big Brown – Nicksappealinglady (Successful Appeal)

A daughter of dual classic winner Big Brown, hip 2664’s sire has also produced the stakes winners Brown Almightly, Bella Castani, and Shades of Sugar since entering stud in 2009. Out of a stakes-placed Successful Appeal mare, hip 2664’s third dam produced the multiple grade one-winning Ladies Din. This Danzig/Valid Appeal sire line cross is the same that produced the multiple grade one-winning Jersey Girl.

A very athletically built filly, hip 2664 is a well-balanced yearling, displaying a solid topline to support her proportional frame. Although leggy and quite dainty, the filly does display power in her shoulder and heart girth. Her conformation photo can be found on this page.

A summary of how these yearlings sell will be posted on Wednesday, September 18 or Thursday, September 19.

After the Auction: Fascinating

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. *Note: If an “After the Auction” features a two-year-old, it will also be listed as a “Juvenile Spotlight.”

$1.3 million is the price tag attached to Fascinating’s name. A half-sister to the brilliant grade one winner Bodemeister, the filly sold for this large amount at the 2012 Keeneland September Yearling Sale as the third-highest priced yearling and one of my selections at the near-two-week-long auction.

Put into training with the same Hall of Fame trainer as Bodemeister, Bob Baffert, Fascinating finished third in a pair of maiden special weights at Del Mar at the beginning of her career. Tracking the pace in each of these contests, Fascinating could do no better than third, though she closed more impressively in her second start than she did in her debut.

Despite having never won a race, the Virginia-bred filly’s connections thought highly enough of her to enter her in the Del Mar Debutante Stakes (GI). Facing seven other talented juvenile fillies, Fascinating broke slowly and, as a result, raced near the back of the pack as the field galloped down the backstretch. With nearly 10 lengths separating her from the leaders, Fascinating remained comfortable as the trailer as the fillies entered the far turn.

Under Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith, Fascinating began to make her move, swinging to the outside and making slight contact with Bajan around the bend while struggling to change to the desired lead while doing so. Once she found her best stride, however, her turn of foot devastated her nearby rivals as she raced toward She’s A Tiger. In spite of her impressive closing run, Fascinating ran out of time and distance, finishing a diminishing ½-length behind the winner.

Although Fascinating is still a maiden, she has proven herself as an incredibly talented filly. Without ever visiting the winner’s circle, the filly has found stakes success and is sure to find more in the future.

Pedigree Analysis

Obviously, being a half-sibling to a grade one-winning, multiple classic-placed horse in Bodemeister, Fascinating stems from a strong female family. Her dam is the graded stakes-winning mare Untouched Talent, who earned over $240,000 in her career. Untouched Talent’s bloodlines bring to the table a large amount of powerhouse sires. She is a daughter of the great sire Storm Cat, who is also an incredibly successful broodmare sire, being the damsire of brilliant horses such as the champions Folklore and Speightstown, as well as several grade one winners, including Dialed In, Sky Mesa, and Sidney’s Candy. Untouched Talent is also a granddaughter of the great sire A.P.Indy, who is the sire of her multiple graded stakes-winning dam Parade Queen. In just her first five generations, Untouched Talent traces back to a plethora of influential sires, including Northern Dancer, Roberto, Bold Ruler, Princequillo, Nijinsky, and Buckpasser. Notably, she is a direct descendant of the foundation mare of family 1-n – the stakes-winning Reine De Course mare Chelandry – thus allowing Fascinating to descend from the same tail female line as the dual-classic-winning champion Swaleand the group one-winning Americain.

Fascinating is a daughter of the elite sire Smart Strike, who topped the North American sires list in 2007 and 2008. A Canadian Hall of Famer, Smart Strike is also the sire of the champions Curlin, English Channel, Lookin At Lucky, My Miss Aurelia, and Soaring Free. Smart Strike is a son of Mr. Prospector, one of the most influential stallions to ever live. The Mr. Prospector sire line has produced an astounding number of champions, including six Horse of the Year honorees in the United States.

After the Auction: Strong Mandate

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. *Note: If an “After the Auction” features a two-year-old, it will also be listed as a “Juvenile Spotlight.”

UPDATE 9/2/13: Congratulations to Strong Mandate on becoming my first grade one-winning sale selection with his 9 ¾-length victory in the Hopeful Stakes (GI)!
UPDATE 11/2/13: Congratulations to Strong Mandate on his respectable third place finish in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (GI)!

Winner of four-time Eclipse Awards, Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas has found great success at Saratoga, especially with two-year-olds. With an astounding total of thirty-nine victories in Saratoga’s various graded stakes for two-year-olds, it is undeniable that Lukas is a force to be reckoned with when it comes to juvenile races at the Spa.

On July 22, Lukas unveiled a two-year-old named Strong Mandate, one of my selections from the first session of the 2012 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. That day, the colt finished a disappointing fifth, but redeemed himself in his second career start, adding not only a furlong to the distance of his debut, but also blinkers.

Facing seven others in a six and one-half-furlong maiden special weight, Strong Mandate led from start to finish, always holding a generous advantage over his rivals. His easy lead left him with excess energy in the stretch, allowing him to draw away to an easy 4 ½-length win under a hand ride from Jose Ortiz, escaping from the betting public at 16-1 odds.

Could this visually impressive debut be a good omen for Strong Mandate's future?

Pedigree Analysis

Strong Mandate is a son of Tiznow, the two-time Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI) winner who has ranked among the top thirty sires in North America for the past six years, ranking among the top five sires in 2008 and 2009. Among his offspring are the grade one winners Bullsbay, Colonel John, Da’ Tara, Folklore, Gemologist, Morning Line, Tiz Miz Sue, Tizway, Tough Tiz’s Sis, and Well Armed, as well as the grade one-winning steeplechaser Mr. Hot Stuff.

Strong Mandate’s dam, who tragically died eleven days after foaling him, was the multiple grade one-winning millionaire Clear Mandate. A half-sister to the graded stakes winner Dream Scheme and the stakes winner A Diehl, Clear Mandate is also the dam of the multiple graded stakes-winning Newfoundland, the stakes-winning Full Mandate – who is the sire of the multiple grade one-winning Ron the Greek – and the group stakes-placed The Mighty Tiger.

This is an immensely strong female family, as Clear Mandate’s grade one-winning dam is a daughter of the grade one-winning Reine De Course mare Likely Exchange, who yielded Crème Fraiche – an earner of $4,024,727 that won seven grade ones. She is one of many Reine De Course mares in Strong Mandate’s tail female line, with the next being the stakes-winning Strange Device, who is the dam of the multiple stakes-winning Abstract. Strange Device is a daughter of the Alabama Stakes (GI) victress Escutcheon, who produced an astounding 14 winners, including Bourtai, who produced six black-type runners, including two Broodmare of the Years and the champion Bayou. Escutcheon’s own dam, Affection, is also a Reine De Course mare and in addition to Escutcheon, the French import begat the black-type winners Flat Iron and Sanford. The next Reine De Course mare in this colt’s pedigree is The Apple, the foundation mare of a strong female family that produced the likes of the champions Bold Forbes, Forego, Mar-Kell, Nellie Flag, and Nellie Morse. The earliest Reine De Course mare in Strong Mandate’s tail female line is Maid of Masham, a multiple stakes-winning mare. Other descendants of the Likely Exchange branch of this family include the group one winner To the Victory and the group stakes winner Headliner.

The maternal grandsire of Strong Mandate is the Canadian Hall of Famer Deputy Minister. This is incredibly beneficial, as Deputy Minister was the leading broodmare sire of 2007 and has served as the damsire of a multitude of grade one winners, including Curlin, Jazil, Magistretti, Redattore, Sarava, Tapizar, Telling, and To Honor and Serve.