By B. Jason Brooks
The Keeneland sale grounds are abuzz as another September Yearling Sale gets underway, with well over 4,600 hips cataloged. Potential buyers and bloodstock agents are looking for future stars in what some have described as Thoroughbred racing’s version of the NFL Draft.
Claiborne Farm’s consignment includes a diverse group of more than 50 well-bred yearlings, many by the legendary farm’s stallions, including War Front, Blame, Annapolis, and Silver State. Some of the other top Kentucky-based stallions represented in the Claiborne consignment include Not This Time, Into Mischief, Munnings, Omaha Beach, Nyquist, Justify, Uncle Mo, Maclean’s Music, Oscar Performance, and Essential Quality. The Claiborne consignment also features yearlings from the second crop of this year’s exciting freshman stallions Life Is Good and Flightline.
In addition to yearlings by leading sires, Claiborne’s consignment features multiple Claiborne-breds from the farm’s successful female families, along with yearlings bred by its clients. Highlighted below are five yearlings with attractive pedigrees: colts by Nyquist and Maclean’s Music and fillies by Upstart, Girvin, and Bolt d’Oro. Each is either a half-sibling to a stakes winner, out of a graded stakes winner, or out of a half-sister to a stakes winner.
HIP 415, colt, Nyquist – Sibaaq, by Bernardini
(Located in Barn 28; Selling in Session 3 on Wednesday, September 16)
From a Shadwell Farm-bred female family, the TrueNicks-graded A+ colt shares the Nyquist–Bernardini cross with four grade 1 winners, including two champions. They are Baoma Corp. and the Coolmore partners’ Nysos, who won the 2026 Metropolitan Handicap (G1) by four lengths and last year’s Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) and has earned nearly $5.3 million; Godolphin homebred Knightsbridge, winner of last month’s Pacific Classic (G1) with career earnings of more than $1.5 million; Godolphin’s homebred 2024 U.S. champion 2-year-old filly Immersive, winner that year of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1), Alcibiades Stakes (G1), and Spinaway Stakes (G1), and runner-up in the 2025 Coaching Club American Oaks (G1), who has more than $2.3 million in earnings; and Gary Barber and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners’ Canadian-bred Gretzky the Great, Canada’s 2020 champion 2-year-old colt and winner of that year’s Summer Stakes (G1).
The colt’s dam, Sibaaq, is a full sister to Takaful, who began his career on the Triple Crown trail, placing in the 2016 Remsen Stakes (G2), before being transitioned to a sprinter by trainer Kiaran McLaughlin and winning the 2017 Vosburgh Stakes (G1). Sibaaq and Takaful are also half-siblings to Haikal, by Canadian-bred sire Daaher, winner of the 2019 Gotham Stakes (G3).
The second dam, Sablah, by Distorted Humor, is a half-sister to Ghaamer, by Hard Spun, who was runner-up in the 2016 Zabeel Mile (G2) at Meydan.
The third dam, Teeba, by Seeking the Gold, placed in the Valiant Stakes and Atlanta Stakes, both one-mile listed stakes run in 2005 in England. She is a half-sister to Alshadiyah, by Danzig, who placed in the 1,400-meter Fred Darling Stakes (G3) in 2001 in England, and to Imtiyaz, by Woodman, runner-up in the 1,800-meter Prix Jean Prat (G1) in 2002 in France.
Another generation back, the fourth dam is Shadayid, by Shadeed, England’s champion 2-year-old filly of 1990 and winner that year of the 1,600-meter Prix Marcel Boussac (G1) in France. She returned at the age of 3 to win the classic 1,600-meter English One Thousand Guineas (G1).
HIP 627, filly, Upstart – Gibberish, by Lea
(Located in Barn 28; Selling in Session 3 on Wednesday, September 16)
Graded A++ by TrueNicks, the Upstart filly is out of Dell Ridge Farm-bred Gibberish, by Lea, who was campaigned by Bob Edwards’ e Five Racing. The five-time winner’s career was capped off by a 3¼-length victory in the 2021 Turnback the Alarm Handicap (G3). She also finished second in the mile-and-a-quarter Delaware Handicap (G2) in 2021 and won the Treasure Chest Stakes in 2020 in gate-to-wire fashion. Claiborne Farm purchased Gibberish at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton November sale for its broodmare band.
The second dam, Claiborne-bred Nippy, by Pulpit, is a three-quarter sister to two Claiborne-bred Keeneland September sale graduates who became stakes winners. They are Economic Model, by Flatter, winner of the 2018 Hal’s Hope Stakes (G3) and runner-up in the 2016 King’s Bishop Stakes (G1), and Your Love, also by Flatter, winner of Saratoga’s 2018 Shine Again Stakes. Nippy is also a half-sister to three stakes winners: Claiborne-bred Keeneland September sale graduate Happy American, by Runhappy, winner of the 2023 Louisiana Stakes (G3), who also placed that year in the Stephen Foster Stakes (G1); Well Monied, by Maria’s Mon, winner of the 2009 Honeymoon Handicap (G2), who also placed in that year’s Del Mar Oaks (G1) and American Oaks Invitational Stakes (G1); and Jimmy Simms, by Lost Soldier, winner of three black-type stakes who also placed in the 2008 Commonwealth Turf Stakes (G3).
Two of Nippy’s siblings have also distinguished themselves as producers. Her three-quarter sister Your Love produced Juddmonte homebred Impel, by Quality Road, who placed in the 2024 Ashland Stakes (G1) before winning the Groupie Doll Stakes the following year. Nippy’s half-sister Well Monied is the granddam of Will’s Secret, by Will Take Charge, winner of the 2021 Honeybee Stakes (G3), who also placed in the Kentucky Oaks (G1) and Ashland Stakes (G1) that year. Will’s Secret’s 2-year-old Gun Runner filly Controlling, owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, broke her maiden at second asking on August 27, winning by five lengths going seven furlongs on the dirt at Colonial Downs.
The yearling filly carries a heavy dose of Claiborne blood, with three of the four horses in her first two generations descending from Claiborne female families: her broodmare sire, Lea, is from the family of imported British-bred High Savannah, by Rousillon; her granddam, Nippy, is from the family of Queen of America, by Quiet American; and her grandsire, Flatter, is from the family of Glowing Tribute, by Graustark.
HIP 1423, colt, Maclean’s Music – Heels, by Flatter
(Located in Barn 28; Selling in Session 5 on Saturday, September 19)
The colt is a TrueNicks-graded A++ half-brother to Claiborne homebred Pigalle, by Blame, a six-time winner who captured the 2024 Groupie Doll Stakes for trainer Thomas Drury Jr. (see “Claiborne Homebred Pigalle’s Groupie Doll Stakes is a Win for the Old School” on the Claiborne Farm blog).
The second dam, Patricia Blass-bred Amazing Shoes, by Empire Maker, finished runner-up in Oaklawn’s Instant Racing Stakes and is a half-sister to Ricks Memorial Stakes winner Area, by Street Sense.
The third dam, Isabell’s Shoes, by Irish-bred King of Kings, followed in the footsteps of her dam, Pink Shoes, by Phone Trick, and granddam, Fun Flight, by Full Pocket, to become the family’s third consecutive winner of Oaklawn Park’s prestigious Martha Washington Stakes, a mile-and-a-sixteenth dirt prep for the Kentucky Oaks (G1).
Isabell’s Shoes is a half-sister to two stakes winners. The first, Prom Shoes, by Include, won the Essex Handicap and Fifth Season Stakes, both in 2009 at Oaklawn, and placed in the 2007 Peter Pan Stakes (G2) and the 2010 Razorback Handicap (G3). The second, Wildcat Shoes, by Forest Wildcat, won the 2003 Sugar Bowl Stakes and the 2004 Lost Code Stakes. Another half-sister, Sermon, by Pulpit, produced Clearly Foxy, by Volponi, winner of the 2007 Natalma Stakes (G3) and placed in the 2008 American Oaks Invitational Stakes (G1).
The fourth dam is the blue-hen mare Pink Shoes, by Phone Trick. She is a half-sister to Tour, by Forty Niner, who was co-bred by Patricia Blass and Claiborne and is the granddam of Claiborne-bred Zensational, by Unbridled’s Song. Zensational completed a grade 1 hat trick in 2009 with consecutive victories in the Triple Bend Handicap (G1), Bing Crosby Stakes (G1), and Pat O’Brien Stakes (G1). Tour is also the great-granddam of grade 1-winning sires Bolt d’Oro, by Medaglia d’Oro, and Global Campaign, by Curlin.
HIP 1468, filly, Girvin – Line, by War Front
(Located in Barn 6; Selling in Session 5 on Saturday, September 19)
A sixth-generation Claiborne-bred, the Girvin filly is graded A++ by TrueNicks. She is a half-sister to four winners, including Claiborne-bred Keeneland September sale graduate St. Benedicts Prep, by Flatter, who won the Alma North Stakes and finished runner-up in Aqueduct’s Distaff Stakes (G3), both last year.
The first dam, Line, by War Front, broke her maiden with an impressive 4¾-length victory going a mile on the turf at Golden Gate Fields for trainer Richard Mandella. She is a half-sister to Claiborne-bred Keeneland September sale graduate Rua Augusta, by Arch, who raced in Europe and the Middle East, placing in the 1,900-meter Al Bastakiya in 2018, a prep for the U.A.E. Derby (G2).
The second dam is three-time graded stakes winner Wend, by Pulpit. Trained by Bill Mott, Wend won her graded stakes debut in the mile-and-a-quarter 2005 New York Handicap (G2) before adding the Jenny Wiley Stakes (G2) and Honey Fox Handicap (G3), both at a mile and a sixteenth, the following year.
The third dam is multiple stakes winner Thread, by Topsider. Trained by Steve Penrod, she won Keeneland’s Palisades Stakes and Ellis Park’s Audubon Oaks, both mile-and-an-eighth turf contests in 1994.
Thread is a half-sister to Hitch, by Cox’s Ridge, who won the 1991 Clipsetta Stakes, 1992 Dogwood Stakes, and 1993 HBPA Handicap. Hitch also placed in three graded stakes in Kentucky, including the 1992 Louisville Handicap (G2), now the La Troienne Stakes (G1). Hitch is the fifth dam of multiple graded stakes winner Speed Boat Beach, by Bayern, who won the 2023 Malibu Stakes (G1).
Thread’s three-quarter sister Cluster, by Danzig, produced two stakes winners: Japanese-bred T M Inazuma, by Japanese sire Black Tide, winner of Kyoto’s 1,600-meter Nisai Stakes (G2) in 2012, and Claiborne-bred Keeneland September sale graduate Urban Warrior, by Cape Town, winner of the 2003 Chenery Stakes.
This Claiborne female family continues back through three more generations: the yearling’s fourth dam, Knot, by Majestic Light; fifth dam, Loop, by Round Table; and sixth dam, Charlton Clay-bred Lea Moon, by imported British sire Nasrullah.
HIP 2135, filly, Bolt d’Oro – Berate, by Blame
(Located in Barn 28; Selling in Session 7 on Monday, September 21)
The seventh-generation Claiborne-bred filly is graded A++ by TrueNicks. She is the first foal out of stakes-placed Berate, by Blame, who was trained by Shug McGaughey and finished runner-up in the 2022 Thirty Eight Go Go Stakes.
Berate is a half-sister to three Claiborne-bred grade 1-placed runners, two of whom are stakes winners. The first is Keeneland September sale graduate Endless Chatter, by First Samurai. Campaigned by Alpha Delta Stables, she placed in the 2014 Beldame Stakes (G1) after earning a hard-fought 1¾-length victory in Saratoga’s Summer Colony Stakes. Both were mile-and-an-eighth dirt contests. As a broodmare, Endless Chatter produced Baytown Chatterbox, by Street Sense, who captured the 2023 Ellis Park Juvenile Stakes by 2½ lengths.
Berate’s second half-sibling is Keeneland September sale graduate Whitecliffsofdover, by War Front. Campaigned by the Coolmore partners, he placed in the 1,600-meter Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère–Grand Critérium (G1) in France in 2016, and won the listed seven-furlong European Free Handicap in England. He entered stud the following year in France.
Her third half-sibling, Calumet Farm’s Dang Son, by Good Magic, broke his maiden at second asking on August 15 before placing in the Del Mar Futurity Stakes (G1) on September 6.
The yearling’s winning second dam, Orate, by A.P. Indy, is a full sister to Claiborne homebred and influential sire Pulpit, whose 3-year-old campaign included victories in the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) and Blue Grass Stakes (G2), along with runner-up honors in the Florida Derby (G1).
Orate is a half-sister to two mares that produced graded stakes winners: Profess, by War Front, is the dam of Claiborne homebred Admit, by Blame, winner of the 2025 Valley View Stakes (G2). Ranter, by Storm Cat, is the dam of Calumet Farm’s homebred Wild Shot, by Trappe Shot, who won the 2017 Pat Day Mile Stakes (G3) and placed in the 2016 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (G1).
The yearling’s third dam, Preach, by Mr. Prospector, was a Shug McGaughey-trained Claiborne homebred who won the 1991 Frizette Stakes (G1) by 2¼ lengths. She is a full sister to Yarn, who produced two graded/group stakes-winning sires. Minardi, by Boundary, was campaigned by the Coolmore partners and won the Phoenix Stakes (G1) in Ireland and the Middle Park Stakes (G1) in England, both six-furlong races in 2000. Tale of the Cat, by Storm Cat, was campaigned by Phantom House Farm and Mrs. John Magnier. He won the 1997 King’s Bishop Stakes (G2) and placed in the Vosburgh Stakes (G1) in 1997 and 1998. Both Minardi and Tale of the Cat later stood at stud in Kentucky.
Preach is also a half-sister to stakes winner Spunoutacontrol, by Wild Again, the granddam of Charlie Baker’s Joking, by Distorted Humor. Joking concluded his 39-race career by winning the 2016 Vosburgh Stakes (G1).
This Claiborne female family extends back four more generations through blue-hen mares: the yearling’s fourth dam, Narrate, by Honest Pleasure; fifth dam, State, by Canadian-bred sire Nijinsky II; sixth dam, Monarchy, by Irish-bred Princequillo; and seventh dam, imported British-bred Claiborne foundation mare Knight’s Daughter, by Irish-bred Sir Cosmo. Bred by King George VI, Knight’s Daughter was purchased by Arthur Hancock Sr. at the December 1951 Tattersalls sale at Newmarket.
These five yearlings reflect the depth of Claiborne’s 2026 Keeneland September consignment, offering prospective buyers well-bred colts and fillies from female families that have produced accomplished runners for generations.
- Jason Brooks is a Thoroughbred racing and pedigree researcher, writer, and social media manager based in Saratoga Springs, New York. He can be followed on X at @bjbrooksNY.