The biggest yearling sale of the year, Keeneland’s September Yearling Sale kicks off next week with a two-afternoon Book 1 that includes yearlings by four Claiborne sires.
BLAME’s first yearling of the sale goes through the ring as Hip 53 from the Eaton Sales consignment on the first day of Book 1. That March-born colt is the first out of the winning Quality Road mare Soul Spirit, who is a half-sister to WAR FRONT’s Grade 3 winner Journey Home and out of the multiple Grade 1-placed Soul Search.
Other names on the page also include BLAME’s Grade 1 winner Nadal and stakes winners Reform Act, Lunar Victory, The Tea Cups, and Zayda.
From the first crop of dual Grade 1 winner CATHOLIC BOY comes Hip 153 consigned by Beau Lane Bloodstock, a half-brother to Grade 3 winner Sistas Stroll and stakes winner Accredit. Those are two of the six winners from six to race out of Berncredit, who is a half-sister to Jake Mo and She’s All Scat in addition to Grade 3-placed Parker Run.
In all, there are seven stakes winners and 10 stakes performers on this colt’s page.
In the midst of another successful racing season, RUNHAPPY is the sire of Hip 356 from the Betz Thoroughbreds consignment.
He is the second foal out of Bernardini mare Nella Vetrina. That mare is a half-sister to Grade 3-placed Golden Domer and stakes-placed Golden Jaguar out of stakes winner Golden Sunray. Under his third dam is Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Mine That Bird, Grade 1 winners Dullahan and Bolo and seven other stakes performers.
The first WAR FRONT offering through the ring comes from Lane’s End as Hip 37, the first foal out of champion and Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) winner Shamrock Rose. Shamrock Rose is one of four stakes performers out of Slew’s Quality, who also produced stakes placed My Friends Beer and Bet On Mike. The mare registered her fourth stakes performer on August 8 when Loyalty won the Lake Erie Stakes by 2 ¼ lengths.
Hunter Valley Farm’s Hip 65 is the first foal out of a Grade 3-placed half-sister to WAR FRONT’s multiple stakes winner Belgrano. A winning Medaglia d’Oro mare, Sundaysatthebeach is a daughter of dual Grade 1 winner Ask The Moon. Also on the page is stakes winner Willing To Cope and this colt’s fourth dam Willing’n Waiting.
Denali Stud offers Hip 165 out of the Galileo mare Bye Bye Baby. A Group 3 winner and Investec Oaks (G1) third place finisher, Bye Bye Baby is out of another Oaks-placed runner in Remember When. That mare is a half-sister to European Horse of the Year Dylan Thomas, champion Queen’s Logic, and 1000 Guineas (G1) winner Homecoming Queen.
Remember When herself is the dam of Bye Bye Baby’s Investec Derby (G1) winner Serpentine, Group 2 winner and Group 1-placed Wedding Vow, and Group 3 winner Beacon Rock in addition to stakes winner Bound. Bye Bye Baby sold for $3.1 million the year this colt was born.
Out of a half-sister to Triple Crown winner Justify, Hip 227 is from the Lane’s End consignment. The filly is the first foal out of the Pioneerof the Nile mare Egyptian Storm, who is also a half-sister to Grade 3 winner and multiple Grade 2-placed The Lieutenant.
The trio is out of Grade 3-placed Stage Magic, who herself is a daughter of Grade 1-placed Magical Illusion. That mare is also the granddam of Grade 2-placed McLaren Vale in addition to being a half-sister to four stakes performers.
Keeneland September Book 1 starts on September 12 at 1p.m. ET and continues the following day at the same time.