Son of Verrazano tops bill at $625,000

The market continued to show strength halfway through the Keeneland's marathon September Yearling Sale, Sunday's session being headlined by the sale of a half-brother to recent Grade 2 Saratoga Special winner Copper Bullet for $625,000 to Steven W. Young, agent.

The ridgling is from the first crop of Verrazano, out of the winning Unbridled's Song mare Allegory and from the family of European highweights Loup Sauvage and Loup Solitaire.

"I saw quite a few Verrazanos that were good-looking horses," said Young, who purchased Hip 1921 on behalf of an undisclosed client. "Verrazano himself could train with basically any horse around.
He was an unbelievable horse in many ways and I think he'll be a very good sire.

James Herbener Jr (left) thanks Steve Young for his investment in the session-topperCredit: Keeneland Photo

"This horse is not only a [sibling] to a two-year-old Graded stakes winner at Saratoga, but he's out of an Unbridled's Song mare. He is very, very correct and I think when you deal with Unbridled's Song –whether it's as a sire or a broodmare sire – they need to look how this horse looked. He's got no ceiling on what he might do, pedigree-wise. He was a Book 1 horse in Book 3."

Walk

The ridgling was consigned by James Herbener Jr as agent for breeder Dell Ridge Farm. "This is a lovely colt. Had a great walk about him," Herbener Jr said. "The amazing thing was for how many times we showed him – about 87 times yesterday and I don't know how many times today – he still just had that great walk about him."

On the day, completing the weekend Book 3 phase, 245 yearlings sold for $26,875,500, for an average of $109,696 and a median of $80,000. Cumulatively, Keeneland has sold 1,179 yearlings for $254,913,000, for an average of $216,211 and a median of $150,000.

"Book 3 went very well," Keeneland Director of Sales Operations Geoffrey Russell said. "It was nice to have a big-priced horse today. Overall, the comments from both consignors and buyers were that the good horses sold very well and the buyers complained that they we re hard to buy. So that's a positive note."

Oussama Aboughgazale and Frances Relihan spent $500,000 on a son of Will Take Charge in their quest for stallion prospectsCredit: Keeneland Photos

Oussama Aboughgazale's International Equities Holding paid $500,000 for a colt by another rookie in Will Take Charge. Consigned by Anderson Farms, agent, he is out of the winning Smart Strike mare Smart Believer. The colt's second dam is Grade 1 winner I Believe in You.

Athletic

"We're still looking for very, very good physicals," said Frances Relihan, bloodstock manager for Aboughazale's Sumaya U.S. Stables. "Mr Aboughazale really wants to buy not just a pedigree but buy a horse that's an athletic horse, a horse that moves well, that's well made, and this horse just ticked all the boxes for us in that respect."

International Equities Holding has so far purchased six colts during the sale, the most expensive being a Violence colt for $725,000. "We are in this business to produce stallions," Aboughazale said. "Hopefully, we bought very nice boys in the sale.T"

The $500,000 Will Take Charge coltCredit: photos by Z

Two colts sold for $450,000 apiece to share the day's third-highest price. A Curlin half-brother to Swedish stakes-placed Dr Schultz brought a final bid of $450,000 from Mike Ryan, agent. Out of the A.P. Indy mare False Impression, the colt is from the family of Kentucky Oaks winner Believe You Can. He was consigned by KatieRich Farms.

British agent Oliver St. Lawrence went to $450,000 for a son of Distorted Humor out of winner Forbidden Gift, by A.P. Indy. Consigned by Mt Brilliant Farm, the colt is from the family of Kentucky Oaks winner Secret Status.

A More Than Ready colt made $410,000, followed by three fillies sold for $400,000 each. Ryan purchased one from the final crop of Scat Daddy from Hermitage Farm, agent. She is out of a Speightstown mare from the family of German Oaks winner Penelopa.

In all Ryan bought seven yearlings for $1,990,000 to become the session's leading buyer.

Everett Dobson's Cheyenne Stables spent $400,000 to acquire a filly from the first crop of Cairo Prince from the family of Grade 2 winner Hello Liberty. And a Hard Spun half-sister to stakes winner Solemn Tribute sold for $400,000 to West Point Thoroughbreds & Vosburgh.

The session's leading consignor, Taylor Made Sales Agency, sold 27 yearlings for $2,520,000.

For more US racing, breeding and bloodstock news visit bloodhorse.com