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Keeneland Book 1: Hips to watch
By Dan Liebman

KEENELAND SALES WEBSITE/LIVE VIDEO LINK -- 7pm START SUN/MON

In the newly formatted Keeneland September yearling sale, the auction company switches to a smallish first book of truly select horses, reminiscent of the old Keeneland July sale, which was discontinued following the 2002 edition.

Book 1 of the auction, which covers Sept. 12 and 13, has 105 yearlings cataloged during the opening chapter of the 14-session sale and 106 cataloged to the second day.

The yearlings in the first book are narrowed down first by pedigree, and then selected by an inspection team after being viewed in the spring.
Without knowledge of the physical grades assigned, the following is an opinion of some of the leading pedigrees in Book 1. Obviously, however, it stands to reason that those sired by stallions standing for lesser fees within that catalog were impressive physically to the group of inspectors.

Hip Number (in hip order), Sire–Dam, Broodmare Sire, Consignor

3, Tiznow–Well Dressed, by Notebook, Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent
Colt is a full brother to Well Armed, winner of last year’s G1 Dubai World Cup; half-brother to graded stakes winner Witty and stakes-placed Helsinki, both of whom are still running in 2010.

8, First Samurai–Aldebaran Light, by Seattle Slew, Woods Edge Farm, agent
Half-sister to Eskendereya, who was this year’s early Kentucky Derby favorite until he was sidelined. Eskendereya is by Giant’s Causeway, sire of this filly’s sire, First Samurai.

9, Giant’s Causeway–Alidiva, by Chief Singer, Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent
First dam’s black-type fills the page, with this filly being a half-sister to three stakes winners, all European champions, and a full sister to graded stakes winner Ooonagh Maccool.

14, A.P. Indy–Balance, by Thunder Gulch, Mill Ridge Sales, agent
Colt, a January foal, is the first offspring of millionaire Grade I winner Balance, who is a half-sister to undefeated two-time champion Zenyatta.

16, Unbridled’s Song–Belle Nuit, by Dr. Carter, Denali Stud, agent
Filly is a half-sister to two stakes winners and a full sister to multiple Grade I winner Octave and stakes winner Unbridled Behavior.

27, Empire Maker–Collect Call, by Meadowlake, Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent
January-foaled colt is out of graded stakes-winning mare and is half-brother to graded stakes winner Old Fashioned, who is by Unbridled’s Song. Both Unbridled’s Song and Empire Maker are sons of Unbridled.

36, Unbridled’s Song–Fashion Star, by Chief’s Crown, Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent
Out of graded stakes-placed dam, colt is a half-brother to Grade 1 winner Eddington, who is by the sire of Unbridled’s Song, Unbridled.

37, A.P. Indy–Fleet Indian, by Indian Charlie, Lane’s End, agent
Filly is the second foal produced from Fleet Indian, multiple Grade 1 winner of $1.7 million and the champion older mare of 2006.

38, Distorted Humor–Folklore, by Tiznow, Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent
Colt is the first foal out of Folklore, who in 2005 won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies and was named champion 2-year-old filly.

47, Storm Cat–Halo America, by Waquoit, Hill ‘n’ Dale Sales Agency, agent
One of the final pair of yearlings by Storm Cat to be sold. By one of the best sires of the past quarter-century and out of a Grade 1 winner; full brother to multiple Grade/Group 1-placed Marino Marini.

66, Pulpit–Li’l Ms. Leonard, by Nostalgia’s Star, Sweezey and Partners, agent for Arindel Farm
A half-brother to Lava Man, one of the best horses seen in California in the past few years, winner of seven Grade 1 races.

79, Distorted Humor–Oneofacat, by Deputy Minister, Lane’s End, agent
Second foal produced from stakes-placed mare who is a half-sister to four stakes winners including champion Hold That Tiger and Belmont Stakes winner Editor’s Note.

81, Proud Citizen–Pacific Spell, by Langfuhr, Airdrie Stud, agent
Filly is a full sister to 2008 champion 3-year-old filly and Kentucky Oaks winner Proud Spell.

86, Bernardini–Private Status, by Alydar, Lane’s End, agent
Private Status has produced two graded stakes winners by A.P. Indy (Secret Status and Alumni Hall) and this colt’s sire, Bernardini, is a son of A.P. Indy

95, Giant’s Causeway–Spain, by Thunder Gulch, Eaton Sales, agent for Jane Schosberg
Out of Breeders’ Cup Distaff winner Spain, the colt is a full brother to stakes winner and Group I stakes-placed Dreamtheimpossible and a half-brother to group stakes winner Plan.

101, Street Cry–Ticker Tape, by Royal Applause, Three Chimneys Sales, agent for Forging Oaks
Filly is the first foal produced from Ticker Tape, who was a multiple Grade 1 winner of $1.3 million.

108, Storm Cat–Western Princess, by Gone West, Denali Stud, agent
The other Storm Cat, a filly, is the second foal out of the stakes-placed mare Western Princess, and her second dam is a half-sister to Grade 1 winner November Snow.

112, Distorted Humor–Zing, by Storm Cat, Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent for Aaron and Marie Jones
Filly is a half-sister to graded stakes winner Half Ours, a son of Unbridled’s Song who is represented by his first crop in the sale. Second dam is Grade I winner Key Phrase.

116, Distorted Humor–Angel’s Nest, by Storm Cat, Lane’s End, agent
This colt’s dam is unraced but his second dam is multiple champion Miesque, who has produced five stakes winners including Grade 1 winner Kingmambo and champion East of the Moon.

121, Smart Strike–-Belva, by Theatrical, Three Chimneys Sale, agent for Keene Ridge Racing
Colt is a full brother to champion grass horse and $5.3 million earner English Channel, another whose first crop is represented in the sale.

130, Street Sense–Cat’s Fair, by Sir Cat, Eaton Sales, agent
Filly, a January foal, is just the third foal out of her dam, whose first to race, Crisp, won this year’s Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks.

137, Bernardini–Cuando Quiere, by Affirmed, Three Chimneys Sales, agent for Keene Ridge Racing
Filly is a half-sister to top turf mare and $2.2 million earner Honey Ryder as well as stakes winner Cuando and stakes winner and producer Cuando Puede.

155, Giant’s Causeway–Honey Ryder, by Lasting Approval, Adena Springs
Colt is the first foal produced from Honey Ryder, who won a dozen races including the Grade 1 Flower Bowl, was a course record setter, and earned in excess of $2.2 million.

167, Stormy Atlantic–Lady Tak, by Mutakddim, Hill ‘n’ Dale Sales Agency, agent
The first foal out of the top race mare Lady Tak, who won 10 of her 19 starts including two scores in Grade 1 stakes and earned $1.1 million.

69, A.P. Indy–Madcap Escapade, by Hennessy, Hill ‘n’ Dale Sales Agency
This filly is out of Grade 1 winner Madcap Esacapade, who got off to a quick start as a producer when her first foal turned out to be Grade 1 stakes winner Mi Sueno.

185, A.P. Indy–Private Gift, by Unbridled, Mt. Brilliant Farm, agent
Just the second foal out of stakes winner Private Gift, this filly is produced by a cross that works. Her dam is a half-sister to two stakes winners by the same sire as this filly.

191, Unbridled’s Song–River Drive, by Belong to Me, Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent
Colt is out of River Drive, who is a full sister to stakes winner and producer Belle Cherie and a half-sister to Coaching Club American Oaks winner Octave, who is by the same sire as this colt.

194, Smart Strike–Sherriff’s Deputy, by Deputy Minister, Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent for Fares Farm
Colt is a full brother to Preakness, Breeders’ Cup Classic (gr. I) winner and two-time Horse of the Year Curlin.

198, Arch–Spice Island, by Tabasco Cat, Blandford Stud, agent
Colt is out of graded stakes winner Tabasco Cat and is a half-brother to Ice Box, who won this year’s Florida Derby and ran second in the Kentucky Derby.

205, Pulpit–Summer Raven, by Summer Squall, Eaton Sales, agent
Out of graded stakes winner Summer Raven, this filly is a half-sister to Winslow Homer, a leading Kentucky Derby candidate until sidelined by an injury.

208, Distorted Humor–Teeming, by Storm Cat, Hill ‘n’ Dale Sales Agency, agent
Filly is a half-sister to stakes winner Cascading and her second dam is Better Than Honour, who produced consecutive Belmont Stakes winners Jazil and champion Rags to Riches.