KEE SEPT: Nicole Russo's Book 1 Hips to Watch (Day 1)

[Kasept]

Keeneland September: Book 1 horses to watch on Sept. 12
Nicole RussoSep 11, 2022

LEXINGTON, Ky. - The Keeneland September yearling sale begins a nearly two-week run with its two-session Book 1 on Monday and Tuesday. Accounting for outs posted as of Sunday afternoon, there are 294 yearlings, selected for their combination of stellar pedigree and physical conformation, set to step into the ring before the heavy hitters on the buying bench, both domestic and international, who have been inspecting them all weekend.

Here are some of the horses to watch in Monday’s opening session, largely based on their pages and the market trends seen early this season. The selections reflect catalog updates and sale outs through Monday.

Hip 60, colt by Curlin - Stage Magic, by Ghostzapper. Consigned by Glennwood Farm.
The Keeneland September sale should be nearly two hours old, with the bidding bench "warmed up" somewhat, by the time this lot steps into the ring. Two-time Horse of the Year Curlin leads the nation by Grade 1 winners, and posted a seven-figure average at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga selected yearling sale. His powerhouse offerings from his red-hot stock at this sale include this half-brother to Triple Crown winner Justify, who is the sire of four stakes winners from his first crop to date. Justify himself sold for $500,000 as a yearling. In 2018, months after his Triple Crown sweep, his half-brother by Will Take Charge - a less-commercial stallion, compared to Curlin - came to Keeneland September and was a buyback at $1.75 million. The following year, a half-brother by Pioneerof the Nile was a $950,000 buyback.

Hip 122, colt by Justify - Above Perfection, by In Excess. Consigned by Indian Creek, agent.
This is the final foal out of Grade 3 winner Above Perfection, dam of Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming, Grade 1 winner Hot Dixie Chick, and Grade 2 winner Positive Spirit. Hot Dixie Chick has enhanced the page by producing Grade 1 winner Pauline's Pearl and stakes winner Union Jackson. Last year, her yearling filly by Quality Road fetched $1 million in Saratoga. Justify has emerged as a leading freshman sire with his first crop, and his second crop has already produced a seven-figure yearling at Saratoga.

Hip 134, filly by Constitution - Amour d'Ete, by Tiznow. Consigned by Taylor Made Sales, agent.
This is a half-sister to Preakness Stakes winner Early Voting. Amour d'Ete is out of Canadian champion Silken Cat, making her a full sister to multiple graded stakes winner Irap, but also a half-sister to champion sprinter and leading sire Speightstown. Two of Silken Cat's daughters have produced graded stakes winners, raising the residual value for fillies from this family. The cross of successful young sire Constitution over Tiznow mares has produced several stakes winners, most notably 2020 Belmont Stakes winner Tiz the Law. That colt was a Grade 1-winning juvenile from Constitution's first crop; the yearlings from the young stallion's resulting book of mares are now yearlings, and he has already recorded a seven-figure juvenile from that crop at Saratoga. This could be a breakout season.

Hip 140, colt by Into Mischief - Artemis Agrotera, by Roman Ruler. Consigned by Sequel, agent for Chester and Mary Broman.
Expect another strong sale from three-time reigning leading sire Into Mischief, a commercial juggernaut who has climbed to the top of the general sire list again at this point of the season. Multiple Grade 1 winner Artemis Agrotera is the dam of three winners from as many starters, including stakes winner Chestertown. That runner sold for $2 million as a juvenile, and Artemis Agrotera's 2-year-old full brother to this yearling sold for $1 million earlier this year. This is the family of Grade 1 winner Stephen Got Even.

Hip 147, filly by Curlin - Baffled, by Distorted Humor. Consigned by Taylor Made Sales, agent.
Group 3-placed Baffled is the dam of multiple Grade 1 winner and young classic sire Constitution and graded/group stakes winners Boynton and Jacaranda. The latter is the dam of stakes-placed American West, by Curlin - proving this a solid cross - and has a full brother to that runner in this sale, as Hip 290. Grade 1 winners Awesome Humor and Emcee appear on this catalog page.

Hip 163, colt by Into Mischief - Bubbler, by Distorted Humor. Consigned by Hill 'n' Dale Sales, agent.
This is a half-brother to Eclipse Award champion and leading moneywinner Arrogate, who, from his first crop is the sire of Kentucky Oaks winner Secret Oath. Stakes winner Bubbler is also the dam of stakes winner Osare and stakes-placed Diamond Ore. Her granddam is champion Meadow Star.