October 5, 2024

Beholder’s half-sister among American Pharoah yearlings to watch at Keeneland September

Beholder captures the Breeders' Cup Distaff (c) Benoit Photos

As American Pharoah’s first crop of juveniles makes a splash on the racecourse, representatives of his second crop command attention at Keeneland’s September Yearling Sale opening Monday.

The elite Book 1 spans the first three days of the marathon 13-day auction, and American Pharoah has a phalanx of well-bred lots, including a half-sister to Beholder, Into Mischief, and Mendelssohn selling as Hip No. 498 on Wednesday.

Here’s a selection of the Triple Crown champion’s yearlings in Book 1, in catalog order:

MONDAY

Hip 9 – Dark bay filly consigned by Doug Arnold’s Buck Pond Farm is out of a Medaglia d’Oro half-sister to star European stayer Order of St George as well as Grade/Group 3 scorers Angel Terrace and Asperity.

Hip 27 – Bay colt consigned by Woods Edge Farm (Peter O’Callaghan) is a half-brother to European highweight juvenile filly Certify and Grade 1-winning stakes producer Cry and Catch Me.

Hip 44 – Bay colt consigned by Eaton Sales, agent, is a half-brother to multiple Grade 2 hero and millionaire Om.

Hip 96 – Chestnut colt consigned by Hunter Valley Farm, agent, is a half-brother to a pair of Canadian Grade 3 scorers in Miss Mo Momentum and Lookin for Eight.

Hip 127 – Gray filly consigned by Gainesway, agent, is out of a Giant’s Causeway mare who is a half to Irish highweight Caravaggio and Grade 2 winner My Jen.

Hip 133 – Bay filly offered by breeder Sam-Son Farm is a descendant of that nursery’s Canadian Hall of Famer Dancethruthedawn, herself a daughter of dual Hall of Famer Dance Smartly.

Hip 146 – Dark bay colt consigned by Paramount Sales, agent, is a half to current stakes victress Jo Jo Air from the immediate family of multiple Grade 1-winning millionaire Switch.

Hip 156 – Another dark bay colt from the Paramount banner is out of Grade 1 vixen and millionaire Tiz Miz Sue, herself a half to inaugural Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint winner Bulletin.

Hip 160 – Bay colt consigned by Four Star Sales, agent for Spendthrift Farm, is out of the Grade 1-placed stakes scorer Topic from the immediate family of champion and dual classic star Afleet Alex.

TUESDAY

Hip 235 – Bay filly consigned by Taylor Made Sales, agent, is out of Arienza, the Grade 2-placed daughter of Giant’s Causeway and Hall of Famer Azeri.

Hip 236 – Bay colt consigned by Bluegrass Thoroughbred Services, agent for Merriebelle Stable, is out of Canadian Hall of Famer Arravale by Arch.

Hip 246 – Bay colt consigned by Denali Stud, agent, is out of Grade 1 queen A Z Warrior who is responsible for two stakes performers including Irish listed winner Key to My Heart.

Hip 273 – Bay filly consigned by Blandford Stud (Padraig Campion), agent, is a half to Group 3 scorer Long Lashes and multiple graded-placed Combatant.

Hip 282 – Bay colt consigned by VanMeter-Gentry Sales, agent, is a half-brother to Grade 1-winning millionaire Connect.

Hip 328 – Chestnut filly consigned by Hunter Valley Farm, agent, is a granddaughter of multiple Grade 1 victress and millionaire Tout Charmant, dam of Grade 2 winner Dancing House.

Hip 341 – Bay colt consigned by Hill ‘n’ Dale Sales Agency, agent, is a half-brother to Scandinavian champion Giovanni Boldini, near-misser in the 2013 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1).

Hip 371 – Bay colt consigned by Brookdale Sales, agent for CASA Farms 1, is out of Grade 3-placed Dream Spinner who is a Hard Spun half-sister to multiple Grade 1-winning millionaire Curalina.

WEDNESDAY

Hip 382 – Bay colt consigned by Hunter Valley Farm, agent, hails from the prolific family of 2014 Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) victor Bayern and thus traces to Broodmare of the Year Courtly Dee.

Hip 386 – Bay filly, also from the Hunter Valley Farm consignment, is out of a Galileo half to Giant’s Causeway who is therefore closely related to such celebrities as Gleneagles, Happily, and Decorated Knight.

Hip 396 – Chestnut colt consigned by Paramount Sales, agent, is out of Grade 3 scorer and Grade 1-placed Final Fling by Bertrando.

Hip 473 – Bay filly consigned by Denali Stud, agent, is out of millionaire Keertana who came close in the 2010 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) and has produced Grade 3 winner Ticonderoga.

Hip 498 – Clarkland Farm presents its homebred bay filly out of Broodmare of the Year Leslie’s Lady, famous as the dam of four-time Eclipse Award champion and three-time Breeders’ Cup winner Beholder; fellow Breeders’ Cup hero Mendelssohn, who earned his major wins in the 2017 Juvenile Turf (G1) and 2018 UAE Derby (G2); and Into Mischief, the 2007 CashCall Futurity (G1) victor and now a leading sire.

Hip 501 – Bay filly consigned by Stone Farm, agent, is a half-sister to Grade 1 winner American Patriot out of a full sister to 2009 Dubai World Cup (G1) romper Well Armed, from the family of streaking sophomore Mr. Money.

Hip 531 – Bay colt consigned by Paramount Sales, agent, is a half-brother to European champion Peeping Fawn (dam of September) and French Group 1 scorer Thewayyouare and thus belongs to the tribe of Belmont (G1) champion Rags to Riches.

Hip 539 – Chestnut colt consigned by Taylor Made Sales, agent, is a half-brother to current Godolphin Mile (G2) winner Coal Front and Grade 2-placed stakes victor Conquest Titan.

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The three Book 1 sessions begin at noon (EDT). The Keeneland September Sale takes a day off Thursday, then resumes with the first half of Book 2 Friday. Sessions run daily thereafter through the concluding day, September 22.

For the complete catalog of 4,644 yearlings – six books in all – along with updates and live streaming of the sale, visit Keeneland.com.