Bernardini colt sells for $625,000 at Keeneland

The sales-topping Wilburn is out of Moonlight Sonata (Carson City), who captured the

2002 Arlington-Washington Lassie S. (G3) and compiled a career mark of 17-2-3-5,

$145,203. Her first foal, Beethoven, also scored his signature victory as a

juvenile when landing the 2008 Kentucky Jockey Club S. (G2). He added a

third-place effort in the Fountain of Youth S. (G2) to his resume last year.

Moonlight Sonata is herself a half-sister to Bevo (Prospectors Gamble),

winner of the 1999 Futurity S. (G1) and Saratoga Special S. (G2). Further back,

this is the family of Grade 1 heroine Twixt (Restless Native).

Wilburn, a $75,000 yearling purchase at Fasig-Tipton Kentucky in October,

drilled three furlongs in :33 4/5 at Thursday's under tack show.

"He's a beautiful mover; a big 'two-turn' horse with a good pedigree," said

John Moynihan, bloodstock advisor to Jackson, who signed the ticket for the

colt.

The next most expensive two-year-old was a $575,000 Malibu Moon colt who was

knocked down to Katsumi Yoshida. Hip 135 had worked a quarter-mile in :20 4/5 at

the preview show for consignor Wavertree Stables, Inc. (Ciaran Dunne), agent.

The Kentucky-bred chestnut is the third registered foal from Whirlwind

Charlott (Real Quiet), the runner-up in the 2003 Sorority S. (G3). Whirlwind

Charlott, who bankrolled $107,553 from her 17-2-4-1 line, comes from the same

female line as multiple Grade 1 star and $3.2 million earner Behrens (Pleasant

Colony); two-time Whitney H. (G1) hero and $2 million earner Commentator

(Distorted Humor); multiple Grade 2-winning millionaire Cowboy Cal (Giant's

Causeway); and 1995 Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) victress, Golden Bri (Gold

Alert).

Dr. Sugaya Kiyofumi, a veterinarian for Yoshida's Northern Farm, said the

colt would race in Japan.

Two juveniles from the consignment of Eddie Woods, agent, brought $525,000

apiece.

On behalf of John C. Oxley, trainer John Ward went to $525,000 to secure Hip 43, a Maria's Mon half-brother

to Grade 2 scorers Miss Isella (Silver Charm) and Sir Cherokee (Cherokee Run).

The Kentucky-bred chestnut, who worked one furlong in :10 1/5 at the preview, is

no stranger to the sales ring. A $390,000 yearling at the 2009 Keeneland January

Sale, he sold for $500,000 at Fasig-Tipton Saratoga in August.

"We've been looking for colts all season; we wanted a (Kentucky) Derby

(G1)-type horse and we think this is a really nice horse," Ward said. "He's a

beautiful mover -- very level, very workmanlike."

Ward likened the colt to Strong Contender, another Maria's Mon colt he bought

for Oxley at the 2005 April Sale. Strong Contender went on to win the Dwyer S.

(G2) and Super Derby (G2).

The juvenile's dam, the unraced Last Tycoon (Ire) mare La Cucina (Ire), is

responsible for a total of four stakes performers. Miss Isella ranks as her

leading earner with a bankroll of $648,631. Successful in the 2008 Falls City H.

(G2) and the 2009 Louisville S. (G2) and Fleur de Lis H. (G2), Miss Isella also

finished second in the Go for Wand H. (G1) last summer. Sir Cherokee, the 2003

Arkansas Derby (G2) winner, is not far behind his half-sister, raking in

$628,296 in career earnings. La Cucina's other notable foals are the multiple

Grade 3-placed Lady Linda (Torrential) and the multiple stakes-placed Guam

Typhoon (Distorted Humor), most recently runner-up in the February 6 Super S. at

Tampa Bay Downs.

The day's top filly was a daughter of Johannesburg out of $3.5 million earner Spain (Thunder Gulch),

who

attracted a winning bid of $525,000 from Prime Equestrian. Cataloged as Hip 117,

the dark bay originally sold for $300,000 at Keeneland September. Last Thursday,

the Kentucky-bred juvenile fired her eighth in a bullet :10, tying with five

other sales entrants for the fastest work of the day at the distance.

Spain garnered such high-profile events as the Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) and

La Brea S. (G1) in 2000, and won or placed in a total of 21 graded stakes.

Retired with a record of 35-9-9-7, $3,540,542, she has gone on to produce Irish

Group 3 victor Plan (Storm Cat), runner-up in the 2008 Secretariat S. (G1), and

Irish stakes winner Dreamtheimpossible (Giant's Causeway), third in the 2008

Fillies' Mile (Eng-G1).

Prime Equestrian, comprising French interests who race in Europe and Dubai,

topped the buyers' list, acquiring 10 horses for $2,107,000.

Eddie Woods sold 16 horses for a total of $3,267,000 to rank as the sale's

leading consignor.

For complete results, visit keeneland.com.