Stonestreet spends $700,000 to acquire Tapit colt

The yearling, produced by Questress (Seeking the Gold), counts as a

half-brother the multiple Grade 1 winner and promising young sire Pomeroy

(Boundary), as well as stakes-placed Acquileia (Arch). Another half-sister, Gold

Vault (Arch), is the dam of current leading three-year-old filly Contested

(Ghostzapper).

Contested has developed into a premier one-turn performer in her division.

Successful in the Grade 3 Eight Belles on Kentucky Oaks Day, she romped by five

lengths in the Grade 1 Acorn and most recently added the Grade 1 Test to her

resume on August 25.

Another branch of the female line is responsible for U.A.E. highweight miler

Emperor Jones (Danzig), English champion two-year-old colt Bakharoff (The

Minstrel), and Hip 208, a Tapit colt who was one of two yearlings that brought

$500,000 at Tuesday's session. Consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent for

Malibu Farm, the May 5 gray was gaveled down to D.L. O'Byrne.

The Kentucky-bred was produced by Que Belle (Seattle Dancer), a multiple

classic winner and highweight older mare in Germany. In addition to the Tapit

colt, Que Belle has produced Grade 3 winner Osidy (Storm Cat) and French Group 3

scorer Quetsche (Gone West). Que Belle was produced by Qui Bid (Spectacular

Bid), a half-sister to the aforementioned Emperor Jones and Bakharoff, and a

full sister to Grade 3 winner Sum.

The other yearling to bring $500,000 was a Tiznow filly out of

Storminthegarden (Stormy Atlantic). Offered by Sweezy and Partners, agent, Hip

349 was purchased by Shadwell Estate Company.

The February 9 Kentucky-bred counts as her second dam the blue hen North of

Eden (Northfields), a half-sister to the recently deceased 1987 champion turf

male Theatrical (Nureyev) and leading Japanese performer Taiki Blizzard (Seattle

Slew). North of Eden produced 1994 champion turf male Paradise Creek (Irish

River) and Grade 1 winners Forbidden Apple (Pleasant Colony) and Wild Event

(Wild Again).

Other notables from this family are English and U.A.E. highweight David

Junior (Pleasant Tap), Japanese and French highweight Nakyama Festa (Stay Gold),

champion juvenile filly Landaluce (Seattle Slew), Italian champion *Prince Royal

II (Ribot), and this year's Grade 1 Las Virgenes winner Eden's Moon (Malibu

Moon).

On Tuesday, 186 yearlings brought $32,240,000, for an average of $173,333 and

a median of $150,000. Direct comparisons with last year's second session, both

for the session and cumulatively, can not be made as day two of the 2011 sale

was a select session where only 62 yearlings sold.

Through two days of selling this week, 261 horses have brought $62,530,000.

This has resulted in an average of $239,579 and a median of $180,000.

The 11-day sale runs through September 21. On Wednesday and Thursday, the

remaining yearlings in Book 2 will be offered, with sessions opening at 11 a.m.

(EDT). Following Friday's dark day, the auction resumes Saturday with Book 3,

and the remaining sessions all begin at 10 a.m.

For complete results, as well as the catalog, updates and live video of the

sale, log onto keeneland.com.