Two seven-figure yearlings light up Keeneland

The session-topping Awesome Again colt is out of a half to Favorite Trick (Keeneland Photo) Over the history of Keeneland’s September Yearling Sale, only two yearlings had pierced the million-dollar barrier during the fifth session. On Thursday, that grand total was doubled. An Awesome Again colt offered by Greenwood Lodge Farm went to Frank Stronach’s Adena Springs for $1.35 million, and an Unbridled’s Song filly, from the consignment of Dromoland Farm, agent, was purchased for $1.3 million by Benjamin Leon’s Besilu Stables. The pair also ranked as the most expensive horses ever sold on day five of the September Sale. In 2005, a youngster who would later achieve fame as Any Given Saturday fetched $1.1 million, becoming the first seven-figure yearling cataloged for the fifth session. In 2007, the future Sawtooth Mountain brought $1 million, and remained this session’s only other million-dollar seller until Thursday’s fireworks. The February 16-foaled son of Awesome Again, Hip No. 957, is the fourth registered foal from the winning Legs Lawlor (Unbridled). She is a half-sister to millionaire Favorite Trick (Phone Trick), who achieved the rare feat of being named Horse of the Year as a juvenile. Unbeaten during his championship campaign, he extended his mark to a perfect eight-for-eight in the 1997 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1). Favorite Trick lost that status at three, but he still went on to capture the Jim Dandy S. (G2) and Keeneland Mile (G2) on turf.

Legs Lawlor’s other half-siblings include Grade 1-placed Medievil Hero
(Sea Hero), Grade 3-placed Tricky Elaine (Grindstone) and stakes scorer Cold N
Calculating (It’s Freezing). They were all produced by stakes victress Evil
Elaine (Medieval Man), a full sister to multiple stakes winner Ravensmoor.

The Kentucky-bred bay also hails from the family of Grade 2 queen Tizfiz (Tiznow),
Grade 3-placed stakes winner Rasierra (Kafwain) and current Grade 2-placed
juvenile Indian Evening (Indian Charlie), hero of last Sunday’s Swynford S.

“He is a very nice horse, very elegant,” said Mark Roberts, manager of Adena
Springs South, who was on the phone with Stronach during the bidding and signed
the ticket for the colt. “We liked that he is out of a young Unbridled mare; the
family is very nice. But we just liked the individual. He’s got a lot of stretch
to him, a lot of scope. We thought he stood out in the sale.”

The session topper was one of only six yearlings Greenwood Lodge consigned to
the September Sale. A 280-acre Thoroughbred operation near Paris, Kentucky,
Greenwood Lodge is operated by Bill and Carole McAlpin.

“We knew he was a good horse and we expected him to do well, but we didn’t
expect that (the million-dollar sale),” said Bill McAlpin, who credited the
staff at Greenwood Lodge for the success. 

The Unbridled’s Song filly was yet another pricey acquisition by the big-spending Besilu Stables (Keeneland Photo) The daughter of Unbridled’s Song, a February 28 foal, sported Hip 941. The Kentucky-bred is a three-quarter sister to stakes winner Silver City (Unbridled’s Song), runner-up in the 2009 Southwest S. (G3). The yearling is also a half-sister to multiple Grade 3 victor Multiple Choice (Mt. Livermore) and to the stakes-placed Proposal (Mt. Livermore), the dam of Silver City, Grade 2-placed stakes heroine Elope (Gone West) and Canadian stakes scorer Initiation (Deputy Minister). The gray filly is out of the Storm Bird mare Lady of Choice, who is in turn a half-sister to Grade 1 diva Well Chosen (Deputy Minister), the dam of two-time Sword Dancer Invitational (G1) star Telling (A.P. Indy). Lady of Choice is likewise a half-sister to Grade 3 winner In Contention (Devil’s Bag). Irish highweight juvenile Tomahawk (Seattle Slew), Grade 2 victor Academy Award (Secretariat) and multiple stakes winner Rare Performer (Mr. Prospector), all sires, are among the notables in the immediate family. Delving further back, one finds 1946 Triple Crown winner Assault (Bold Venture) and the legendary Man o’ War (Fair Play) in this productive maternal line.

“I liked everything about her — her walk, her size, strength, and obviously
she has a very good pedigree,” said Leon, who was the session’s top buyer and
the second leading buyer overall. “When you find something that fits your
program, and is so very special, it’s difficult to let them go.”

Double-digit, across-the-board increases continued for both the daily and
cumulative numbers. On Thursday, 209 yearlings were sold for $34,040,500, a 46.5
percent spike from the $23,234,000 realized by 197 yearlings during the same
session last year. The average jumped 38.1 percent, from $117,939 to $162,873,
and the median rose 30 percent, from $100,000 to $130,000.

Through the first five days, 753 yearlings have grossed $145,216,500, a climb
of 22.3 percent from the $118,690,000 brought by 724 thus far in 2010. The
average increased 17.6 percent, from $163,936 to $192,851, while the median
soared 36.4 percent, from $110,000 to $150,000.

“This was a great session today, any way you slice it,” Keeneland Vice
President of Sales Walt Robertson said. “It is impressive that the three-session
Book 2 this year out-grossed last year’s four-session Book 2.

“The fact that we had two million-dollar-plus horses at this point in the
sale speaks volumes. Add to it that those horses rank second and third,
respectively, among the top-priced horses so far in the sale is phenomenal.
There are many good horses still ahead, so we’re very encouraged as we move
forward with a second week of selling.”

The 13-day sale takes a hiatus on Friday, resuming with Book 3 on Saturday
and running through September 24. Sessions begin daily at 10 a.m. (EDT).

For the complete catalog, results and live video of the auction, log onto
keeneland.com.