Bernardini filly brings $1.2 million at Keeneland as market rises

Last updated: 9/13/11 8:02 PM

Bernardini filly brings $1.2 million at Keeneland as market
rises

A half-sister to Shared Account brought $1.2 million on day three of the Keeneland September sale
(Keeneland/Coady Photography)

Benjamin Leon’s Besilu Stables dug deep into its pockets to secure a
Bernardini half-sister to 2010 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1)
winner Shared Account (Pleasantly Perfect) on Tuesday at the third
session of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale. The April 16-foaled
filly, consigned by Valkyre Stud (Catherine J. Parke), was gaveled down
for $1.2 million after touring the ring as Hip No. 307.

“I liked everything about her,” Leon explained. “The way she looks,
the way she’s put together, the way she walks, the breeding. She’s one
of those fillies that have very good racing potential and definitely a
very good broodmare for the farm in the future.”

The session leader, whose price tag is tied for second highest at the
sale, was produced by the winning Silk n’ Sapphire
(Smart Strike), whose most important runner to date has been the $1.6
million-earner Shared Account. Winner of the 2009 Lake Placid S. (G2) at
three, Shared Account added the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf last
season as well as the All Along S. (G3). Shared Account has also placed
in the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1), Diana S. (G1) and Garden
City S. (G1), and was most recently fourth in the May 21 Gallorette S.
(G3) in her lone outing this year.

Silk n’ Sapphire, who has also reared the Grade 3-placed Mark of
Success (Mt. Livermore), is a half-sister to Grade 2-winning producer
Sapphire n’ Silk (Pleasant Tap) and the 2010 Affirmed H. (G3) winner
Golden Itiz (Tiznow). Others from this family include Grade 2 winners
Shaniko (A.P. Indy) and Pok Ta Pok (Full Pocket).

Sallusto & Albina,
agent for Black Rock Stables, went to $600,000 to secure a son Medaglia
d’Oro consigned by Hill ‘n’ Dale Sales Agency, agent. The March 21 foal
was offered as Hip 469.

The second registered foal from the winning
Violent Beauty (Gone West), the colt counts as his third dam the 1994
champion older mare and recent Hall of Fame inductee Sky Beauty
(Blushing Groom [Fr]), herself a daughter of multiple Grade 1 winner
Maplejinsky (Nijinsky II). The latter also counts as descendants the
Grade 1 winners Tale of Ekati (Tale of the Cat), Pine Island (Arch) and
Pleasant Home (Seeking the Gold).

Maplejinsky and her multiple European champion half-brother, Dayjur (Danzig),
were reared by 1982 champion sprinter Gold Beauty (Mr. Prospector).

A son of
Awesome Again, sporting Hip 426, sold for $510,000 to Bluegrass Hall LLC/Eddie
Kane, agent. Consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent, the March 13 foal is
a half-brother to Grade 3 winner Tiz West (Gone West), stakes winner Tizakitty
(Distinctive Cat) and the stakes-placed Tizalovelylady (Western Fame).

All
were produced by Tizso (Cee’s Tizzy), a full sister to 2000 Horse of the Year,
Hall of Famer and noted sire Tiznow; multiple Grade 2 winner Budroyale; Grade 2
queen Tizdubai; and stakes winner Tizbud.

Business was up substantially Tuesday compared to the corresponding session a
year ago. At the conclusion of trading Tuesday, 200 yearlings had sold for
$32,756,500, a rise of 20 percent over 2010 when 204 head sold for $27,292,000.
The session average increased 22.4 percent, from $133,784 to $163,783, while the
median jumped 30.8 percent, from $97,500 to $127,500.

After three days of the marathon auction, 329 horses have sold for
$78,356,500, up 9.4 percent from a year ago when $71,597,000 had been realized
from the sale of 331 yearlings.

The cumulative average is up a strong 10.1 percent, from $216,305 to
$238,166, while the median shows a significant 33.3 percent rise, from $150,000 to
$200,000.

The 13-day sale continues Wednesday, beginning at 11 a.m. (EDT), and runs
through September 24. The lone dark day is Friday.

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