Half to Oxbow tops Keeneland session at $1.6 million

From the same female family of Tiznow, Oxbow & Paynter, the Unbridled’s Song colt brought outstanding physical attributes to the sales ring as well (Keeneland Photo)

Tuesday’s second session of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale produced a
new sale topper when an Unbridled’s Song half-brother to 2013 Preakness S. (G1)
winner Oxbow (Awesome Again) was gaveled down to Mandy Pope’s Whisper Hill Farm
for $1.6 million. The April 16 Kentucky-bred was consigned by Burleson Farms,
agent, as Hip No. 345.

“I thought I’d venture out a little bit and try something different,” said
Pope, who in recent years has been known more for her acquisition of pricey
broodmare prospects. “He’s absolutely gorgeous. He’s tremendous. Unbridled’s
Songs tend to go on and run and hopefully become stallions. Obviously, that’s
what we’re hoping.

“(The colt) is awesome. It’s definitely very overwhelming for me to spend
this much money on a colt. Fillies, OK, but colts are a very risky business.”

In addition to Oxbow, an earner of more than $1.2 million who also captured
the Lecomte S. (G3) and placed in the Belmont S. (G1), the yearling colt is a
half-brother to Grade 3-placed stakes winner Awesome Patriot (Awesome Again).

All were produced by Tizamazing (Cee’s Tizzy), a full sister to Hall of Famer
Tiznow, who was named Horse of the Year in 2000, champion older male in 2001 and
is the only two-time winner of the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1). In addition to
Tizamazing and Tiznow, other offspring of Cee’s Tizzy and the mare Cee’s Song
(Seattle Song) are multiple Grade 2 winner Budroyale, Grade 2 heroine Tizdubai,
and Grade 2-placed stakes winner Tizbud.

Magnier said the $1.3 million War Front colt is a “good mover” (Keeneland Photo)

M.V. Magnier, representing Coolmore, bought a son of War Front for $1.3
million. The Kentucky-bred, sporting Hip 228, was consigned by Denali Stud
(Craig & Holly Bandoroff), agent.

Produced by Score (A.P. Indy), the May 17 colt is half-brother to Grade
2-placed Timely Tally (Mr. Greeley). Score is herself a full sister to stakes
winner Strategy and a half-sister to Grade 2-placed stakes winner Consequence
(El Prado).

All were produced by Educated Risk (Mr. Prospector), a multiple Grade 1
winner campaigned by the Phipps family and a half-sister to the Hall of Fame
filly Inside Information (Private Account), who in turn produced 2005 champion
three-year-old filly Smuggler (Unbridled).

“He’s the same cross as Due Diligence,” Magnier said, referring to Coolmore’s
Group 1-placed three-year-old by War Front. “He’s a good mover. We’ll take him
back to Ashford (Coolmore’s farm near Versailles, Kentucky). I’d say he’ll most
likely go back to Europe.”

Robert Krembil of Chiefswood Farm in Ontario was the top bidder at $1 million
for Hip 307, a Tapit filly offered by Stone Farm, agent.