Bernardini filly brings $1.2 million at Keeneland as market rises

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).