Back at Barretts: Previewing May's 2-Year-Old Sale

As I did two months ago, I’ve gone ahead and taken a look at several horses to keep an eye on. March’s sale featured plenty of money being thrown around, and the steeds below could fetch pretty pennies in a few weeks. Here are some of the ones to watch.

Hip No. 22: A bay filly, this Kentucky-bred is by Wood Memorial and Cigar Mile winner Tale of Ekati. Her dam, Star de Lady Ann, was also a Grade 1 winner, having captured the 1996 Acorn Stakes, and she’s established herself as a solid broodmare, having thrown six winners.

Hip No. 35: Another filly, this Kentucky-bred may be destined to love turf. She’s by Scat Daddy (who did his best racing on dirt but has proven to be an excellent grass sire), while her broodmare, Two Dot Slew, was stakes-placed on turf and has also thrown eight-time stakes-winner Angelica Zapata. Her female family also includes second dam Dot Dot Dash, a full sister to Unusual Heat (another strong turf influence).

Hip No. 41: Our first colt mentioned to this point, this Kentucky-bred was sired by War Front, one of America’s top influences. His dam didn’t race, but she boasts stellar breeding. She’s by Seeking the Gold and out of a Grade 2-winning Danzig mare, and she traces back to Dream Deal, this colt’s third dam. Dream Deal is a half to Crème Fraiche and is the dam of Clear Mandate, who has thrown Hopeful winner Strong Mandate and Grade 3 hero Newfoundland, among others.

Hip No. 44: One of the few offspring by Summer Bird sired before his early demise, this Kentucky-bred filly is out of the Dynaformer mare Antahkarana and is bred to go as long as possible. Antahkarana has thrown four winners, including 11-time winner Cosmos Mariner.

Hip No. 56: Offspring of Tapit have had a banner year in 2014, so this colt could bring in a ton of money at auction. His bottom-side breeding, though, may be even stronger. He’s out of the Awesome Again mare Chiloe. Chiloe is a half to multiple graded stakes-winner Cuvee and Grade 2 hero Will He Shine. Furthermore, the third dam, Carols Christmas, threw sire Olympio, as well as the granddams of Tapizar, Pyro, Paddy O’Prado, and likely Kentucky Oaks favorite Untapable.

Hip No. 59: A Kentucky-bred filly by Dunkirk, this gray is out of Currency Quest. As such, she’s a half to multiple Grade 1 winner Elloluv, as well as four other winners. Dunkirk has gotten off to a fast start at stud, also siring Havana, who passed through the Barretts ring last spring.

Star of the Nile (Hip No. 73): This filly passed through the sales ring in March and hammered for $85,000, which apparently wasn’t enough money. She’s certainly got the pedigree to be a runner. The bay is by Pioneerof the Nile and out of Extra Holy, a half to champion Holy Bull and the dam of Grade 1 winner Sweet Symphony.

 

Hip No. 75: Here we have a Kentucky-bred filly who is a full sister to two stakes winners. She’s by Candy Ride out of the Storm Cat mare Fair Exchange, making her kin to Grade 1 winner Sidney’s Candy and five-time winner Sweet Swap. Fair Exchange’s dam was Exchange, a three-time Grade 1 hero. It’s a proven bloodline, and this could be a potential sale-topper.

 

Hip No. 84: This filly by Afleet Alex boasts an ultra-classy female family. Her second dam, Desert Stormette, is a full sister to Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Desert Stormer, and she is also the second dam of Group 1 winner White Moonstone and Grade 3 winner Black Onyx. 

 

Hip No. 129: A colt by Midshipman, he’s out of Hopes and Fears, making him a half-brother to stakes-winner (and multiple graded-placed colt) Cryptograph. Hopes and Fears is a full sister to Peaks and Valleys, a multiple Grade 1 hero and one of Canada’s top sires, and she’s also a half to stakes-winning mare Alternate, who threw graded stakes-winner and sire Alternation.