The top 2-year-olds to watch in Keeneland's April Sale
The 2019 Keeneland April Sale returns at 2 p.m. Tuesday, and given its record of previous stars to pass through the ring, it’s likely the auction will produce at least a few future graded stakes winners.
The April Sale catalog features a book of 173 Thoroughbreds, with 73 of those 2-year-olds. Hidden among the array of quality horses of racing age in the sale are some juveniles who suggest a world of potential based off their pedigrees alone.
Keeneland originally held the April Sale from 1993-2014, with its last edition including future champions Lady Eli and Roy H. Here are five standouts waiting to pass through the sales ring and join their new stables:
(Palace Malice-Guest House)
A dark bay or brown filly from the consignment of Ballysax Bloodstock enters the sale with a head-turning pedigree that descends from a long line of winners and producers. Hip 117 is by the multiple graded stakes-winning stallion and 2013 Belmont Stakes winner Palace Malice. Standing at Three Chimneys Farm for a stud fee of $15,000, Palace Malice doesn’t yeat have many offspring on track having only entered stud in 2016. However, this versatile son of Curlin screams potential in the breeding shed thanks to his impressive race record and powerful looks.
The dam of Hip 117 only adds to the quality that this filly has to offer. Guest House, a Ghostzapper mare, was a winner herself during her days on the racetrack and has already passed that to her offspring. Guest House has currently produced three winners from four horses to race. To date, her most accomplished foal is her Quality Road gelding, Guest Suite. A winner of four races, including a convincing score in the Lecomte Stakes (G3), Guest Suite has earned more than $300,000 on the track.
Maternal class continues through the pedigree of Hip 117, as her second dam, the stakes-placed Welcome Surprise (Seeking the Gold), was also a winner, as well as a producer of winners. After retiring with earnings of $143,574, Welcome Surprise gave birth to nine foals. Six of them made it to the track, with each one finding their way to the winner’s circle.
Several big names can be traced through the third dam of Hip 117. Weekend Surprise, who is by the legendary Secretariat, was a winner of seven races, which included scores in the Golden Rod Stakes (G3) and Schuylerville Stakes (G3). While this half-sister to stakes winners Wolfhound, Spectacular Spry and Foxhound, may have had success on the track, her true fame arose in the breeding shed.
Upon her retirement, Weekend Surprise went on to deliver A.P. Indy, who himself went on to become a highly influential producer. Weekend Surprise is also responsible for producing Preakness Stakes winner and sire Summer Squall, stakes winners Eavesdropper and the aforementioned Welcome Surprise, as well as the stakes-placed Weekend in Seattle and Honor Grades, who were both winners and producers of winners.
Hip 137
(Ghostzapper-Ruthian)
A dark bay or brown colt from the consignment of Kirkwood Stables is yet another prospect to keep an eye on. The colt is by multiple graded stakes winner Ghostzapper, who stands at Adena Springs for a stud fee of $85,000, and is out of the Rahy mare, Ruthian.
During her days on the racetrack, Ruthian conquered her competition four times, with the highlight of her career coming in the form of a victory in Mountaineer’s Firecracker Handicap. After banking $212,592 in career earnings, Ruthian retired to life as a broodmare, where she has created 10 winners from 13 foals to race.
Notable offspring of Ruthian include multiple graded stakes winner and producer, Rutherienne, stakes winner, Ruthenia, who produced a stakes winner of her own in Pubilius Syrus, stakes winner and producer, Ruthville, and stakes-placed Big Wig and Gemologister.
It is safe to say that Hip 137 possesses a world of potential based off the history of his family tree. Stemming from a strong line of winners and producers suggests that this colt has a bright future both on the track and in the breeding shed.
(Animal Kingdom-Super Phoebe)
Yet another filly from the Ballysax Bloodstock consignment stands out among the crowd in the Keeneland April Sale. This dark bay or brown filly is by 2011 Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom, who stands at Darley Stud for a fee of $15,000.
The dam of Hip 151 is the Malabar Gold mare, Super Phoebe. A winner of nine races during her time on the track, Super Phoebe retired to produce four winners from five foals to race. Her greatest offspring to hit the track was her Get Stormy filly, Got Stormy. In the course of 11 starts, Got Stormy marched to victory five times, taking down victories in the Penn Oaks, Wild Applause Stakes and Ontario Colleen Stakes (G3) along the way. Other notable offspring of Super Phoebe include her filly by Successful Appeal, Sky Gold, who made it to the winner’s circle five times during her career and finished third in the Regret Stakes in 2016.
The second dam, Air France (French Deputy), was also a winner. However, her true calling came in the breeding shed, as Air France produced an impressive seven winners from 10 offspring to race. To date, her most striking progeny stand as the multiple graded stakes-winning millionaire, Smooth Air, as well as stakes winner and sire, Overdriven.
Not only does Hip 151 offer class and potential for the race track, but she also brings to the sale the lure of residual value. As a filly that comes from a line of proven producers, her future connections can rest easy knowing that her future looks bright as a broodmare when her time on the track eventually comes to an end.
(American Pharoah-Theycallmeladyluck)
From the consignment of Hartley/De Renzo comes an eye-catching dark bay or brown filly with a highly intriguing pedigree. By 2015 Triple Crown hero and Breeders’ Cup winner American Pharoah, Hip 155 is out of the Dixie Union mare, Theycallmeladyluck.
A winner at ages 3 and 4, Theycallmeladyluck finished a solid third in the Hoist Her Flag Stakes before retiring to life as a broodmare. Theycallmeladyluck has currently produced two winners from three offspring to race, including multiple graded stakes winner Salty.
By Quality Road, Salty has made it to the winner’s circle four times in 11 starts. Throughout her journey, Salty has risen to power in the Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) and La Troienne Stakes (G1), collecting more than $600,000 in earnings along the way.
Triumph both on and off the track continues with the second dam of Hip 155, Vegas Prospector. By Crafty Prospector, Vegas Prospector is a multiple graded stakes-winning mare who produced two winners who are both stakes placed. Along with the aforementioned Theycallmeladyluck, Vegas Prospector is also the mother of Sheer Luck, who earned $200,000 on the track.
Class continues to flow through the third dam, Hill Billy Dancer, who is a half-sister to stakes winner Robyn Dancer and stakes-placed Double Dent. By Never Down Hill, Hill Billy Dancer claimed victory in 14 races during her career, including smashing wins in the Native Street Stakes and Candy Éclair Stakes. She then went on to produce six individual winners, including stakes winner and producer of winners She Rides Tonite, and Vegas Prospector, who is mentioned above.
(Will Take Charge-Silver Lullaby)
A gray or roan filly marked as Hip 173 is the final standout to profile. From the consignment of Wavertree Stables, this Will Take Charge filly out of the Najran mare, Silver Lullaby, enters the sale with a pedigree loaded with prestige and promise.
“The Will Take Charge filly is a big, elegant, two-turn looking filly,” said Wavertree Stable; Ciaran Dunne. “She acts like she will be at her best this time next year. She is a very smooth-actioned filly. She is the type that gets into and maintains a very efficient rhythm."
Will Take Charge stands at Three Chimneys Farm, commanding a stud fee of $30,000. On the track, Will Take Charge won seven races, including scores in the Travers Stakes and Clark Handicap. Will Take Charge entered stud in 2015 after earning more than $3 million on the track. A relatively new stallion to the market, Will Take Charge has already sired multiple winners.
The pedigree of Hip 173 is loaded with black-type when you look at the female line. A winner at ages 2 and 3, Silver Lullaby made it big as a broodmare. From her six foals to race, five have been winners. To date, her most accomplished offspring is her colt by Tiz Wonderful, Big Trouble. A winner in both his starts at the age of 2, Big Trouble found his name in headlines when he scored in the Sanford Stakes at Saratoga.
Other noteworthy offspring of Silver Lullaby include Silver Lining Johnny and Silver Sydney. Silver Lining Johnny and Silver Sydney are both winners, stakes placed, and six-figure earners.
The second dam of Hip 173 also boasts a flashy record in the breeding shed. A winner at age 3 in France, Million Stories impact on the sport became most prominent upon retirement as a broodmare. She produced stakes winner, Turok, stakes winner and producer, Sunshine for Life, and a mare named Nara, who went on the produce an astonishing 10 winners from as many offspring to race. Nara’s most impressive offspring from her slew of winners are Irish Daisy and Irish Silence, who claimed victory in stakes events.