Keeneland Sales Graduates Seek Breeders’ Cup Berths in Weekend Grade 1 Stakes

Keeneland sales graduates take center stage this weekend as they compete for Grade 1 glory and a berth in the Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Keeneland in November.

Grade 1 winner Tom’s d’Etat is the early favorite for the Whitney (G1) at Saratoga following his win in the Stephen Foster (G2) on June 27. Co-second choices are multiple Grade 1 victors Code of Honor and Improbable, winner in his last start of the Hollywood Gold Cup (G1). The Whitney is a Breeders’ Cup Challenge race for the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1).

Keeneland sales alumni headline the weekend’s two “Win and You’re In” events for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1). All six entrants for the Personal Ensign (G1) on Saturday at Saratoga went through the Keeneland sales ring, led by champion Midnight Bisou, who defends her title in the stakes. On Sunday at Del Mar, Ollie’s Candy seeks a repeat win in the Clement L. Hirsch (G1), where she will meet Grade 1 winner Hard Not to Love. 

No Parole, recent winner of the Woody Stephens Presented by Claiborne Farm (G1), tops the field for the H. Allen Jerkens (G1) at Saratoga. 

SATURDAY, AUGUST 1

WHITNEY S. (G1), Saratoga, 1 1/8 Miles, 4YOs & Up

IMPROBABLE, 4YO colt by City Zip – Rare Event ($110,000, 2016 Nov Breeding Stock, Consignor- Lane’s End, agent, Buyer- Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent; $200,000, 2017 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent, Buyer- Maverick Racing & China Horse Club) O- WinStar Farm, China Horse Club International & Starlight Racing; B- St. George Farm & G. Watts Humphrey Jr. (KY); T- Bob Baffert

CODE OF HONOR, 4YO colt by Noble Mission (GB) – Reunited ($70,000 RNA, 2017 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Lane’s End, agent) O/B- W.S. Farish (KY); T- Shug McGaughey

TOM’S D’ETAT, 7YO horse by Smart Strike – Julia Tuttle ($330,000, 2014 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Hunter Valley Farm, agent; Buyer- GMB Racing) O- G M B Racing; B- SF Bloodstock (KY); T- Al Stall Jr.

PERSONAL ENSIGN S. (G1), Saratoga, 1 1/8 Miles, 4YOs & Up, F&M

ABOUNDING JOY, 5YO mare by Quality Road – Jump On In ($85,000 RNA, 2016 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Lane’s End, agent) O- WinStar Stablemates Racing; B- WinStar Farm (KY); T- Rodolphe Brisset

MOTION EMOTION, 4YO filly by Take Charge Indy – Golden Motion ($55,000, 2017 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Select Sales, agent; Buyer- Michael Puhich) O- Abbondanza Racing, Mark DeDomenico & Medallion Racing; B- WinStar Farm (KY); T- Richard Baltas

MIDNIGHT BISOU, 5YO mare by Midnight Lute – Diva Delite ($19,000 RNA, 2016 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Woodford Thoroughbreds, agent) O- Bloom Racing Stable, Allen Racing & Madaket Stables; B- Woodford Thoroughbreds (KY); T- Steve Asmussen

VEXATIOUS, 6YO mare by Giant’s Causeway – Dream of Summer ($150,000, 2015 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent; Buyer- BBA Ireland) O- Calumet Farm; B- James Weigel & Giant’s Causeway Syndicate (KY); T- Jack Sisterson

BOSSY BRIDE, 4YO filly by Malibu Moon – Travelers’ Way ($110,000, 2016 Nov Breeding Stock, Consignor- Cross Keys Sales, agent, Buyer- Steven W. Young, agent; $40,000 RNA to Sale, 2020 Jan Horses of All Ages, Consignor- Bluewater Sales, agent; Buyer- Diodoro Racing Stable) O- Lawrence Roman; B- T/C Stable & Spendthrift Farm (KY); T- Rob Atras

POINT OF HONOR, 4YO filly by Curlin – Zayanna (RNA to Sale, 2017 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent) O- Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners & Stetson Racing; B- Siena Farms (KY); T- George Weaver

H. ALLEN JERKENS S. (G1), Saratoga, 7 Furlongs, 3YOs

EIGHT RINGS, 3YO colt by Empire Maker – Purely Hot ($520,000, 2018 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent; Buyer- SF Bloodstock) O- SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Frederick Hertrich III, John Fielding, Golconda Stables & Coolmore Stud; B- WinStar Farm (KY); T- Bob Baffert

SONNEMAN, 3YO colt by Curlin – Zardana (BRZ) ($375,000, 2018 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Winter Quarter Farm, agent; Buyer- Courtlandt Farm) O- Courtlandt Farms; B- Arnold Zetcher (KY); T- Steve Asmussen

ECHO TOWN, 3YO colt by Speightstown – Letgomyecho ($100,000, 2018 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Betz Thoroughbreds, agent; Buyer- L & N Racing) O- L & N Racing; B- Betz, Betz, Burns, CHNNHK Thoroughbreds, Magers, et al (KY); T- Steve Asmussen

MISCHEVIOUS ALEX, 3YO colt by Into Mischief – White Pants Night ($75,000, 2018 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent; Buyer- Eisaman Equine) O- Cash Is King & LC Racing; B- WinStar Farm (KY); T- John Servis

NO PAROLE, 3YO colt by Violence – Plus One ($75,000, 2018 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Select Sales, agent; Buyer- Maggi Moss) O- Maggi Moss & Greg Tramontin; B- Coteau Grove Farms (LA); T- Tom Amoss

SHOPLIFTED, 3YO colt by Into Mischief – Shopit ($525,000, 2018 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Select Sales, agent; Buyer- Zayat Stables) O- Grandview Equine, Cheyenne Stables & LNJ Foxwoods; B- Machmer Hall, Carrie & Craig Brogden (KY): T- Steve Asmussen

THREE TECHNIQUE, 3YO colt by Mr Speaker – Nite in Rome ($50,000, 2017 Nov Breeding Stock, Consignor- Garrencasey Sales, agent; Buyer- Spin to Win Stables) O- August Dawn Farm; B- Omega Farm & Bally Breeders (KY); T- Jeremiah Englehart

LIAM’S PRIDE, 3YO colt by Liam’s Map – Indian Snow ($160,000, 2018 Sept Yearling, Consignor- St. George Sales, agent; Buyer- Q Bar J) O- Tom Mansor, Richard Pushor, Robert Roy, Chadwick Calvert & Jerry Caroom; B- Dell Ridge Farm (KY); T- Doug O’Neill

BING CROSBY S. (G1), Del Mar, 6 Furlongs, 3YOs & Up

ANYPORTINASTORM, 6YO horse by City Zip – La Defense ($70,000 RNA, 2015 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Kaizen Sales, agent) O- Peter Redekop B. C. Ltd.; B- Sally Andersen (FL); T- Blaine Wright

MCKINZIE, 5YO horse by Street Sense – Runway Model ($170,000, 2016 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Lane’s End, agent; Buyer- Three Amigos) O- Karl Watson, Mike Pegram & Paul Weitman; B- Summer Wind Farm (KY); T- Bob Baffert

P R RADIO STAR, 5YO gelding by Warrior’s Reward – Ain’t It Sweep ($19,500, 2016 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Scott Mallory, agent; Buyer- Tom Swearington) O- Little Red Feather Racing; B- Tonya Jurgens & Mark Toothaker (KY); T- Philip D’Amato

LAW ABIDIN CITIZEN, 6YO gelding by Twirling Candy – Honest Answer ($100,000, 2015 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Hill ‘n’ Dale Sales Agency, agent; Buyer- Mark Glatt) O- Dan Agnew, Gerry Schneider & John Xitco; B- Hill ‘n’ Dale (KY); T- Mark Glatt

COLLUSION ILLUSION, 3YO colt by Twirling Candy – Natalie Grace ($50,000, 2018 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Lane’s End, agent; Buyer- Don’t Tell My Wife Stables) O- Dan Agnew, Rodney Orr, Jerry Schneider & John Xitco; B- Donald Dizney (FL); T- Mark Glatt

HEARTWOOD, 6YO gelding by Tapit – Maple Forest ($290,000 RNA, 2019 Jan Horses of All Ages, Consignor- Stuart Morris, agent) O- Stuart Tsujimoto & David Bernsen; B- Blue Heaven Farm (KY); T- James Chapman

BOWLING GREEN S. (G2), Saratoga, 1 3/8 Miles (T), 4YOs & Up

MARZO, 5YO gelding by Medaglia d’Oro – Spring Party ($1 million, 2016 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent, Buyer- M. V. Magnier; $140,000, 2019 Jan Horses of All Ages, Consignor- Hunter Valley Farm, agent, Buyer- Pindell Equine) O- Three Diamonds Farm; B- Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings (KY); T- Michael Maker

CROSS BORDER, 6YO ridgling by English Channel – Empress Josephine ($180,000, 2015 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Greenfield Farm, agent; Buyer- Aquinnah Ventures) O- Three Diamonds Farm; B- Berkshire Stud & B. D. Gibbs (NY); T- Michael Maker

CHANNEL MAKER, 6YO gelding by English Channel – In Return ($57,000 RNA, 2015 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Warrendale Sales, agent) O- Wachtel Stable, Gary Barber, R. A. Hill Stable & Reeves Thoroughbred Racing; B- Tall Oaks Farm (ON); T- Bill Mott

MONMOUTH OAKS (G3), Monmouth, 1 1/16 Miles, 3YO Fillies

PRINCESS CADEY, 3YO filly by Dialed In – Dyrce ($28,000, 2017 Nov Breeding Stock, Consignor- Red Gables Stud, agent, Buyer- Emil Spadone & Picturesque Farm; $16,000, 2018 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Select Sales, agent, Buyer- M. K. Thoroughbreds for Gregg Moore) O- Magic Stable; B- Martin Keogh & Tanya Johnson (KY); T- Claudio Gonzalez

HOPEFUL GROWTH, 3YO filly by Tapiture – Maiden America ($160,000, 2018 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Darby Dan Farm, agent; Buyer- Crupi’s New Castle/J.J. Crupi, agent) O- St. Elias Stable; B- Phillips Racing Partnership (KY); T- Anthony Margotta Jr.

PIECE OF MY HEART, 3YO filly by Flat Out – Intheriver ($7,000, 2018 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Four Star Sales, agent; Buyer- Hugh H. Robertson, agent) O- Wolfe Racing & Hugh H. Robertson; B- Hidden Point Farm (FL); T- McLean Robertson

COMICAL, 3YO filly by Into Mischief – Kayce Ace ($100,000, 2018 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent; Buyer- David Meah, agent) O- WinStar Farm, Lindy Farms & Madaket Stables; B- Susan Casner (KY); T- Steve Asmussen

SUNDAY, AUGUST 2

CLEMENT L. HIRSCH S. (G1), Del Mar, 1 1/16 Miles, 3YOs & Up, F&M

HANG A STAR, 4YO filly by Tapizar – Homecoming Dance ($20,000 RNA, 2017 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent) O- Seltzer Thoroughbreds; B- Fred Hertrich III & John D. Fielding (KY); T- Ian Kruljac

HARD NOT TO LOVE, 4YO filly by Hard Spun – Loving Vindication ($400,000, 2017 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Anderson Farms, agent; Buyer- West Point Thoroughbreds & Vosburgh) O- Mercedes Stables, West Point Thoroughbreds, Scott Dilworth, Dorothy Ingordo, David Ingordo & Steve Mooney; B- Anderson Farms (ON); T- John Shirreffs

OLLIE’S CANDY, 5YO mare by Candy Ride (ARG) – Afternoon Stroll ($45,000 RNA, 2016 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Denali Stud, agent) O/B- Paul & Karen Eggert (KY); T- John Sadler