Gainesway's Yearlings Live Up to Expectations

Management at Antony Beck's Gainesway had high expectations going into Day 3 of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, and at the end of the Sept. 11 session that concluded Book 1, the horses did not disappoint.

Leading the way was Hip 485, an Empire Maker  half sister to champion 2-year-old filly Jaywalk and multiple stakes winner Danzatrice, purchased by Shawn Dugan, agent, for $2 million on behalf of Al Shira'aa Stables.

"We're speechless, we're so happy," Dugan said. "We really, really wanted her. She's just a top physical. She's a half sister to a champion, and we're delighted."

Dugan said the buyers are planning to eventually get into the breeding business.

"(They are) very forward-thinking people," Dugan said. "They want to actually start a broodmare band, and they're serious. This (Hip 485) is top of the line they’re the highest quality in their own education, they’re own way of thinking, and the way they run their business. I’m absolutely the luckiest person on the planet to have a small part in what they’re doing."

The filly was bred in Kentucky by Gainesway out of the Orientate mare Lady Pewitt, who descends from the same family as multiple grade 2 winner and sire Mission Impazible  and graded stakes winners Forest Camp and Spanish Empire.

"Antony (Beck) had bought (Lady Pewitt) privately a while ago and bred Jaywalk, and the results of that were fantastic," said Gainesway's Brian Graves. "We're delighted. She was a very nice filly around May and June, and she's just gotten better every day up to this point. There were many agents we showed her to earlier in the year, and they couldn't even hardly recognize her today. She's just getting better every day."

Hip 472, a Medaglia d'Oro  colt sold on behalf of breeder Stonestreet Bred & Raised, was purchased by Ben McElroy, agent, for $1.2 million. The colt will be trained by Simon Callaghan for Qatar Racing.

"I thought physically he was one of the top horses in the sale," said Callaghan, who trains between eight and nine horses for Qatar Racing in California. "We knew he was going to be in and around a million. I think he's a really good horse. The market has been strong particularly for the high-end horses like this. We thought it was going to be in and around that type of money to buy him and we thought maybe it could've gone higher. We were happy to acquire him and looking forward to it. He's a really nice horse." 

The colt is the first foal produced from Keen Pauline, a daughter of Pulpit who won the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (G2). The colt's extended female family includes grade 2 winner and sire Doneraile Court and grade 3 winner Insta Erma.

"All the top judges here liked him," Graves said. "I think they bought a really nice horse for that money. He's another quality offering from Stonestreet, which seems to have all the best horses in the sale, and they do a great job over there. It's a privilege to sell one for them. They've invested deeply, they've done their homework, they produce these beautiful, athletic horses that run, and good for them."