Gun Runner Filly Tops Keeneland Book 1 Pinhooks

A filly by Three Chimneys Farm stallion Gun Runner  tops the list of pinhook prospects slated to go through the ring during Book 1 of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale. The filly consigned as Hip 260 by Four Star Sales, agent, is out of the grade 1-winning A.P. Indy mare Love and Pride. 

Bred in Kentucky by Three Chimneys Farm, Hip 260 was sold as a weanling during The November Sale, Fasig-Tipton's Kentucky fall mixed sale, through the consignment of Taylor Made Sales Agency. The bay was purchased by bloodstock agent Mike Ryan for $750,000.  

Owned by Green Hills Farm and trained by Todd Pletcher, Love and Pride showed early promise as a sophomore, winning the Proud Spell Stakes and placing third in the Gazelle Stakes (G1). Her most successful season came at 4 when she won the Obeah Stakes (G3) and took back-to-back top-level wins in the Personal Ensign Handicap (G1) and Zenyatta Stakes (G1). She was retired with a 7-2-4 record from 17 starts and $985,760 in earnings. 

Love and Pride was purchased for $4.9 million by Borges Torrealba Holdings at the Fasig-Tipton November sale in 2013. Her most successful foal to date is Princesinha Julia, a 3-year-old daughter of Pioneerof the Nile who won the Trapeze Stakes in 2019. 

Hip 260's second dam is grade 1-placed Ile de France. Her third dam, Cara Rafaela, won the Hollywood Starlet Stakes (G1) and is the dam of champion and sire Bernardini . 

The second-most expensive pinhook cataloged to Book 1 is Hip 431, a Tapit  colt out of champion and two-time grade 1 winner Take Charge Brandi. Originally consigned to the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale by Hill 'n' Dale Sales Agency, the colt was purchased by Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa for $600,000. 

Hip 431 was bred in Kentucky by Elevage II and Hill 'n' Dale Equine Holdings and is the third foal produced from Take Charge Brandi. Trained by D. Wayne Lukas and campaigned by Willis Horton, the daughter of Giant's Causeway won the 14 Hands Winery Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) and Starlet Stakes as a freshman and was named champion 2-year-old filly. 

Take Charge Brandi is just the latest in a long line of top-level winners who grace the pedigree page of Hip 431. The colt's second dam is Charming (by Seeking the Gold), the dam of multiple grade 1 winner Omaha Beach  and group 1-placed Courage Under Fire. His third dam is multiple grade 1 winner Take Charge Lady (Dehere), the dam of champion Will Take Charge  and grade 1 winner Take Charge Indy . 

Hip 431 is consigned to the Keeneland September sale by Hill 'n' Dale Sales Agency. 

Rounding out the top three pinhooks is Hip 121, a colt by leading sire Into Mischief  out of the Cuvee mare Curlina. Initially consigned by Mulholland Springs to the Keeneland November sale, the colt was purchased for $550,000 by Brandon Garrett. 

Bred in Kentucky by Mulholland Springs, Hip 121 is the fifth foal out of Curlina, whose first foal was grade 3-placed Sine Wave. The colt's third dam is stakes-placed Private Seductress (Private Account), the dam of Menhoubah, who won the Oaks d'Italia (G1) in Milan in 2004. 

Hip 121 is consigned to the Keeneland September sale by Gainesway, agent.