$1.6M Quality Road Colt Shines for Stonestreet

A Book 1-topping Quality Road   colt that cost $1.6 million highlighted a strong Sept. 14 second session for Stonestreet Bred & Raised at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale. 

The colt, purchased by Woodford Racing and West Point Thoroughbreds, was the first of two seven-figure yearlings produced by the Stonestreet program sold Tuesday. Coolmore's M.V. Magnier went to $1.3 million for a Curlin   colt and also took home a $750,000 Justify   filly, both bred by the Kentucky operation owned by Barbara Banke.

The $1.6 million Quality Road colt was consigned as Hip 300 by Eaton Sales, agent for Stonestreet Bred & Raised. He is out of the Malibu Moon mare Catch the Moon, making him a half brother Midnight Bourbon , who won this year's Lecomte Stakes (G3) and was second in the Preakness Stakes (G1) and Runhappy Travers Stakes (G1).

"He is fabulous looking," Banke said. "And, of course, the mare has had some great foals by some lesser stallions. I am hoping this one takes it all the way. I think I will be back in for (a piece) of him. I am excited about that. He was on my list of favorites. We need sire power; we need another sire."

Woodford Racing founder Bill Farish signed the ticket on the session topper.

"The plan is to gather a partnership together with Woodford Racing, West Point (Thoroughbreds), and a few others and Barbara Banke," Farish said. "He will go to (trainer) Shug McGaughey.

"If you're doing it on your own, it's tough to compete with the partnerships," Farish added. "But I think it's exciting for people to get in and be involved in high-end colts this like which they normally couldn't do if they did it on their own."

"Beautiful colt. Beautiful mover. Every day he seemed to flourish and get a little better out here," Eaton's Reiley McDonald said of Hip 300. "Bill was our neighbor (at the sale with Lane's End); he kept poking his head around the corner. I think he fell in love. Terry Finley (of West Point) followed suit."

Catch the Moon also produced 2017 Betfair.com Haskell Invitational Stakes (G1) winner Girvin   as well as graded stakes winners Cocked and Loaded  and Pirate's Punch . Stonestreet purchased the unraced mare for $240,000 from Legacy Bloodstock's consignment at the 2015 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale.

"Our broodmare band is getting better all the time," Banke said. "We have new ones to add after they race. For example Mia Mischief  is in foal this year. Lady Aurelia  has a really nice Curlin colt but I doubt he will come to the sale; he is my pet.

"We upgrade our broodmare band all the time. We retire some of them like Lady Aurelia's mother (D'Wildcat Speed). She has a Justify weanling that is her last. We try to keep the broodmare band current—and really fast. We raise them right."

From four Stonestreet-breds offered on Tuesday, three were sold for a total of $3.65 million.

Magnier Stays Busy on Day 2

Magnier's six purchases Tuesday were topped by the Stonestreet-bred Curlin colt that fetched $1.3 million. The colt was consigned as Hip 333 by Gainesway, agent for Stonestreet Bred & Raised, and was the co-second highest price of the day.

"(Gainesway general manager) Brian Graves, when we went down to see (Hip 333) first, really, really liked the horse and our guys liked him as well," Magnier said. "Barbara Banke, she's bred some incredible horses over the last couple of years and currently Curlin is doing very well."

Curlin was Horse of the Year in 2007 and 2008 for Stonestreet and stands at Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa. His daughter Grace Adler  won the Sept. 5 TVG Del Mar Debutante Stakes (G1) just before the sale's start. He also sired the 1-2 finishers of the Aug. 21 Alabama Stakes (G1), Malathaat  and Clairiere , both of whom were bred by Stonestreet. Malathaat won the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) in the spring.

Hip 333 is out of the stakes-winning Medaglia d'Oro   mare Dashing Debby , who has produced multiple grade 1-placed stakes winner Dawn the Destroyer  and multiple stakes winner Bronze Star . Dashing Debby was privately purchased by Stonestreet after winning her race debut in stakes company at age 2 in 2009.

With six purchases Tuesday totaling $4,425,000, adding to his Day 1 tally for a total of eight yearlings worth a combined $5,775,000, Magnier struck early in the session for an $800,000 Uncle Mo   colt. Colt consigned as Hip 218 by Woodford Thoroughbreds, agent for WinStar Farm Bred & Raised, the colt is the first foal out 2017 Mother Goose Stakes (G2) winner Unchained Melody  (Smart Strike). He was bred in Kentucky by WinStar.

"Uncle Mo is doing thankfully exceptionally well at the moment," Magnier said. "(Hip 218 is) a very nice horse as well, very well built. Plan is we leave him in America. He's just a lovely, lovely horse and hopefully he'll do pretty good."

Ashford Stud's Uncle Mo was well represented at the recent Kentucky Downs meet, at which his daughters Family Way  and Hendy Woods  won the Kentucky Downs  Ladies Marathon Stakes and One Dreamer Stakes, respectively. Also this month, another daughter, Burning Ambition , captured the Indiana Grand Stakes. His son Yaupon   won at the highest level Aug. 28 when taking the Forego Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course.

With Justin Casse serving as agent, Magnier went to $775,000 for a colt from the first crop of Ashford's Justify   that is a half brother to 2019 champion older dirt female Midnight Bisou . The colt consigned as Hip 340 by Hunter Valley Farm, agent is out of the graded stakes-winning Repent mare Diva Delite . He was bred in Kentucky by Hunter Valley and Mountmellick Farm.

Magnier picked up another Justify yearling in Hip 272, going to $750,000 for the filly that is a half sister to 2015 champion sprinter Runhappy  . The filly was consigned by Gainesway, agent for Stonestreet Bred & Raised, and was bred in Kentucky out of the Broken Vow mare Bella Jolie, a $1.6 million purchase by Stonestreet from Ashview Farm's consignment to the 2015 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale.

With Ben McElroy as agent, Magnier bought an Uncle Mo filly for $400,000. Consigned as Hip 282 by St George Sales, agent, the filly is out of the grade 1-placed stakes winner Bon Jovi Girl  (Malibu Moon) and is a half sister to graded stakes winner You're to Blame . Bon Jovi Girl is a half sister to two-time champion grass horse Gio Ponti  . Pursuit of Success bred the filly in Kentucky.

Magnier's last purchase of the day was Hip 399C, a $400,000 colt from the first crop of Ashford's Mendelssohn  . Paramount Sales consigned the colt, who was bred in Kentucky by Springhouse Farm and Circular Rd Breeders. The colt is out of the Grand Slam mare Tessie Flip, also the dam of stakes winner Jo Jo Air , who is by Mendelssohn's sire Scat Daddy. Tessie Flip is a half sister to multiple grade 1 winner Switch.