Justify Half Headlines Glennwood's Book 1 Offerings

While it cannot be denied that all Thoroughbred sales imbue consignors and breeders with a palpable pre-auction anxiety, the father/daughter team of John and Tanya Gunther of Glennwood Farm feels an extra layer of pressure.

As the breeders of Justify  —one of only a baker's dozen of Thoroughbreds to achieve the Triple Crown—the Gunthers understand that buyers arrive at their consignment barns hoping history can be repeated, especially when a half sibling to Justify appears in their catalog.

"I think I'll need a few drinks when that one enters the ring," Gunther said with a laugh when speaking of Justify's half brother (Hip 60) at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale. "I'll be highly nervous for that one." 

With foot traffic at the Glennwood barn always expected, the Gunthers remain confident in the knowledge that their program and their horses are highly regarded for a reason: quite simply, they get results. The Eclipse Award-winning breeders have consigned eight horses to Keeneland's Book 1, which kicks off Sept. 12. 

Among the most notable in the barn is Hip 60, a half brother to Justify by Hill 'n' Dale stallion Curlin   out of Stage Magic  (by Ghostzapper). 

"We find the Curlin yearling very special," said Gunther. "He was a late foal, born May 19, and he's got a lot of growing to do, but I think he'll be a 16.1 or 16.2 (hand) horse when he's fully developed. He looks like a racehorse to me. He's good-natured and he's just shown that he's something special. It will be really hard to part with him." 

Traditionally, the foals out of Stage Magic have garnered a lot of attention from buyers in the sales ring. Justify himself was a graduate of the 2016 renewal of the Keeneland September sale, selling for $500,000 to China Horse Club and Maverick Racing. In 2019, the Pioneerof the Nile colt out of the mare Stage Raider  did not attain his reserve on a final bid of $950,000 and returned to Glennwood. One year later, the mare's colt by Will Take Charge   also went unsold after the hammer came down on a final bid of $1.75 million. 

In 2020 Stage Magic foaled a full sister to Hip 60 who was never offered at public sale. That filly is now 2, and Gunther is anxiously awaiting her racing debut. 

"She is in training and she'll be going to Chad Brown in about 60 days," said Gunther. "She was slow developing as well, like her brother, but she's filled out so well in the last six months and she looks fantastic. We have high hopes for her as well." 

Another standout for the consignment, and a personal favorite for Gunther, is Hip 117, a filly by Spendthrift Farm super sire Into Mischief  . The bay filly is out of the unraced Galileo mare Wildwood Rose. 

"She's a beautiful filly. The mare's yearling by Speightstown   sold really well last year here, and we are very high on her as well. She would really be my favorite. She's big and strong; she's very athletic and has a great walk."

While she never made a start, Wildwood Rose hails from a strong family of runners. She is a half sister to Besilu Stables Florida Derby (G1) winner Materiality  and to My Miss Sophia , who finished second in the 2014 Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) to Untapable . 

Wildwood Rose's filly by Speightstown  —now named Bo Derek—was purchased during the 2021 September sale for $900,000 by the partnership of Maverick/Siena. 

Going back to the well with Speightstown, Glennwood will also offer Hip 130, a filly by the WinStar Farm stallion out of Always On My Mind (Congrats ). The family is a particularly prolific one for the Gunthers, as the mare is a half sister to Meydan Sobha Godolphin Mile (G2) winner and stallion Tamarkuz  , also by Speightstown. 

"A lot of people like the Speightstown out of Always On My Mind," said Gunther. "She's been getting the most attention so far and she also has a really great walk. We've always done well with Speightstown, so I think she comes across very well." 

Always On My Mind is also a half sibling to St. James's Palace Stakes (G1) winner Without Parole , who took up stud duty at Newsells Park Stud in England in 2021. Gunther said that he and Tanya, who have a very active arm in their breeding program in England, have been more than pleased with the first foals by the son of Frankel  and were pleased to have supported him with some of their strongest mares both domestically and abroad. 

"Without Parole has some really nice weanlings," said Gunther. "We bred quite a few mares of ours to him ourselves and we brought a handful back over here with us and foaled them out here. So we have a couple Without Paroles on the farm and they are very, very nice. We also have a full brother to Without Parole in training who is with Ralph Beckett in London, England. He's doing well, so touch wood, there is a lot to look forward to." 

Also consigned to Book 1 are three other colts: Hip 7, an Irish-bred chestnut by No Nay Never  out of Posset (Oasis Dream ); Hip 62, a bay by Uncle Mo   out of Strombolian (Giant's Causeway); and Hip 202, a son of Justify out of the Danehill Dancer mare Dance With Another. 

Glennwood will also offer two additional fillies: Hip 84, a bay by Into Mischief out of grade 3 winner Tiger Moth  (Street Sense  ); and Hip 114, a daughter of American Pharoah   out of Weekday (Dansili), and whose second dam is group 1 victress Timepiece . 

With a full barn, high spirits, and buyers still rolling in, Gunther said he's hopeful this year's sale will be another fruitful one for the farm. 

"It's hard to tell how the sale will go," said Gunther. "We were really busy on the first day, I think the horses were out close to 80 times. It's been busy again today and there are so many people here. I think it will be a really good sale."