September Sale Full of Yearlings by Power Couples

The overwhelming majority of the yearlings that fall in Book 1 of the September Yearling Sale at Keeneland have elements in their pedigrees that make them commercially attractive. Many are by elite stallions and others are out of mares that shined as racehorses or as producers.

A smaller group of these yearlings have strengths on both sides of their pedigrees, being the produce of a mating of "power couples"—a top-class sire and dam.

Hips 100, 145, 232, 309, 325, 338, and 340 are a half-dozen of such types over the first two days of the sale, Sept. 11-12.

The first of these select yearlings through the sales ring on Monday, Hip 100, possesses a pedigree that is likely to command interest, being by legendary sire Tapit   out of the grade 1-winning mare Dream Rush . Consigned by Denali Stud, agent for Stonestreet bred and raised, the gray or roan colt is a full brother to multiple grade 3 winner Dream Pauline  and a half sister to the A. P. Indy mare Dreaming of Julia , a grade 1 winner and the producer of multiple Eclipse Award-winning Malathaat .

"He's the total package," Denali Stud vice president Conrad Bandoroff said.

"This colt represents an incredible opportunity for someone to tap into one of the most prominent and prolific families in the stud book," he added. "This colt has the physique to back that up. And if he proves himself on the racetrack and runs to his looks, he's an extremely valuable stallion prospect. You could see him being in one of the top stallion barns in the country.

"He's one of those horses that you are just so excited and honored to represent from a program like Stonestreet—that just does such a tremendous job of raising and preparing these young athletes. We're just very fortunate and privileged that they have entrusted us with such a nice colt to handle."

Other yearlings with matings of "power couples" include the Gainesway-consigned Hips 325 and 340—with the former being a Curlin   colt out of champion Songbird  and the latter a Quality Road   filly out 2015 Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) winner Stopchargingmaria . Both go through the sales ring late during the Tuesday session.

Hill n' Dale at Xalapa has three impeccably bred yearlings selling over the opening two days of the sale, beginning on Monday with Hip 145 and continuing on Tuesday with Hips 232 and 338.

Hip 145 is a colt by four-time champion general sire Into Mischief   out of three-time grade 1 winner Guarana , and Hip 232 is another colt by Curlin—this one the first foal from champion Midnight Bisou, and Hip 338 is a daughter of Into Mischief out of champion Stellar Wind . 

"Into Mischief and Curlin, they are the top tier.They are doing things that when we look back in history, not just currently they are the top two, I think they will go down as historically some of the most influential sires of the breed," said Jared Burdine, general manager at Hill 'n' Dale.

Curlin, a two-time Horse of the Year and currently second to record-setting Into Mischief in the 2023 general sire standings, stood the 2023 season at their Central Kentucky farm for $225,000. Into Mischief commanded a $250,000 fee this year at Spendthrift Farm. 

Hip 145, selling Monday, and Hip 232, selling Tuesday, are the first foals from Guarana and Midnight Bisou, and their dams' characteristics are apparent in their physical makeups, Burdine said. Hill 'n' Dale raised both of these young horses.

Hip 145, bred by Hill 'n' Dale and Matt Dorman, "is a fast-looking colt. He's a good blend of both of them, Into Mischief and Guarana. Guarana was just a tenacious sprinter. He kind of has that attitude about him, too. So hopefully, he's inherited the determination," Burdine said.

Reflecting on the mating of Curlin to Midnight Bisou by breeders and her racing owners Bloom Racing Stable, Allen Racing, and Madaket Stables, Burdine marveled at the earnings compiled by the two standout Eclipse Award-winning runners with Curlin making $10.5 million and Midnight Bisou more than $7.4 million. 

"He's a good blend of the two physically, though he definitely favors his mother," Burdine said of the bay yearling, noting that Midnight Bisou is tall, scopey dark mare. 

The Orpendale/Chelston/Wynatt-bred Hip 338, who goes through the sales ring late in Tuesday's session, is a cross between Into Mischief and Curlin, with the latter the sire of Stellar Wind, who won six grade 1 races in dirt routes.

Burdine noted Hip 338's "fast-looking" appearance. She is a bay, like her sire, and shows many of the characteristics of Into Mischief's progeny.

Hip 338 is the fourth foal from Stellar Wind. Her 4-year-old first foal was unraced; her second, 3-year-old A Moment Like This, is unplaced in four starts overseas; and her unnamed Justify 2-year-old colt is unraced.

"I think the Curlin—Into Mischief cross is good both ways, should produce in the future as well, too. The residual value with the filly out of that female family is (noteworthy) as well," Burdine said.