Successful Half Siblings May Give Book 2 a Boost

In sports, familiar bloodlines are often the appeal needed to entice athletes to a specific college or for a pro team to draft them. Look at the success the Manning family had in the National Football League. 

It's no different in horse racing, where buyers champ at the bit to get prospects related to successful runners in their stables. 

As Book 2 of the Keeneland September Sale begins Sept. 13, there are several hips set to enter the sales ring who may draw greater interest thanks in part to the exploits of their half siblings.

Hip 467, a filly by Ghostzapper  , is a half sister to Adare Manor —both out of the Giant Gizmo mare Brooklynsway. Over the last three years, Adare Manor has rarely had a misstep. With six wins and four seconds from 12 starts and four straight wins, including the Clement L. Hirsch Stakes (G1) last time out, the hope is the dark bay or brown filly is cut from the same cloth.

"As far as her pedigree goes, and a new grade 1 winner in the family. I think she looks like a really, really good, strong Ghostzapper," said Katie Taylor of Taylor Made Sales. "But she has a little more scope to her, too. So I think she's pretty versatile as far as distance and she's gone over really well. She's been very popular up here."

Taylor said there's a lot from her sire already coming through.

"That power in the hind leg and hip on her," Taylor said. "She's got a really big, strong stifle gasket and hip. I think that definitely comes from her sire, but maybe she just has a little bit more leg to her." 

Another filly in Taylor Made's consignment is Hip 518, a daughter of American Pharoah  . 

"She looks like that quintessential turf filly; really put together well," Taylor said. "She's just hasn't missed a beat since she's been here. I really liked that filly. I think if you're looking for a well-bred turf filly, it doesn't get much better than her."

Her half sister, Roses for Debra , has won seven of her last eight starts. Earlier this summer, she won the Caress Stakes (G3T) while posting her career-best Equibase Speed Figure of 101.

"I think people see that (relationship) and they see a lot of upside," said Taylor. "And you know this filly, she's just got a great walk to her. She's got a good mind. She's just exactly what you want to see."

Another yearling whose older half-sibling has garnered a lot of attention is Hip 669, a bay colt out of the Big Brown mare Puca, best known for producing this year's Kentucky Derby winner, Mage . 

Runnymede's Roman Malhouitre raved about the colt.

"He is a very straightforward colt. He's a May foal, so he's still a growing animal," Malhouitre said. "But he's very well balanced at such a young age with a lot of quality; he's a great mover. And you can see that as a young foal he keeps getting stronger and bigger. He's a very smooth animal, very light on his feet."

Hip 669 is by McKinzie  , whose first crop are yearlings this year. No one knows what kind of sire he will be, but the dam is building a wonderful track record. In addition to Mage, her first foal was Gunning , by Gun Runner  , a 4-year-old with a pair of black-type top-three finishes. Her third foal, Dornoch , is a full brother to Mage and has finished second in his two career starts. 

"It's only normal for the market to recognize that mare has been producing three great horses with her three first foals," Malhouitre said.