Top Pinhook Prospects at Keeneland September

Based on their respective purchase prices when they initially went through the sales ring as weanlings, three colts sired by Pioneerof the Nile   are among the top 10 pinhook prospects for the Keeneland September yearling sale Sept. 12-25.

Hunter Valley Farm, which hit a home run when a Tapit   colt bought as a weanling for $500,000 was sold for $800,000 to China Horse Club at this year’s Fasig-Tipton Saratoga selected yearling sale, will be seeking another pinhook score with Hip 396. Bred in Kentucky by Richard L. and Katherine H. Elam, the full brother to grade II winner Cairo Prince   and a half brother to the dam of grade I winner Outwork was bought by Hunter Valley for $410,000 from the St. George Sales consignment at Keeneland November.

The other top Keeneland September pinhook prospects sired by Pioneeerof the Nile, the WinStar stallion responsible for Triple Crown winner American Pharoah  , are Hips 529 and 266. Consigned by Warrendale Sales, Hip 529 is a full brother to grade I winner Midnight Storm and was bred in Kentucky by Alex Venneri and Marjorie Post Dye. He was bought by Venneri Racing for $300,000 from Hunter Valley Farm at Keeneland last November.

Hip 266, from the extended female family of grade I winners Purge, Jersey Town, and Jersey Girl was a $290,000 Keeneland November purchase by Baccari Bloodstock from Paramount Sales. Bred in Kentucky by Charles Fipke, he is part of Baccari’s Keeneland consignment.

The second-highest priced Keeneland pinhook prospect is Hip 477, a Tapit filly out from the female family of Canadian Triple Crown winner With Approval, classic winner Touch Gold, and grade I winner Brilliant Speed and consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency. Bred in Kentucky by Hill ‘n’ Dale Equine Holdings and Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms, the filly was bought by Siena Farms for $350,000 from Hill ‘n’ Dale Sales Agency as a weanling at Keeneland’s November sale.

Hip 282 is a Smart Strike filly half sister to graded stakes-placed Cautious Giant consigned by Baccari Bloodstock. She was bought by Casino King for $310,000 as a weanling from Eaton Sales, agent for breeder Grousemont Farm.

A colt from the first crop sired by Claiborne Farm’s Orb   and produced from grade III winner Just Louise, a half sister to multiple graded winner Sara Louise, was a $300,000 Keenelend November acquisition by Norwood Stables from Paramount Sales. Consigned as Hip 430 by Dromoland Farm, the colt was bred in Kentucky by Springhouse Farm.

The only yearling among the top 10 pinhook prospects that did not previously sell at Keeneland is Hip 533, a Japanese-bred son of Stay Gold bought by WinStar Farm for the U.S. equivalent of $259,200 at the JRA July sale last year. Bred by and offered at auction in Japan by Paca Paca Farm, the colt consigned to Keeneland by Taylor Made Sales Agency is out of the High Yield mare Nan, runner-up in the Del Mar Oaks (gr. I) and bought by Paca Paca for $150,000 from the Fasig-Tipton November sale in 2010.

KEENELAND SEPTEMBER YEARLING SALE TOP PINHOOK PROSPECTS

Hip—Description, Previous Price/Sale—Consignor

396—C., Pioneerof the Nile  —Holy Bubbette, by Holy Bull, $410,000/KeeNov—Hunter Valley Farm, agt.

477—F., Tapit  —Magically, by Mr. Greeley, $350,000/KeeNov—Taylor Made Sales Agency, agt.

282—F., Smart Strike—Dangerous Diva, by Deputy Minister, $310,000/KeeNov—Baccari Bloodstock, agt.

430—C., Orb  —Just Louise, by Five Star Day, $300,000/KeeNov—Dromoland Farm, agt.

529—C., Pioneerof the Nile  —My Tina, by Bertrando, $300,000/KeeNov—Warrendale Sales, agt.

266—C., Pioneerof the Nile  —Corinthianna, by Corinthian, $290,000/KeeNov—Baccari Bloodstock, agt.

146—C., Tiznow  —Wynning Ride, by Candy Ride  , $275,000/KeeNov—Woods Edge Farm, agt.

1299—C., Tiznow  —La Suena, by Storm Cat, $275,000/KeeNov—Hidden Brook, agt.

254—F., Scat Daddy  —Classic Strike, by Smart Strike, $270,000/KeeNov—Taylor Made Sales Agency, agt.

533—C., Stay Gold—Nan, by High Yield, $259,200/JRAJuly—Taylor Made Sales Agency, agt.