Eaton’s Tapit Colt Attracting Attention

A striking Tapit   colt who is a half brother to multiple grade I winner Mucho Macho Man   has been the main attraction at the Eaton Sales consignment and is among the top horses to watch for the Sept. 14 session of the Keeneland September yearling sale.

Not unlike the first two days, the top offerings during the third session are dominated by sons of leading sires Tapit and War Front   and half siblings to some of North America’s top runners.

“He ticks all the boxes,” Eaton’s Reiley McDonald said, referring to the oft-used description of the most desirable lots at any sale. “He’s something different. He has size, pedigree, and is the best athlete we have in the sale.”

The colt, Hip 561, was produced from stakes winner Ponche de Leona (Ponche) and bred in Kentucky by Brushwood Stable. Mucho Macho Man, the mare’s second foal, won nine races, including the Breeders’ Cup Classic (gr. I), finished third in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum Brands (gr. I), and earned more than $5.6 million.

As if that wasn’t enough, Southern Girl, a full sister to Eaton’s Tapit colt, won a stakes at Laurel Park Sept 10.

Hip 467, from Four Star Sales, is a son of War Front produced from the two-time grade I-winning A.P. Indy mare Love and Pride. Third dam is grade I winner and 2006 Broodmare of the Year Cara Rafaela, the dam of champion and leading sire Bernardini  .

“He is a good-looking, flashy guy,” said Four Star’s Kerry Cauthen of the colt bred by Three Chimneys. “He has all the pieces and his eye tells me he is a racehorse.”

Brian Graves of Gainesway has high praise for Hip 555, a bay colt by Ghostzapper   out of the winning Seeking the Gold mare Pension, who has also produced grade II winner Annual Report.

“He looks just like Ghostzapper,” Graves said of the colt bred by Gainesway. “He is one of the best colts Gainesway bred in this group of yearlings. He’s an outstanding individual.”

The final session in Book1 also includes half brothers to such top racehorses as Beholder, Rachel Alexandra, Creator, and Congrats  .

Hip 454, bred by and consigned by Clarkland Farm, is a son of Scat Daddy   whose dam, stakes winner Leslie’s Lady, produced three-time champion Beholder and grade I winner and sire Into Mischief  .

Gainesway’s group also includes Hip 465, an Awesome Again   colt who is a half brother to Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra, the dam of grade I winner Rachel’s Valentina. The colt was bred by Heaven Trees Farm. Another from Gainesway is Hip 514, a colt from the final crop of Street Cry. Bred by Mt. Brilliant Broodmares, the colt is out of the Peruvian champion mare Morena, the dam of Creator, winner of this year’s Belmont Stakes and Arkansas Derby, both grade I.

Claiborne Farm sends out Hip 563, a son of War Front who is a half brother to grade II winner and sire Congrats   and to Claiborne stallion Flatter  . He was bred by Claiborne and Adele B. Dilschneider.

HIPS TO WATCH—KEENELAND SEPTEMBER YEARLING SALE DAY 3

Hip—Description/Consignor

454—C., Scat Daddy  —Leslie’s Lady, by Tricky Creek/Clarkland Farm

456—C., Tapit  —Life Is Sweet, by Storm Cat/Lane’s End, agt. for Pam and Martin Wygod

465—C., Awesome Again  —Lotta Kim, by Roar/Gainesway, agt.

467—C., War Front  —Love and Pride, by A.P. Indy/Four Star Sales, agt.

514—C., Street Cry—Morena, by Privately Held/Gainesway, agt. for Mt. Brilliant Farm

538—C., Speightstown  —Night and Day, by Unbridled's Song/Denali Stud, agt.

555—C., Ghostzapper  —Pension, by Seeking the Gold/Gainesway, agt.

561—C., Tapit  —Ponche de Leona, by Ponche/Eaton Sales, agt.

563—C., War Front  —Praise, by Mr. Prospector/Claiborne Farm, agt.

578—C., War Front  —Quarter Moon, by Sadler’s Wells/Hill ‘n’ Dale Sales Agency, agt.