Keeneland will supplement four horses to Book 1 of the September Yearling Sale, which begins Monday, Sept. 11, the organization said in a release Thursday.
Opening day of the sale will include a daughter of American Pharoah out of Pushkinskaya (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) (hip 190), consigned by Highgate Sales, agent, who is a full sister to European Champion 2-year-old filly Maybe (Ire).
Four Star Sales, agent, consigns a colt by Uncle Mo (hip 191) and a half-brother to GISP Conquest Panthera (Kitten's Joy) and MGSW Happy Like a Fool (Distorted Humor).
The first supplement on Day 2 is a colt by Gun Runner out of Special Event (hip 391), consigned by Gainesway, agent. He is from the family of Champion older mare and MGISW Queena (Mr. Prospector).
Highgate Sales, agent, also consigns a filly by American Pharoah (hip 392) out of GISP Stopshoppingmaria (More Than Ready).
In this continuing series, Alan Carasso takes a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this weekend running at Kokura, Niigata and Sapporo Racecourses:
Saturday, August 19, 2023 3rd-NII, ¥13,720,000 ($94k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1800m EMBLEM BOMB (c, 2, St Patrick's Day–Jelly Cable, by Sky Mesa) is out of a stakes-placed daughter of black-type winner Linda Coqueta (Rubiano), the dam of three-time SP Alfarabi (Yes It's True) and GSP Capo (Capote). This Mar. 18 foal failed to find a new home when bidding stalled at $15,000 at last year's OBS October Sale, but he became the second-priciest 2-year-old from the first crop of this full-brother to American Pharoah when hammering to Hideyuki Mori for $155,000 at this year's OBS March Sale (21 sold/25 ring) after working in :10 flat. B-Brent & Crystal Fernung (FL)
6th-KOK, ¥13,720,000 ($94k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1700m JASPER ROBUSTO (c, 2, Khozan–Prize Informant, by Marciano) was purchased by Blaz Perez Stable for $27,000 at OBSOCT last fall, but blossomed over the next several months and was sold to Mori on behalf of the 'Jasper' owner Kazuo Kato for $265,000 at OBSMAR, the best of 25 juveniles (33 ring) by the sire during this season's breeze-ups (:9 4/5). The bay is out of a stakes-winning half-sister to Wise Answer (Wised Up), who nearly swept the Florida Stallion S. series in 2007, capped by a 10-length romp in the In Reality S. at Calder. Rivermont Farm bough Prize Informant for $9,500 in foal to Valiant Minister at the 2019 OBS Winter Mixed Sale. B-Rivermont Farm (FL)
Sunday, August 20, 2023 5th-KOK, ¥13,720,000 ($94k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1800mT PIKARI (f, 2, Twirling Candy–Laudation, by Congrats) is the second foal to the races for her dam, a stakes winner at two for Jerry Durant and Steve Asmussen and later acquired by Peter O'Callaghan's Woods Edge Farm for $150,000 with this foal in utero at Keeneland November in 2020. Produced by a half-sister to this year's G3 UAE Oaks heroine Mimi Kakushi (City of Light) and MSW Moment Is Right (Medaglia d'Oro), this March foal fetched $265,000 from Ciaran Dunne's Red Wings Enterprises at last year's Keeneland September Sale and lit up the tote at OBSMAR to the tune of $900,000 after working a furlong in :9 4/5. B-Woods Edge Farm LLC (KY)
5th-SAP, ¥13,720,000 ($94k), Newcomers, 2yo, 2000mT KINGS CROWN (JPN) (c, 2, Yoshida {Jpn}–Tulips Galore, by Giant's Causeway) is the first Japanese starter for his WinStar-based stallion and was acquired in utero for $45,000 at the 2020 Keeneland November Sale. The unplaced dam is a half-sister to New York-bred stakes winner Gambling Girl (Dialed In), runner-up in this year's GI Kentucky Oaks, third in the GI CCA Oaks and entered for Saturday's GI Alabama S. at Saratoga. The colt's third dam Eventail (Lear Fan), a half-sister to Take Charge Lady (Dehere), is responsible for Heart's Cry's dual Japanese listed winner Strong Souther (Jpn) as well as GSW Straight Story (Giant's Causeway). B-Yuki Dendo
Coming in off a gate-to-wire victory in the Tyro S. on July 30, No Nay Mets (Ire) (No Nay Never) looks to extend his record to three-for-four in Friday's Skidmore S. at Saratoga. Trainer George Weaver was so impressed with his juvenile pupil's recent performance at Monmouth Park that he decided to send the two-time stakes winner to another start less than three weeks after seeing the winner's circle.
“It's hard early on with these 2-year-old races to know exactly what you're running against, but when you win by five lengths, that's a pretty big margin sprinting on the grass,” Weaver said of the Tyro win. “He just sprinted away from those guys in the stretch. He's always had a bunch of quality.”
A Coolmore-bred colt out the Group 3 winner Etoile (War Front)–whose family includes GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf winner Pizza Bianca (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) under the second dam–No Nay Mets was originally slated as a pinhook prospect for Houston Astros All-Star Alex Bregman when he was purchased for €180,000 at the 2022 Arqana August Yearling Sale. Although the juvenile posted a :20 4/5 breeze at the OBS Spring Sale, bidding stalled at $335,000.
Retained by his original buyer, No Nay Mets was sent to Weaver, who was tasked with preparing him for the Royal Palm Juvenile S. just a few weeks after the sale.
“He went straight from the sale to me and he's been straightforward and a very smart colt from day one,” said Weaver. “We never really had to rush him with his gate work. We shipped him to Gulfstream to work out of the gate. We shipped him to run at Gulfstream. We shipped him to England. Nothing fazed him.”
No Nay Mets was a frontrunning 3 1/2-length winner at Gulfstream, where he earned an automatic berth to compete at Royal Ascot, but the colt did not fare as well as his stablemate Crimson Advocate (Nyquist) at the prestigious meet. After failing to get the same speedy start he had shown on debut, he settled for ninth in the G2 Norfolk S.
“He didn't get away and wasn't able to cut the pace that day,” said his conditioner. “I think his speed is his asset. He came back at Monmouth and we used his speed and it just worked out a lot better.”
Owners Bregman Family Racing and Ivan Carbrera are hoping that their star can come back with a similar performance at Saratoga, but a rainy forecast Friday morning could put a damper on their plans.
“I would prefer not to run him under unfavorable circumstances,” admitted Weaver. “He's been so good to us and he just won. We're coming back on a short rest, but I'll just have to talk with Alex and we'll do what we think is best.”
For now, morning-line favorite No Nay Mets is slated to race from the seven position in a 10-horse Skidmore. The field also includes Mike Maker's Ship Cadet (Midshipman), who was second to No Nay Mets in the Tyro. Stonestreet Stables' Fandom (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) was impressive in his debut at Keeneland this spring, but he finished a disappointing 11th in the G2 Coventry S. at Ascot. The MyRacehorse colorbearer Seize the Grey (Arrogate) will make his turf debut coming off a maiden win in the slop for D. Wayne Lukas on July 29 at Saratoga.
After making a fortune finding and bringing musical acts to others, Thoroughbred owner Jerry Moss chose a similar approach when he landed on one of racing’s greats in Zenyatta — opting to share her with fans at every turn.
On Aug. 16 the owner who helped bring so many fans to the sport died at age 88 at his home in Bel Air, Calif., surrounded by family and friends.
