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In this continuing series, we examine the past winners of significant filly/mare races by the lasting influence they've had on the breed. Up today is Del Mar's GI Del Mar Oaks, inaugurated in 1957 on the dirt but a permanent fixture on the grass since the 1965 edition.

As always, when there's racemares of this caliber, many will go on to become excellent producers. A few especially leap off the page for their accomplishments after racing. Following are highlights of some of the most important Del Mar Oaks winners by what impact they've had on the sport through their sons and daughters.

No Matter What (1997, Nureyev–Words of War, by Lord At War {Arg}), bred by Arthur B. Hancock III and Stonerside, Ltd.: Not too many mares produce five graded/group winners, but this one did. Her best was English/Irish highweight and MG1SW Rainbow View (Dynaformer).

Hollywood Wildcat (1990, Kris S.–Miss Wildcatter, by Mr. Prospector), bred by Irving and Marjorie Cowan: One of the few mares to both win a Breeders' Cup and produce a Breeders' Cup winner, she is the dam of GI Mile winner War Chant (Danzig). She would go on to produce three other stakes winners, including GSW Ivan Denisovich (Ire) (Danehill), who also placed in Grade I/Group 1 races in three countries. Japanese G1SW Danon Smash (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) and Canadian Classic winner Danish Dynaformer (Dynaformer) are among the stakes performers produced by her daughters.

Hidden Light (1983, Majestic Light–Tallahto, by Nantallah), bred by Howard B. Keck: Her pièce de résistance was her 11th foal, the tough Breeders' Cup winner Artie Schiller (El Prado {Ire}), who has doubled up on siring Grade I/Group 1 winners in both the U.S. and Australia. His best to date is Australian champion Flying Artie (Aus), in turn the sire of Australian MGISW and English invader Artorius (Aus).

French Charmer (1978, Le Fabuleux {Fr}–Bold Example, by Bold Lad), bred by A. D. D. Rogers: England's 1989 Horse of the Year and nice sire Zilzal (Nureyev) was her top son, while other descendants include Canadian champion and U.S. GISW Negligee (Northern Afleet).

Country Queen (1975, Explodent–Carrie's Rough, by Rough'n Tumble), bred by Ocala Stud, Inc.: This Florida-bred mare produced one minor stakes winner, but a daughter of hers went to France and made a massive splash. Among the latter's sons were MG1SW and sire Slickly (Fr) (Linamix {Fr}) and among her daughters were the dams of European champion Siyouma (Ire) (Medicean {GB}) and G1SW Siyouni (Fr) (Pivotal {GB}). Currently one of the world's leading sires and based in France, Siyouni is responsible for the likes of Sottsass (Fr), St Mark's Basilica (Fr), Laurens (Fr), and Paddington (GB).

Sandy Blue (1970, Windy Sands–Blue Nola, by Limelight {GB}), bred by Mr. & Mrs. Dan Gershon: A long list of stakes winners traces to this California-bred chestnut, most notably the wonderful champion grass mare and six-time GISW Possibly Perfect (Northern Baby). Other GISWs include Eddington (Unbridled), Coil (Point Given), Chiropractor (Kitten's Joy), and Miserden (Private Account), the latter in France.

Desert Trial (1963, Moslem Chief–Scotch Verdict, by Alsab), bred by Joseph M. O'Farrell: Among this mare's four stakes winners were dual champion and six-time GISW Desert Vixen (In Reality), as well as a full-brother to that champion in GSW & GISP Valid Appeal. The latter was an excellent Florida-based sire, known for throwing early runners with an abundance of speed. Desert Vixen, in turn, produced French GSW & MG1SP Real Shadai (Roberto), who would become a leading sire in Japan.

Fun House (1958, The Doge–Recess, by Count Fleet), bred by C. V. Whitney: Before there was a Winchell Broodmare of the Year with the same name, this dark bay produced six black-type winners, including GISW Court Ruling (Traffic Judge) and eventual leading Argentinean sire Good Manners (Nashua). Her descendants include dual Canadian champion and U.S. MGISW Windsharp (Lear Fan), dam of Breeders' Cup winner Johar (Gone West) and 2003 Del Mar Oaks winner Dessert (Storm Cat).

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When a high-profile stallion retires, one of the early milepost goals is to have his first foals make an impression in Book 1 of the Keeneland September Yearling sale. For champion Gun Runner, that plan is coming along nicely.

The 2017 Horse of the Year and resident of Three Chimneys in Midway, Ky., was the leading first-crop sire by average sale price during Sunday's opening session of the Keeneland September sale, and he was responsible for the day's co-most expensive yearling by a rookie stallion: a $750,000 half-brother to champion Untapable.

Gun Runner had five yearlings bring a combined $2,005,000 on Sunday for an average of $401,000 – the eighth-highest overall average of the session. The opening-day effort comes shortly after seven Gun Runner yearlings brought $2,320,000 for an average of $331,429 at the Fasig-Tipton Selected Yearlings Showcase.

After the first few days of selling in central Kentucky, Tom Hamm of Three Chimneys was pleased with what he's seen so far.

“I think it's great,” he said. “It just shows he's being received well. I think the breeders are happy with the way they sold, and I think the people who are out there buying are obviously showing that that like them. It's good for Gun Runner.”

Sunday's top Gun Runner yearling was a colt out of the Grade 2-winning Prized mare Fun House who sold to L&N Racing for $750,000. Fun House earned Broodmare of the Year honors in 2014 with runners including champion Untapable and Grade 1 winner Paddy O'Prado. She is also the dam of graded stakes producer Double Tapped.

Offered as Hip 175, the colt was consigned by Gainesway, agent.

“I looked at that horse on the farm a couple times, and then here at the sale. I thought he was a good colt with plenty of size and scope,” Hamm said. “Obviously, he has a big pedigree, from the family of Untapable. I thought he was worth every penny of that.”

The Gun Runner colt tied for the day's highest price from a first-crop yearling with Hip 116, a colt by the late champion Arrogate who sold to Yuji Hasegawa.

Through the halfway point of Keeneland September's first book, Gun Runner leads all first-crop sires by number sold at $500,000 or more, with three.

Earlier during Sunday's session, Robert Baker and William Mack went to $510,000 for Hip 156, a Gun Runner colt out of the Street Cry mare Esprit de Vie. At the Fasig-Tipton Selected Yearlings Showcase, Fortune Farm and It's All About the Girls bought Hip 570, a filly out of the Grade 2-placed Divine Park mare Divine Dawn, for $500,000.

The high-level performance carries over from last year, when Gun Runner was North America's leading first-crop weanling sire by gross and average, with eight youngsters bringing a combined $2,755,000 and an average of $344,375. His weanling gross was second only to top commercial sire Into Mischief in last year's overall race, as well.

Gun Runner, a 7-year-old son of Candy Ride, has 67 yearlings cataloged in this year's Keeneland September sale, the fifth-most of any first-crop stallion. Adding that to the 12 cataloged in the recent Fasig-Tipton sale, Hamm has had plenty of homework to do in order to hone his eye for what the stallion has to offer. Fortunately, the prices have largely lived up to the expectations set during farm inspections.

“I think I've seen every one that's entered in either the Fasig sale or Keeneland sale – I know I have,” he said. “Overall, they're just really good, athletic horses. They're good movers, and they resemble him a lot. They have plenty of leg, maybe more leg than a lot of people expected. It's a good crop of horses. We're very pleased with them.”

The post Gun Runner’s First Yearlings Start Strong At Keeneland September Sale appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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