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Second-Book Stars: The Top 20 Keeneland September Book 2 Graduates Of The Decade

Book 1 of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale is the one that gets the headlines, with flashy prices and pedigrees grabbing seven-figure bids from the deepest pockets in the game. The marathon sale's second book might not have the same front-page appeal, but it has consistently offered some of the auction's most visible graduates on the track over the past decade.

Not every Book 2 is created equal, with some commencing as soon as the second session following a hyper-boutique Book 1, and others going into the auction's first weekend gatherings. The Book 2 population can also differ year-to-year from a snappy two-day tilt to a four-day march through the upper-middle market.

As such, every Book 2 horse is there for a different reason. Some sellers prefer to have their Book 1-caliber horses go through the ring in the second book to better stand out to a group of buyers still looking to spend top dollar, while others might have the physical to belong in Book 2, even if their pedigree would normally place them later in the sale.

Following are the top 20 Book 2 graduates sold at the Keeneland September sale since 2010, as ranked by bloodstock editor Joe Nevills, with assistance from the Paulick Report staff. Horses were judged strictly based on their on-track performance, leaving aside factors like their breeding careers or value against their sale price.

1. BEHOLDER
Henny Hughes x Leslie's Lady, by Tricky Creek
Sold to Spendthrift Farm for $180,000 in 2011; Consigned by Clarkland Farm
A sure-fire Hall of Famer, Beholder was one of the sport's towering figures of the mid-2010s, earning Eclipse Awards in four of her five campaigns, and 11 Grade 1 victories. She was a two-time winner of the Breeders' Cup Distaff and she secured the champion 2-year-old female Eclipse with a victory in the 2012 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. Her exploits against males were just as storied, winning the G1 Pacific Classic Stakes in 2015, and finishing second in the same race a year later.

2. NYQUIST
Uncle Mo x Seeking Gabrielle, by Forestry
Sold to Sutton Place Stables for $230,000 in 2014; Consigned by Dromoland Farm
The standard-bearer for Uncle Mo's record-setting debut crop, Nyquist won each of his first eight starts – five of which were in Grade 1 company. He locked down champion 2-year-old male honors after winning the 2015 Breeders' Cup Juvenile, and then he became the second horse in history to wear the roses in the Kentucky Derby after taking the Juvenile. He also finished third in the Preakness Stakes.

3. ACCELERATE
Lookin At Lucky x Issues, by Awesome Again
Sold to L.E.B. for $380,000 in 2014; Consigned by Bluewater Sales
A horse that just got better with age, earning the 2018 Eclipse Award for champion older male at age five with wins including the G1 Gold Cup at Santa Anita Stakes, Pacific Classic, Awesome Again Stakes, and Breeders' Cup Classic. Though he didn't get started racing until April of his 3-year-old season, he won at least one graded stakes race in each of his first three campaigns, and the lone start in his fourth was an in-the-money effort in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes.

4. ABEL TASMAN
Quality Road x Vargas Girl, by Deputy Minister
RNA for $65,000 in 2015; Consigned by Clearsky Farm
Six of her eight career victories were in Grade 1 races, including the 2017 Kentucky Oaks. That victory helped her secure the Eclipse Award for champion 3-year-old filly, further bolstered by wins in the G1 Acorn Stakes, and Coaching Club American Oaks, along with a narrow runner-up effort in the Breeders' Cup Distaff.

5. LADY ELI
Divine Park x Sacre Coeur, by Saint Ballado
Sold to Bradley Thoroughbreds, agent, for $160,000 in 2013; Consigned by Runnymede Farm
One of the decade's biggest comeback stories, recovering from laminitis to become the champion turf female of 2017, and the winner of five lifetime Grade 1 races. She was undefeated prior to her year away to recover from infection after stepping on a safety pin, highlighted by a victory in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.

6. WEST COAST
Flatter x Caressing, by Honour and Glory
Sold to Ben Glass, agent, for $425,000 in 2015; Consigned by Hermitage Farm
Though he was late to reach the upper-tier competition during his sophomore campaign, West Coast earned the champion 3-year-old male Eclipse on the strength of a campaign that included wins in the G1 Travers Stakes and Pennsylvania Derby. He went on to secure a series of big checks with in-the-money efforts in the Breeders' Cup Classic, Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes, and Dubai World Cup.

7. GAME WINNER
Candy Ride x Indyan Giving, by A.P. Indy
Sold to Ben Glass, agent, for $110,000 in 2017; Lane's End, agent
The champion 2-year-old male of 2018 went undefeated that season, using victories in the G1 Del Mar Futurity and American Pharoah Stakes to lead into his crowning score in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile.

8. MCKINZIE
Street Sense x Runway Model, by Petionville
Sold to Three Amigos for $170,000 in 2016; Consigned by Lane's End
One of his crop's most consistent high-end runners, McKinzie has taken down four Grade 1 races, and he finished second in last year's Breeders' Cup Classic. All four of his campaigns have included at least one graded stakes win.

9. SHANGHAI BOBBY
Harlan's Holiday x Steelin', by Orientate
Sold to Starlight Racing for $105,000 in 2011; Consigned by Stonehaven Steadings
A perfect five-for-five record with wins in the G1 Champagne Stakes and Breeders' Cup Juvenile secured champion 2-year-old male honors for Shanghai Bobby in 2012. He came back at three to win a stakes race and finish second in the G3 Holy Bull Stakes.

10. LIAM'S MAP
Unbridled's Song x Miss Macy Sue, by Trippi
Sold to St. Elias Stables for $800,000 in 2012; Consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency
Never worse than second in eight career starts, Liam's Map became one of the top contenders in the older males division in 2015 after winning the G1 Woodward Stakes and Breeders' Cup Mile. He preceded those efforts with a runner-up finish in the G1 Whitney Stakes.

11. HAWKBILL
Kitten's Joy x Trensa, by Giant's Causeway
Sold to John Ferguson for $350,000 in 2014; Consigned by Gainesway
A Group 1 winner on two continents, who came within a head of adding a third in the G1 Northern Dancer Turf Stakes in 2017. His six career group stakes victories included the G1 Coral-Eclipse Stakes in England and the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic in the U.A.E., and he was also multiple Group 1-placed in Germany.

12. LADY AURELIA
Scat Daddy x D'Wildcat Speed, by Forest Wildcat
Sold to George Bolton and Peter Leidel for $350,000 in 2015; Consigned by James Herbener Jr.
Europe's champion 2-year-old filly of 2016 was a two-time winner at the prestigious Royal Ascot meet. She also picked up a Group 1 win in France and a listed stakes win in the U.S.

13. PRACTICAL JOKE
Into Mischief x Halo Humor, by Distorted Humor
Sold to Aquinnah Ventures for $240,000 in 2015; Consigned by Gainesway
A precocious juvenile who grew into a high-level one-turn horse by the end of his 3-year-old campaign. He won his first three starts, including the G1 Hopeful and Champagne Stakes, then ran third in the 2016 Breeders' Cup Juvenile. At three, he took the G1 H. Allen Jerkens Stakes, then competed admirably against older foes in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile and G1 Cigar Mile Handicap.

14. OXBOW
Awesome Again x Tizamazing, by Cee's Tizzy
Sold to Bluegrass Hall for $250,000 in 2011; Con- signed by Burleson Farms
The 2013 Preakness Stakes winner, who also finished second in that year's Belmont Stakes and won the G3 LeComte Stakes earlier in his career.

15. VEKOMA
Candy Ride x Mona de Momma, by Speightstown
Sold to R.A. Hill Stable for $135,000 in 2017; Consigned by Lane's End
After winning the G2 Blue Grass Stakes at three, the colt is undefeated at four, including wins in the G1 Carter Handicap and Metropolitan Handicap.

16. I'M A CHATTERBOX
Munnings x Chit Chatter, by Lost Soldier
RNA for $30,000 in 2013; Consigned by William B. Harrigan
Notched G1 wins in the Cotillion Stakes, Delaware Handicap, and Spinster Stakes, and ran third in the 2015 Kentucky Oaks.

17. SHE'S A TIGER
Tale of the Cat x Shandra Smiles, by Cahill Road
Sold to Mersad Metanovic Bloodstock for $150,000; Consigned by Warrendale Sales
Champion 2-year-old filly of 2013 won the G1 Del Mar Debutante Stakes, and was later disqualified from first to second in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies.

18. DIVISIDERO
Kitten's Joy x Madame du Lac, by Lemon Drop Kid Sold to Margaux Farm, agent, for $250,000 in 2013; Consigned by Hinkle Farms
A two-time winner of the G1 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic Stakes.

19. BODEMEISTER
Empire Maker x Untouched Talent, by Storm Cat Sold to Zayat Stables for $260,000 in 2010; Consigned by Brookdale Sales
Parlayed a win in the G1 Arkansas Derby to runner-up efforts in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes.

20. CON TE PARTIRO
Scat Daddy x Temple Street, by Street Cry
Sold to Cromwell Bloodstock for $130,000 in 2015; Consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency
A Grade 3-placed multiple stakes winner who was later sold to race in Australia, where she has become a two-time Group 1 winner at age six.

The post Second-Book Stars: The Top 20 Keeneland September Book 2 Graduates Of The Decade appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Practical Joke Yearlings Hit Market at Opportune Moment

Champion sire Into Mischief has had a lot of good weekends. But this year’s Kentucky Derby weekend had to be near the top of the list.

On Friday, his son Owendale ran second in the GII Alysheba S. at Churchill Downs only to be defeated by By My Standards, sired by none other than Into Mischief’s leading son Goldencents.

Then the next day at Saratoga, Into Mischief’s daughter Frank’s Rockette became a Grade II winner in the Prioress S. while at Gulfstream, Cool Arrow won the GIII Smile Sprint S. To wrap up the day, the speedy Baffert-trained Authentic became Into Mischief’s first Kentucky Derby winner in a historic Run for the Roses.

On the same day four years ago, another son of Into Mischief made headlines when Practical Joke took the second of five wins in New York in the GI Hopeful S.

“The professionalism that he showed in only his second start, to make a start like that so quickly and go to the lead to win with authority, really impressed me,” recalled Coolmore’s Adrian Wallace. “He stamped his class and his speed, and also the fact that he could take that speed around a turn and go seven furlongs.”

Campaigned by Klaravich Stables and William H. Lawrence, the Chad Brown trainee was undefeated in his first three starts as a juvenile, taking his division in New York by storm.

“He was, without a doubt, the top New York 2-year-old of his division,” Wallace said. “Anytime you have a horse that wins GI Hopeful S. and then the GI Champagne S., you have a serious sire prospect on your hands.”

Practical Joke continued his domination of New York in his second season, winning the GIII Dwyer S. followed by the GI H. Allen Jerkens S. He retired with close to two million dollars in earnings and took up stud duty at Ashford Stud in 2018.

Coming off a big weekend from Into Mischief and his son Goldencents, the first yearlings from Practical Joke are hitting the market at a highly opportune time.

The young sire averaged $102,028 at the weanling and short yearling sales with 35 of 46 sold and a top price of $320,000.

McMahon and Hill Bloodstock’s Mike McMahon said he knew from the start that he wanted to get his hands on a Practical Joke weanling.

“You had to use Practical Joke in your pinhook strategy,” he said. “He was a successful 2-year-old, he was fast and he’s by Into Mischief. You had to be thinking about him. We went after a couple early, but Larry Best got them.”

Best’s OXO Equine purchased a colt out of Promisedyouheaven (Unbridled’s Song) for $240,000 at the Fasig-Tipton November Sale, and then a second colt out of Bailzee (Grand Slam) days later at Keeneland for $260,000.

After missing out on a few other Practical Joke offspring, McMahon said he remembers meandering the sales ground and stopping by the Bedouin Bloodstock consignment. There he stumbled upon a colt by Practical Joke out of four-time stakes producer Miss Mary Pat (Service Stripe).

“That colt came out and I was like, ‘Oh my god, I can’t believe I missed this horse.’ He was the best Practical Joke I had seen,” he recalled.

Practical Joke colt out of Miss Mary Pat | Mike McMahon

The colt is now slated for the first day of the Fasig-Tipton Selected Yearlings Showcase as Hip 252 with the Gainesway consignment.

“This colt has a lot of quality,” McMahon said. “He’s a beautiful horse- a big hip, lovely top and he’s correct. He’s been very straightforward. I wish they were all so easy.”

Another 19 Practical Joke yearlings are catalogued for the Fasig-Tipton sale, and an additional 76 will go through the ring at the Keeneland September Sale.

“The thing that impresses me most about the Practical Jokes are their physiques,” said Wallace. “They’re big, very masculine-type horses. They cover a lot of ground and are good movers. They’ve got good shoulders and hips on them.”

One yearling that Wallace will have an eye on at Keeneland is Hip 1539, a colt out of the stakes-winning Rock Hard Ten mare Rock and Glory.

“He’s a very masculine, powerful horse,” he said. “He’s going to tick a lot of boxes and should be very popular at the sale.”

Wallace said he believes Practical Joke’s yearlings will attract a wide range of buyers in the coming weeks.

“Certainly people will remember him as a precocious 2-year-old, and that will encourage the 2-year-old [pinhookers] to take a chance on him. But I also think people will remember his longevity as a racehorse. I think people will remember his brilliance at Saratoga, remember the fact that he conquered Belmont and want to be a part of Practical Joke’s legacy.”

He also added that he thinks Practical Joke’s racing achievements are an indication of the success the horse will soon have at stud.

“There’s always exceptions, but horses that show brilliance at two and then can carry that on at three, they’re the ones that make the best sires,” he said. “They’re the ones breeders want to breed to and the ones the sales market wants. Practical Joke embodies that, and the fact that he’s a son of Into Mischief is a huge feather in any horses cap.”

The post Practical Joke Yearlings Hit Market at Opportune Moment appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Ashford Stud To Offer Southern Hemisphere-Season Breedings For Resident Stallions

Ashford Stud in Versailles, Ky., will offer the services of its stallions remaining in the U.S. for the summer and fall for matings on the Southern Hemisphere season's schedule.

Top commercial sire Uncle Mo leads the way with a Southern Hemisphere season fee of $30,000. The 12-year-old son of Indian Charlie has seen his greatest Southern Hemisphere success in Australia, where his runners are led by Man From Uncle, winner of the Group 2 Hobartville Stakes and G3 Eskimo Prince Stakes.

Munnings, a 14-year-old Speightstown horse, will stand for $15,000. His top runner south of the Equator was Argentine-born Rock and Fellers, who was a group stakes-level competitor in his native country before being moved to race in the U.S.

Veteran sire Lookin at Lucky is advertised at $10,000. The 13-year-old son of Smart Strike has shuttled in the past to Australia and Chile, and he's proven especially effective in the latter country, finishing 2017 as the country's leading sire. His top Chilean-sired runners include Chilean Filly Triple Crown winner and U.S. Grade 1 winner Wow Cat, and Chilean Derby winner Full of Luck.

Following is a complete list of Ashford Stud's stallions available for Southern Hemisphere-time breeding, along with their advertised fees for the season.

Air Force Blue – $8,000
Competitive Edge – $5,000
Cupid – $5,000
Fusaichi Pegasus – $3,000
Lookin at Lucky – $10,000
Mo Town – $5,000
Munnings – $15,000
Practical Joke – $10,000
Tale of the Cat – $5,000
Uncle Mo – $30,000

The post Ashford Stud To Offer Southern Hemisphere-Season Breedings For Resident Stallions appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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