Hot horses for a summer's night
A strong cast of yearlings sired by Darley's freshmen Discreet Cat, Any Given Saturday, Hard Spun and Street Sense head to Fasig-Tipton's foremost stage for the Selected Yearlings Sale which kicks off on Monday evening at the modernized Saratoga pavilion.
G1 Cigar and G2 UAE Derby winner Discreet Cat is represented by three half-siblings to Black type winners, including the half-brother (hip 123) to Stakes winner Yonegwa, and Graded-placed Brilliant Son; and a filly half from the immediate family of G1 Flamingo S. winner Talinum. The chestnut miss is a half-sister to Great Notion. Undefeated at two, the Stakes-winning son of Elusive Quality raced second in G1 King's Bishop, while besting Ghostzapper. Also offered is a lovely filly (hip 181) from a speedy Stakes-placed turf mare Starlore (Spectacular Bid), who previously produced an honest campaigner in second level dirt Stakes winner Quest - runner-up to Mineshaft in the G1 Jockey Club Gold Cup. Offered by Stone Farm, she reigns from a hallmark turf family. Her third dam is half-sister to two-time Eclipse winner J. O. Tobin. A starlet in England by her own right, Mysterious (by Epsom Derby victor Crepello) won the 1,000 Guineas, plus the Epsom and Yorkshire Oaks.
From Derby rivals to the stallion barn mates, Hard Spun and Street Sense have posted numbers to be proud of. It is thereby fitting that they continue to run one-two atop the freshman sire list. Their yearling numbers have steadily rolled forward from their bust out success in the weanling marketplace last November.
Hard Spun turned in a highly respectable $140,833 average at the recent Fasig-Tipton July Freshman Showcase. The forthcoming select sale boasts no less than nine yearlings with premium sibling credentials. Hip 31 is a gray/roan colt half-brother to the late Champion Sprinter Lost in the Fog, who like Hard Spun, had a G1 King's Bishop-victory to his credit. A lovely dark brown filly (hip 21), a half-sister to G2 winner Blues Street is also a granddaughter of G1 Matron winner Stormy Blues. Stakes-winning siblings Montgomery's Arch and Welcome Inn are prior runners of Inny River (Seattle Slew). The former won the G2 Richmond Stakes and placed in the G1 Darley Dewhurst Stakes. Inny River's well-developed 2009 filly (hip 72) goes under the hammer Monday evening.
One bay colt with vast potential returns to the auction arena since fetching $300,000 last November; the steadily maturing prospect was foaled in February to the three-quarter sister of Derby runner-up Eight Belles' dam. Stakes winners Cherokee Triangle (hip 17), Barrier Reef (hip 133), Pentagonal (hip 134), and United (156) have all added to the first dam credentials of Hard Spun's respective offspring.
Street Sense was such an attractive youngster that sale representatives requested his nomination. Owner/breeder James Tafel however knew a colt of such caliber could not be replaced and had to gratefully decline. Tafel's aspirations for his gorgeous colt were realized in a historical Breeders' Cup / Derby double - a feat not soon forgotten by fans and especially judicious horsemen. His market share is a stimulating tribute to his champion status. To date, his yearling prices have averaged $220,000.
Undoubtedly his popularity will only grow come sale time with eleven exceptional lots from mares like four-time G1 winner Lakeway (Seattle Slew). Not only did Lakeway win or place in ten graded events, she also has the knack for passing along genetic competence. Her foals include Listed winner Sluice, dam of G1 Spinster Stakes heroine Mushka, as well as Stakes-placed In Excelsis, and this year's G2 Fair Grounds Oaks runner-up and G1 placer Flying Spur. Lakeway's colt (hip 83) sells the first night. Another colt (hip 128) out of the Stakes-placed daughter of lovely Flying Heat (Private Account) can be seen in the Three Chimneys Sales barn. Flying Heat has thrown nine winners from as many starters with a bonus five heralding Black type including G1 Personal Ensign winner Pompeii.
The Street Sense half-brother to Graded winner Rich Woman (hip 152) impressed pundits as a weanling to bring $340,000. The colt hails from the family of G1 winners Videogenic and Valid Video. The half-brother to $1.5 million earner Request For Parole (hip 98) is expected to keep the Taylor Made Sales crew busy. Several of Street Sense's colts and fillies reign from the lineage of international champions Classic Times and Singletta (hip 74); Tomcito and Numerous Times (hip 95); and Oh So Sharp (hip 157). Of the American runners, we quickly recognize Eclipse champion Outstandingly and Sky Mesa (hip 53).
Any Given Saturday maximized a hard fought sophomore season in a spirited victory over classmates Hard Spun and Curlin in the $1 million, G1 Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park. The veteran event holds significance this time of year, as it falls on the eve of the sale. Last year's renewal was captured by Medaglia D'Oro's Rachel Alexandra in her most respected triumph. The broodmare sire of the sole Saratoga offering for Any Given Saturday (hip 19, a colt out of Stakes winner Can Ihavethisdance), is Haskell winner Menifee, a son of Harlan and Broodmare-of-the-Year Anne Campbell. Any Given Saturday turned heads as a $1.1 million yearling himself. From limited early first-crop exchanges, his yearlings have averaged an inspiring $187,500.
For more information on any of these stallions, please contact Darley America.
28 July 2010