Book 1 and 2 horses to watch at Keeneland September yearling sale

More than 1,000 yearlings are set to be presented to upper-market buyers during the first four days – or two books – of the Keeneland September yearling sale. With stellar pedigrees one factor in being selected into those books, it would be impossible to highlight every sibling to or yearling out of a Grade 1 winner. However, some may have some extra attention due to the commercial results of close family members, potential residual value as breeding stock, or recent updates to the family. While the world's foremost bloodstock experts will have the final word on the conformation and athletic potential if these yearlings, here is a short list of those who, on paper, bring particularly strong pedigree credentials. This list of horses to watch accounts for catalog updates, supplemental entries, and outs through Sept. 8.

Monday, Sept. 11

Book 1, Session 1

Hip No. 19, filly by Into Mischief – American Story, by Ghostzapper. Consigned by Hill ‘n’ Dale at Xalapa, agent.

Into Mischief, the nation’s four-time reigning leading sire, is again atop the stallion leaderboard and is again poised for a strong Keeneland September, with many well-bred offerings. Grade 2-placed American Story is the dam of five winners from six starters, including Grade 1 winner American Gal and Grade 2-placed stakes winner Americanize. Grade/Group 1 winners Reynaldothewizard and Seventh Street appear on the catalog page.

Hip No. 20, filly by Uncle Mo – Angela Renee, by Bernardini. Consigned by Taylor Made Sales, agent.

Grade 1 winner Angela Renee, a full sister to Grade 1 winner To Honor and Serve, produced Grade 3-placed Gilded Age early in her broodmare career. This is the immediate family of several graded/group stakes performers, including top-level Japanese winner Mozu Ascot.

Hip No. 30, colt by Into Mischief – Bast, by Uncle Mo. Consigned by Elite Sales, agent for Spendthrift Farm.

This is the second foal out of multiple Grade 1 winner Bast, who Spendthrift purchased for $4.2 million in 2020. She is from the family of Grade 1 winners Fault and Juju’s Map.

Hip No. 35, colt by Nyquist – Belvoir Bay, by Equiano. Consigned by Lane’s End, agent.

Nyquist is having a solid year, with Grade 1 Alabama Stakes winner Randomized to his credit. Millionaire Belvoir Bay won 10 stakes, including the 2019 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint; a few days later, she sold for $1.5 million as a broodmare prospect. This is her second foal.

Hip No. 41, colt by Quality Road – Borealis Night, by Astrology. Consigned by Terrazas Thoroughbreds, agent for Corser Thoroughbreds.

Quality Road, who has been among Keeneland September’s leaders the past two years, sired his first Triple Crown race winner this year in Preakness victor National Treasure. The only other registered foal out of Borealis Night is Arabian Knight, who sold for $2.3 million as a juvenile. The winner of the Grade 3 Southwest Stakes was third in the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational before providing a major catalog update with a victory in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic.

Hip No. 49, colt by Curlin – Byrama, by Byron. Consigned by Taylor Made Sales, agent.

Out of Grade 1 winner Byrama, this is a full brother to Grade 1 Florida Derby winner Known Agenda. With Curlin emerging as a sire of sires – two of his sons in a row have sired a Kentucky Derby winner from their first crop – well-bred colts by him are likely to bring a premium, as also seen at Fasig-Tipton Saratoga, when his son out of fellow Hall of Famer Beholder brought a sale-topping $4 million.

Hip No. 57, Just Royal, colt by Justify – Champagne Royale, by French Deputy. Consigned by Woods Edge Farm, agent.

Triple Crown winner Justify is leading the third-crop sires list by black-type winners. Stakes-placed Champagne Royale is the dam of a pair of Grade 1 winners in Danza and Majestic Harbor. Overall, she has produced seven winners from eight starters, also including stakes-placed Tickled Pink.

Hip No. 69, filly by Quality Road – Constellation, by Bellamy Road. Consigned by Lane’s End, agent.

Grade 1 winner Constellation’s first runner is a winner. This filly’s second dam is stakes winner and prominent producer For Royalty, dam of stakes winner Truth Seeker and three stakes-placed runners. For Royalty’s own yearling, from the first crop of Horse of the Year Authentic, will be on offer in Book 2 as Hip No. 533.

Hip No. 88, colt by Justify – Data Dependent, by More Than Ready. Consigned by Glen Hill Farm.

Triple Crown winners American Pharoah and Justify have both found group stakes success in Europe, and both have several yearlings in this sale with European pedigrees who should be attractive to the international marketplace present here. This is a full sister to Grade 1 Belmont Oaks winner Aspen Grove. Grade 3-placed Data Dependent is a half-sister to Group 1 winner Skitter Skatter and Group 3 winner Victory Dance.

Hip No. 94, colt by Uncle Mo – Diva Delite, by Repent. Consigned by Hunter Valley Farm, agent.

This is a half-brother to Eclipse Award champion Midnight Bisou, as well as to Grade 3 winner Verifying and stakes winner Stage Left. Midnight Bisou, whose own yearling will be on offer on Day 2, has twice gone through the sales ring in her broodmare career, lighting the board at $5 million and $5.5 million in those outings. Verifying sold for $775,000 as a yearling.

Hip No. 100, colt by Tapit – Dream Rush, by Wild Rush. Consigned by Denali Stud, agent for Stonestreet Farm.

Multiple Grade 1 winner Dream Rush is the dam of Grade 1 winner Dreaming of Julia, Grade 3 winner Dream Pauline (also by Tapit), stakes winner Atreides, and stakes-placed Perchance. Broodmare of the Year Dreaming of Julia is the dam of two-time Eclipse Award champion Malathaat and graded stakes winner Julia Shining.

Hip No. 101, colt by Into Mischief – Dream Tree, by Uncle Mo. Consigned by Denali Stud, agent.

This is the second registered foal out of Grade 1 winner Dream Tree.

Hip No. 103, colt by Tapit – Drumette, by Henny Hughes. Consigned by Denali Stud, agent for Bridlewood Farm.

This is a half-brother, and bred on the same cross, to two-time Eclipse Award champion Monomoy Girl. He also is a half-brother to Grade 2 winner Mr. Monomoy. Broodmare of the Year Drumette most recently changed hands for $1.85 million, while Monomoy Girl sold for $9.5 million toward the conclusion of her career.

Hip No. 104, colt by Tapit – Egyptian Storm, by Pioneerof the Nile. Consigned by Lane’s End, agent.

This is the second foal out of Egyptian Storm, a half-sister to Triple Crown winner Justify, graded stakes winner The Lieutenant, and stakes winner Stage Raider.

Hip No. 108, colt by Medaglia d’Oro – Enaya Alrabb, by Uncle Mo. Consigned by Claiborne Farm, agent for Wild Aire Partners.

This is the second foal out of Enaya Alrabb, who was Grade 1-placed before injury ended her career; she subsequently topped the 2020 Keeneland January sale. The mare is from the family of Hall of Famer and Grade 1 producer Rachel Alexandra, who is by Medaglia d’Oro.

Hip No. 145, colt by Into Mischief – Guarana, by Ghostzapper. Consigned by Hill ‘n’ Dale, agent.

This is the first foal out of Guarana, who won 5 of 6 career starts, including three Grade 1 races. Guarana’s granddam is Breeders’ Cup Distaff winner Pleasant Home, and this is the extended family of champions Sky Beauty and Dayjur, among other top performers. A number of members of this family have gone through the sales ring recently due to a partnership dissolution; Guarana brought $4.4 million as a broodmare prospect, while her dam, Magical World, sold for $5.2 million. Magical World is the dam of yearlings sold for $2.1 million and $1.1 million during her career. Her yearling Into Mischief colt sells on Tuesday as Hip No. 218.

Hip No. 147, colt by Into Mischief – Halo Humor, by Distorted Humor. Consigned by Eaton Sales, agent.

This is a full brother to three-time Grade 1 winner Practical Joke, now a prominent young sire.

Hip No. 154, colt by Uncle Mo – Helena Bay, by Johannesburg. Consigned by Runnymede Farm, agent.

This is a half-brother to Grade 1 Pacific Classic winner Collected, now a promising young sire.

Hip No. 162, colt by Into Mischief – I’ll Take Charge, by Indian Charlie. Consigned by Gainesway, agent.

This is a half-brother to multiple graded stakes winner Charge It. The second dam is multiple Grade 1 winner and Broodmare of the Year Take Charge Lady, who has produced champion Will Take Charge and Grade 1 winners As Time Goes By and Take Charge Indy. She also is the second dam of champion Take Charge Brandi and Grade 1 winner and promising freshman sire Omaha Beach.

Hip No. 184, colt by Justify – Kissed By Angels, by Galileo. Consigned by Warrendale Sales, agent.

Group 3 winner Kissed By Angels is out of Group 1 winner Lillie Langtry. That makes her a full sister to European classic winners Minding (a Cartier Award European champion), Tuesday, and Empress Josephine. Tuesday won the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf.

Hip No. 190, filly by American Pharoah – Pushkinskaya, by Galileo. Consigned by Highgate Sales, agent.

Unraced Pushkinskaya is a full sister to European champion Minding, whose multiple stakes winners produced include English 2000 Guineas winner Saxon Warrior. Pushkinskaya also is a full sister to group stakes winner Promise to be True.

Tuesday, Sept. 12

Book 1, Session 2

Hip No. 205, filly by Constitution – Last Full Measure, by Empire Maker. Consigned by Taylor Made Sales, agent.

This filly’s first two dams are Grade 1 winners, and Last Full Measure also is the dam of Grade 1 winner Valiance, by Constitution’s sire, Tapit. A full brother to this filly sold for $1.8 million at this sale last year, and a filly from such a productive family likely has even more residual value.

Hip No. 232, colt by Curlin – Midnight Bisou, by Midnight Lute. Consigned by Hill ‘n’ Dale, agent.

Here is the aforementioned first foal out of champion Midnight Bisou.

Hip No. 261, colt by Into Mischief – Nonna Mia, by Empire Maker. Consigned by Lane’s End, agent.

Grade 1-placed Nonna Mia – a half-sister to Grade 2 winner and consistent sire Cairo Prince – is the dam of Grade 1 winner and good young sire Outwork and stakes-placed Nonna’s Boy. Her daughter Nonna Bella is the dam of exciting 2-year-old debut winner Fierceness. Into Mischief is emerging as a sire of sires, and this colt has a number of good sires in his female family as well.

Hip No. 276, filly by Into Mischief – Peggy Jane, by Kafwain. Consigned by Gainesway, agent for Stonestreet Farm.

This is a full sister to Eclipse Award champion Gamine, who sold for $1.8 million as a 2-year-old and went on to win five Grade 1 stakes, including the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint. Gamine sold again for $7 million as a young broodmare last fall.

Hip No. 309, colt by Into Mischief – Serengeti Empress, by Alternation. Consigned by Taylor Made Sales, agent.

This is the first foal out of Kentucky Oaks winner Serengeti Empress, who also was a Grade 1 winner around one turn.

Hip No. 310, filly by Into Mischief – Sharing, by Speightstown. Consigned by Gainesway, agent.

This filly’s first two dams are Breeders’ Cup winners. She is the first foal out of Juvenile Fillies Turf winner Sharing, who in turn is out of Filly and Mare Turf winner Shared Account.

Hip No. 325, colt by Curlin – Songbird, by Medaglia d’Oro. Consigned by Gainesway, agent.

Dual Eclipse Award champion Songbird was inducted into the Hall of Fame this year. She has not yet produced a winner, with only one starter from three foals of racing age.

Hip No. 331, colt by Into Mischief – Special Me, by Unbridled’s Song. Consigned by Machmer Hall Sales.

The outstanding Special Me is the dam of seven winners from eight starters, including multiple Grade 1 winner Gift Box; Grade 1 winner Gina Romantica, a full sister to this colt; and Grade 2 winners Stonetastic and Special Forces. Special Me is a half-sister to Group 1 winner Our New Recruit.

Hip No. 338, filly by Into Mischief – Stellar Wind, by Curlin. Consigned by Hill ‘n’ Dale, agent.

This is the first foal to come to auction out of Eclipse Award champion Stellar Wind.

Hip No. 340, filly by Quality Road – Stopchargingmaria, by Tale of the Cat. Consigned by Gainesway, agent.

Breeders’ Cup Distaff winner Stopchargingmaria is the dam of three winners from as many starters. Those foals have each gone through the auction ring, with an average price above $1.3 million.

Hip No. 361, filly by War Front – Tap Gun, by Tapit. Consigned by Gainesway, agent.

This is a filly from an outstanding female family that has been hard to get in to, raising her residual value. Tap Gun is out of Grade 2 winner Quiet Giant, making her a half-sister to Horse of the Year and red-hot young sire Gun Runner. The next dam is stakes winner Quiet Dance, dam of five stakes winners, including Horse of the Year Saint Liam and Grade 1 winner Funtastic.

Hip No. 382, colt by Into Mischief – Unique Bella, by Tapit. Consigned by Taylor Made Sales, agent.

Millionaire Unique Bella won three Grade 1 races and a pair of Eclipse Awards. She is out of Breeders’ Cup Distaff winner Unrivaled Belle, whose own Into Mischief colt directly follows this one through the sales ring.

Wednesday, Sept. 13

Book 2, Session 1

Hip No. 420, colt by Liam’s Map – Amazement, by Bernardini. Consigned by Darby Dan Farm, agent.

This is a full brother to multiple Grade 1 winner Colonel Liam. The second dam is Grade 1 winner and stakes producer Wonder Again, a sister to champion Grass Wonder; Grade 1 winner Tribulation also appears on the catalog page.

Hip No. 467, filly by Ghostzapper – Brooklynsway, by Giant Gizmo. Consigned by Taylor Made Sales, agent.

Grade 2 winner Brooklynsway, also a Canadian classic winner, is the dam of Adare Manor, whose four graded stakes wins include, most recently, the Grade 1 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes.

Hip No. 470, Brown Sugar, filly by Twirling Candy – Cashmere, by Cowboy Cal. Consigned by Gainesway, agent.

This is a full sister to the versatile Rombauer, winner of the 2021 Preakness Stakes. Cashmere is the dam of five winners from six starters, also including stakes-placed Cono. This is the immediate family of European Horse of the Year Roaring Lion and Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint winner California Flag, among other graded stakes winners.

Hip No. 507, colt by Speightstown – Eblouissante, by Bernardini. Consigned by Lane’s End, agent.

The winning mare Eblouissante, a half-sister to Hall of Famer Zenyatta and Grade 1 winner Balance, is emerging as a good broodmare, with her three winners from four starters led by Grade 2 winner Confidence Game.

Hip No. 618, colt by Into Mischief – Melody Lady, by Unbridled’s Song. Consigned by Gainesway, agent.

Stakes winner Melody Lady, out of Grade 1 winner Lady Tak, is the dam of Grade 1 winner Volatile and of stakes winner and producer Buy Sell Hold. Volatile is a popular commercial sire with his first yearlings, averaging more than six times his stud fee.

Hip No. 646, colt by Curlin – Often, by Galileo. Consigned by Lane’s End, agent.

Often, dam of one winner from four starters, is out of Grade 2 winner Mariah’s Storm. That makes her a half-sister to European Horse of the Year and leading sire Giant’s Causeway. Mariah’s Storm also produced Group 2 winner You’resothrilling, dam of a trio of Group 1 winners in Gleneagles, Happily, and Joan of Arc; and five other group stakes-placed runners, including regional leading sire Freud.

Hip No. 669, colt by McKinzie – Puca, by Big Brown. Consigned by Runnymede Farm, agent.

Stakes winner Puca’s first three foals, in order, are multiple stakes-placed Gunning; this year’s Kentucky Derby winner, Mage; and stakes-placed juvenile Dornoch. The young broodmare is a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Finnegans Wake. This is the first crop for multiple Grade 1 winner McKinzie, who has had yearlings sell for as much as $700,000.

Hip No. 730, colt by Bernardini – St. John’s River, by Include. Consigned by Hill ‘n’ Dale, agent.

This is the final crop of champion and successful sire Bernardini. Grade 2 winner St. John’s River, also runner-up in the Kentucky Oaks, is the dam of three winners from five starters. She is a full sister to multiple Grade 1 winner Panty Raid, dam of Grade 1 winner Proxy and Grade 2 winner Micheline – the latter by Bernardini.

Thursday, Sept. 14

Book 2, Session 2

Hip No. 863, colt by Into Mischief – Electric Forest, by Curlin. Consigned by Warrendale Sales, agent for Stonestreet Farm.

This is the second foal out of Grade 3 winner Electric Forest, in turn out of Grade 2 winner Forest Music. The latter also is the dam of graded stakes winners Kentuckian and Uncle Chuck.

Hip No. 892, colt by Curlin – Golden Artemis, by Malibu Moon. Consigned by Blandford Stud, agent.

This colt’s first dam, stakes-placed Golden Artemis, fills the entire catalog page. She is the dam of Grade 1 winner My Conquestadory, dam of Grade 2-placed Bourbon War and stakes-placed Russian Conquest. She also is the dam of stakes winner Runninsonofagun, stakes-placed Saharan, and multiple stakes producer Conquest Lil Miss.

Hip No. 935, filly by American Pharoah – La Cloche, by Ghostzapper. Consigned by Paramount Sales, agent.

Grade 3 winner La Cloche is the dam of four winners from six starters, including Grade 3 winner Bellavais. The next dam is Grade 1 winner Memories of Silver, dam of four stakes winners, including Grade 1 winner and stakes producer Winter Memories.

Hip No. 980, colt by Munnings – Mo’ne Davis, by Bernardini. Consigned by Vinery Sales, agent.

Mo’ne Davis is a half-sister to Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro, as well as to stakes winners Margano, Lentenor, and Holy Ground. Grade 1 winner Emma’s Encore appears on this catalog page.

Hip No. 1025, filly by Malibu Moon – Race to Urga, by Bernstein. Consigned by Paramount Sales, agent.

From the final crop of classic sire Malibu Moon, this is a full sister to multiple Grade 1 winner Gormley. Stakes winner Race to Urga is from the family of champions Criminal Type and Estrapade.

Hip No. 1042, filly by Complexity – Rushin No Blushin, by Ogygian. Consigned by Paramount Sales, agent.

This is the first crop for Grade 1 winner Complexity. This filly is a half-sister to multiple Grade 1 winner Jack Christopher and is from the immediate family of Grade 1 winner Street Boss.

Hip No. 1057, colt by Into Mischief – She’s a Julie, by Elusive Quality. Consigned by Warrendale Sales, agent for Spendthrift Farm.

This is the first foal out of a multiple Grade 1-winning mare. Her dam is a half-sister to Grade 3 winner Untouched Talent, dam of Grade 1 winner and classic sire Bodemeister.

Hip No. 1096, colt by Justify – Take the Ribbon, by Chester House. Consigned by Glennwood Farm.

Take the Ribbon is the dam of seven winners from eight starters, including Group 1-placed Bookrunner and stakes-placed Take These Chains; she is the second dam of Grade 3 winner Love and Thunder. Take the Ribbon is a half-sister to stakes winners Bright Magic, Flash Forward, Flash Mash, Glinda the Good, and Hot War. Glinda the Good is the dam of champion and young classic sire Good Magic.