Keeneland September: Horses to watch during Tuesday's Book 1 session

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Keeneland September yearling sale set the table Monday with nine seven-figure horses, led by a $2.5 million Quality Road colt, in its opening session. With the buying bench thus warmed up, the sale’s Book 1 portion concludes with its second session Tuesday.

Here are some of the horses to watch in that session, largely based on their pages and the market trends seen early. The selections reflect catalog updates and sale outs through Monday.

Hip No. 197, colt by Galileo – Daddys Lil Darling, by Scat Daddy. Consigned by Denali Stud, agent.
This is the only yearling in the catalog from the penultimate crop of international titan Galileo, who died last year. Grade 1 winner Daddys Lil Darling, a top-level performer on both dirt and turf, is a half-sister to Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint winner Mongolian Saturday, stakes winner Victoryasecret, and stakes-placed Four Song Limit.

Hip No. 212, This Must Be Love, colt by Uncle Mo – Discern, by Tapit. Consigned by Hill 'n' Dale Sales, agent.
Uncle Mo has continued to bolster his reputation, producing his second classic winner this year with Belmont Stakes winner Mo Donegal. This is the first foal out of an unraced mare who is a half-sister, and bred on the same cross, to prominent producers America, a graded stakes winner who in turn produced graded stakes winner First Captain; and Paris Bikini, dam of Grade 1 winner Paris Lights. It is a commercially popular family, with America producing a pair of seven-figure yearlings in her career thus far and Paris Lights selling for $3.1 million as a broodmare prospect last year. This is the family of Kentucky Oaks winner and blue hen Blush With Pride, as well as her classic-producing daughter Better Than Honour, a Broodmare of the Year.

Hip No. 222, colt by Justify – Dream of Summer, by Siberian Summer. Consigned by Taylor Made Sales, agent.
Triple Crown winner Justify is the sire of four stakes winners from his first crop. Grade 1 winner Dream of Summer is the dam of classic-placed Grade 1 winner Creative Cause, Grade 1 winner Vexatious, and classic-placed graded stakes winner Destin. Her daughter Summer Promise sold for $500,000 at this sale last year and is now a graded-placed juvenile.

Hip No. 247, Awesome, colt by Into Mischief – Flawless, by Mr. Greeley. Consigned by Bridie Harrison, agent for Peter E. Blum Thoroughbreds.
This colt has already been given a hopeful name and could live up to it as a full brother to Authentic, winner of the 2020 Kentucky Derby, Breeders' Cup Classic, and two other Grade 1 events to earn Horse of the Year honors. Leading sire Into Mischief has already made a strong start as a sire of sires.

Hip No. 305, filly by Ghostzapper – Kosmo's Buddy, by Outflanker. Consigned by Blake-Albina Thoroughbred Services, agent.
This is a half-sister to 2021 Horse of the Year Knicks Go. That runner's sire, Paynter, and Ghostzapper are both sons of Awesome Again.

Hip No. 308, Lieutenant General, colt by Omaha Beach – Lady Shipman, by Midshipman. Consigned by Taylor Made Sales, agent.
Graded stakes winner Lady Shipman's first foal is Golden Pal, winner of the 2020 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint and 2021 Turf Sprint. This is the first crop for Omaha Beach, and he is currently leading this sire class by average sale price.

Hip No. 311, colt by Constitution – Last Full Measure, by Empire Maker. Consigned by Taylor Made Sales, as agent.
Grade 1 winner Last Full Measure, out of Grade 1 winner Lazy Slusan, continued the top-level victories into a third generation by producing Grade 1 winner Valiance. The latter is by Tapit, the sire of Constitution. This young classic sire was a standout freshman of 2019. The foals from his resulting book of mares are now yearlings, and he has already recorded a seven-figure juvenile from that crop at Saratoga. This could be a breakout season.

Hip No. 331, colt by Quality Road – Magical World by Distorted Humor. Consigned by Hill 'n' Dale Sales, agent.
Quality Road has been one of the nation’s leading sires this year, and he already hit the seven-figure mark during Monday’s opening session. This is a half-brother to multiple Grade 1 winner Guarana and to stakes winners Magic Dance and Beatbox. This colt's second dam is Breeders' Cup Distaff winner Pleasant Home, and this is the outstanding family responsible for champions Sky Beauty and Dayjur, among others. Guarana and Magical World sold for $4.4 million and $5.2 million, respectively, last November.