Keeneland September: Malibu Moon records second seven-figure yearling

One day after recording the first seven-figure yearling of his stud career, Malibu Moon notched a second as Hugo Merry, bloodstock agent for fashion industry magnate Andrew Rosen, signed the ticket for $1 million on a filly by the Spendthrift Farm stallion to close out Tuesday’s second session of the Keeneland September yearling sale.

“We bought [Grade 1 winner] Icon Project and [Grade 3 winner] First Passage here, there are some nice fillies that we’ve bought here over the years,” Merry said. “So we’re hoping this one’s half as good.

“We heard that people were on this filly,” Merry said. “Everyone was on her. We thought we might have to go a bit more, so we were very happy to get her for that price. It’s a huge market.”

The filly, consigned by Mill Ridge Sales, as agent, is out of the stakes-winning Wild Again mare Shop Again. Shop Again is the dam of Power Broker, winner of the Grade 1 FrontRunner Stakes last season. Like Malibu Moon, Power Broker’s sire, Pulpit, is a son of A.P. Indy.

Shop Again is a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Miss Shop, Grade 2 winner Trappe Shot, stakes winner Bought In Dixie, Grade 2-placed Bulling, and stakes producer Shop Here.

“It's such a gift to be able to bring something up like that,” Headley Bell of Mill Ridge said. “She was an extraordinary filly, bred by one of our dear friends who's been with us for a long time. So many people were interested in her and we just didn't know whom. Andrew Rosen is such a class act. He loves racing, so it delights us in every way.”