Sunday Silence line produces pair of Keeneland stakes winners

The influence of the late Sunday Silence, who spent his entire stud career in Japan, was in evidence Saturday at Keeneland in the pedigrees of Brazilian-bred Grade 1 winner In Love and British-born Grade 1 winner Blowout.

In Love, who won the Grade 1 Keeneland Turf Mile, is by Sunday Silence’s son Agnes Gold – who also sired last year’s winner of the race, Ivar, for the same connections. A Group 2 winner in Japan, the well-traveled Agnes Gold began his stud career in Japan, briefly stood in Florida from 2007 to 2009 as one of the few sons of Sunday Silence to ever be available stateside, and then spent the last decade-plus of his career in Brazil. He died last month at age 23.

Two races prior to the Keeneland Turf Mile, Blowout won the Grade 1 First Lady Stakes. The Great Britain-bred daughter of Dansili is out of French 1000 Guineas winner Beauty Parlour, by Sunday Silence’s legendary son Deep Impact. The winner of Japan’s Triple Crown and other major events, Deep Impact went on to become a leading sire, with 181 stakes winners, including 19 champions.