Book Four of 2014 Keeneland Sales Full of Interesting Pedigrees

Book Four of 2014 Keeneland Sales Full of Interesting Pedigrees: Book 4 begins today (Wednesday, September, 17, 2014), and combing through these picks was quite time consuming, as always. I saw some very nice pedigrees, as I will list below, and I also saw some pedigrees I did not quite know what to make of! Not sure if we will see a new sales topper in this bunch, but these yearlings caught my eyes for one reason or another. Let’s take a look! (Keeneland Sale Live Stream)

Hip 2407 – this filly by Drosselmeyer if a part of his first crop, which has been pretty well received. This filly is out of the Storm Cat mare Magicalmystercat, who three winners, one being the grade three winner A.P. Magic. The blood is there for this filly to carry herself two turns on dirt and a likely preferred surface. She should bring a good dollar.

Hip 2446 – this Summer Bird colt has a beautiful pedigree! As it is one of the better ones I will likely list here, he is a lot going for him. Being by a Belmont Stakes winner, out of a Pulpit mare, Palais Versailles, he should have plenty of stamina. The colt’s dam has produced a stakes placed runner, but the better part of the pedigree is a little further back. The mare is a half sister to grade one winners Saarland and George Vancouver. Saarland won the Remsen as a freshman and George Vancouver invaded the U.S. to take the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. This colt will love distance and will likely thrive on either surface.

Hip 2460 – this chestnut colt by international sire Scat Daddy may likely get some attention. Out of the Point Given mare Prime Kiss, this colt has a solid family to run over multiple surfaces and likely middle distances. The dam, Prime Kiss, is a half sister to the G1 Santa Anita Derby winner Midnight Interlude (by War Chant). I do like that there is more stamina on the distaff line than in the sire line.

Hip 2463 – this colt by freshman sire Eskendreya, to me, has an “old fashion” pedigree. Eskendreya carries on the Giant’s Causeway sire line, which is sired by Storm Cat. The colt is out of Prosper, a daughter of Affirmed, the 1978 Triple Crown winner. Prosper herself is by Secretariat, the 1973 Triple Crown winner. Looking at the top half of the pedigree, Eskendreya is out of a Seattle Slew mare, which won the 1977 Triple Crown. I love this “old fashion” pedigree.

Hip 2508 – this colt by freshman sire Lookin at Lucky out of a Rahy mare, should likely be able to run on any surface. The 2nd dam in the distaff line is millionaire Unbridled Elaine, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, Monmouth Breeders’ Cup Oaks, Iowa Oaks, and Pocahontas Stakes. Unbridled Elaine also produced Etched, grade two winner of the Meadowlands Cup Stakes. This colt is likely to be able to carry himself around two turns.

Hip 2528 – this colt by Lemon Drop Kid colt has a beautiful turf pedigree. The colt is out of the Langfuhr mare Smooth Charm. This the mare’s first foal, and looking further back in the pedigree, we find some talent. The 4th dam, Lassie’s Lady by Alydar, is a half sister to Wolfhound and Weekend Surprise, among others. Lassie’s Lady became an important producer. She produced Love Me True, who gave the racing world sires Duke of Marmalade (Ire) and Ruler of the World. This could will likely love turf route races, or could, possibly find steeplechase to his liking!

Hip 2664 – this bay colt by Afleet Alex has quite a class of siblings! The colt being sold is a full brother to Hopeful Stakes winner Dublin and the older mare Ireland. The colt’s dam, herself, was a multiple graded stakes winner. Classy Mirage, by Storm Bird, won races like the Ballerina Handicap (G1), the Bed o’ Roses Handicap (G2) and the Genuine Risk Handicap (G2). Classy Mirage is the dam of 15 registered foals, which all are of racing age. 12 of her foals have run, and 10 of which, are winners. This colt could find either surface to his liking, and will likely be able to carry himself two turns.

Hip 2694 – this pedigree didn’t do a lot for me, but I do like the cross itself. The colt is by Curlin, out of a Dixie Union mare. I love the blend of speed and stamina on both sides of the pedigree. The 3rd dam in the pedigree, Skybox, by Spend a Buck, produced sprint stars like Sand Ridge and Stopshoppingmaria. The colt will likely find dirt to his liking, and could most likely find any distance to his liking.

Hip 2789 – While the catalog page shows just about nothing to like in the pedigree, I ran the nicking through TrueNicks, and I found that this colt is bred on the exact same cross as his sire, Super Saver. Super Saver has a top class colt in I Spent It, who in fact, was the first graded stakes winner to be inbred to A.P. Indy. This inbreeding must have worked. I would take a leap of faith on this colt, because either he makes a really awesome racehorse, or he will be desirable as a stallion.

Hip 2834 – Hard Spun has become a top-notch sire lately. His best horse right now is likely to be Wicked Strong. The colt selling here is out of a Cat Thief mare, named Miss Pauline. Miss Pauline was a winner from ages 4 to 6. She is also a half sister to Belmont Stakes hero Union Rags. Another sibling would be Tempo West, who produced Declaration of War and Vertiformer, both multiple graded stakes winners. This could take to either surface, but I believe dirt is where his best form will lie.

Hip 2949 – another Hard Spun here. This filly is out of the mare Stunning Image (IRE). While Stunning Image (IRE) has yet to produce a graded stakes winner, we will have to look further back in the pedigree. The 2nd dam, Looking for Gold, is a full sister to Seeking the Gold. The distaff line has yet to produce many graded stakes horses, the cross is likely a good one for anyone looking for a horse who loves distance. This filly will likely love going two turns on the dirt.

Hip 3110 – This English Channel filly is out of the Bluegrass Cat mare Enthalpy. Enthalpy is apart of the lovely distaff line that has given the world Tiznow, Budroyale, Tizbud, and Tizdubai, all who are very prominent in today’s racing scene. This filly is likely to love dirt, and the classic two turn races. She has the same female lines as Tiznow, Oxbow, Awesome Patriot, and Paynter.