The first opportunity for buyers to see weanlings by new first-year sires offers a glimpse of what could be in store for the following year during the yearling sales. The weanlings on offer set the tone for what stud farms hope will be strong demand from pinhookers and end users alike, setting robust average and median prices for their up-and-coming stallions.
During the Book 4 opening session at the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale Nov. 13, Straight Line Equine Sales brings forward six weanlings by Kentucky-based first-year sires, Beau Liam , Independence Hall , Rock Your World , and Lexitonian .
“I think our group of weanlings is a good representation of the freshman sires,” Kristin Brennan commented. “They are good physicals and movers, and I think this year’s freshman sires on the market are a good group.”
The first to go through the ring will be Hip 1914, a Beau Liam colt out of the winning Giant’s Causeway mare Giant’s Jewel. The March-born colt is the mare’s fourth foal with his Twirling Candy brother, Santorini , running third in the Bryan Station Stakes (G3T) Oct. 28 and Rushaway Stakes earlier this year for owners Storyteller Racing, Dave Russel, and Scott Catlett.
The Beau Liam colt consigned as Hip 1914 by Straight Line Equine Sales
Brennan noted the colt as “A strong-bodied colt and came into the sale with a great update in Santorini. He is a solid colt and has a nice hip on him.”
Jay Goodwin, Cary Bloodstock, and Tyler Clarke bred the bay in Kentucky. Beau Liam, a son of Liam’s Map , will stand his second season at Airdrie Stud for $6,000 in 2024.
The next weanling from Barn 21, Hip 1924, is an Independence Hall colt from the family of Warrior’s Charge , a winner in the Razorback Handicap (G3), Philip H Iselin Stakes (G3), and runner-up in the Oaklawn Handicap (G2).
Jay Goodwin, Tommy Walters, Lee Warren, and Mk Thoroughbreds bred the colt out of Headstrong Woman in Kentucky. He is the second foal out of the winning Strong Mandate mare.
The undefeated juvenile graded winner Independence Hall, by Constitution , will stand for $10,000 next year at WinStar Farm.
St. Simon Place bred the filly by Rock Your World, consigned as Hip 1947; the bay is the first foal out of Just Life, by Honor Code . A winner in Canada, Just Life is a half sibling to the stakes winner Chiseler , by Speightstown and Peter Pan Stakes (G3) placed Electability .
Spendthrift Farm stands the Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner, Rock Your World, for $7,500 next year.
Hip 1970, by Independence Hall, heads into the sales ring with a timely update in his juvenile sister Low Society, by World of Trouble , breaking her maiden impressively by 5 1/4 lengths Sept. 24 on first asking at Pimlico. She followed up the win by placing next out at Laurel Park Oct. 28, going 6 furlongs.
Brennan commented: “He’s a nice individual with a good physical coming into Book 4. He is well-balanced and looks like he has a lot of room for improvement. He has a nice hip, will grow into a strong colt, and vets great!”
The March-born colt is out of Love and Respect, a Tiznow sister to Matron Stakes (G2) winner and Test Stakes (G1) placed Miss Behaviour , by Jump Start.
St. Simon Place bred the colt in Kentucky and the Rock Your World filly, Hip 2104, out of Song With a Cause. The unraced Creative Cause mare is a half sibling to stakes-placed Beckham James and from the three-time grade 1-placed She’s Cheeky family.
Kristin Brennan at the Keeneland November Sale
“She’s a nice, straight-forward filly and a good mover,” Brennan said. “She seems easygoing and a good representative of the first crop from Rock Your World and is well balanced.”
The final freshman-sire offering from Straight Line, Hip 2273, is a chestnut colt by Lexitonian, by Speightstown. Four Pillars Holdings bred the colt out of Come on Cozzene in Kentucky. Born in April he is the second foal out of the winning mare; her juvenile Divisidero filly, Foretold, sold for $15,000 last year at the Fasig-Tipton California Fall Yearlings Sale to Perrydise Ranch.
“He’s a powerful colt, a great mover, and disposition on him,” Brennan said. “He looks fast like his daddy, a solid colt for his sire. I’m excited to see how he shows himself out here.”
Lexitonian stands for $7,500 at Calumet Farm for 2024.
