As per usual, Book 1 of the Keeneland September Sale is chalked full of blue-blooded specimens and strapping potential superstars. On day 1 of the sale, 155 of America’s most promising yearlings will step through the ring.
Among the book 1, day 1 youngsters, there’s a trio from Glen Hill Farm, Taylor Made, and Eaton Sales that could very well land in the spotlight.
The second of the bunch to stride in front of the podium is Hip 88, a striking red-coated son of Justify . Hip 88 is the same product of Glen Hill Farm breeding that produced the colt’s grade 1 winning full sister Aspen Grove .
Campaigned by Glen Hill in partnership with Coolmore’s John Magnier, Aspen Grove (IRE) was a group 3 winner in Ireland last year as a 2-year-old before achieving grade 1 success in the July 8 $500,000 Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes (G1T). The filly became the second grade 1 winner for her stallion, 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify.
“Justify is good stallion. He’s had two grade 1 winners and Aspen Grove is one of them so we love him,” said Glenn Hill Farm owner Craig Bernick. “He’s also a versatile stallion. He had the grade 1 winner (Arabian Lion) in the Woody Stephens, which is seven furlongs on the dirt, and then he had a 10-furlong grade 1 winner on the turf (Aspen Grove). So he’s getting turf horses and he’s getting dirt horses. They seem precocious but they seem like they travel a distance too.”
Glenn Hill has brought 13 yearlings up from its Florida farm to sell at Keeneland September, including Hip 88.
“Aspen Grove is kind more of a medium-sized horse while this colt is a big, strong robust horse,” Bernick said. “He’s a really striking-looking horse when you look at him. He’s been pretty popular here at the sale so far.”
July was a prosperous month for the family of Hip 88. The colt’s page received yet another update later in the month when his 2-year-old half brother Eduardian (No Nay Never ) broke his maiden second time out in Ireland. He became the second winner produced from the young More Than Ready mare Data Dependant.
“The mare’s had three foals and is off to a great start,” Bernick said. “With her two to race she had Aspen Grove and then the 2-year-old she has we own a piece of just broke his maiden over in Ireland pretty nicely. The pedigree is pretty live.”
The Curlin colt consigned as Hip 49 at the Taylor Made Sales consignment
Two other colts with mouthwatering pedigrees include Hip 49, by Curlin , and Hip 147, by Into Mischief . Both colts are full siblings to grade 1 winners.
Consigned by Taylor Made Sales, Hip 49 is a colt with two turns written directly on his page. A son of Hall of Fame racehorse and outstanding stallion Curlin, the sire of 29 individual grade 1 winners, he is out of the grade 1 winning mare Byrama. Both his sire and dam achieved top-level distinction on the track traveling nine furlongs or more on the dirt.
The chestnut colt, bred by St. Elias Stable, who campaigned the colt’s dam as well as his Florida Derby (G1)-winning full brother Known Agenda .
Trained by Todd Pletcher, Known Agenda was stakes-placed as a 2-year-old before notching his grade 1 tally the following year. He also competed in the 2021 Kentucky Derby (G1) and Belmont Stakes (G1), where he was ninth and fourth, respectively.
The Into Mischief colt consigned as Hip 147 at the Eaton Sales consignment
Another colt with arguably one of the best pedigrees of Book 1 belongs to Hip 147, a full brother to three-time grade 1 winner and successful fourth crop stallion Practical Joke . Hip 147, acquired for $350,000 as a weanling at The November Sale, Fasig-Tipton’s marquee breeding stock sale near Lexington in 2022, is consigned by Eaton Sales.
A precocious 2-year-old, Practical Joke proved to be an adept performer at seven furlongs to a mile. After taking two grade 1s in his juvenile year he returned at 3 to capture the H. Allen Jerkens Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course.
As a stallion, he is represented by nine grade or group 1 winners, including this year’s Santa Anita Derby (G1) hero Practical Move .
