Keeneland September Book 1 Delivers

by Jessica Martini, Brian DiDonato and Christie DeBernardis

LEXINGTON, Ky – Keeneland promised fireworks for its pared down super-select September Yearling Sale Book 1 session and the sales company duly delivered Monday evening in Lexington with eight yearlings selling for $1-million or more, topped by a $2.7-million daughter of Tapit.

“It by far exceeded our expectations,” Keeneland's Vice President of Racing and Sales Bob Elliston said of the Book 1 results. “We had a couple of goals for this new format. First and foremost was to create momentum right from the very beginning that we could hope to take through the entire sale. And it was mission accomplished tonight.”

During Monday's session, 95 yearlings sold for $54,175,000. The average was $570,263 and the median was $500,000.

During last year's Book 1, which was held over three sessions, the average was $347,471 and the median was $300,000. Eight horses sold for seven figures during the 2016 Book 1, including the $3-million sale topper.

Of the 145 yearlings offered Monday, 50 were reported not sold for a buy-back rate of 34.48%.

“It's hard to compare from last year's format, but the average tonight was $570,000–the average for entire Book 1 last year was $349,000. We're talking about a 63% gain on the average, and 66% gain on the median from last year's Book 1,” Elliston said. “The other way you can look at it is that it's a select environment. There have been other select sales this year, and if you look just at the select market… this sale's [average] at $570,000 was 67% over the August select sale that took place in New York. We had eight millionaires tonight, compared to nine for the entire sale last year, and two at the select sale up at Saratoga earlier this year.”

The sale-topping Tapit filly (hip 69), consigned by VanMeter-Gentry Sales and purchased by Coolmore's M.V. Magnier, was one of three over the $2-million mark and all three were by Gainesway's leading sire. Claiborne's War Front had four seven-figure sales and Medaglia d'Oro had one.

“When you have 24 or 25 of each of those up front like that, it's like Hagler and Hearns battling it out–the battle of the heavyweights on the stallion side,” Elliston said of the dominating performance of Tapit and War Front.

“That's a tribute to both Gainesway and the Winchells, who stand Tapit; and Claiborne, who stand War Front. The international market wants them just as badly as we do in the U.S., and that's pretty cool, too. But other sires did well tonight too. That's the key–we can't make the entire sale just about War Fronts, Tapits and Medaglia d'Oros. There were some really good prices fetched for stallions who don't show up in numbers of 24 or 25.”

The session's top 11 yearlings were purchased by eight different buyers.

“You didn't have one or two people buying them up,” Elliston said of the session's deep buying bench. “They were from all over the world, and from here domestically as well. Those are the kinds of things that demonstrate how happy we are with this format, and what Book 1 has done to kick this sale off.”

Bloodstock agent Kerri Radcliffe signed for the last of the eight seven-figure yearlings Monday when she went to $1.1 million for a colt by War Front just two hips before the end of the session.

“It is a bit tough,” Radcliffe said of the market. “It is very hard, but Keeneland did a great job with getting really nice horses here for Book 1. The market is strong, really strong.”

The September Yearling Sale continues Tuesday with the first of three Book 2 sessions beginning at 11 a.m. Elliston looks for the momentum from Monday's session to continue into Book 2.

“There are 1,050 solid, incredibly good horses coming up in the next three days in Book 2,” Elliston said. “The fireworks are not over. It was hard getting a horse bought tonight. There were a lot of folks who went home without orders filled, and these breeders are bringing incredible horses back for the next three days, and I don't think those folks are satisfied with going home without a horse.”

COOLMORE GETS CUPID SIB

Considering the success Coolmore has had–and apparently expects to have in the future–with Cupid (Tapit), it should have come as no surprise that they came out on top Monday for the full-sister to their 2017 GI Gold Cup at Santa Anita winner. Hip 69 was the session's priciest yearling at $2.7 million, and was consigned by VanMeter-Gentry Sales, Agent XI.

Cupid was a $900,000 purchase here in 2014. Turned over to Bob Baffert, he annexed the GII Rebel S., GII Indiana Derby and GII West Virginia Derby last season, and returned at four better than ever with a convincing score in the Gold Cup May 27. He was last seen annexing Del Mar's Harry F. Brubaker S. Aug. 23.

“We've been talking to Bob Baffert over the last couple of weeks and he says there's a lot more to come from Cupid over the next couple of months and he thinks we could have a fun winter with him,” Coolmore's M. V. Magnier said. “She's a very well-built filly, very good-looking and let's hope she's as any bit as good as he is.”

Hip 69 and Cupid are out of GSP Pretty 'n Smart (Beau Genius), making them half-siblings to Grade III winners Heart Ashley (Lion Heart) and Ashley's Kitty (Tale of the Cat) and to stakes winner Indianapolis (Medaglia d'Oro).

Pretty 'n Smart was acquired for $525,000 at the 2008 Keeneland November sale on behalf of a group managed by Olin Gentry. Magnier purchased another Tapit colt for $1 million the year before Cupid, and another Tapit filly went for $500,000 at the 2015 September sale. The Coolmore contingent and Baffert also campaigned Indianapolis–a $490,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga '12 grad–for the early part of his career.

“That was awesome,” said consignor Tom VanMeter. “Coolmore has loved that mare… They've bought virtually everything out of that family and out of that mare.”

Of hip 69, he said, “She's as good looking as anything that mare's produced. We've sold so much money out of that mare–she's been really good to us.”

Was he expecting that kind of price?

“We knew she was very popular, sort of a collector's item, and they were congregating all day and all weekend on her,” he said. “So we knew it was going to be good, but not how good. It was awesome. We're excited.”

When asked to compare hip 69 to Cupid, VanMeter said, “Cupid was a really nice horse and he brought $900,000, but this [filly] was a better physical. Now we just need Cupid to win that big on one Nov. 4 [the GI Breeders'Cup Classic].”

Pretty 'n Smart failed to get in foal to Tapit in 2015, but produced an American Pharoah filly Feb. 17 before being bred back to Pioneerof the Nile. —@BDiDonatoTDN

GODOLPHIN GOES FOR SCAT DADDY

While in the past Godolphin had seemingly shown a lack of interest in horses by Coolmore stallions, Sheikh Mohammed's team went to $800,000 Monday to acquire a colt from the last crop of the late, internationally proven powerhouse Scat Daddy. Four Star Sales consigned the grandson of GSW Dress Rehearsal (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) as hip 68. The Mar. 20 foal, out of unraced Practice (Smart Strike), was bred in Kentucky by Ben Sangster.

“Scat Daddy has been a very good stallion, it's his last crop,” said Godolphin representative Anthony Stroud. “He's been proven in Europe, and proven in America, and he's the type we have to have a go on… The past is the past. Going forward, every prospect will be evaluated on their own merit regardless of sire.”

Godolphin picked up a Scat Daddy filly (hip 83) just a few hips later for $550,000. Consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, Agent V, the daughter of MSP Seanchai (English Channel) was a $270,000 in utero purchase by Blackstone Farm at KEENOV '15.

Earlier in the session, the group went to $500,000 for a War Front–Long View (Ire), by Galileo (Ire) filly offered by Claiborne Farm, which bred the chestnut in partnership with Adele Dilschneider. Hip 41's dam, a 1.1-million Tattersalls December purchase in 2014, is a half to the likes of English multiple Group 1 winner and sire Golan (Ire) (Spectrum {Ire}).

Godolphin went back to the War Front well later for hip 112, a $550,000 colt consigned by Gainesway, Agent XXXIV. He's out of GSW War Echo (Tapit), a half to GISW and Darley Japan stallion Pyro (Pulpit) and full to Sheikh Mohammed's G1SP Farrier. —@BDiDonatoTDN

TAPIT TOUR DE FORCE

Three years ago, Gainesway announced it was raising the stud fee of its leading sire Tapit to $300,000. The first yearlings bred at that fee are now hitting the sales ring and the market responded with a resounding exclamation point at Keeneland Monday. Tapit was responsible for the top three yearlings sold during the prestigious Book 1 session and all three brought over $2 million.

“I think it's fair to say that this was a huge statement in the current marketplace,” said Gainesway's Director of Sales Michael Hernon. “It is just exceptional however you look at it.”

In all, Tapit had 11 yearlings sell Monday for a total of $12,825,000. The average was $1,165,909 and the median was $700,000. War Front was the session's second leading sire, with 12 sold for an average of $795,833.

“He is now breeding elite mares from the best breeders across the board,” Hernon said. “He's been three years back-to-back-to-back as leading General Sire in the U.S. with the ability to get Grade I winners at all distances on turf and dirt. Tapit's commercial appeal has just broken through.”

Coolmore's M.V. Magnier secured the day's most expensive lot, going to $2.7 million for a full-sister to Grade I winner Cupid (Tapit) (hip 69). In addition to Cupid, who won the GI Gold Cup at Santa Anita S. in May, Tapit has been represented this year by GI Belmont S. winner Tapwrit and GI Del Mar Oaks winner Dream Dancing.

Hernon added, “Numerically, we limit his book to 125 mares to protect the customer base and not oversupply the market. And to look after the asset, namely Tapit.” @JessMartiniTDN

BONNE CHANCE OFF TO A FLYER

Bonne Chance, in operation for just about two years, got off to a fast start with its first crop of yearlings to pass through the sales ring when selling a filly by Medaglia d'Oro out of Canadian champion Sealy Hill (Point Given) (hip 82) for $1.25 million to Larry Best's OXO Equine. The yearling was one of two seven-figure purchases by Best Monday.

Bonne Chance Farm, formerly Nat Rea's Regis Farm, is now owned by a Brazilian stakeholder who has broodmare bands in Brazil, Argentina and France, in addition to his fledgling Kentucky base. The farm purchased Sealy Hill, with this foal in utero, for $750,000 at the 2015 Keeneland November sale.

“She was a very straightforward filly,” Bonne Chance manager John Durr said of the yearling. “She's always been a good, easy filly to work with. She has done everything on her own. That mare throws that kind of foal. They all run well. And she is a lovely filly. I loved everything about her.”

The yearling, consigned by Gainesway, is a half-sister to Canadian champion Hillaby (Distorted Humor), as well as to graded stakes winners Belle Hill (Sky Mesa) and Gale Force (Giant's Causeway).

Bonne Chance is primarily breeding to race, but will also offer horses at auction, according to Durr.

“We've got a full-sister to [hip 82] that is a lovely filly as well,” Durr said. “So it was one of those things. We've got a lot of young fillies coming in, a lot of big pedigrees, so we decided maybe to sell one or two and keep one or two. It was just what the boss wanted to do and see how it worked. We are looking to primarily race, but we will entertain a few to sell. She is a filly that we would have raced absolutely with no problems, but we've got two foals. So it was one of those things that we decided to move her.”

Bonne Chance's owner, who has remained anonymous, had expected to watch the yearling sell himself, but was waylaid en route to Kentucky.

“He got stuck with the malfunction of an airplane, but he is on his way now,” Durr, who had the owner on the phone while the yearling sold, said. “He was very excited and very happy with that result.”

Bonne Chance will have additional horses to sell later in the Keeneland sale.

“This is the first of our yearlings to sell,” Durr said. “So not a bad way to start for the new farm. We have a couple of horses to sell in Book 3. We have some nice horses there, too, so we'll see how we do with them. We think we're in the right spot with them.”

Larry Best made his first Thoroughbred purchase at last year's Keeneland September sale, going to $750,000 to secure a filly by Medaglia d'Oro (hip 298). Now named Moi, the filly has been training steadily with Chad Brown at Saratoga.

Best, who was a major presence at the juvenile sales this past spring, went back to the Medaglia d'Oro well Monday at Keeneland to secure Hip 82.

“She is a beautiful-moving Medaglia d'Oro filly and the first dam has been very productive,” Best said of the yearling's appeal. “She was a horse I really liked. A year ago, I bought my first Medaglia d'Oro filly here. I love that filly I have–she is doing very well in training.”

Best struck later in the session to secure a filly by War Front for $1.6 million. The yearling (hip 128) is out of group winner Aloof (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and from the family of Classic winner Churchill (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).

Consigned by Timber Town, the yearling was bred by Mandy Pope's Whisper Hill Farm, which purchased the mare for $3.9 million at the 2014 Keeneland November sale.

Despite making headlines with million-dollar purchases from Gulfstream, to Ocala and to Lexington, Best has had only two runners to date. His Instilled Regard (Arch), a $1.05-million purchase at the OBS March sale, was a late-closing second behind American Pharoah's full-brother St Patrick's Day (Pioneerof the Nile) in his Sept. 2 debut at Del Mar. @JessMartiniTDN

IOTAPA'S FIRST FOAL GOES OUT IN 'FRONT' EARLY

A War Front colt was the first to break the seven-figure threshold at Keeneland September Monday afternoon when the dynamic duo of agent Donato Lanni and Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert stretched to $1.9 million for the first foal out of multiple Grade I winner Iotapa (Afleet Alex). Taylor Made Sales Agency, Agent VII consigned the Mar. 9 foal as hip 27.

“He's a lovely War Front colt,” said Lanni, who signed the ticket on behalf of an undisclosed client and declined to confirm whether or not Baffert would train. “He was a nice horse. All year, that's what they've cost, but he's a nice horse… He just looked like a good horse–very athletic and strong. We wanted him, so we bought him… That's what they cost.”

While Baffert hasn't trained as many War Front colts as some other superstar conditioners, he was at the helm of Grade I-winning 'TDN Rising Star' The Factor's career.

Hip 27 was the second yearling bred and offered at auction by Teo Ah Khing's China Horse Club. The first was a $650,000 Tapit filly sold at Fasig-Tipton Saratoga out of Grade I winner and $1.5-million China Horse Club KEENOV purchase Last Full Measure (Empire Maker).

Claimed for $50,000 by trainer John Sadler on behalf of Hronis Racing out of a winning debut at Betfair Hollywood Park in 2012, Iotapa was off the board just once in 13 subsequent efforts for her new connections, and annexed the 2014 GI Vanity S. by 10 1/4 lengths before adding the GI Clement L. Hirsch S. China Horse Club paid $2.8 million for her at that year's Keeneland November Sale.

“She is a beautiful mare and she had a beautiful first foal,” said CHC's Mick Wallace. “It is always hard once you get into the seven-figure range, but he is a beautiful colt and has been special since the day he was born. We sort of thought he could bring this if everything sort of aligned. The right people lined up here and away it went.”

Iotapa, a half-sister to SW/GSP Saintly Joan (Northern Afleet), produced an American Pharoah colt Mar. 13 before visiting the Triple Crown winner's sire Pioneerof the Nile.

“He is our first one we sold here, so we are happy with that,” Wallace added of hip 27. “We sold a nice Tapit filly up at Saratoga, so that went well. Everything goes on the market and they are free and open to look at and buy. They are out here for everybody. –@BDiDonatoTDN

POPE MAKES HER PRESENCE KNOWN AT KEENELAND

Mandy Pope's name is typically seen in the headlines at Keeneland, both in September and November, scooping up well-bred fillies and mares for her superstar broodmare band. However, the owner/breeder did something a bit unusual for her during Monday's elite Book 1, stretching to $2.6 million for a colt by leading sire Tapit (hip 49) from the Taylor Made consignment.

“It was the pedigree and I just really believe in this family, which is evident by what I bought out of it last year,” said Pope, when asked what made her spend this much on a colt. “This is the most I have spent on a colt, so he has got to run. He must run very well!”

Pope added, “I looked at all the Tapits and he was in the top one or two. I figured he was going to be around $2 million, so I had to stretch a little further than that. I have a Tapit of my own to sell and a War Front, so hopefully I will sell well. We all want to buy and sell horses just to keep the business going.”

Bred by Three Chimneys Farm and Besilu Stables, hip 49 is the first foal out of MGISP “TDN Rising Star” Miss Besilu (Medaglia d'Oro), herself a $2.1 million KEENOV weanling buy. Out of SW & GSP Quiet Dance (Quiet American), Miss Besilu is a half-sister to Horse of the Year Saint Liam (Saint Ballado); GSW Quiet Giant (Giant's Causeway), who is the dam of MGISW Gun Runner (Candy Ride {Arg}); GSW Congressionalhonor (Forestry); and SW Dance Quietly (A.P. Indy). Miss Besilu produced a Candy Ride (Arg) colt May 7 of this year and was bred back to Curlin.

“He is a very strong horse,” Pope said. “There is a little bit more to him than some of the Tapits. He has good bone. He seems to be very good-minded, which is always important, particularly with Tapits, who can be a little fragile in the brain sometimes. He passed the vetting very well. I am hoping that he will be another Gun Runner.”

Pope bought a Tapit half-sister to Gun Runner, who was last seen romping in the GI Woodward S., for $1.4 million at this sale last year. She returned in November to purchase his dam's half-sisters, taking home the then-3-year-old Princesa Silvia (Medaglia d'Oro) for $1.4 million and buying Dance Quietly in foal to Medaglia d'Oro for $950,000. Pope also recently bought into the stallion career of another son of Tapit, GI Belmont S. winner Tapwrit.

“Obviously, I love Tapits, as I buy them, breed them and also sell them,” Pope said.

“I think Tapit is the best stallion in the country and top in the world. This colt has a lovely pedigree.

Gun Runner is just phenomenal right now. Hopefully he will be Horse of the Year. Last year, I bought a couple of mares and a yearling out of the family, knowing that it is going to be a continuing, successful family.”

Pope will send her new purchase back to her Whisper Hill Farm in Citra, FL, about 20 minutes north of Ocala, to undergo the breaking process.

“He will go to Florida and we will break him at my farm,” Pope said. “When it is time for him to go to the racetrack, we will figure out who will train him. We leave all options open.”

Pope was back for more Tapits later in the session, going to $800,000 for hip 111, a filly by the Gainesway resident out of SW Wait Til Dawn (Giant's Causeway); and spending $700,000 for hip 115, a half-brother to GISW Wickedly Perfect (Congrats).

The horsewoman was also active on the other side of the ledger, selling a War Front filly (hip 128) out of GSW Aloof (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) for $1.6 million to Larry Best. Her Tapit colt (hip 140) out of Betterbetterbetter (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) RNA'd for $475,000.

As for how her farm weathered Hurricane Irma, Pope said, “We have a bunch of trees and fence down, but all the horses, people and buildings are all safe. So, it was nothing that can't be cleaned up and built back. We were very, very lucky that it wasn't worse.” —@CDeBernardisTDN

LEONARD, CRESRAN GET MORE 'GOOD NEWS' AT KEENELAND

The now 17-year-old mare Sue's Good News (Woodman) has been the gift that keeps on giving for Ran Leonard and his grandmother Carol Ricks' CresRan LLC. The mare won six of her 17 races, including a Grade III, and produced their Grade I winner Tiz Miz Sue (Tiznow).

Both mares continued to provide for CresRan Monday when a Tapit colt out of Tiz Miz Sue (hip 105) sold for $2.5 million to Shadwell Stable. That operation also struck one hip earlier, going to $1.2 million for hip 104, a War Front colt out of Group 3 winner and MGISP Theyskens' Theory (Bernardini).

“I'm overwhelmed, stunned, speechless,” Leonard said. “I knew we had a really, really, really good colt, but obviously so many things have to go your way in a sale like this. I'm just overjoyed.”

Leonard continued, “I expected he would do good. We are small breeders. We breed two or three mares in Kentucky a year. To have a horse like Tiz Miz Sue is an amazing, once in a lifetime deal and then to have a horse sell like this is another once in a lifetime deal. With very limited experience, I knew we had a really nice horse, but it's hard for me to know what number to expect.”

Pat Costello, whose Paramount Sales consigned the colt, expressed similar sentiments.

“He ticked all the boxes all week,” Costello said. “He is absolutely outstanding, balanced colt. We were getting feedback from buyers all week about how good he was. We knew he was very popular. This is fantastic for us as consignors. We'd like to thank the breeder very much. He is just pure class. I hope he is a champion.”

Winner of the 2012 GIII Azeri S. and on the board in a trio of Grade I events, Tiz Miz Sue closed out her career on a high note when winning the 2013 GI Ogden Phipps S. at Belmont.

Tiz Miz Sue's unraced half-sister Tiz News (Tiznow) is responsible for SW Made Me Shiver (Maclean's Music).

“His mannerisms to me are a lot like his mother,” Leonard said of hip 105. “He has a great mind. He doesn't really turn a hair typically. His head and his eye remind me of his mother a lot. He's just really classy and has everything you want to see.”

Leonard kept Tiz Miz Sue's first foal, the juvenile filly Miz K (Tapit). She had an Uncle Mo filly Feb. 25 of this year and is currently in foal to American Pharoah. The Oklahoma resident said that they intend to retain the Uncle Mo filly for the CresRan racing operation.

“[Miz K] is actually with Steve Hobby, who trained Tiz Miz Sue, at Churchill Downs,” Leonard said. “We expect her to start during the September meet. I think sooner than later, truthfully. She is showing us all the right signs so far. We are very high on her. She is different type of Tapit filly than the colt we just sold. She is gray and a little narrower and more like most Tapits are. She is training very, very well and we are very optimistic.” —@CDeBernardisTDN

RADCLIFFE STRIKES AT KEENELAND

Kerri Radcliffe has been racking up big-figure purchases at auctions across the globe all year and Keeneland September was no exception. The European bloodstock agent went to $1.1 million to take home a War Front colt (hip 165) on behalf of the newly formed venture Phoenix Thoroughbreds. In addition to hip 165, Radcliffe also purchased hip 103, a Candy Ride (Arg) half-brother to GISP Salty (Quality Road), for $800,000.

“He is a War Front, so he is definitely coming back to Europe,” said Radcliffe after signing the ticket alongside her husband, trainer Jeremy Noseda. “I will probably give him to my husband. War Fronts are good on the turf at home. The results he has gotten in England this year are incredible. I wanted to get a nice War Front here and I think I've done it. He is scopey and has great depth to him. He has a great walk, which us Europeans like to have.”

As for the price, Radcliffe said, “I think I paid less than I expected to pay for him actually, so I was pretty happy with that one.”

Bred by SF Bloodstock, Denny Andrews and Crockett Farm, hip 165 is out of Dynamic Feature (Rahy), who is also responsible for MGSW and MGISP Parranda (English Channel), a stakes winner in Singapore in addition to her American exploits.

Scott Dilworth and his wife Evan purchased the bay colt for $560,000 as a weanling at this venue last November with a trio of partners, including consignor Tom Van Meter. This sale marks Dilworth's biggest pinhooking score yet, a title previously held by GSW and G1SP Acapulco (Scat Daddy), whom the Texas horseman bought for $180,000 at FTKJUL and resold for $750,000 at OBS March. (Click here for Christie DeBernardis's pre-sale feature on Dillworth).

“We are ecstatic,” Dilworth said. “He sold super well. He was a grand individual and we are very, very happy.”

Dilworth was quick to deflect the credit to Renee Dailey, who is Van Meter's yearling manager and also manages the Van Meter-Gentry sales consignments.

“He was a fabulous weanling to start and he just got better and better,” Dailey said. “He never went backwards on me, not one minute. He moved forward. With attention to detail and a great crew, we got him here. He was in great form and just got better and better.”

Dailey continued, “We were hoping [for this price], but, you never know until you get here. When you spend $560,000 on a baby, you are hoping you will get to this point, but so many variables can happen over the time it takes to get here. Like I said, we just kept moving forward. Every week this horse got better and better. He is a fabulous individual.” —@CDeBernardisTDN

STORY CONTINUES FOR KRIKORIAN

George Krikorian purchased a filly by Wild Rush for $130,000 at the 2002 Fasig-Tipton July Yearling Sale, named her Hollywood Story and watched as she went from a standout on the racetrack to a standout in the breeding shed. Krikorian was on hand at Keeneland Monday to watch Hollywood Story's yearling filly by Giant's Causeway sell for $875,000. Bloodstock agent David Ingordo signed the ticket.

“No. Of course I didn't,” Krikorian laughed when asked if he still expected to be talking about Hollywood Story 15 years later. “But I am very happy that we are. She was wonderful as a racehorse and even more wonderful as a broodmare.”

Hollywood Story won the 2003 GI Hollywood Starlet S. and the 2006 GI Vanity S. and close to $1.2 million during her racing career.

As a broodmare, she produced stakes winner Miss Hollywood (Malibu Moon), who sold for $1.35 million at the 2013 Keeneland September sale. Her current 2-year-old Hollywood Star (Malibu Moon), a $550,000 Keeneland September yearling, was tabbed a 'TDN Rising Star' after his debut victory at Churchill in June and was second in the GII Saratoga Special S.

“Emotionally, it's difficult to sell her foals, but you have to treat it as a business,” Krikorian admitted. “That's what we do.”

Hollywood Story produced a colt by Honor Code this year and was bred back to Tapit. Krikorian retained her daughter Hollywood Heroine (Medaglia d'Oro) for his broodmare band.

“She's produced a couple of very nice foals,” Krikorian said of Hollywood Story. “And I'm hoping we get some more. She has a really nice weanling colt by Honor Code on the ground and he looks spectacular. If he stays healthy, we have a lot of good things to look forward to.” @JessMartiniTDN

DONATIONS BEING RAISED FOR COONEY

Donations are being accepted at various consignments at Keeneland September to help offset medical expenses incurred by Becky Cooney, the popular horsewoman who recently suffered a serous neck injury. Cooney was in Saratoga and fell down a staircase. Her recovery is expected to keep her away from the sales for many months or longer. Collections boxes have been set up at Bluewater, Elm Tree Farm, Gainesway, and Woodford. A Go Fund Me page has also been established at www.gofundme.com/zrrt3e-beckys-recovery-fund.