Doug Scharbauer

A filly by Gun Runner (hip 24) got the Keeneland September Yearling Sale off to a quick start Monday when selling for $1.5 million to the bid of Doug Scharbauer. Consigned by Gainesway, the chestnut is out of Grade I winner Dream Dancing (Tapit) and was bred by John Oxley. The filly's 2-year-old half-sister Dreamaway (Flameaway) is now two for two after winning the Colleen Stakes at Monmouth Park in July.

Clarence and Dorothy Scharbauer built Valor Farm outside of Dallas 30 years ago after Dorothy and their daughter Pam campaigned Hall of Famer Alysheba in the late 1980s. Their son Doug continues the blue-and-white silk tradition as his unbeaten homebred Closing Act (Munnings) takes on 10 other 2-year-old fillies in Thursday's GIII Schuylerville S. on opening day at Saratoga. The Steve Asmussen trainee, listed at 10-1 on the morning line, is coming off her first stakes win in the Astoria S. June 11 at Belmont Park after breaking her maiden...

5th-Saratoga, $72,000, Msw, 8-30, 2yo, f, 5 1/2f (off turf), 1:04.07, ft. RED GHOST (f, 2, Ghostzapper--Better Than Most, by Elusive Quality) took all the tote attention at 6-5 in this off the turfer, and soon showed why. Breaking on top in typical Wesley Ward trainee fashion, she doled out splits of 21.70 and :45.08 and never looked back as she ran up the score to 8 1/2 lengths in the lane. Fort Drum (Declaration of War), a $5,500 yearling who drew in off the also-eligible list, belied 68-1 odds...