Promising Juveniles With KEESEP Kin

With summer racing in the books and the industry's focus shifting to Lexington and the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, the list below highlights some of the promising, lightly raced juveniles with siblings catalogued in the first two books of that marathon auction. It does not include runners who have already competed in stakes company and is not exhaustive. Note that last year's list featured subsequent impressive GIII Iroquois S. winner and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile runner-up Not This Time (Giant's Causeway), as well as Gormley (Malibu Moon), who annexed the 2016 GI FrontRunner S. and this April's GI Santa Anita Derby.

MOLTO ALLEGRO (f, Speightstown-Mo Chuisle, by Free House) O-Chizu Yoshida. B-Town And Country Horse Farms, LLC & Frank & Kim Taylor (Ky). T-R Takei. Sales history: $525,000 yrl '16 KEESEP.
Molto Allegro was backed down to strong favoritism for her dirt-track unveiling at Hakodate June 24, and showed good speed to stalk out wide before kicking it in determinedly late to score by 1 1/4 lengths (video, #8). Brought back in a high-quality open-class event going 1200 meters on the Sapporo sod Sept. 3, she broke awkwardly, but showed off a nice turn-of-foot after making a no-cover turn move to be a promising second (video, #7). In addition to being a half to ill-fated champion sprinter Points Offthebench (Benchmark) and GSW Bench Points (Benchmark), Molto Allegro is a half-sister to a Medaglia d'Oro filly consigned at KEESEP by Taylor Made Sales Agency, Agent LXXXIV as hip 53.

AMEDEO MODIGLIANI (IRE) (c, Galileo {Ire}–Gooseberry Fool {GB}, by Danehill Dancer {Ire}) O-Magnier, Tabor, Smith & Jooste. B-Mt. Brilliant Broodmares II, LLC. T-Aidan O'Brien. Sales history: 750,000gns yrl '16 TATOCT.
This pricey Tatts grad closed quickly to be third first up at The Curragh July 2 behind stablemate and subsequent G2 Superlative S. hero Gustav Klimt (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who was named a 'TDN Rising Star' that day. Stretched out to about a mile at Galway Aug. 5, he too earned the 'Rising Star' distinction after sitting behind the speed and exploding in the straight to win as he pleased (video). Amedeo Modigliani's full-brother will be offered by Greg Goodman's Mt. Brilliant Farm as hip 280.

RETRO (f, Giant's Causeway–Grace Anatomy, by Aldebaran)
O-LNJ Foxwoods. B-Barronstown Stud (Ky). T-Richard Mandella. Sales history: $170,000 yrl '16 KEESEP.
Backed down to 24-10 on debut at Del Mar Sept. 4 for a barn that's generally pretty patient, Retro sat just off the pace early before out-gaming three foes late to don cap and gown by a neck (video). Her performance looked stronger by the end of the day, as the final time of 1:36.98 was significantly quicker than the 1:37.57 it took to complete the Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf S. later on the card. Eaton Sales will consign a Declaration of War half-brother (hip 282) to Retro out of the Grade I-placed Grace Anatomy.

COUNT ALEXANDER (c, Scat Daddy–Intelyhente, by Smart Strike) O-Holly & David Wilson. B-William Duignan & Tranquility Investments Limited (Ky). T-Mary Lightner. Sales history: $260,000 yrl '16 KEESEP; $210,000 2yo '17 OBSJUN.
Ignored at 14-1 for a low-profile barn going six panels on the Woodbine lawn, this chestnut colt showed good early speed without being asked for much to track from second. Prompted to quicken in upper stretch, he leveled off nicely to easily defeat a well-regarded Mark Casse trainee by four lengths before galloping out with good energy (video). Count Alexander is being pointed to the Sept. 17 GII Summer S. with an eye towards the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (click for story). Out of a winning full-sister to MGSW Bel Air Beauty, in turn the dam of Canadian champion sprinter Stacked Deck (First Samurai), Count Alexander is half to an Into Mischief colt entered in Keeneland September as hip 351. Paramount Sales consigns the Apr. 18 foal.

NERO (c, Pioneerof the Nile–Ocean Goddess, by Stormy Atlantic) O-Magnier, Tabor, Smith & Stonestreet Stables LLC.
B-Thor-Bred Stables LLC (Ky). T-Bob Baffert. Sales history: $950,000 yrl '16 FTSAUG.
Nero, the lone maiden on this list, would've already earned his diploma if not for a much-talked-about and puzzling ride at Del Mar Aug. 27. Pounded down to 1-2 that day, he showed the way and appeared liked he'd cruise to victory in the stretch, but was wrapped up late to the point of nearly being pulled up and was nipped on the wire (video). His Medaglia d'Oro half-brother will be offered by Gainesway, Agent XI as hip 566.

OH ZAP (f, Ghostzapper–Oh Carole, by Unbridled's Song) O-Robert S Evans. B-Chelsea Bloodstock, Galtee Bloodstock & Paget Bloodstock (Ky). T-Christophe Clement. Sales history: $320,000 yrl '16 KEESEP.
Shipped to the Jersey Shore from Belmont for what seemed on paper to be a tougher-than-average Monmouth maiden, Oh Zap–installed the 5-2 chalk–sat in a far-back last early, but began to pick off foes in traffic under her own power turning for home. Able to fully extend once tipped out past the quarter pole, she showed off a good-looking stride to score by a widening 1 3/4 lengths (video). Padraig Campion's Blandford Stud sells an Uncle Mo half-brother to the Clement trainee as hip 568.

MARAUD (c, 2, Blame–Unbridled Empire, by Empire Maker)
O-Treadway Racing Stable. B-John R & Frank Penn (Ky). T-Todd Pletcher. Sales history: $100,000 yrl '16 KEESEP; $375,000 2yo '17 EASMAY.
Backed down to a tick under 3-2 going two turns on the Saratoga turf Sept. 2 for a previously unseen owner/trainer combo, this Fasig-Tipton Midlantic acquisition broke from the widest gate and sat midpack out in the clear early. Called upon rounding the final bend, he catapulted to the front and fought off a menacing rival before opening up to prevail by two lengths. According to Trakus data, the bay covered more ground than any other runner in the field, but got his final quarter in a swiftest :22.97. Maraud's Flatter half-sister, consigned by Penn Sales, is catalogued as hip 896. Dam Unbridled Empire was also responsible for this year's GII American Turf S. upsetter Arklow (Blame).

SULTRY (f, Malibu Moon–Viva Carina {Arg}, by Giant's Causeway) O-Joseph W. Sutton. B-Three Chimneys Farm LLC (Ky). T-Eddie Kenneally. Sales history: $400,000 yrl '16 KEESEP.
Sultry clearly needed her first start, because she returned at Ellis a completely different horse Aug. 12. Slowest away from the rail, she caboosed the field far back early before circling up out wide and kicking away with authority. The dark bay's Candy Ride (Arg) half-brother will be offered as hip 917 by Lane's End.

This list has been updated through races run Sept. 6. Check back for possible subsequent additions.