Galileo Mare In-Foal To Justify Brings $1.4 Million

A Galileo mare carrying a foal by Justify was the second highest priced broodmare of the opening Keeneland November session when Claiborne Farm went to $1.4 million to secure her.

Offered by Eaton Sales, Satin and Silk is a half-sister to Grade I winner Materiality and Grade II winner My Miss Sophia and was bred by Glennwood Farm just like the stallion she’s carrying to. My Miss Sophia gave her half-sister a major update in October when her juvenile son Annapolis won the Grade II Pilgrim Stakes to stay undefeated in two starts.

Satin and Silk is out of the stakes winning Wildwood Flower, who is also a half-sister to multiple graded stakes winner Eye of the Tiger and the dam of Grade I winners Afleet Express and Embellish The Lace.

"My Miss Sophia is at the farm, we know the family, so we will be keeping our fingers crossed. Being in foal to Justify doesn't hurt either. (My Miss Sophia) has a good colt, so we will see what happens,” Claiborne’s Bernie Sams told Blood-Horse.

The second highest priced mare in foal to Justify on Wednesday was American Pharoah’s daughter Elfin Queen. Purchased from Paramount Sales by Cary Bloodstock as agent for Coteau Grove Farms, she was a $550,000 buy.

Elfin Queen is one of eight winners out of Grade II-placed Pretty ‘n Smart. That mare is also the dam of Justify’s Grade I winning studmate Cupid and graded stakes winners Heart Ashley and Ashley’s Kitty. Three of Elfin Queen’s half-sisters have produced stakes performers.

Justify also saw Sand Hill Bloodstock purchase his colt out of Rosy Humor for $350,000. Offered by Warrendale Sales, the January-born weanling is a half-brother to multiple graded stakes winner Stanford and stakes winner Hedge Fund in addition to the dam of stakes winner Big Thorn.

His third dam is successful broodmare Myth, who produced champion Johannesberg and is a half-sister to Grade I winner Minardi and Grade II winner Tale of the Cat.