$925,000 Filly Leads Justify Offerings During Opening Keeneland Session
A $925,000 Justify daughter was the fifth most expensive filly of the first session when Ben McElroy purchased the filly as agent for MyRacehorse and Wesley Ward.
Sold early in the sale as Hip 28, the Gainesway consigned filly is the first foal out of Australia daughter San Saria, who is out of Group III winning San Sicharia. San Sicharia is one of four stakes winners and six stakes performers out of her own dam.
After winning the bidding battle, Wesley Ward noted that their goal for the filly is a tilt at Royal Ascot next June.
“She's a beautiful filly,” Ward told Thoroughbred Daily News. “[Bloodstock agent] Ben McElroy brought me over to see his short list and she was certainly right there at the top of the list. We are really excited about her, especially to go over to Royal Ascot. She seems to have all the physical attributes, as well as the pedigree. MyRacehorse came in with the filly and we will get a group together shortly to see who is going to take what of the other part.”
BSW/Crows Colt Group and Gandharvi Racing went to $550,000 for a Justify half-brother to Grade I Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming and Grade I Spinaway winner Hot Dixie Chick later in the sale. Hot Dixie Chick is also a dam of this year’s Grade I winner Pauline’s Pearl and stakes winner Union Jackson.
The colt was consigned by Indian Creek and bred by Santa Rosa Partners and Erin Dilger.
Another filly by Justify out of Galileo mare Aloof sold for the same price to North Hills Co from Gainesway. Aloof is a Group III winning full sister to stakes winners Orator and Keats. Out of Grade I winner Airwave, the mare is also a half-sister to Churchill’s stakes winning dam Meow.
The Justify connections were strong throughout the session with his half-brother also selling for $1.2 million.
Justify’s $491,667 average for his six sold during the first session was the highest of any freshman stallion with four or more sold and his gross was sixth highest of all stallions with each of those above him having more offerings on Monday.