Jacob West of West Bloodstock has been a busy man over the last four days of selling at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, with the majority of his purchases made on behalf of Repole Stable and St. Elias.
With Book 2 winding down Sept. 16, that partnership took home a Violence colt consigned as Hip 1057 by KatieRich Farms, which also bred the son out of the winning A.P. Indy mare False Impression.
False Impression produced stakes winner and grade 1-placed Standard Deviation, by Curlin . Last raced in Qatar, he placed second in the 2020 H.H. The Amir Trophy (G1); stateside he ran third in the 2019 Hollywood Derby (G1T) and Hill Prince Stakes (G2T), Jersey Derby, and Tale of the Cat Stakes, all on the turf. The colt was a $450,000 purchase by Mike Ryan out of the 2017 Keeneland September Sale.
Advising on the purchase, Todd Pletcher returned to a family he has had much success with in Violence, winner of the 2012 Cashcall Futurity (G1) and Nashua Stakes (G2) and runner-up in the 2013 Besilu Stables Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2).
"Obviously, as Todd trained Violence, he is very familiar with the horse. He reminded (Todd) a lot of Violence, which is the first thing he said when he first saw him the other day," West said.
"He’s out of an A.P. Indy mare, which is selling well right now; we felt he looks like a two-turn dirt horse. He has a lot of family behind him and an incredible physical; now we hope he can run to his looks and pedigree, and we will be all right."
Bidding from the back ring most of the day, West commented after signing the ticket for the colt, "That was pretty strong."
"The number that we threw out prior was about half of that price, but as the sale goes on, momentum and all, it's no shocker," he said. "We have been the underbidder on plenty; today feels very strong. I think from both parties that were bidding on that horse, there was a little frustration from not getting what we wanted from earlier in the day, and I think they just let their hair down and let it go."
Other Repole Stable and St. Elias purchases over the first four sessions have totaled $11,325,000 for 24 horses purchased to date.
