Knight's Seven-Figure Trio Topped by Constitution Colt

Just two hips into the ring Sept. 13 on the second day of the September Yearling Sale at Keeneland, bidding passed the million-dollar threshold when Hip 192 was purchased by bloodstock agent Richard Knight for $1.3 million on behalf of an undisclosed client. Later Tuesday, Knight added a $1.05 million Justify filly (Hip 255) and a $1.1 million Gun Runner filly (Hip 297). The Constitution colt is out of the graded-stakes winning Cozzene mare Cozze Up Lady, making him a half brother to 2021 Madison Stakes (G1) Kimari (Munnings). He was consigned by Jacob West and Jill Gordon of Highgate Sales, which only began selling horses in February. "It's pretty amazing," said West, who has long made sales headlines for his purchases as a bloodstock agent. "That's actually the first horse that Jill has been associated with that has brought seven figures. So I know she's ecstatic right now. But she is already in the back ring, selling our next horse." He thanked the colt's breeder, China Horse Club, for entrusting their young sales agency with him, and WinStar Farm for prepping the colt. China Horse Club acquired Cozze Up Lady as a broodmare prospect in 2014 at The November Sale at Fasig-Tipton following her racing career. She earned $407,169 in winning seven of 19 starts. She concluded her racing career for trainer Keith Desormeaux and owners Martin Racing, Morgan Thoroughbred, Westwind Property, and Farfellow Farm. Kimari's success—topped by a summer update, a victory in the Honorable Miss Handicap (G2) at Saratoga Race Course July 27—made Hip 192 popular with buyers, with Knight the keenest to have him. Plans call for the colt to race in America. "He was absolutely my pick coming in here," said Knight. "I loved him from the moment I saw him. I thought he was everything we came here to look for. We came here to look for a really smart horse, picked that horse—has a pedigree, being by a great stallion. Gorgeous-looking horse. Every single time he came out (for a show), he did it for me. Delighted to get him." Though Kimari is at her best racing around one turn, West believes Hip 192 can be successful at a route, pointing to the colt's strength in his shoulder and hip. The dam was versatile, winning main-track sprints and turf routes in stakes company. Buyers are "thinking two-turn classics when they look at horses like him. That's what he was," West said. "I'm very excited the horse is going to stay in the States. It sounds like he is going to go to (trainer) Brendan Walsh. That's pretty interesting. So I'm very happy for those guys." Hip 255, consigned by Bryan and Gray Lyster of Ashview Farm, will also race in the U.S. and will head into the barn of Graham Motion, Knight said. "A big Justify filly. We know how he's done as a stallion," Knight said. "She was a queen of a filly. Delighted to get her." Ashview Farm bred her in Kentucky with Old Oak Farm. She is out of the stakes-placed Unbridled's Song mare Fully Living and related to graded-placed runners Untreated and Ballet Dancing. Tuesday's seven-figure sale continued a year to remember for the Lysters. Ashview Farm bred Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) 1-2 finishers Mo Donegal and Nest in partnership with Colts Neck Stables. Those two grade 1 winners were also graduates of their sales program. "It's all coming together right now, to be honest," Gray Lyster said. "I'd like to think that when you have success with horses you've raised on the racetrack, it translates at the sales. I think that's what tipped her a couple extra bids. I'd like to think so. "It's been an awesome year. Our whole team is thrilled. It feels amazing." Additionally, Knight bought an Omaha Beach colt (Hip 198) for $400,000 and a Twirling Candy colt (Hip 200) for $300,000. With the Gainesway-consigned Hip 297 being his fifth purchase, the agent called Tuesday's haul "fantastic" after a Sept. 12 session in which he came away with one buy. "Most of the time what we do is we go into these sales and follow a long list," he said. "We have a limited budget, and maybe one horse falls into our (program). We've been able to highlight the nice horses, and been competitive on them—what we all want to do." Brian Graves, general manager of Gainesway, said he was not surprised to see Hip 297 sell so well, given that her full sister Wicked Halo just won the Prioress Stakes (G2) at Saratoga Race Course. She is out of graded-winning Tapit mare Just Wicked and was bred by Winchell Thoroughbreds. "She's very smooth," Graves said. "She's got the 'X factor.' She walks nice. She's balanced, athletic. All the top judges find her. It helped that she is by Gun Runner."