Among the four first-crop yearling sires heading into the Keeneland September Yearling Sale with six-figure auction averages, two can entice buyers to their progeny because they were grade 1 winners at 2 and went on to accomplish much more—Darley Stallions' Essential Quality and Maxfield .
Darren Fox, sales manager at Darley Stallions, calls the elite 2-year-old form a "surprising element," particularly with Maxfield and his sire Street Sense .
"You would not expect it if you're just looking at them without any background or past performances," he said. "Maxfield is a big, two-turn, 3-year-old-looking horse. That he was an unbeaten grade 1 winner at 2 is the cherry on top. It has been a precocious sire line for us, but they have the physique that whatever they do at 2, they will continue to build on and shine at two turns at 3."
Inspections are underway at Keeneland for the September sale, which cataloged 4,407 for this year's edition. The 12-day sale begins Sept. 9 at 1 p.m. ET and runs through Sept. 21. After the Book 1 and Book 2 offerings, the sale takes a hiatus Sept. 13, and then resumes Sept. 14 with the start of Book 3.
Essential Quality, a son of Tapit , also was undefeated at 2 and landed victories in the 2020 Breeders' Futurity (G1) at Keeneland (a race Maxfield won in 2019) and the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1), which sealed a title as champion 2-year-old male for 2020. He went on to win the Belmont Stakes (G1) and Travers Stakes (G1) among his five graded stakes victories at 3 and was named champion 3-year-old male for 2021, one of five colts to win dual championships at 2 and 3 since the Eclipse Awards began in 1971. In addition to his stakes wins, he was third in the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) in 2021.
"Essential Quality had nothing left to prove. He is a rare horse and the complete package," said Fox. "When people are investing in yearlings, it is nice to know they have the potential to run at 2 and start providing a return earlier. But when people are spending big money on these yearlings, they are eyeing the Derby and Oaks types."
Through the August yearling sales, Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa's Charlatan tops the first-crop yearling sire standings by average at $333,654 from 13 sold. The multiple grade 1-winning son of Speightstown was represented at The Saratoga Sale, Fasig-Tipton's select yearling sale, by a $1.5 million colt out of the Yes It's True mare Goldfield, also the dam of this year's current leading freshman sire Complexity . Warrendale Sales sold the colt on behalf of Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings to John Stewart's Resolute Bloodstock.
Essential Quality and Maxfield are second and third, respectively, in the yearling average ranking. Essential Quality has a $239,600 average from 10 sold, while Maxfield's average is $176,900 from 15 sold.
Other first-crop yearling sires with an overall average above $50,000 through Aug. 27 include Spendthrift Farm's Yaupon ($164,795), Taylor Made Stallions' Tacitus ($72,455), Gainesway's Raging Bull ($52,285), and Airdrie Stud's Beau Liam ($51,400).
Both Essential Quality and Maxfield are putting a strong stamp on their foals, according to Fox.
"A high percentage of the Essential Qualitys are grays, and he is imparting a two-turn length of body, as he has. Some even down to their head shape look like him, which I like. They have good hips and are straightforward, correct horses. He is consistently getting a nice horse," he said.
One of Essential Quality's best attributes, according to Fox, is his sharp mind.
"He was a phenom on the racetrack but a smart horse. He was easy on himself and didn't let the rigors of the afternoon get to him, staying cool, calm, and collected. It feels like he is passing that along as well," he said.
Being the most accomplished son of multiple leading sire Tapit by earnings and number of stakes wins could also add appeal to Essential Quality's yearlings. Gainesway's leading sire, who topped the North American sire standings for three consecutive years 2014-16, is now 23.
"To have one of Tapit's best sons is hugely exciting, and given what Tapit continues to do year after year only shines a brighter light on his sons," said Fox. "People are looking to see who is going to carry the mantle going forward and who is to say it won't be 'Essential'?"
Along with balanced bodies, a lot of leg, and correct conformation, Maxfield's foals are also displaying their sire's class.
"He might be the classiest horse I have been around in a long time," Fox said. "In terms of their walk and their movement, I have a pretty high expectation when I go to look at a Maxfield because he is throwing above-average movers. The bar is quite high. His foals have the physique, the movement, the mind, and the class, which is a potent combination. We are excited to see what they can do at the races."
