Almost 10 years ago, bloodstock agent Mike Ryan set his sights on a strapping son of Curlin at the 2016 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, who brought $1 million during the second day of Book 2. That colt became grade 1 winner and sire Good Magic .
On Sept. 10, during the third session of the September sale, Ryan secured another son of Curlin (Hip 652) for $1.4 million, on behalf of a partnership.
"He was a duplicate of Good Magic," Ryan said of Hip 652. "He had the same size, shape, color, movement and class. I saw him on the farm at Gainesway, and I loved him. I said to a few people that he reminded me so much of Good Magic."
Gainesway bred and sold the colt who is out of grade 1-placed stakes winner Cherry Lodge, by Bernardini, and is the third seven-figure yearling by Curlin sold so far during the September sale. Cherry Lodge is a full sister to grade 3 winner Gala Award and a half sister to grade 1 winner Stormello and grade 2 winner My Best Brother, both by Stormy Atlantic.
"I got a chill when I saw him on the farm, and he showed himself very well here," Ryan said. "Came from a great consignment that raises a lot of good horses. But, the Good Magic factor is what really wowed me, he's so like Good Magic.
"He'll be a 2-year-old but he won't be limited to one turn. Good Magic was a very good 2-year-old and had the class to stretch on. And, (Hip 652) is one of the nicest Curlins I've seen in a while; out of a Bernardini mare, hopefully I'm proven right."
Ryan has an affinity for Curlin colts, as he also purchased Palace Malice as a yearling at the 2011 Keeneland September sale under the name Colin Brennan, agent, for $25,000. Palace Malice won the 2013 Belmont Stakes (G1) and the 2014 Metropolitan Handicap (G1) and sired a Breeders' Cup winner in his first crop with Structor, a colt Ryan bought as a 2-year-old, who won the 2019 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T).
Good Magic has already had great success as a sire, too, with 2023 Kentucky Derby (G1) Mage from his first crop, and Belmont Stakes (G1) winner Dornoch the following year.
Curlin stood the 2025 season for $225,000 at John Sikura's Hill 'n' Dale Farms at Xalapa, near Paris, Ky., and currently sits fifth on the leading general sires list through Sept 9. He has been represented this year by Journalism, who's won the Preakness Stakes (G1), Haskell Stakes (G1), and Santa Anita Derby (G1) on his way to earning more than $3.8 million.
Ryan purchased Hip 652's full brother Mr. Miracle at last year's September sale for $700,000, which also played a factor in today's purchase.
"We bought Good Magic here as a yearling, he's turned out to be a really good sire and a great racehorse. I'm hoping the lightning will strike again."
