Momentum Carries to Book 4 with Maclean's Music Colt

The momentum carried into Book 4, when Alex and JoAnn Lieblong went to $500,000 for a colt (Hip 2263) by Maclean's Music during the Sept. 15 session of Keeneland's September Yearling Sale. The Arkansas natives have campaigned a number of graded stakes winners over the years, including Telling, who took back-to-back editions of the Sword Dancer Invitational Stakes (G1T) at Saratoga Race Course in 2009-10; The Big Beast, who won the 2014 King's Bishop Stakes (G1); 2015 Alabama Stakes (G1) winner Embellish the Lace; and Wicked Whisper, winner of the 2019 Frizette Stake (G1). "He was a nice horse, and we're fortunate we got him," said Alex Lieblong about Hip 2263. "We held back yesterday on another one we liked; we played, but we didn't get silly because this was the one we really wanted." "Just about everything," Lieblong replied when asked what stood out about Hip 2263. "Of course, his siblings had some success, but I usually buy more on a physical than anything else. And, Bo (Hunt), ran across him, and Bo was about as high on him as anything that we bought." The son of Maclean's Music is out of the stakes-winning mare Athens Queen, who is also the dam of two foals to race, both winners. The colt was bred in Kentucky by Athens Woods and consigned by Eaton Sales, agent. "I was very, very pleased with it, and I like buying from Eaton; they're good consignors, they've always done right by me, and so everything just lined up." Alex Lieblong purchased another colt during the seventh session—Hip 2357, a colt by first-crop sire Cyberknife for $60,000. He was consigned by Machmer Hall Sales, agent for Haymarket Farm. In addition to the two colts purchased Monday, Lieblong also bought two yearlings by Maclean's Music's son Jackie's Warrior last week—Hip 1187, a colt out of Marathon Lady for $425,000, and Hip 758, a filly out of the graded stakes producing mare Ice Women for $650,000. "I told (Bo), they're going to think we're trying to corner the market on Maclean's Music. That was not the design; it just happened. "I was really, really tickled we bought the one out of Marathon Lady (Hip 1187). I raced (Marathon Lady). My place in the Keys is right outside Marathon, and there's a boat that comes by every day, and they call that Marathon Lady, so that's what I named her. " About Hip 758: "That one just stood out to me, and obviously the price ($650,000) showed it stood out to someone else, too. "I do like first-time sires, but the other thing, I saw Jackie's Warrior at the paddock, (Steve) Asmussen was schooling him one day at Oaklawn, and I said, 'Oh my God', the only other horse I ever said that about was Uncle Mo. He was a man, and Asmussen did a wonderful job keeping that horse sound. He did show that he could stick around and had soundness to him." Lieblong said the horses will go to Florida for their early training, before any final decisions are made. "I was trying to ease out of the business, and it doesn't look like I'm doing a very good job. "We'll kind of watch them as they're going and see how they're developing. Bo knows all of our trainers, and we'll see if we can kind of figure out which one fits who the best." Day 7 Statistics The seventh session ended with 295 horses changing hands for a total of $31,039,000, including private sales. The average was $105,217, with a median of $75,000. Seventy-five horses failed to meet their reserve, resulting in an RNA rate of 20.3%. Three colts brought $475,000 apiece, including a Candy Ride (ARG) colt bought by Kenny McPeek, agent/Delta Squad Racing, BSW/Crow, agent. The colt is out of the Giant's Causway mare Screen Goddess, who is a half sister to multiple grade 1 winner Star Billing. She was consigned by Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa, agent. Pedro Lanz, agent for KAS Stables, purchased the other two—Hip 2235, a colt by Gun Runner out of the stakes-placed mare Wrong Color, who is a half sister to multiple graded stakes winner and millionaire Tom's Ready; and Hip 2281, a colt by first-crop sire Epicenter. Hip 2281 is out of Bellucci, a half sister to grade 1 winner Salty and stakes winner Lady Moscato. Lanz was the leading buyer of the day, spending $1,385,000 on six yearlings. Gainesway sold 29 from their draft for $3,065,000 to lead consignors. The top price for a filly was shared by Hip 2266 and Hip 2302, who brought $400,000 apiece. Hip 2266, a filly by McKinzie, was purchased by Kenny McPeek, agent, and Hip 2302, a filly by Omaha Beach, was purchased by Legion Bloodstock. "The industry's kind of booming right now," said Legion Bloodstock's Kristian Villante. "It's good to be shopping in a healthy market, but it's also a little difficult and challenging at times. But, when the industry is doing well, it's good for everybody."