Keeneland Sales Graduates Thousand Words, High Velocity among Standouts in Weekend Classic Preps

Keeneland sales graduates seek points on the 2020 Roads to the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Kentucky Oaks (G1) in six preps held this weekend at Santa Anita, Aqueduct, Gulfstream and Oaklawn Park.

Among those hoping to enhance their Derby credentials are Keeneland sales graduates Thousand Words and High Velocity, the first and second choices in the Robert B. Lewis (G3) at Santa Anita. Unbeaten Thousand Words and Bob Hope (G3) winner High Velocity met in the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) in their last start, finishing first and third, respectively. 

Recent Display Stakes winner Vanzzy and the highly regarded Max Player go postward in the Withers (G3) at Aqueduct. Promising allowance winner Ete Indien highlights the field for the Holy Bull (G3) at Gulfstream.  

Keeneland-sold sophomore fillies also compete for points on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks. Hut Hut Stakes winnerTonalist’s Shape puts her unbeaten record on the line in the Forward Gal (G3) at Gulfstream. Princesinha Julia is the co-high weight for the Martha Washington Stakes at Oaklawn following three consecutive wins including the Trapeze Stakes. Also in the field is stakes-placed Shedaresthedevil. Undefeated Truth Hurts tops entries for the Busanda Stakes at Aqueduct, where she will meet stakes-placed Quality Heat and the experienced Ankle Monitor. 

Older horses are in the spotlight for the San Marcos (G2) and San Pasqual (G2), both at Santa Anita on Saturday. Keeneland sales graduate United, second in the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) and Hollywood Turf Cup (G2), is the morning-line favorite for the San Marcos, which also features graded stakes winner Multiplier. Native Diver (G3) winner Midcourtand Grade 1 winner Roadster, second in the Malibu (G1), are the early choices in the San Pasqual.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 1

SAN MARCOS S. (G2), Santa Anita, 1¼ Miles (T), 4YOs & Up

MULTIPLIER, 5YO gelding by The Factor – Trippi Street ($62,000, 2014 Nov Breeding Stock. Consignor- Burleson Farm, agent; Buyer- Walter Bloodstock; $220,000 RNA, 2015 Sept Yearling. Consignor- Hunter Valley Farm) O- Wachtel Stable, George J Kerr & Gary Barber; B- Mark Stansell (KY); T- Peter Miller

UNITED, 5YO gelding by Giant’s Causeway – Indy Punch ($240,000, 2015 Nov Breeding Stock, Consignor- Trackside Farm, agent; Buyer- Glencrest Farm) O- LNJ Foxwoods; B- Rosemont Farm (KY); T- Richard Mandella

CAMPAIGN (SCRATCHED), 5YO horse by Curlin – Arania ($675,000, 2016 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Gainesway, agent; Buyer- Lane’s End) O- Woodford Racing; B- Alexander-Groves Thoroughbreds (KY); T- John Sadler

SAN PASQUAL S. (G2), Santa Anita, 1 1/8 Miles, 4YOs & Up

ROADSTER, 4YO colt by Quality Road – Ghost Dancing ($525,000, 2017 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Stone Farm; Buyer- Speedway Stables) O- Speedway Stable; B- Stone Farm (KY); T- Bob Baffert

ROUTE SIX SIX, 5YO ridgling by Quality Road – Polyester ($200,000, 2016 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Upson Downs Farm, agent; Buyer- W. D. North Thoroughbreds) O- Jay Em Ess Stable; B- Sagamore Farm (MD); T- Brian Koriner

RESTRAINEDVENGENCE, 5YO gelding by Hold Me Back – Cupids Revenge ($67,000, 2016 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Bettersworth Westwind Farms; Buyer- Bobby Grayson) O- Kelly Brinkerhoff & Bob Grayson Jr.; B- Westwind Farms (KY); T- Val Brinkerhoff

MIDCOURT, 5YO gelding by Midnight Lute – Mayo On the Side ($450,000, 2016 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Four Star Sales, agent; Buyer- Mayberry Farm) O- C R K Stable; B- Dixiana Farms (KY); T- John Shirreffs

TWO THIRTY FIVE, 6YO gelding by Stay Thirsty – A Footstep Away ($55,000 RNA, 2014 Nov Breeding Stock, Consignor- Romans Racing & Sales, agent) O- Richard Baltas, Tom Mansor, Tammi Nielsen & Kim Rasmussen; B- A Footstep Away Syndicate (KY); T- Richard Baltas

COMBATANT, 5YO ridgling by Scat Daddy – Border Dispute ($320,000, 2016 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Blandford Stud, agent; Buyer- Winchell Thoroughbreds) O- Hronis Racing; B- Paget Bloodstock (KY); T- John Sadler

WITHERS S. (G3), Aqueduct, 1 1/8 Miles, 3YOs

MR. SHORTANDSIMPLE, 3YO colt by Pioneerof the Nile – Minesave ($175,000, 2018 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent; Buyer- Sonny Stokes) O/T- Rudy Rodriguez; B- WinStar Farm (KY)

MAX PLAYER, 3YO colt by Honor Code – Fools in Love ($150,000 RNA, 2018 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Lane’s End, agent) O- George Hall; B- K & G Stables (KY); T- Linda Rice

VANZZY, 3YO colt by Verrazano – Selva ($7,000, 2018 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Gainesway, agent; Buyer- Randy Miles) O- Daniel Ryan; B- Alexander-Groves Thoroughbreds (KY); T- Michael Pino

HOLY BULL S. (G3), Gulfstream, 1 1/16 Miles, 3YOs

ETE INDIEN, 3YO colt by Summer Front – East India ($85,000 RNA, 2017 Nov Breeding Stock, Consignor- Betz Thoroughbreds, agent; $80,000, 2018 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Betz Thoroughbreds, agent, Buyer- Powerstown Stud) O- Linda Shanahan, Sandford Bacon, Dream with Me Stable, Horse France America, D P Racing, & Patrick Biancone; B- Tillyer & Buckley (KY); T- Patrick Biancone 

MAYBERRY DEPUTY, 3YO colt by Majesticperfection – Wyn Jym ($57,000, 2017 Nov Breeding Stock, Consignor- Gainewsay, agent; Buyer- P C D Stable) O- Walking L Thoroughbreds; B- Marianne Stribling (KY); T- Kenny McPeek

FORWARD GAL S. (G3), Gulfstream, 7 Furlongs, 3YO Fillies

FUJAIRAH, 3YO filly by Ghostzapper – Front and Center ($140,000 RNA, 2017 Nov Breeding Stock, Consignor- Eaton Sales, agent; $110,000 RNA, 2018 Jan Horses of All Ages, Consignor- Eaton Sales, agent) O- Three Rivers Stable; B- St. George Farm (KY); T- Carlos David

TONALIST’S SHAPE, 3YO filly by Tonalist – Hitechnoweenie ($45,000 RNA, 2018 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Lane’s End, agent) O- Slam Dunk Racing, Doug Branham & Legacy Ranch; B- Sabana Farm (KY); T- Saffie Joseph Jr.

SWALE S. (G3), Gulfstream, 7 Furlongs, 3YOs

MISCHEVIOUS ALEX, 3YO colt by Into Mischief – White Pants Night ($75,000, 2018 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent; Buyer- Eisaman Equine) O- Cash Is King & LC Racing; B- WinStar Farm (KY); T- John Servis

NECKER ISLAND, 3YO colt by Hard Spun – Jenny’s Rocket ($250,000, 2018 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Warrendale Sales, agent; Buyer- Sagamore Farm) O- Sagamore Farm & Stanley Hough; B- Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings (KY); T- Stanley Hough

POINT WINNER, 3YO colt by Liam’s Map – Navy Chapel ($17,000 RNA, 2017 Nov Breeding Stock, Consignor- Elm Tree Farm, agent; $67,000, 2018 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Elm Tree Farm, agent, Buyer- Pet Go Racing Stable) O- Pet Go Racing Stable; B- Nancy Shuford (KY); T- Oscar Gonzalez

SWEETEST CHANT S. (G3), Gulfstream, 1 Mile (T), 3YO Fillies

MOANA’S TALE, 3YO filly by Bayern – Jungle Tale ($92,000, 2017 Nov Breeding Stock, Consignor- Legacy Bloodstock, agent; Buyer- Holly Tucker) O- Morris Bailey; B- SF Bloodstock (NY); T- Danny Gargan

SHE’S MY TYPE (FR), 3YO filly by Dunkerque (FR) – Theoricienne (FR) ($27,000, 2018 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Stone Farm, agent; Buyer- Hubert Guy Bloodstock) O- Ghislaine Head; B- Haras Du Quesnay (FR); T- Christophe Clement

RELUCTANT BRIDE, 3YO filly by Speightstown – Sassy Image ($160,000, 2018 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Warrendale Sales, agent; Buyer- D P Racing) O- D P Racing & Patrick Biancone Racing; B- Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings (KY); T- Patrick Biancone

MORAL REASONING, 3YO filly by More Than Ready – Alhucema ($220,000, 2018 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Bluewater Sales, agent; Buyer- Hawes Hall Partners) O- Klaravich Stables; B- Highfield Investment Group (KY); T- Chad Brown

IVYETSU, 3YO filly by Tapit – Compelling (IRE) ($300,000 RNA, 2018 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Denali Stud, agent) O/B- Michael & Reiko Baum (KY); T- George R. Arnold II 

ROBERT B. LEWIS S. (G3), Santa Anita, 1 1/16 Miles, 3YOs

THOUSAND WORDS, 3YO colt by Pioneerof the Nile – Pomeroys Pistol ($1 Million, 2018 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Brookdale Sales, agent; Buyer- Albaugh Family & Spendthrift) O- Albaugh Family & Spendthrift; B- Hardacre Farm (FL); T- Bob Baffert

ROYAL ACT, 3YO colt by American Pharoah – True Feelings ($500,000, 2018 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Stonehaven Steadings; Buyer- Mayberry Farm) O- C R K Stable; B- Stonehaven Steadings (KY); T- Peter Eurton

HIGH VELOCITY, 3YO colt by Quality Road – Ketel Twist ($350,000, 2018 Sept Yearling, Consignor- St George Sales, agent; Buyer- Ben Glass, agent) O- Mary & Gary West; B- Dell Ridge Farm (KY); T- Bob Baffert

MARTHA WASHINGTON S., Oaklawn, 1 Mile, 3YO Fillies

O SERAPHINA, 3YO filly by Congrats – Deherewego ($60,000, 2017 Nov Breeding Stock, Consignor- Sue Vacek, agent, Buyer- Brian Holmes, agent; $180,000, 2018 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Scott Mallory, agent, Buyer- Scott & Evan Dilworth) O- Scott & Evan Dilworth and Randy & Susan Andrews; B- Carolin Von Rosenberg & Mike Yovankin (FL); T- Joe Sharp

SHEDARESTHEDEVIL, 3YO filly by Daredevil – Starship Warpspeed ($100,000, 2017 Nov Breeding Stock, Consignor- Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent, Buyer- Big Cuse Bloodstock; $20,000 RNA, 2018 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Warrendale Sales, agent) O- Flurry Racing Stables, Qatar Racing & Big Aut Farms; B- WinStar Farm (KY); T- Brad Cox

PRINCESINHA JULIA, 3YO filly by Pioneerof the Nile – Love and Pride ($475,000 RNA, 2018 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Four Star Sales, agent) O/B- Three Chimneys Farm (KY); T- Steve Asmussen

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2

BUSANDA S., Aqueduct, 1 1/8 Miles, 3YO Fillies

ANKLE MONITOR, 3YO filly by Raison d’Etat – Misty Michelle ($3,000, 2018 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Mill Ridge Sales, agent; Buyer- Chris Melton) O- Alejandra Gonzalez; B- Calumet Farm (KY); T- Claudio Gonzalez

QUALITY HEAT, 3YO filly by Quality Road – Rushen Heat ($70,000, 2018 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Select Sales, agent; Buyer- Margaret O’Toole) O- Gary Barber; B- Calumet Farm (KY); T- Mark Casse

TRUTH HURTS, 3YO filly by Tonalist – Witty Gal ($35,000, 2018 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Eaton Sales, agent; Buyer- Jorge Wagner) O- Chad Summers & J Stables; B- William Graham (ON); T- Chad Summers

FIFTYSHAYS OFGREEN, 3YO filly by Bernardini – Divine Dispatch ($100,000, 2018 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Gainesway, agent; Buyer- D J Stable) O- Leonard Green & Sean Shay; B- Gainesway (KY); T- John Servis