Keeneland September Sale Graduates Venetian Harbor, Independence Hall Favored in Weekend Classic Preps

Venetian Harbor and Independence Hall, both graduates of Keeneland’s 2018 September Yearling Sale, are early favorites for Saturday’s two graded prep races on the Roads to the 2020 Kentucky Oaks (G1) and Kentucky Derby (G1), respectively.

The talented Venetian Harbor is the top pick in the Las Virgenes (G2), an Oaks prep at Santa Anita, based on her impressive maiden win at that track in December.

Unbeaten Independence Hall stretches out in the Sam F. Davis (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs, a prep on the Road to the Derby. The Constitution colt was a 12¼-length winner of the Nashua (G3) last fall and opened 2020 with a four-length win in the Jerome Stakes. He will be challenged in the Sam F. Davis by stakes winner Sole Volante and undefeated allowance winner Premier Star, both fellow September Sale graduates.

Keeneland sales graduates also headline the fields for undercard stakes at Tampa Bay on Saturday.

Grade 3 winner Comical and graded stakes-placed Motu and Blame Debbie are featured in the Suncoast Stakes, a prep for the Oaks.

Grade 1 winner and Eclipse Award finalist Got Stormy opens her 2020 campaign in the Lambholm South Endeavour (G3).

At Gulfstream, two-time Sovereign Award champion Starship Jubilee, winner of the Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Stakes in her season debut, is featured in the Suwannee River (G3).

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8

LAS VIRGENES S. (G2), Santa Anita, 1 Mile, 3YO Fillies

GO BIG BLUE NATION, 3YO filly by Animal Kingdom – Chelsea Road ($45,000, 2017 Nov Breeding Stock, Consignor- Buckland Sales, agent, Buyer- Magna Carta; $90,000, 2018 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Runnymede Farm, agent, Buyer- Del Secco DCS) O- Cannon Thoroughbreds; B- Millennium Farms & Godolphin (KY); T- Michael McCarthy

GINGHAM, 3YO filly by Quality Road – Chapel ($420,000, 2018 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Stone Farm; Buyer- Jamie McCalmont, agent) O- Sarah Kelly & Jane Wiltz; B- Stone Farm (KY); T- Bob Baffert

VENETIAN HARBOR, 3YO filly by Munnings – Sounds of the City ($110,000, 2018 Sept Yearling Consignor- Ashview Farm, agent; Buyer- Jesse Hoppel, agent) O- Ciaglia Racing, River Oak Farm & Dominic Savides; B- Colts Neck Stables (KY); T- Richard Baltas

SAM F. DAVIS S. (G3), Tampa Bay, 1 1/16 Miles, 3YOs

SOLE VOLANTE, 3YO colt by Karakontie (JPN) – Light Blow ($6,000, 2018 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Lane’s End, agent; Buyer- New Hope) O- Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Andie Biancone & Limelight Stables; B- Flaxman Holdings (KY); T- Patrick Biancone

INDEPENDENCE HALL, 3YO colt by Constitution – Kalahari Cat ($100,000, 2018 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Woodford Thoroughbreds, agent; Buyer- Charlestown Investments) O- Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Twin Creeks Racing Stables, Kathleen & Robert Verratti; B- Woodford Thoroughbreds (KY); T- Michael Trombetta

PREMIER STAR, 3YO colt by Tapiture – Letthetigerparty ($105,000, 2018 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent; Buyer- Red Wings) O- Sonata Stable; B- Charles Deters (KY); T- Jorge Navarro

LAMBHOLM SOUTH ENDEAVOUR S. (G3), Tampa Bay, 1 1/16 Miles (T), 4YOs & Up, F&M 

A. A. AZULA’S ARCH, 5YO mare by Arch – Song of Solomon ($35,000 RNA, 2016 Sept Yearling, Consignor- James M. Herbener Jr.) O- A & A Farms; B- Fox Hill Farms (KY); T- Mark Casse

DYNATAIL, 6YO mare by Hightail – Southern Dynamo ($6,000, 2015 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Eaton Sales, agent; Buyer- Fredricktown Farms) O- Ballybrit Stable; B- Calumet Farm (KY); T- Michael Dini

GOT STORMY, 5YO mare by Get Stormy – Super Phoebe ($23,000, 2016 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Pope McLean, agent; Buyer- Equine Investments) O- Gary Barber; B- Mt. Joy Stables, Pope McLean, Marc McLean & Pope McLean Jr. (KY); T- Mark Casse

PHANTOM OPENING, 6YO mare by Arch – Phantom Rising ($60,000, 2014 Nov Breeding Stock, Consignor- Gainesway, agent, Buyer- Jim & Susan Hill; $45,000, 2019 Jan Horses of All Ages, Consignor- Ballysax Bloodstock, agent, Buyer- Oracle Bloodstock, agent) O- Surfside Stables; B- Warrender Associates & Diane Curry (KY); T- Jordan Blair

TAMPA BAY S. (G3), Tampa Bay, 1 1/16 Miles (T), 4YOs & Up

RENAISANCE FROLIC, 5YO gelding by Paynter – Frolic’s Appeal ($90,000 RNA, 2015 Nov Breeding Stock, Consignor- Hidden Brook, agent; $60,000 RNA, 2016 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Hidden Brook, agent) O- Sir David Seale; B- Stride Rite Racing Stable (KY); T- Saffie Joseph Jr.

HALLADAY, 4YO colt by War Front – Hightap ($225,000 RNA to Sale, 2017 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Gainesway, agent; Buyer- Steven W. Young, agent) O- Harrell Ventures; B- Gainesway Thoroughbreds & Winchell Thoroughbreds (KY); T- Todd Pletcher

HEMBREE, 6YO horse by Proud Citizen – Knockatrina ($40,000, 2015 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Royal Oak Farm, agent; Buyer- Ken & Sarah Ramsey) O- Three Diamonds Farm; B- Derby Lane Farm (KY); T- Michael Maker

SUWANNEE RIVER S. (G3), Gulfstream, 1 1/8 Miles (T), 4YOs & Up, F&M 

MAGIC STAR, 4YO filly by Scat Daddy – Meadow Breeze ($500,000, 2017 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Betz Thoroughbreds, agent; Buyer- Don Alberto Corp.) O- Don Alberto Stable; B- Betz, D J Stables, CoCo, Burns & Mager (KY); T- Chad Brown

VOW TO RECOVER, 4YO filly by Broken Vow – My Best Ten ($35,000, 2017 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Summerfield, agent; Buyer- S. Shahinian, agent) O- Imaginary Stables & Paul Braverman; B- Rustlewood Farm (FL); T- Elizabeth Dobles

GREAT SISTER DIANE, 4YO filly by Will Take Charge – Private Ensign ($65,000, 2017 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent; Buyer- Steven Dwoskin) O- Robert Slack; B- Siena Farms (KY); T- Rohan Crichton

STARSHIP JUBILEE, 7YO mare by Indy Wind – Perfectly Wild ($425,000 RNA, 2018 Nov Breeding Stock, Consignor- Brookdale Sales, agent) O- Blue Heaven Farm; B- William Sorren (FL); T- Kevin Attard

THUNDER ROAD S. (G3), Santa Anita, 1 Mile (T), 4YOs & Up

THE HUNTED, 5YO gelding by Unusual Heat – Lethal Hunter ($80,000, 2016 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Valkyre Stud, agent; Buyer- Crupi Sixteen, J. J. Crupi, agent) O- M. Auerbach, Ciaglia Racing & Little Red Feather Racing; B- M. Auerbach (CA); T- Richard Baltas

MAJESTIC EAGLE, 5YO horse by Medaglia d’Oro – Double Tapped ($250,000 RNA to Sale, 2016 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Stone Farm, agent; Buyer- Shawn Dugan Drysdale, agent) O- John Lindley & Ray Morton; B- B. Flay Thoroughbreds (KY); T- Neil Drysdale

FRONTIER MARKET, 7YO gelding by Lemon Drop Kid – Sedley ($100,000, 2014 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Garrencasey Sales, agent; Buyer- Lake Front Capital) O- Hronis Racing; B- Scott & Debbie Pierce (KY); T- John Sadler

SUNCOAST S., Tampa Bay Downs, 1 Mile 40 Yards, 3YO Fillies 

MOTU, 3YO filly by Paynter – El Bank Robber ($120,000 RNA, 2017 Nov Breeding Stock, Consignor- Nardelli Sales, agent) O- Susan Moulton, David Bernsen & Magdalena Racing; B- Kim & Rodney Nardelli (KY); T- Kenny McPeek

COMICAL, 3YO filly by Into Mischief – Kayce Ace ($100,000, 2018 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent; Buyer- David Meah, agent) O- WinStar Farm, Lindy Farms & Madaket Stables; B- Susan Casner (KY); T- Steve Asmussen

MISS IMPORTANT, 3YO filly by Graydar – Sudden Ghost ($7,000 RNA, 2017 Nov Breeding Stock, Consignor- Legacy Bloodstock, agent) O- Selective; B- Wynnstay & Jay McKee (KY); T- Kenny McPeek

BLAME DEBBIE, 3YO filly by Blame – Jadwa ($65,000 RNA, 2018 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Threave Main Stud, agent) O- Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Michael Cloonan & Timothy Thornton; B- Tim Thornton & Tony Holmes (KY); T- Graham Motion

​SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 9

SAN VICENTE S. (G2), Santa Anita, 7 Furlongs, 3YOs

NADAL, 3YO colt by Blame – Ascending Angel ($25,000, 2018 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Sierra Farm; Buyer- Randy Bradshaw, agent) O- George Bolton, Arthur Hoyeau, Barry Lipman & Mark Mathiesen; B- Sierra Farm (KY); T- Bob Baffert

GINOBILI, 3YO colt by Munnings – Find the Humor ($35,000, 2018 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Hinkle Farms, Buyer- Richard Baltas) O- Slam Dunk Racing, Richard Baltas, Jerry McClanahan & Michael Nentwig; B- Hinkle Farms (KY); T- Richard Baltas