Keeneland Sales Graduates Knicks Go, Charlatan Battle in $20 Million Saudi Cup; Charmaine’s Mia Favored in Grade 2 Buena Vista

Keeneland sales alumni get top billing in major races in the U.S. and Saudi Arabia on Saturday. 

Knicks Go, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) at Keeneland and Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1), and Runhappy Malibu (G1) winner Charlatan headline the $20 million Saudi Cup at King Abdulaziz Racetrack in Riyadh.

Other Keeneland sales alumni competing on the Saudi Cup undercard include champion and multiple Grade 1 winner Channel Maker, featured in the $1.5 million Neom Turf Cup, and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G2) at Keeneland runner-upCowan in the $1.5 million Al Rajhi Bank Saudi Derby.  

At Santa Anita, recent Las Cienegas (G3) winner Charmaine’s Mia is favored in a strong field set for the Buena Vista (G2).Mucho Unusual earns second-choice status in the Buena Vista following graded stakes wins in three of her last four starts – Rodeo Drive (G1), Robert J. Frankel (G3) and Megahertz (G3), all at Santa Anita.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20

BUENA VISTA S. (G2), Santa Anita, 1 Mile (T), 4YOs & Up, F&M

BOHEMIAN BOURBON, 5YO mare by Midshipman – Irene Adler ($175,000, 2020 Nov Breeding Stock, Consignor- Hidden Brook, agent; Buyer- SF Bloodstock) O- MyRacehorse; B- Fedai Kahraman (KY); T- Michael McCarthy

MUCHO UNUSUAL, 5YO mare by Mucho Macho Man – Not Unusual ($170,000 RNA, 2017 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Hill ‘n’ Dale Sales Agency, agent) O/B- George Krikorian; T- Tim Yakteen

NASTY, 4YO filly by Street Sense – Valiant Passion ($230,000, 2018 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Elm Tree Farm, agent; Buyer- Solis/Litt) O- LNJ Foxwoods; B- Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings (KY); T- Richard Baltas

CHARMAINE’S MIA, 5YO mare by The Factor – Charming Vixen ($40,000 RNA, 2016 Nov Breeding Stock, Consignor- Allied Bloodstock, agent; $4,000, 2017 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Allied Bloodstock, agent, Buyer- Cool Hill Farm) O- Agave Racing Stable & Rockin Robin Racing Stables; B- Gunpowder Farms (KY); T- Philip D’Amato

HEATHERS GREY, 5YO mare by The Factor – Jinny Jump Up ($80,000, 2017 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Castle Park Stud, agent; Buyer- Sayjay Racing) O- Sayjay Racing; B- Frederick Wieting (KY); T- Sean McCarthy

RUNHAPPY BARBARA FRITCHIE S. (G3), Laurel, 7 Furlongs, 4YOs & Up, F&M

CLUB CAR, 5YO mare by Malibu Moon – Sittin At the Bar ($120,000, 2017 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Denali Stud, agent; Buyer- Mike Ball) O- Mike & Katherine Ball; B- Brett Brinkman & P. Dale Ladner (KY); T- Ben Colebrook

DONTLETSWEETFOOLYA, 4YO filly by Stay Thirsty – Stunning Electra ($1,500, 2017 Nov Breeding Stock, Consignor- Scott Mallory, agent; Buyer- Lawrence Hobson) O- Five Hellions Farm; B- BHMFR (KY); T- Lacey Gaudet

NEEDS SUPERVISION, 5YO mare by Paynter – Moroccan Rose ($22,000, 2017 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent; Buyer- McMahon & Hill Bloodstock, agent) O- Howling Pigeon Farms, Gary Barber, Wachtel Stable & Madaket Stable; B- Mike Abraham (KY); T- Jeremiah O’Dwyer

GENERAL GEORGE S. (G3), Laurel, 7 Furlongs, 4YOs & Up

MAJESTIC DUNHILL, 6YO gelding by Majesticperfection – Candy Fortune ($47,000, 2016 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Warrendale Sales, agent; Buyer- SGV Thoroughbreds) O- R. A. Hill Stable; B- Hargus & Sandra Sexton & Silver Fern Farm (KY); T- George Weaver

SHARE THE RIDE, 6YO gelding by Candy Ride (ARG) – Belle of the Hall ($35,000 RNA to Sale, 2016 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Four Star Sales, agent; Buyer- Miacomet Bloodstock) O- Silvino Ramirez; B- Dixiana Farms (KY); T- Miguel Penaloza

INFORMATIVE, 4YO colt by Bodemeister – Lucky Black ($15,000, 2018 Jan Horses of All Ages, Consignor- Paramount Sales, agent; Buyer- Three Rivers Stables) O- Trin-Brook Stables; B- Rose Hill Farm & John Trumbulovic (KY); T- Uriah St. Lewis

ARTHUR’S HOPE, 7YO horse by Smart Bid – Prom Dance ($22,000, 2015 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Catalyst Bloodstock, agent; Buyer- Stud Marluna) O- Raul DelValle; B- Monhill Farm (NY); T- Marco Salazar

ROYAL DELTA S (G3), Gulfstream, 1 1/16 Miles, 4YOs & Up, F&M

HIGH REGARD, 5YO mare by Will Take Charge – Highest Class ($115,000, 2016 Nov Breeding Stock, Consignor- Select Sales, agent, Buyer- Three Chimneys Farm; $160,000, 2017 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Select Sales, agent, Buyer- G. Watts Humphrey Jr.) O- G. Watts Humphrey Jr.; B- Coteau Grove Farm (KY); T- Vicki Oliver

GIBBERISH, 4YO filly by Lea – Nippy ($230,000, 2017 Nov Breeding Stock Consignor- St. George Sales, agent; Buyer- Mike Ryan, agent) O- e Five Racing; B- Dell Ridge Farm (KY); T- Saffie Joseph Jr.

BAJAN GIRL, 4YO filly by Speightstown – Dazzling (IRE) ($110,000, 2018 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Trackside Farm, agent; Buyer- Carlo Vaccarezza) O- Robert Slack & Daniel Walters; B- St. Elias Stables (KY); T- Rohan Crichton

*************************************************

SAUDI CUP, King Abdulaziz, 1800M, 3YOs & Up

CHARLATAN, 4YO colt by Speightstown – Authenticity ($700,000, 2018 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Denali Stud, agent; Buyer- SF Bloodstock/Starlight West) O- SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Fred Hertrich III, John Fielding & Golconda Stables; B- Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings (KY); T- Bob Baffert

KNICKS GO, 5YO horse by Paynter – Kosmo’s Buddy ($40,000, 2016 Nov Breeding Stock, Consignor- Bill Reightler, Buyer- Northface Bloodstock; $87,000, 2017 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Woods Edge Farm, agent, Buyer- Korea Racing Authority) O- Korea Racing Authority; B- Angie Moore (MD); T- Brad Cox

MAX PLAYER, 4YO colt by Honor Code – Fools in Love ($150,000 RNA, 2018 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Lane’s End, agent) O- George Hall & SportBLX Thoroughbreds Corp.; B- K & G Stables (KY); T- Steve Asmussen

SLEEPY EYES TODD, 5YO horse by Paddy O’Prado – Pledge Mom ($9,000, 2016 Nov Breeding Stock, Consignor- Legacy Bloodstock, agent; Buyer- Jonathan Wong) O- Thumbs Up Racing; B- Two Hearts Farm & Kristen Goncharoff (KY); T- Miguel Angel Silva

RED SEA TURF CUP H., King Abdulaziz, 3000M (T), 3YOs & Up

SPANISH MISSION, 5YO horse by Noble Mission (GB) – Limonar (IRE) ($125,000, 2017 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Lane’s End, agent; Buyer- Lynch Bloodstock) O- Team Valor & Gary Barber; B- St. Elias Stables (KY); T- Andrew Balding

RED VERDON, 8YO horse by Lemon Drop Kid – Porto Marmay (IRE) ($85,000, 2014 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Gainesway, agent; Buyer- Jim McCartan) O- The Hon R. J. Arculli; B- Liberty Road Stables (KY); T- Edward Dunlop

AL RAJHI BANK SAUDI DERBY, King Abdulaziz, 1600M, 3YOs

COWAN, 3YO colt by Kantharos – Tempers Flair ($185,000, 2019 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Hill ‘n’ Dale Sales Agency, agent; Buyer- Bill & Corinne Heiligbrodt) O- Bill & Corinne Heiligbrodt, Madaket Stables & Spendthrift Farm; B- Hill ‘n’ Dale Equine Holdings (KY); T- Steve Asmussen

NEOM TURF CUP, King Abdulaziz, 2100M (T), 3YOs & Up

CHANNEL MAKER, 7YO gelding by English Channel – In Return ($57,000 RNA, 2015 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Warrendale Sales, agent) O- Wachtel Stable, Gary Barber, R. A. Hill Stable & Reeves Thoroughbred Racing; B- Tall Oaks Farm (ON); T- Bill Mott

GRONKOWSKI, 6YO horse by Lonhro (AUS) – Four Sugars ($75,000, 2015 Nov Breeding Stock, Consignor- Trackside Farm, agent; Buyer- Margaret O’Toole) O- Khalid Bin Mishref; B- Epic Thoroughbreds (KY); T- Abdulaziz Bin Mishref

KUWAIT CURRENCY, 5YO horse by Kitten’s Joy – Thebignbadestbunny ($50,000, 2017 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent; Buyer- Grove Stud) O- Alshaattry Stable; B- Ken & Sarah Ramsey (KY); T- Y. Almutairi

STC 1351 TURF SPRINT, King Abdulaziz, 1351M (T), 3YOs & Up

CAPTAIN VON TRAPP, 5YO horse by Trappe Shot – Julie From Dixie ($47,000 RNA, 2017 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Beau Lane Bloodstock) O- Shaqran Ayyaad Almetairi Sons; B- E. H. Beau Lane III (KY); T- Meshari Al-Mutairi

AVALINA, 5YO mare by Tale of Ekati – Perfect Nodouble ($15,000, 2017 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Paramount Sales, agent; Buyer- Steve Bajer, agent) O- Khalid Bin Mishref; B- Charles Fipke (KY); T- A. Khalid

SAUDI ARABIAN AIRLINES RIYADH DIRT SPRINT, King Abdulaziz, 1200M, 3YOs & Up

COPANO KICKING, 6YO gelding by Spring At Last – Celadon ($19,000 RNA, 2016 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Eaton Sales, agent) O- Sachiaki Kobayashi; B- Reiley McDonald (KY); T- Akira Murayama

MATERA SKY, 7YO horse by Speightstown – Mostageleh ($140,000, 2014 Nov Breeding Stock, Consignor- Hunter Valley Farm, agent, Buyer- Cobra Farm; $350,000, 2015 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Bluewater Sales, agent, Buyer- Teruo Ono) O- Tsuyoshi Ono; B- Lynch Bages (KY); T- Hideyuki Mori

NEW YORK CENTRAL, 6YO horse by Tapit – Fashion Cat ($390,000, 2015 Nov Breeding Stock, Consignor- Woodford Thoroughbreds, agent, Buyer- Exclusive Equine Investments; $240,000, 2019 Nov Breeding Stock, Consignor- WinStar Racing, agent, Buyer- Khalid Mishref) (career 14-6-2-1, $1,235,310) O- Prince Faisal Bin Khaled; B- SF Bloodstock (KY); T- Fahad Saad

SWITZERLAND, 7YO horse by Speightstown – Czechers ($170,000, 2014 Nov Breeding Stock, Consignor- Brookdale Sales, agent, Buyer- Fairwinter Farm; $175,000, 2015 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Eaton Sales, agent, Buyer- McKathan Bros.) O- Rrr Racing; B- Branch Family Trust (KY); T- Satish Seemar