Medaglia d’Oro sets the trend

Rachel Alexandra’s sire continues to be highly desirable as Keeneland Book Two closes

Continuing through Book Two, Medaglia d'Oro is establishing himself as one of the most fashionable sires of the sale. Thirteen of 33 lots have been snapped up at prices between $300,000 and $1.3 million.

Dave C Parrish, Jr’s Indian Creek scored a homerun with a colt (hip 961) by Medaglia d’Oro who was knocked down to Westrock Stables LLC for $600,000. In the company of Hall of Fame trainer D Wayne Lukas, former president and chief executive officer of Alltel Corporation Scott Ford signed for the colt whose previous stop at Keeneland last November proved a success for Iroquois Bloodstock who paid $87,000 for the bay. Bred by Peter Van Andel and Stonewall Farm, the sibling to nine winners including Stakes winner Saturday’s Child, is out of black-type winner Bashful Charmer, by Capote.

G3 Saranac S. winner Al Khali, who drew off to a commanding lead on grass at Saratoga last month, is the second of three starters for Medaglia d’Oro to be born to a daughter of the late champion Capote and to have gone on to win at Stakes level.

Edward P Evans, the proud owner and breeder of the record smashing Grade One-winning sophomore Quality Road, yet again showed admiration for his gifted runner’s world class sire by knocking down a chestnut filly by Elusive Quality for $380,000 Thursday.

The filly’s dam Summer Raven was a talented juvenile, winning the G3 Tempted Stakes by two lengths. Her dam is a half-sister to top-level handicapper Wild Rush.

Stamping his stock is Henny Hughes, who had three sell beyond $200,000 in Book Two – well over five times his stud fee. A stout chestnut colt from an Unbridled black-type producer of three winners fetched $280,000. He comes from the family of Cherokee Run’s Grade Two sprinter Dream Run.

In addition, a robust half-sister to G2 Summer S. commandeer Lismore Knight went to Tom Grether Farms, Inc. for $250,000. Her dam is an Ogygian daughter to Share the Fantasy, a filly who when racing under the tutelage of Hall-of-Famer Leroy Jolley, etched one of the fastest times in history for New York’s celebrated Spinaway S.

The sale continues on Saturday.