Among the many 4 first-crop yearling sires heading into the Keeneland September Yearling Sale with six-figure public sale averages, two can entice consumers to their progeny as a result of they have been grade 1 winners at 2 and went on to perform rather more—Darley Stallions’ Important High quality and Maxfield .
Darren Fox, gross sales supervisor at Darley Stallions, calls the elite 2-year-old type a “stunning factor,” significantly with Maxfield and his sire Avenue Sense .
“You wouldn’t count on it in the event you’re simply them with none background or previous performances,” he mentioned. “Maxfield is an enormous, two-turn, 3-year-old-looking horse. That he was an unbeaten grade 1 winner at 2 is the cherry on high. It has been a precocious sire line for us, however they’ve the physique that no matter they do at 2, they are going to proceed to construct on and shine at two-turns at 3.”
Maxfield at Darley Stallions
Important High quality, a son of Tapit , additionally was undefeated at 2 and landed victories within the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland (as did Maxfield) and the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1), which sealed a title as champion 2-year-old male for 2020. He went on to win the Belmont Stakes (G1) and Travers Stakes (G1) amongst his 5 graded stakes victories at 3 and was named champion 3-year-old male for 2021, considered one of 5 colts to win twin championships at 2 and three for the reason that Eclipse Awards started in 1971. Along with his stakes wins, he was third within the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Breeders’ Cup Traditional (G1).
“Important High quality had nothing left to show. He’s a uncommon horse and the whole package deal,” mentioned Fox. “When individuals are investing in yearlings, it’s good to know they’ve the potential to run at 2 and begin offering a return earlier. However when individuals are spending large cash on these yearlings, they’re eyeing the Derby and Oaks varieties.”
By the August yearling gross sales, Hill ‘n’ Dale at Xalapa’s Charlatan tops the first-crop yearling sires standings by common at $333,654 from 13 offered. The a number of grade 1-winning son of Speightstown was represented at The Saratoga Sale, Fasig-Tipton’s choose yearling sale, by a $1.5 million colt out of the Sure It is True mare Goldfield , additionally the dam of this 12 months’s present main freshman sire Complexity . Warrendale Gross sales offered the colt on behalf of Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings to John Stewart’s Resolute Bloodstock.
Important High quality and Maxfield are second and third, respectively, within the yearling common rating. Important High quality has a $239,600 common from 10 offered, whereas Maxfield’s common is $176,900 from 15 offered.
Different first-crop yearling sires with an total common above $50,000 via Aug. 27 embody Spendthrift Farm’s Yaupon ($164,795), Taylor Made Stallions’ Tacitus ($72,455), Gainesway’s Raging Bull ($52,285), and Airdrie Stud’s Beau Liam ($51,400).
Each Important High quality and Maxfield are placing a powerful stamp on their foals, in accordance with Fox.
“A excessive proportion of the Important Qualitys are grays, and he’s imparting a two-turn size of physique, as he has. Some even right down to their head form appear like him, which I like. They’ve good hips and are simple, appropriate horses. He’s constantly getting a pleasant horse,” he mentioned.
Certainly one of Important High quality’s finest attributes, in accordance with Fox, is his sharp thoughts.
“He was a phenom on the racetrack however a sensible horse. He was straightforward on himself and did not let the trials of the afternoon get to him, staying cool, calm and picked up. It appears like he’s passing that alongside as nicely,” he mentioned.
Being essentially the most completed son of a number of main sire Tapit by earnings and variety of stakes wins might additionally add attraction to Important High quality’s yearlings. Gainesway’s main sire, who topped the North American sire standings for 3 consecutive years for 2014-16, is now 23.
“To have considered one of Tapit’s finest sons is massively thrilling, and given what Tapit continues to do 12 months after 12 months solely shines a brighter gentle on his sons,” mentioned Fox. “Folks need to see who’s going to hold the mantle going ahead and who’s to say it will not be ‘Important’?”
Together with balanced our bodies, a variety of leg, and proper conformation, Maxfield’s foals are additionally displaying their sire’s class.
“He is likely to be the classiest horse I’ve been round in a very long time,” Fox mentioned. “When it comes to their stroll and their motion, I’ve a reasonably excessive expectation after I go to have a look at a Maxfield as a result of he’s throwing above-average movers. The bar is kind of excessive. His foals have the physique, the motion, the thoughts, and the category, which is a potent mixture. We’re excited to see what they will do on the races.”