Fifteen Graduates of Keeneland Sales Entered in $2 Million Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve

By Amy Owens —-

Graduates Justify, Mendelssohn and Magnum Moon are early favorites

LEXINGTON, KY (May 1, 2018) – Horses sold at Keeneland’s 2016 September Yearling Sale – led by $3 million sale topper Mendelssohn, winner of the 2017 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) and UAE Derby (G2) in March; $1 million purchase and champion Good Magic, winner of Keeneland’s Toyota Blue Grass (G2); undefeated Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner and $500,000 purchase Justify; and undefeated Arkansas Derby (G1) and Rebel (G2) winner Magnum Moon – are among the 15 graduates of Keeneland sales entered today in Saturday’s 144th running of the $2,192,000 Kentucky Derby Presented Woodford Reserve (G1) at Churchill Downs.

Justify is the 3-1 morning-line favorite for the Derby, followed by second choice Mendelssohn at 5-1 and third choice Magnum Moon at 6-1. Good Magic is the 12-1 co-fifth choice in the morning line.
Post time for the 1¼-mile race for 3-year-olds is 6:50 p.m. ET.

Keeneland sales account for 21 Kentucky Derby victories, including Nyquist in 2016 and Always Dreaming in 2017.

Keeneland sales graduates entered in the 2018 Kentucky Derby, limited to 20 horses, are:

Combatant (Scat Daddy-Border Dispute) – Paget Bloodstock bred the Southwest (G3) runner-up, who races for Winchell Thoroughbreds and Willis Horton Racing. Blandford Stud, agent, consigned Combatant to the September Sale, where he sold to Winchell Thoroughbreds for $320,000. Trained by Steve Asmussen, the colt will be ridden in the Derby by Ricardo Santana Jr.

Flameaway (Scat Daddy-Vulcan Rose) – John C. Oxley owns and Mark Casse trains the winner of the Sam F. Davis (G3) and runner-up in the Toyota Blue Grass. Penn Sales, agent for breeder Phoenix Rising Farms, consigned Flameaway as a yearling to the 2016 January Horses of All Ages Sale, where he sold to Bloodstock Investments III for $150,000. He will be ridden by Jose Lezcano.

Free Drop Billy (Union Rags-Trensa) – Bred by Helen K. Groves Revocable Trust, the Holy Bull (G2) runner-up, who was fourth in the Toyota Blue Grass and third Gotham (G3) was consigned by Gainesway, agent, to the September Sale. Free Drop Billy sold for $200,000 to Kempton/Berkelhammer, agents for owner Albaugh Family Stables. Dale Romans trains Free Drop Billy, winner of Keeneland’s Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (G1) in 2017, who will be ridden by Robby Albarado.

Good Magic (Curlin-Glinda the Good) – Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings bred Good Magic, who was consigned by Hill ‘n’ Dale Sales Agency, agent, to the September Sale, where he sold for $1 million to Mike Ryang, agent for co-owner e Five Racing. Good Magic now races for e Five Racing Thoroughbreds and Stonestreet Stables. He is trained by had Brown and will be ridden by Jose Ortiz.

Instilled Regard (Arch-Enhancing) – Breeder KatieRich Farms offered the Lecomte (G3) winner at the September Sale. Jerry Hollendorfer trains Instilled Regard for OXO Equine. He will be ridden by Drayden Van Dyke.

Justify (Scat Daddy-Stage Magic) – Breeder John D. Gunther’s Glennwood Farm, agent, consigned Justify to the September Sale, where he sold for $500,000 to China Horse Club and Maverick Racing. Trained by Bob Baffert and ridden by Mike Smith, Justify races for China Horse Club, Head of Plains Partners, Starlight Racing and WinStar Farm.

Lone Sailor (Majestic Warrior-Ambitious) – Owner G M B Racing purchased the Louisiana Derby (G2) runner-up for $120,000 at the September Sale. Gainesway, agent, consigned Lone Sailor, bred by Alexander-Groves-Matz. Tom Amoss trains the colt, ridden by James Graham.

Magnum Moon (Malibu Moon-Dazzling Song) – Owners Robert and Lawana Low paid $380,000 for the colt at the September Sale. Bred by Ramona S. Bass, Magnum Moon was consigned by Claiborne Farm, agent. Todd Pletcher trains the colt, who will be ridden by Luis Saez.

Mendelssohn (Scat Daddy-Leslie’s Lady) – The half-brother to champion Beholder and Grade 1 winner and leading sire Into Mischief was consigned by breeder Clarkland Farm, agent, to the September Sale, where he sold to M.V. Magnier for a sale-topping $3 million. Trained by Aidan O’Brien, Mendelssohn races for Michael B. Tabor, Mrs. John Magnier and Derrick Smith. He will be ridden by Ryan Moore.

My Boy Jack (Creative Cause-Gold N Shaft) –Don’t Tell My Wife Stables, Monomoy Stables and West Point Thoroughbreds own the Stonestreet Lexington (G3) and Southwest (G3) winner, who is trained by Keith Desormeaux. Brereton C. Jones bred the colt, consigned by Legacy Bloodstock agent, to the September Sale, where Don’t Tell My Wife purchased him for $20,000. My Boy Jack will be ridden by Kent Desormeaux. The colt also was offered as a weanling at Keeneland’s November Breeding Stock Sale.

Noble Indy (Take Charge Indy-Noble Mazx) – Denali Stud, agent, offered the Louisiana Derby winner at the September Sale. Breeder WinStar Farm bred Noble Indy and races him with Repole Stable. Florent Geroux will ride the colt for trainer Todd Pletcher.

Promises Fulfilled (Shackleford-Marquee Delivery) – Trainer Dale Romans, agent, paid $37,000 for the Xpressbet Fountain of Youth (G2) winner at the September Sale from the consignment of Select Sales, agent. Robert J. Baron owns Promises Fulfilled, who was bred by David Jacobs. He will be ridden by Corey Lanerie.

Solomini (Curlin-Surf Song) – Zayat Stables paid $270,000 for the Arkansas Derby third-place finisher and Rebel runner-up at the September Sale, where he was consigned by Hill ‘n’ Dale Sales Agency, agent. Zayat races Solomini, bred by Glenna R. Salyer, with Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B Tabor and Derrick Smith. Baffert trains the colt, who will be ridden by Flavien Prat.

Vino Rosso (Curlin-Mythical Bride) – John D. Gunther bred the Wood Memorial (G2) winner, consigned by his Glennwood Farm, agent, to the September Sale Mike Repole/St. Elias, J.J. Crupi, agent, paid $410,000 for Vino Rosso, trained by Todd Pletcher. He will be ridden by John Velazquez.

Also-eligible: Blended Citizen (Proud Citizen-Langara Lass) – Penn Sales, agent for breeder Ray Hanson, offered the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) winner at the September Sale. Greg Hall and SAYJAY Racing own Blended Citizen, who is trained by Doug O’Neill. Kyle Frey is the jockey.

###
For more than 80 years, the Keeneland Association has devoted itself to the health and vibrancy of the Thoroughbred industry. As the world’s largest Thoroughbred auction company, Keeneland conducts sales every January, September and November. Its sales graduates dominate racing across the globe at every level. In April and October, Keeneland offers some of the highest caliber and richest Thoroughbred racing in the world. In 2015, Keeneland hosted the Breeders’ Cup World Championships. Uniquely structured, Keeneland is a private, for-profit corporation that returns its earnings to the industry and the community in the form of higher purses, and it has donated millions of dollars in charitable contributions for education, research and health and human services throughout Central Kentucky. To learn more about Keeneland, visit Keeneland.com.