By Brian DiDonato
Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency
1st-KEE, $71K, Msw, 2yo, f, 6f, 1:05 p.m. ET
John Oxley's Specially (Tapiture), just a $40,000 yearling, blossomed into a $475,000 OBS March juvenile off a powerful :9 4/5breeze. The most expensive 2-year-old in training by her first-crop sire, she has been further flattered since selling as her year-older half-brother Joevia (Shanghai Bobby) annexed Monmouth's Long Branch S. in May and finished third in the GI Belmont S. in June. Michael and Reiko Baum homebred Ivyetsu (Tapit&hid=28277">Tapit) prepped for this with a :46 flat bullet from the gate here Sept. 28 for conditioner Rusty Arnold. The $300,000 KEESEP buyback is a half to French Group 3 winner Last Kingdom (Frankel {GB}) and a granddaughter of Damson (Ire) (Entrepreneur {GB}), a Group 1 winner in Ireland and Group 2 winner at Royal Ascot as a juvenile. Lucrezia (Into Mischief) is out of Grade III-winning 2-year-old Verdana Bold (Rahy); Letter Storm (Candy Ride {Arg}) is a half to GI Del Mar Futurity third Blameitonthelaw (Blame) and bred like so many of her sire's best runners being out of granddaughter of Storm Cat; Crafty Lady (Carpe Diem) is half to MGISW Giant Oak (Giant's Causeway), et al. TJCIS PPs
7th-BEL, $75K, Msw, 2yo, 1m, 3:40 p.m. ET
OXO Equine and Chad Brown newcomer Vintage Print (Curlin">Curlin) was the fourth topper at last year's Keeneland September sale at $1.8 million. He is the first foal out of GI La Troienne S. heroine Molly Morgan (Ghostzapper), who was purchased for $1.35 million by Stonestreet at hte 2015 Fasig-Tipton November sale. He prepped for this with a 1:01.21 spin in company with $750,000 buy Turnagain Tide (Into Mischief) Sept. 28 (Click for XBTV Video). Thor-Bred Stable homebred Jedi Master (Empire Maker) is out of Grade I-winning 2-year-old Rigoletta (Concerto), making him a half to late 'TDN Rising Star' and GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile hero Battle of Midway (Smart Strike). Rigoletta is a half to the dam of last year's GI Cigar Mile H. hero Patternrecognition (Adios Charlie). There are a number of runners signed on here with solid established form, including $375,000 KEESEP grad Sonneman (Curlin">Curlin), who improved dramatically last time in his second try to be second at 25-1 going seven panels at Saratoga Aug. 31. He is out of Grade II-winning dirt router Zardana (Brz) (Crimson Tide {Ire}) and a half to stakes winner Smart Transition (Smart Strike). Goodolphin homebred Tapage (Tapit&hid=28277">Tapit) is out of GISW Hystericalady (Distorted Humor), making him a half to two-for-two 'Rising Star' Comical Ghost (Ghostzapper). He checked in eighth in his Spa unveiling Aug. 31 behind 'Rising Star' Three Technique (Mr Speaker) and last week's good-looking Churchill graduate Necker Island (Hard Spun), but has fired two bullets in preparation for this second try. TJCIS PPs
11th-BEL, $75K, Msw, 2yo, 1mT, 5:54 p.m. ET
Belmont's strong Saturday card concludes with a salty-looking event for juveniles on the grass. Among the first timers signed on are Paul Pompa Jr.'s Country Grammer (Tonalist&hid=29106">Tonalist), the co-priciest 2-year-old to sell earlier this season by his MGISW freshman sire. A $60,000 yearling, he brought $450,000 at OBS April after a :21 flat move. He hails from the extended female family of G1SW Etoile Montante. Tapaloof (Tapit&hid=28277">Tapit)'s Irish MGSW dam Aloof (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) topped the 2014 Keeneland November sale when selling for $3.9 million to Mandy Pope's Whisper Hill Farm while in foal to War Front. That resulting first foal is now named Balon Rose (War Front)–she sold to OXO Equine for $1.6 million at KEESEP '17 and was most recently second in a Belmont maiden special weight Sept. 21. Tapaloof's second dam is Group 1-winning sprinter Airwave (GB) (Air Express {Ire}), whose other foals include Irish SW/English GSP Meow (Ire) (Storm Cat), the dam of dual Guineas winner Churchill (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Group 1 winner Clemmie (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Group 3 winner Blenheim Palace (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Lord of the Nile (Pioneerof the Nile) is the first foal out ofa winning Tapit daughter of MGISW turfer Dynaforce (Dynaformer). He was a $420,000 in utero purchase at Keeneland November. Uncle Ned (Uncle Mo) is out of a half to the aforementioned Tonalist. The $150,000 KEESEP yearling was a $375,000 Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream graduate after breezing in :10 3/5. TJCIS PPs
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