Epicenter Yearlings Popular at Keeneland September
Buyers were impressed with Epicenter’s first yearlings at this year’s Keeneland September Yearling Sale with the group of 20 in the first two books led by a $700,000 colt with an average of $303,750.
Ciannello Bloodstock Services was the winning bid on that high-priced Epicenter from Paramount Sales out of Jordan’s Leo. Bred by Springhouse Farm, the colt is the second out of the stakes placed Malibu Moon mare Jordan’s Leo. That mare is a granddaughter of Grade I winner Jeanne Jones, whose daughters and granddaughters have proven to be strong broodmares.
The dam of two stakes performers, led by multiple stakes winner Roman Treasure, Jeanne Jones has 10 stakes winners and 10 other stakes performers under her name on the page.
A colt out of Benvenutta sold for $675,000 to Pin Oak Stud from the Denali Stud consignment.
This EGL One Stables-bred colt is the fourth out of Tapit mare Benvenutta. That mare comes from a top-class family with her Grade III placed dam Baffled the dam of dual Grade I winner and successful sire Constitution, multiple Group II winner Boynton and Grade III winner Jacaranda. Jacaranda went on to produced Grade I-placed Be You and stakes placed American West.
There is Grade I form throughout this page with Baffled one of four stakes performers out of Surf Club, whose runners are led by Grade I winner Emcee. Surf Club is also a half-sister to Grade I winner Awesome Humor.
Epicenter’s third most expensive yearling of the sale was his first hip on offer when M.V. Magnier and White Birch Farm teamed up to buy a $600,000 colt out of Majestic Jewel.
Bred by Tony Holmes before selling for $300,000 as a weanling and offered by Woods Edge Farm as a yearling, the colt is a half-brother to three winners from four to race out of his dam. That group is led by Kip Deville Stakes winner Concept. A two-time winner, Majestic Jewel is one of six winners out of Giant’s Causeway mare Jewel of the Night, whose best runner was dual Grade I winner Evening Jewel. That mare went on to produce the stakes placed Bernadiva.
Evening Jewel is joined by Deep Jewelry as stakes winners out of Jewel of the Night while their half-sister Maggie McGowan produced Grade I winner Denman’s Call and Grade III-placed Torosay. Majestic Jewel’s full sister Black Valentine is the dam of stakes winner Roo’s Valentine and two other stakes performers.
Epicenter also saw his other yearlings during the first week of selling bring $550,000, $425,000, $385,000, etc. with his median sitting at $250,000 with a $6.075 million gross in the first two books.