Denali Riding the Wave Into the November Sales

[Wandering Eyes]

There are few hotter commodities in racing right now than offspring by Three Chimneys sire Gun Runner and Justify, who stands at Ashford Stud. Denali Stud intends to ride both of those waves this fall with a pair of graded-stakes winning mares by the two Horses of the Year.

Leading the way on Monday, Nov. 3 at the Fasig-Tipton's November Sale is Gun Song (Gun Runner), who is being presented as a racing or broodmare prospect.

Offered as Hip 101, the chestnut is a daughter of GSW and GISP Nicole H (Mr. Greeley). A half-sister to MSP Tap Attack (Tapit), the 4-year-old mare hails from the extended family of sprint champion Housebuster.

“She has massive appeal in the marketplace for breeders the world over,” said Denali Stud's Conrad Bandoroff.

Victorious in the GII Black-Eyed Susan and Catherine Sophia Stakes in 2024, Gun Song also finished runner-up in that season's GI Cotillion, GII Mother Goose and GIII Monmouth Oaks. During her 4-year-old season, the Lee Lewis runner won the GII Beldame Stakes at the Big A in September. A $400,000 OBS March Sale purchase, she was trained by Mark Hennig.

“I think she'll be well received, physically,” said Bandoroff. “She was a $400,000 2-year-old purchase by Lee Lewis and Mark Hennig and she was picked out by Phil Hager. She's a really good physical. She has obviously backed that up on the track.”

Also poised to turn some heads at Keeneland in Book 1, MGSW Buchu (Justify), offered as Hip 169, sells in foal to another piping hot sire, Not This Time.

Campaigned by her breeder, Rigney Racing, and trained by Phil Bauer, Buchu won Keeneland's GII Jessamine Stakes at two and the following season, added a victory in the GII Appalachian Stakes in Lexington. She was also runner-up in Churchill's GIII Regret Stakes.

Buchu is the first foal out of a full-sister to Group 3 scorer First Minister (Ire) (Galileo {Ire})–Flowering Peach (Ire)–who is a daughter of MGSW Naples Bay (Giant's Causeway), herself a half-sister MGISW and top sire Medaglia d'Oro.

“Buchu is such an exciting offering,” said Bandoroff. “This is a unique opportunity for the marketplace to get access to this family. She is special. And given her performances at Keeneland, we felt there was no better place than to showcase her at than Keeneland November.”

In 2026, Gun Runner and Not This time, who stands at Taylor Made Stallions, are slated to stand for $250,000, while Justify will command a fee of $200,000.

“I think Buchu has such interesting international appeal,” he continued. “She is by Justify, out of a Galileo mare and from the family of Medaglia d'Oro. She is carrying her first foal by none other than, the stallion of the moment, Not This Time. What more can you ask for?”

The sales ring will often prove humbling for anything perceived of inferior quality. However, the opposite also holds true for an accomplished race filly or broodmare mare with top sire power behind her.

Bandoroff believed Denali has two such offerings primed for the November market.

“I think it just confirms the class at [Gun Song and Buchu] are,” he explained. “These fillies are class and quality in their own right and that's top to bottom. It starts with their own physical attributes and their race tracks performances. That quality just permeates every aspect of their resume. Whether it be their pedigree or their racetrack performance, or whether it be their physique, they possess the total package that should appeal to anyone that is shopping for a high-end mare to add to their broodmare band. And in Gun Song's case, for anyone that wants to run a few more times before adding her to their broodmare band.”

Denali will also offer three additional fillies and mares set to sell at Fasig-Tipton on Monday night and another 86 head on offer at Keeneland.

“We're excited about our November offerings,” he admitted. “We have a nice blend of some young mares carrying commercial coverings as well as racing prospects coming off the racetrack that still have some racing upside or looking to embark on their next career in the breeding shed. We also have some nice foals to bring to the marketplace. Some are by Freshman stallions and others by top, proven stallions that we are excited to showcase in the November marketplace.”

“Given the success that we have seen in this yearling sale cycle, we are very optimistic on how the November market is going to be. We are looking forward to showcasing these horses at Fasig-Tipton and Keeneland.”

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