Bernadini Filly Sells For $1.2 million At Keeneland

The Blood-Horse reports that Benjamin Leon Jr.’s went to $1.2 million to acquire a Bernardini filly produced from the Smart Strike mare Silk n’ Sapphire to top the early portion of the Keeneland September sale’s second session on 13 September. Silk n’ Sapphire is the dam of multiple graded stakes winner Shared Account, winner of last year’s Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf Grade 2.

Consigned by Catherine Parke’s Valkyre Stud, the Kentucky-bred filly was bred by Parke and Sheikh Mohammed’s Darley operation.

Leon said the filly was rated by trainer Todd Pletcher and his father, J. J. Pletcher, as one of the best in the sale, even though she was being offered during a non-selected session. “When we saw her we concluded she was the best of the day and one of the best of the sale. Right up there with the best.”

She will form part of his quality broodmare band for the future.