Haras La Leyenda Launches Its First Annual Sale Featuring Elite Bloodlines

Among the 22 yearlings catalogued, Okuni, a half-sister to Mr. Bailetti and niece of the superstar Romantic Warrior, and Summer Music, a maternal half-sister to champion Summer Love, stand out

La Leyenda’s silks, well used to winning major races / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

After a short break, yearling sales return this Thursday with the First Annual Sale of Haras La Leyenda, the boutique breeding operation of Alberto and Renata Stein, organized by Racehorse.

Set to take place at the farm's facilities at kilometer 284 of Route 41 in San Antonio de Areco, the sale will begin at 2 p.m., held in person and broadcast online, with lunch scheduled around noon and the auction starting at approximately 1 p.m.

A total of 22 yearlings will go under the hammer, with a lineup featuring sons and daughters of Gouverneur Morris (Constitution), Storm Embrujado (Bernstein), Sovereign (Galileo), Cima de Triomphe (Galileo), Gershwin(Distorted Humor), Lucullan (Hard Spun), Sandino Ruler (Roman Ruler), and Nicholas (Equal Stripes).

The star of the event is expected to be the filly Okuni, and for good reason. Part of the first crop by Derby winner Sovereign, she is a half-sister to the outstanding Mr. Bailetti (Exchange Rate), Peru’s Turf Cuadruple Crown winner and Champion 3-Year-Old Male on turf, and to Opus Alpha (Cima de Triomphe).

But that’s only part of her appeal. Her dam, Opera Lily (Street Cry), is a full sister to Folk Melody, who produced the phenomenal Romantic Warrior (Acclamation), one of the top racehorses in the world today with 11 G1 victories and a record-breaking earnings total of over $27 million.

The second dam of both Okuni and Romantic Warrior is the exceptional Folk Opera (Singspiel), whose wins include the E. P. Taylor Stakes (G1) in Canada and the Prix Jean Romanet (G2) in France.

Another headline lot is Summer Music (Lucullan), a half-sister to the champion Summer Love (Freud) and to the stakes winner Soulle Ambar (Cima de Triomphe), a filly of rare availability in a public auction.

First-crop sire Gouverneur Morris is making waves both on the track and in the sales ring, and La Leyenda will offer two of his offspring.

One is Nunca Taxi (out of Nina Bernstein, by Bernstein), a full brother to G2-placed Ninetta (Horse Greeley); the other is Cocomi (out of Candy Embrujada, by Storm Embrujado), a filly from the direct female family of the legendary Candy Ride (Ride the Rails).

Also catching the eye are:

• Modigliani (Storm Embrujado), a half-brother to stakes winner Maranelo (Holy Boss);

• Taycan (Storm Embrujado), out of G3 winner Torgau (Exchange Rate), who already produced G2-placed Titmus (Cima de Triomphe) and unbeaten Torque Max (Fortify);

• Sumotori (Storm Embrujado), out of G2 winner Suska (Exchange Rate), and a half-brother to stakes winner Sra. Estrellita (Orpen);

• and Tancredo (Storm Embrujado), a brother to stakes winner Tephra (Freud).

These offerings reflect La Leyenda’s commitment to elite pedigrees and its debut sale promises to be one of the most attractive of the season.