Brendan Jacobson of Wimberly Bloodstock is hoping potential buyers at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale saw the impressive debut win by Imperial Honor Sept. 7 at Del Mar.
Imperial Honor, an Honor A. P. colt bred in Kentucky by Stoneview Farm, is the first foal for his dam, Seeking Mo Jewel, an unraced Nyquist half sister to multiple grade 1 winner Deterministic. Wimberly, along with BWW Bloodstock, is the co-breeder of Seeking Mo Jewel's second foal, a bay daughter of Jackie's Warrior who will be offered as Hip 2415 Sept. 22 at Keeneland's September sale, from the consignment of Warrendale Sales.
The debut racing effort of Imperial Honor saw BloodHorse name the colt trained by Bob Baffert for owners Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman a Maiden Watch Hot Prospect. In that 5 1/2-furlong debut, Imperial Honor, who was purchased for $725,000 at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training, dueled with two rivals early before putting them away through a half-mile in :45.72 and drawing off to a 5 1/4-length victory.
Maiden Watch Hot Prospect: Imperial Honor
He completed the race in 1:04.19 to earn a 94 Equibase Speed Figure. To date, only six juvenile males have earned a better Equibase Speed Figure this season and all of those horses earned those faster ratings in stakes races.
"To win by more than five lengths first time out was an impressive start," Jacobson said. "You spend a lot of time studying these families and believing in their potential. Seeing Imperial Honor deliver a performance like that gives us confidence in the broodmares we're purchasing. With his half sister coming to the sale, we couldn't ask for better timing."
The first foals of Jackie's Warrior reached the track this year and the Spendthrift Farm-based stallion who stood this season for $25,000 is off to an impressive start, ranking third on the current Freshman Sires List. His leading earner to date is Skidmore Stakes winner Wood Island.
Jacobson is already familiar with the impact an update can make. In 2024, he did not have to wait long for a pedigree update after purchasing Seeking Mo Jewel. One day after Wimberley Bloodstock bought the Nyquist mare for $100,000 from the Lane's End consignment at the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale, her half brother, Deterministic, won the Hill Prince Stakes (G3T).
Jacobson said his interest in Seeking Mo Jewel began with her female family and the potential he saw in its younger runners. Deterministic has since won four grade 1 races and will enter stud at Lane's End upon retirement.
"We knew the Courtly Dee family, and we had encouraging reports on the Honor A. P. foal," Jacobson said. "We bought Seeking Mo Jewel hoping Deterministic would become a grade 1 winner and that her first foal would do well. Our plan was to build from her and continue that legacy. This filly is her only daughter."
Wimberley has five yearlings it bred or co-bred remaining in the September sale, offered through Lane's End and Warrendale Sales.
