Freedom Child's career-best effort was a 13 and a quarter-length victory, on a sloppy track, in the Grade 2 Peter Pan Stakes over nine furlongs at Belmont Park. He is by the sire of Kentucky Derby hero Orb, he stands at Country Life Farm in Maryland, covered 81 mares in his first season and 52 in his second. Also eye-catching is that he is related to one of this year's most popular first-crop sires of yearlings.

A $350,000 Fasig-Tipton graduate, he is the best of several winners out of one-time scorer Bandstand (by Deputy Minister), a half-sister to the stakes winners Foolishly (by Broad Brush) and Weather Warning (by Storm Cat), the latter a Manitoba Derby winner and blacktype sire in Canada.
 
Their dam, City Band (by Carson City), won the Grade 1 Oak Leaf Stakes as a juvenile, was multiple graded-placed at three and a stakes winner at four. Her descendants also include the Grade 3 Illinois Derby and Grade 3 Hollywood Prevue Stakes winner American Lion (by Tiznow), whose early runners include the Grade 3-placed mile stakes winner Extinct Charm.
 
Wedding Band (by Mighty Appealing), the third dam of Freedom Child, had a listed race success among five wins from 24 starts, and her non-winning daughter Steel Band (by Carson City) is another notable member of the family. That is because her stakes-winning daughter Steelin' (by Orientate) is the dam of Grade 1 star, juvenile champion and Ashford Stud stallion Shanghai Bobby (by Harlan's Holiday), whose first yearlings have made up to $575,000 so far this year.

FREEDOM CHILD (USA) - ch.2010 - Malibu Moon - Bandstand, 2 wins inc Peter Pan Stakes (Gr2). Sire in USA. First foals in 2015.

​YEARLINGS CATALOGUED
c - Baby Love (by Not For Love)     Fasig-Tipton Midlantic     Oct    $26,000
c - Counter Cat (by Hennessy)     Fasig-Tipton Midlantic     Oct    $15,000
c - D D Renegade (by Medallist)     Fasig-Tipton Midlantic     Oct    $15,000
c - Dance For Jan (by Citidancer)     Fasig-Tipton Midlantic     Oct    $8,500
c - Final Humor (by Distorted Humor)     Keeneland     Sept     $22,000
c - Gold Stones (by Quarry)     Fasig-Tipton Midlantic     Oct    $6,500
f - Loves To Glance (by Not For Love)     Fasig-Tipton Midlantic     Oct    $5,200
f - Mass Romantic (by Not For Love)     Fasig-Tipton Midlantic     Oct    $15,000
c - Two Stars (by Two Punch)     Fasig-Tipton Midlantic     Oct     $9,000

A $185,000 yearling who became a $675,000 breeze-up colt, Corfu made a winning debut over five furlongs at Saratoga in late July of his two-year-old season, added the Group 2 Saratoga Special Stakes over six and a half furlongs at Saratoga, and was also Grade 2-placed at Belmont. He stands at Bridlewood Farm in Florida, he covered 55 mares in his first season and 24 in his second. He did not have any Keeneland September Yearling Sale offerings, but one of his daughters made $110,000 at Fasig-Tipton, in Kentucky, in July.

Like classic star and hugely popular young stallion Orb, Corfu is a son of leading sire Malibu Moon (by A.P. Indy) and so he represents one of the most powerful sire lines in the USA. His siblings include the stakes-placed filly Runway Ready (by Mr Greeley), and his dam, Fashion Cat (by Forest Wildcat), is a winning half-sister to the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational Stakes, Grade 1 Suburban Handicap and Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes hero Peace Rules (by Jules).

That nine-times winner also took the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby, the Grade 2 New Orleans Handicap, the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap and the Grade 3 Generous Stakes, he was runner-up to Ten Most Wanted in the Grade 1 Travers Stakes and third to Funny Cide and Empire Maker in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby. He has a long list of six-figured earners to his name and some of them are stakes winners.

CORFU (USA) – b.2011 – Malibu Moon – Fashion Cat, 2 wins inc Saratoga Special Stakes (Gr2), 2nd Futurity Stakes (Gr2). Sire in USA. First foals in 2015.

YEARLINGS CATALOGUED
f – Chandeleur (by Repent)     Ocala Breeders' Sales Co     Aug     $5,000
f – Electrica (by Cherokee Run)     Ocala Breeders' Sales Co     Aug     not sold
f – National Gallery (by Lido Palace)     Ocala Breeders' Sales Co    Aug     $3,000
f – Raphaela (by Grand Slam)     Ocala Breeders' Sales Co     Aug     withdrawn
f – Royal Damsel (by More Royal)     Fasig-Tipton Midlantic     Oct    $35,000
f – Stay On Track (by Closing Argument)     Fasig-Tipton KY     July     $110,000
f – Stifled (by Buddha)     Ocala Breeders' Sales Co     Aug     not sold
f – This Way Dixie (by Dixie Union)     Ocala Breeders' Sales Co     Aug     withdrawn

Kentucky Derby hero by a leading sire son of the mighty A.P. Indy, Claiborne Farm's Orb is one of the most promising stallions who have their first yearlings on offer in 2016. He will also have plenty of representatives as he covered 122 mares in his first season and 117 in his second.

He is out of Lady Liberty (by Unbridled), a four-times scorer out of Grade 2 Black Eyed Susan Stakes winner Mesabi Maiden (by Cox's Ridge), and his third dam, Steel Maiden (by Damascus), who was placed in that same prestigious fillies' event, was a stakes-winning half-sister to Grade 1 star and successful sire Private Terms (by Private Account).

That horse's Grade 3-winning half-brother Blue Ensign (by Hoist The Flag) also sired graded winners, their half-brother Dover Ridge (by Riva Ridge) got stakes winners, and their unraced half-sister Laughing Look (by Damascus) did her part for the family by coming up with Grade 1 star and blacktype sire Coronado's Quest (by Forty Niner).

There are various other notable horses to be found under the branches of the fourth generation of the family, but none was in the league of the most famous member of the fifth generation: the outstanding filly Ruffian (by Reviewer). Champion at two and three, and inducted into the Hall of Fame the year after her tragic death, the five-times Grade 1 star was out of the stakes-placed Shenanigans (by Native Dancer).

Ruffian's Grade 2-winning half-brother Buckfinder (by Buckpasser) was a successful stallion and she was also a half-sister to Grade 2 winner Icecapade (by Nearctic), a leading sire whose progeny included Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Classic winner and classic sire Wild Again, notable stallion Clever Trick and the tragically ill-fated Canadian Horse of the Year Izvestia.

ORB (USA) – b.2010 – Malibu Moon – Lady Liberty, 5 wins inc Kentucky Derby (Gr1), Florida Derby (Gr1), Fountain of Youth Stakes (Gr2), 3rd Belmont Stakes (Gr1), Travers Stakes (Gr1). Sire in USA. First foals in 2015.

YEARLINGS CATALOGUED (updated)
c – Aspenglow (by Lion Hearted)     Fasig-Tipton Saratoga     Aug     $150,000
c – Authenicat (D'Wildcat)     Keeneland     Sept     $40,000
c – Banga Ridge (by Snow Ridge)     Keeneland     Sept     not sold
c – Barbette (by High Yield)     Keeneland     Sept     $100,000
c – Beat The Blues (by Great Pyramid)     Keeneland     Sept     $77,000
c – Black Escort (by Southern Halo)     Fasig-Tipton NY     Aug     $175,000
f – Castanea (by Horse Chestnut)     Fasig-Tipton KY     July     withdrawn
f - Castanea (by Horse Chestnut)     Fasig-Tipton KY    Oct    withdrawn
f – Celestial Kitten (by Kitten's Joy)     Keeneland     Sept     not sold
c - Charming N Lovable (by Horse Chestnut)     Keeneland     Sept     $50,000
f – Chatique (by Deputy Minister)     Keeneland     Sept     not sold
c – Cherryblossommiss (by Langfuhr)     Keeneland     Sept     not sold
c - Cherryblossommiss (by Langfuhr)     Fasig-Tipton KY    Oct    $105,000
f – Chief Secretary (by Deputy Minister)     Keeneland     Sept     $330,000
f – Comanche Star (by Saint Ballado)     Keeneland     Sept     withdrawn
f – Court of Appeal (by Deputy Minister)     Keeneland     Sept     not sold
f – D'oro Princess (by Medaglia d'Oro)     Keeneland     Sept     $37,000
f – Day Of Victory (by Victory Gallop)     Keeneland     Sept     not sold
c – Deep Feeling (by Empire Maker)     Keeneland     Sept     $300,000
f – Destiny Calls (by With Approval)     Keeneland     Sept     $115,000
​c - Dixie Dreamer (by Mutakddim)     Keeneland     Sept     $130,000
c – Extra Sharp (by Cherokee Run)     Keeneland     Sept     withdrawn
c - Extra Sharp (by Cherokee Run)     Fasig-Tipton KY    Oct    $170,000
c – Freedom Rings (by Proud Citizen)     Keeneland     Sept     $125,000
c – Fun Crowd (by Easy Goer)     Fasig-Tipton Saratoga     Aug     $150,000
c - Gitchee Goomie (by City Zip)     Fasig-Tipton KY    Oct    $25,000
c – Glorious Success (by Successful Appeal)     Keeneland     Sept     $150,000
f – Gypsy Angel (by Silver Train)     Fasig-Tipton NY     Aug     withdrawn
c – Holdontoyourdream (by Proud Citizen)     Keeneland     Sept     $240,000
f – Indulgence (by Macho Uno)     Keeneland     Sept     $50,000
f – J T Safe At Home (by Bernstein)     Fasig-Tipton Saratoga     Aug     withdrawn
c - Jaramar Rain (by Thunder Gulch)     Keeneland     Sept     $110,000
f – Joke (by Phone Trick)     Keeneland     Sept     $7,000
c – Juliamarie (by Mizzen Mast)     Keeneland     Sept     $55,000
c – Julie From Dixie (by Dixie Union)     Keeneland     Sept     $140,000
f – Just (by Awesome Again)     Keeneland     Sept     $1,000
c – Just Louise (by Five Star Day)     Keeneland     Sept     $450,000
c – Lode Lady (by Posse)     Keeneland     Sept     $7,000
c – Lynnette (by Johannesburg)     Fasig-Tipton Saratoga     Aug     $100,000
f – Maracuya (by Big Brown)     Keeneland     Sept     $150,000
c – Meadow Saffron (by Military)     Keeneland     Sept     $100,000
f – Miss Atlantic City (by Stormy Atlantic)     Fasig-Tipton Saratoga     Aug     $450,000
f – Miss Arrangement (by Mr Greeley)     Keeneland     Sept     not sold
c – Miss Greenley (by Mr Greeley)     Keeneland     Sept     $130,000
c - Miss Norman (by Artax)     CTHS Ontario     Sept     ​not sold
c – Mullins Bay (by Speightstown)     Fasig-Tipton KY     July     $190,000
c – My Lordship (by Lord Avie)     Keeneland     Sept     $40,000
f – My Rachel (by Horse Chestnut)     Keeneland     Sept     $370,000
c – Nicky's Way (by First Samurai)     Keeneland     Sept     $425,000
f – Northern Kraze (by Aljabr)     Keeneland     Sept     not sold
c – Purim's Dancer (by Purim)     Fasig-Tipton Saratoga     Aug     withdrawn
c - Purim's Dancer (by Purim)     Fasig-Tipton KY    Oct    not sold
c – Queen Of America (by Quiet American)     Keeneland     Sept     $300,000
c – Queens Reward (by Good Reward)     Keeneland     Sept     $270,000
f – Quick Flip (by Speightstown)     Keeneland     Sept     not sold
c – Remember (by Forest Wildcat)     Keeneland     Sept     $350,000
c – Renee's Titan (by Bernstein)     Keeneland     Sept     withdrawn
f – Sararegal (by Regal Classic)     Keeneland     Sept     $80,000
c – Sca Doodle (by Scat Daddy)     Keeneland     Sept     $80,000
f – Scarlett Love (by Not For Love)     Keeneland     Sept     withdrawn
c – Schooner Bay (by Archers Bay)     Keeneland     Sept     $75,000
f – Sentimental Lass (by Freud)     Fasig-Tipton NY     Aug     $150,000
f – Sheer Beauty (by Mizzen Mast)     Keeneland     Sept     not sold
c – Silver Reserve (by Silver Deputy)     Keeneland     Sept     $125,000
c – Smart Dancer (by Smart Strike)     Fasig-Tipton Saratoga     Aug     $100,000
c – Smart Woman (by Smarty Jones)     Ocala Breeders' Sales Co     Aug     withdrawn
f – Solar Echo (by Spinning World)     Keeneland     Sept     withdrawn
f - Solar Echo (by Spinning World)     Fasig-Tipton KY    Oct    withdrawn
c – Spring Awakening (by In Excess)     Keeneland     Sept     $185,000
f – Squeal (by Tiznow)     Keeneland     Sept     $3,500
c – Stone Hope (by Grindstone)     Keeneland     Sept     $160,000
c – Summer Cruise (by Vicar)     Keeneland     Sept     $110,000
f – Sweet Belle (by Deputy Commander)     Keeneland     Sept     $80,000
f – Tap Mate (by Pleasant Tap)     Keeneland     Sept     not sold
f – Tazarine (by Cat Thief)     Fasig-Tipton Saratoga     Aug     withdrawn
f - Tazarine (by Cat Thief)     Fasig-Tipton KY    Oct    withdrawn
f – Team (by Empire Maker)     Keeneland     Sept     $25,000
f – Trendsetting (by Stormy Atlantic)     Keeneland     Sept     not sold
f - Trendsetting (by Stormy Atlantic)     Fasig-Tipton KY    Oct     withdrawn
c – Vowel (by Dynaformer)     Keeneland     Sept     $30,000
c – Wallstreeter (by Street Cry)     Keeneland     Sept     $100,000
f – Weekend Romance (by Old Forester)     Keeneland     Sept     $190,000
c - Whenthetimeisright (by Devil His Due)     Fasig-Tipton KY    Oct    not sold
f – Wildcat Skier (by Forest Wildcat)     Ocala Breeders' Sales Co     Aug     withdrawn
f – Winter Garden (by Roy)     Keeneland     Sept     $200,000
c – Worshipper (by Awesome Again)     Keeneland     Sept     not sold
f – Youre So Sweet (by Storm Cat)     Keeneland     Sept     withdrawn
c - Zealous Gold (by Medaglia d'Oro)     Fasig-Tipton KY    Oct    ​$300,000