by Jessica Martini, Christina Bossinakis & Jill Williams
LEXINGTON, KY – Following another day of competitive bidding, the two-session Book 1 section of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale concluded Tuesday with double-digit increases over its 2023 counterpart. A colt by Curlin brought the section's top price when selling for $5 million to Mandy Pope's Whisper Hill Farm. The sale topper was one of four by the Hill 'n' Dale stallion to bring $1 million or more on the day and, with a further 16 yearlings bringing seven figures Tuesday, Book 1 had 30 yearlings break that threshold this year. Twenty three hit that mark in the 2023 Book 1.
“It was electric,” Keeneland President Shannon Arvin said of the atmosphere in the pavilion Tuesday.
A total of 204 yearlings sold during Book 1, for a gross of $119,565,000. The average of $586,103 was up 10.78% from a year ago, while the median of $475,000 rose 18.75%.
During the 2023 Book 1 section, 221 horses grossed $116,925,000 for an average of $529,072 and a median of $400,000.
“When we were looking at the figures during the day, we could see that it was teeing up to eventually be as good as yesterday and that was a high bar to try to achieve,” said Keeneland Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy. “The median of $475,000 is up almost 20% over last year. These are numbers we dream of. But it's not for us. It's for our clients, the people who entrust us with these horses. We are really proud of the people that bring the horses and the buyers that entrust that we are doing the job that will give them the opportunity to buy their next champion. And I think the energy in the pavilion today, that was from another era. It was incredible.”
Keeneland has maintained its two-day Book 1 format for the last four years and its 2024 increases provide proof of concept to both sellers and buyers who might be reluctant to participate in the boutique section, according to Lacy.
“It was a struggle to put this book together,” Lacy admitted. “We were just hoping it was going to be a good sale. We knew we had a really good crop of yearlings. Over the last few years, we've tried to solidify this format and it's hard to get buy-in because people want to see the facts and the figures. And we have been breaking records every year and it still wasn't enough. Even this year, it was a real struggle. We had fewer horses in Book 1 and that was frustrating, but that's what gave us so much pride in the people who did entrust us with horses and they got rewarded. There were million-dollar horses from later books that we moved into Book 1. People are understanding what we are trying to do. We want that to continue.”
There were 372 yearlings catalogued in Book 1, with 286 ultimately going through the ring. With 82 horses reported not sold, the buy-back rate was 28.67%.
In 2023, Book 1 had 383 catalogued yearlings, with 302 going through the ring. The buy-back rate for the book was 26.82%.
Of the number of outs, Lacy said, “You're dealing with expectations. Some people, if the action is not exactly what they want, they will scratch and they will race. A lot of people have confidence in the racing circuits now and the prize money is there. In some cases, they have high expectations, so they are happy to race. We do keep a close eye on the number of outs, there is no question. But there were a number of outs before the sale. So it was frustrating, but that's a fact of the matter, especially on the high-valued horses because a lot of those people have the ability and the wherewithal to keep and race them.”
While the top of the market remained competitive, some consignors observed a familiar polarization in the sale results. Peter O'Callaghan's Woods Edge Farm sold a pair of seven-figure yearlings Tuesday. O'Callaghan agreed there was a very deep buying bench in Book 1, but he worried about the breadth of demand.
“It goes to show you just how strong the market in this country is at the top,” O'Callaghan said. “Everybody seems to want to play with the really elite stuff. But there are only a small number of those to go around. It is unfortunate that there were so many late withdrawals Monday and RNAs that were probably perfectly useful horses. It's an all-or-nothing market. It's brilliant at the top ,hopefully the middle market and the lower end will pick up as the weeks go on.”
The Keeneland September sale continues with Book 2 sessions Wednesday and Thursday beginning at 11 a.m. Following a dark day Friday, the sale resumes Saturday with sessions through Sept. 21 starting at 10 a.m.
The gavel drops at $5 million!
Mandy Pope strikes for the Curlin colt out of Cavorting and a full brother to Clairiere, consigned by Indian Creek, agent for Stonestreet. He is the most expensive colt purchased since 2006 at Keeneland and the top yearling price in North America… pic.twitter.com/bekIlod998
— Keeneland Sales (@keenelandsales) September 10, 2024
$5-Million Colt Caps Big Day for Curlin
Mandy Pope, bidding from the newly designed seating area at the back of the pavilion, saw off a determined phone bidder to secure a colt by Curlin (hip 347) for $5 million Tuesday at Keeneland. Out of multiple Grade I winner Cavorting (Bernardini), the chestnut yearling is a full-brother to multiple Grade I winner Clairiere. He was bred by Stonestreet and consigned by Indian Creek.
“As one person just told me, he speaks for himself,” Pope said. “We don't need to say anything else. He was awesome.”
The bidding was progressing at a steady pace when the anonymous bidder on the phone with Keeneland staff in the press box, jumped the price from $3.7 million straight to $4 million. Pope was undaunted and answered each bid rapidly before signing the ticket on the prized yearling.
“I knew he was going to be a lot,” Pope said. “He should be the sale topper because he is the best horse in here. We pretty much knew everybody was going to want to buy him, so they could have the great race record that is in his future and his furtherance in becoming a wonderful stallion.”
Barbara Banke & Mandy Pope | Keeneland
The $5-million price tag was well off the sale record set when Meydan City (Kingmambo) sold for $11.7 million in September 2006. America's Joy (American Pharoah), the auction's highest-priced filly sold for $8.2 million in 2019.
Pope has made headlines over the years buying fillies and mares to add to her glittering broodmare band, but she's shopping at Keeneland for colts. She purchased Monday's $2.2-million session-topping colt by Gun Runner (hip 169).
“We are looking for some colts,” Pope said. “We need colts to become stallions to get the numbers to work for us. They are what makes it work.
“This is not a short game,” she continued. “Unless you are just getting them to flip them like day trading. But it's a very long game. You can't be faint of heart in this at all.”
In total in Book 1, Pope's Whisper Hill purchased four head for $8.2 million.
The $5-million yearling marked a momentous few minutes for Barbara Banke's Stonestreet. The operation warmed up for the sale topper when selling a $1.75-million colt by Into Mischief.
“I think all two minutes should be that way,” Banke said with a laugh. “It was really good.”
Stonestreet purchased Cavorting for $360,000 as a weanling at the 2012 Keeneland November sale and she would go on to win the 2016 GI Ogden Phipps Stakes and GI Personal Ensign Stakes, as well as the 2015 GI Test Stakes, in the farm's colors.
Clairiere, the mare's first foal, won back-to-back renewals of the Ogden Phipps, as well as the 2021 GI Cotillion Stakes.
“He was the best horse we raised this year,” Banke said. “He's from a great family and he looks great. He eats like a pig. He sleeps. Nothing fazes him. I think he will be a great racehorse. I have high hopes for him.”
Of the colt's final price, Banke said, “I was expecting him to be the sale topper. There was a lot of buzz about him.”
Earlier Tuesday, Stonestreet sold a filly by Gun Runner for $1.05 million. During Monday's session, the operation sold a filly by Quality Road for $1.05 million.
“To some degree,” Banke agreed when asked if it was hard to sell her yearlings. “But I can't keep everything, as my financial advisor and our team tells me. We need to sell to pay the bills so we can make more and do it again next year.”
Cavorting has a weanling colt by Gun Runner and was bred back to Curlin this year. Her stakes-winning daughter La Crete (Medaglia d'Oro) has a weanling colt by Curlin. Clairiere was covered by Into Mischief this year. @JessMartiniTDN
Monique Delk purchases hip 345, an Into Mischief colt who is a half to Girvin, Midnight Bourbon for $1.75 million. He was consigned by Summerfield for @StonestreetFarm. #KeeSept pic.twitter.com/QRg8IEmQye
— Keeneland Sales (@keenelandsales) September 10, 2024
St Elias Scores with $1.75m Into Mischief Colt
At the tail-end of a spirited second session, Monique Delk threw down the gauntlet to land a Hip 345, a colt by Into Mischief, for $1.75 million. Delk, stationed in the new table area at the back of the main ring, was bidding on the phone on behalf of Vinnie Viola's St Elias Stable.
“He is a beautiful colt with a fantastic walk,” Delk said. “We fell in love with him right away. We look for the Classic stallion prospect horses and this horse fit what we're looking for.”
The Jan. 31 foal was offered by Francis and Barbara Vanlangendonck's Summerfield on behalf of his breeder, Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings.
“Into Mischiefs can be a little different across the board and this one had the beautiful balance and had the right size,” said Delk when asked if the colt lined up well with some of the other good Into Mischiefs. “He is a very Classic-looking horse with an elegant walk. He brought the whole package for us.”
The bay is out of Catch the Moon, a $240,000 purchase by Stonestreet while in foal to Shanghai Bobby at the 2015 Keeneland November Sale. Prior to Stonestreet's purchase of the mare, the daughter of Malibu Moon produced GI Haskell Invitational winner Girvin (Tale of Ekati) and Grade III scorer Cocked and Loaded (Colonel John).
For Stonestreet, Catch the Moon provided GSW Midnight Bourbon (Tiznow), who sold to Winchell Thoroughbreds for $525,000 at this venue in 2019 before going on to amass over $1.2 million in earnings during his racing career, which was highlighted by runner-up finishes in the GI Preakness, GI Travers and GI Pennsylvania Derby. A colt by Quality Road also brought $1.6 million at this venue in 2021.
“Shopping has been tough today, a tough day at the office,” Delk admitted. “We had nice horses on the list and they brought good money. You have to expect to pay those kinds of prices for those sorts of horses. We are all looking for Classic winners.”
“There are going to be days when we get what we want and there are days we are going to get outrun. We're excited to be here and love doing this. We'll keep shopping. There are some we will stretch for. We're very disciplined in our buying. We set strict parameters for what we accept physically and the price. It is a long sale and there are plenty of horses and we will get our orders filled.”–@CBossTDN
Mischief Maker at Keeneland on Day 2
On the heels of an opening day that saw a single yearling by Into Mischief draw over seven figures, the Spendthrift sire popped early on Day 2 when Hip 210, a filly out of GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf heroine Shared Account (Pleasantly Perfect), reeled in a $1.5 million final bid–the third highest price on the day–from David Lanigan acting on behalf of Scott Heider. Into Mischief was represented by a trio of seven-figure yearlings on Day 2, including Tuesday's second highest priced offering, a $1.75 million colt (Hip 345), late in the session.
“She's strong, she looks like she could do both turf or dirt.,” said Lanigan, seated alongside trainer Brendan Walsh during the bidding. “She is just a really nice and well-balanced filly. Everyone really liked her.”
An earner of over $1.6 million, Shared Account, a half-sister MGSW Sparkle Blue (Hard Spun) and SW and GSP Colonial Flag (Pleasant Tap), is also responsible for millionaire and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf winner Sharing (Speightstown) in addition to stakes scoring Riley's Choice (Distorted Humor).
The colt was consigned by his breeder, Gainesway, who purchased the mare in foal to Speightstown for $625,000 at Fasig-Tipton November in 2020.
“She was Brendan's pick of the first group that we showed him,” explained Lanigan. “It's important for us that the trainer who will be getting the horse likes them too. It's all well and good if we like them, but if the trainer doesn't like them he's go to look at them for the next three years. So it's important they like them as well. And [Brendan Walsh] was very keen on this one. He was keen to get her.”
Among the black-type fillies currently in training domestically for the Heider Family and trained by Walsh, Fancy (Justify) finished a close-up second in the Groupie Doll Stakes at Ellis last month.
“He has a number of horses in Europe with Joseph O'Brien, and Mr. Heider is keen to buy a couple more fillies to have in training over here,” Lanigan explained. “He has had a lot of success with Brendan. ”
Asked about the overall health of the yearling market at Keeneland this week, Lanigan commented, “Everyone seems to be on the same ones. The ones that jump through all the hoops are making plenty of money, and the ones that don't are falling between a rock and a hard place. It seems to be very strong for the right ones.”–@CBossTDN
Bradley Gets More of the Blue Heaven Family
Three weeks ago, Pete Bradley and his daughter Devon were in the winner's circle celebrating 2-year-old Briland (McKinzie)'s debut victory at Saratoga. Tuesday at Keeneland, father and daughter were reinvesting in the same family when going to $1.4 million to secure a son of Curlin (hip 284) on behalf of an undisclosed client. The yearling is out of graded-placed Virginia Key (Distorted Humor), a half-sister to Briland's dam Bay Harbor (Speightstown).
“Class. Sire power. He comes from a very good breeder. It's what we look for here and you have to stretch for those,” Bradley ticked off the colt's appeal. “This horse was all class from the minute I saw him at the Lane's End barn. He came up here and presented himself like a horse that has a future. So we will see.”
Pete Bradley | Keeneland
Of his client, who also has a small share in Briland, Bradley said, “This is a new player in the game. Someone who has bought a couple of horses and I think we are going to have some fun for him. It's nice to have new people who want to do it the right way. He knows the risks and hopefully he will reap the rewards.”
Hip 284 was consigned by Lane's End as agent for his breeder, Bonnie Baskin's Blue Heaven Farm. Virginia Key was third in the Blue Heaven colors in the 2018 GII Gazelle Stakes. Her first foal is stakes-placed Distorted d'Oro (Medaglia d'Oro). The 9-year-old mare has a weanling filly by Quality Road and was bred back to Cody's Wish.
Virginia Key is a daughter of Our Khrysty (Newfoundland), dam of Grade I winner Grace Adler (Curlin) and graded winner Pyreness (Into Mischief). Through Lane's End, Blue Heaven Farm sold that mare's yearling, a filly by Gun Runner (hip 154), for $975,000 during Monday's first session of the September sale. @JessMartiniTDN
Curlin Colt to Coolmore, White Birch
Coolmore's M.V. Magnier, in partnership with Peter Brant's White Birch Farm, signed the ticket at $1.3 million to acquire a colt by Curlin (hip 262) from the Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa consignment Tuesday at Keeneland.
“He's a lovely horse,” Magnier said. “John Sikura and his son Jes do a brilliant job out there. They're very good breeders. They've raised a lot of very good horses. John was singing this horse's praise to me yesterday. He's just a very nice horse. Curlin is obviously doing very well and so is [his son] Good Magic.”
M.V. Magnier | Keeneland
The bay is the first foal out of Thoughtfully (Tapit), winner of the GII Adirondack Stakes in 2020. He was bred by John Sikura's Hill 'n' Dale Equine Holdings and Matt Dorman's Determined Stud.
“He is a beautifully bred horse,” Sikura said. “We thought he could break out and make more. He's a sales-topping quality horse. I am very proud of the horse. He's a great mover; a great walker, really athletic and makes great use of himself. Hope he's a star. Very good for the mare to have her first foal sell that well. The tribute goes to Curlin.”
In partnership with White Birch Farm, Magnier signed for a colt by Not This Time (hip 238) for $1 million earlier in Tuesday's session. The yearling was consigned by Woods Edge Farm.
“Not This Time is doing very well,” Magnier said. “He gets horses on grass and dirt. We will decide in a few weeks whether he will go to Europe or stay in U.S.”
During the two Book 1 sessions, Magnier and White Birch acquired five horses for $5.2 million. The partnership purchased three seven-figure yearlings, going to $1.4 million to acquire a colt by Charlatan during Monday's first session of the auction.
On his own, Magnier purchased a colt by Maxfield for $1 million.
“It's been a good sale,” Magnier said. “There's plenty of good horses here. I hope we got the right horses, I feel that way. We'll know this time next year if we made the right decision or not.”
One More Time for Belladonna
After coming out swinging early with a $900,000 bid for an Into Mischief colt on Day 1, Belladonna Racing and trainer Cherie DeVaux underscored the point Tuesday when extending to $1.3 million for a colt by Not This Time. Offered as Hip 286, the Apr. 14 foal was consigned by agent Glennwood Farm. Not This Time was represented by a trio of seven-figure yearlings in Book 1.
“He was on the top of our list, so we're very happy to have him,” said Belladonna's Paul Manganaro. “He's by a good proven stallion, young pedigree, and has physique. Like the saying goes, “You can't put a saddle on a pedigree,” so the physical was what really made him.”
Out of the Empire Maker mare Vivo Per Lei, the dark bay was bred by John Gunther and Eurowest Bloodstock Services.
“He's always had class every time we went to look at him,” Manganaro added. “He looked like he had that 'it' factor in him. We want big races and we want the two-turn dirt type horses, and we think he can be that.”
On Day 1, Belladonna secured a colt by Into Mischief (Hip 15) for $900,000. The son of Devil by Design was also consigned by Glennwood Farm. In total, Belladonna secured six head for a total of $3,925,000 through Book 1.
Belladonna partner Bruce Fenimore added, “We're looking for quality. We want to win the big races, so we know we have to go out and spend the money on real quality and that's what we're doing. Cherie is our trainer and David Ingordo is the bloodstock agent and Paul is our partner. We have such a great team. I have so much confidence in them. That's why it's easy for me to invest with them.”
Through the conclusion of Book 1, Not This Time was represented by 16 yearlings that generated $10,185,000 in receipts for an average and median of $650,000.–@CBossTDN
AMO Strikes Again
Kia Joorabchian continued to be active at the top level of the U.S. yearling market with the $1.2-million purchase of a filly by Curlin (hip 206) early in Tuesday's second session of the Keeneland September sale. Bred and consigned by Hinkle Farms, the yearling is a half-sister to GI Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist (Uncle Mo).
“She's a great physical by a great sire–he is probably as good a dirt sire as there is in the U.S.,” said bloodstock agent Ben McElroy, who stood alongside Joorabchian, Alex Elliott and Robson Aguiar out back during the bidding. “It's a great family. She's a real collector's item. Everybody on the team, myself and Alex and Robson, and ultimately Kia, loved the filly and we are delighted to have her.”
Joorabchian's AMO Racing went to $1.35 million to acquire a filly by American Pharoah during Monday's first session of the auction. In Book 1, he purchased five head for $4,325,000.
During last month's Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale, AMO Racing purchased a colt by Not This Time (hip 125) for $900,000 and a son of Yaupon (hip 76) for $500,000.
“He loves racing in the U.S.,” McElroy said of Joorabchian. “He is trying to build the stable. And like I said, fillies like these are collector's items. It's a good long-term investment for Kia. Hopefully, she can be a good one.”
Of plans for the filly, McElroy added, “We will probably break her down in Florida and make a decision [on a trainer] next spring.”
The Hinkle family continued to be rewarded for its $100,000 acquisition of Seeking Gabrielle (Forestry) at the 2013 Keeneland November sale. The family purchased the mare just one hip after her weanling colt by Uncle Mo sold for $180,000. That colt would go on to win the 2016 Kentucky Derby.
Hinkle Farms sold the mare's filly by War Front for $1,750,000 at the 2018 Keeneland September sale and her colt by Tapit for $2.5 million at the 2019 September sale.
“That was a great sale,” Tom Hinkle said after the mare's latest seven-figure yearling went through the ring Tuesday. “We're delighted. Seeking Gabrielle has been such a good mare for us. I hope these folks get a champion. She is such an athletic filly. She has a great mind and she never took a bad step. She's a powerful filly who represented her sire well.”
Seeking Gabrielle has a 2-year-old full-sister to Nyquist, which the farm has retained, and a weanling filly by Constitution. She was bred back to Gun Runner this year.
Hinkle Farms was quick to double up on million-dollar yearlings when selling a colt by Constitution (hip 236) for $1.1 million to Yuichi Fukunaga. @JessMartiniTDN
Second Seven-Figure Horse for Hinkle Farms Tuesday
It's hard to have a better hour or so in the horse industry than the hour Hinkle Farms experienced Tuesday afternoon. Just 30 hips after the Hinkle-bred and -consigned Curlin half-sister to champion Nyquist brought $1.2 million from AMO Racing (hip 206), another Hinkle product brought $1.1 million as hip 236. The Feb. 11-foaled Constitution colt out of Hinkle homebred Stave (Ghostzapper) went to agent Yuichi Fukunaga.
“We don't bring anything here we don't breed and raise ourselves,” said Tom Hinkle. “This family has been really good to us. He was a beautiful colt, moved like a cat, had a great mind. We've got a great team at the farm and we couldn't be any happier with the result and appreciate everything that they do.”
Tom Hinkle | Keeneland
Hinkle said his family has had three generations of the colt's family, going back to third dam Affordable Price (Drouilly {Fr}). The Hinkles bred and raced the ensuing generations. Stave was thrice black-type placed, while granddam Buy the Barrel (E Dubai) won the GII Allaire DuPont Distaff Stakes. The Hinkle family also owns Stave's half-sister Indian Bay (Indian Charlie), who produced Japanese GSW & G1SP Shivaji (First Samurai) and SW & MGISP Tarabi (First Samurai).
Hinkle deferred to his team at the farm for the success of the two millionaires Tuesday, but inferred it takes a unique horse to sell at this level.
“The other one was a Curlin filly who was a half to Nyquist and she was special. This one was a horse that you could be really proud of to bring up here. We've got one more to come today and I think he'll sell fine, but not like those two.”
That third Hinkle yearling, a Quality Road colt (hip 299) out of MSW & GSP Win the War (War Front), sold for $550,000 to Chad Summers. @JillWilliamsTDN
Lee Searing's Team Drives a Hard Bargain
Lee Searing of CRK Stables found it hard to resist a sea of females encouraging him to bid as hip 283 went through the ring and subsequently found himself the new owner of a Constitution colt for $1.2 million.
“I had five women who scouted him out,” he said with good humor. “How the hell do I not buy a horse when five women say 'this is the best horse we've found so far'? He's beautiful.”
April Mayberry & Lee Searing | Keeneland
April Mayberry of Mayberry Farms signed the ticket on the Mar. 25-foaled chestnut for Searing. The colt was bred in Kentucky by Runnymede Farm, Peter J. Callahan, Ecurie Loick Fouchet, and Meridian International Sarl after Magna Carta Bloodstock purchased his dam, the unplaced Street Sense mare Via Veritas, for $275,000 at the 2021 Keeneland November sale. Runnymede Farm raised the colt and consigned him Tuesday.
“From the day he was foaled he was such a big individual. A powerful horse with a lot of bone and a great mind,” said Runnymede's Romain Malhouitre. “If they all could be like him it would be unbelievable. They always exceed expectations. You never know if things will line up. We knew we had the right people on him. He's been unbelievable at the farm and at the sale he was so calm.”
Searing did say the $1.2-million price was as far as he was prepared to go.
“That was it,” said Searing. “They really wanted the horse. When these people work so hard, you try to buy a horse. I've bought horses like this before; this is a beautiful horse. He will go to Mayberry Training Center to be broken and then he'll stay back East.”
The colt's dam is a half to the dams of GI Arkansas Derby winner Magnum Moon (Malibu Moon) and GSW & MGISP Clearly Unhinged (Into Mischief). @JillWilliamsTDN
St. George Hits a Flyer on Day 2 at Keeneland
Continuing a dream run for Not This Time at the Keeneland September Sale, a colt by the Taylor Made stallion realized a $1.15 million final bid from agent Donato Lanni, acting on behalf of SF Bloodstock, Starlight and Madaket.
Bred by Fortune Farms and William Heiligbrodt and Corinne Heiligbrodt, Hip 324 is out of stakes winner Believe in Charlie (Indian Charlie), a sister to MSW and MGSP Shamrocket (Tonalist). The 14-year-old mare, in foal to Corniche, most recently brought $10,000 at Keeneland last November after bringing $90,000 carrying this foal in utero at Keeneland in January 2023. This is the family of Grade I winner Nany's Sweep (End Sweep).
“Physically, he was a stunning colt,” asserted SF Racing's Tom Ryan, who handled the signing duties on the colt. “I think Not This Time is proven that he's a very elite stallion at this point. He's flawless. He's a stallion that's demonstrated from lesser mares that he's elite, and with better mares and pedigrees we assume that will continue. I think the initial impression was to put him on the list, put him to our process, and bet him. He didn't stumble at any juncture.”
Ryan confirmed the Apr. 15 foal will go to the team's regular trainer, Hall of Famer Bob Baffert.
“I feel like it's a very healthy market,” Ryan conceded. “There's a lot of competition for the good colts out of proven sires, as expected.”
Also representing a profitable pinhook score for consignor St George Sales, the Kentucky bred was a $240,000 weanling purchase at the Fasig-Tipton November Sale last fall. The colt was a pinhook prospect for Tony and Roger O'Callaghan's Tally-Ho Stud and St George.
“Any time a horse brings $1 million it's a surprise,” said an elated Archie St George. “He's a class horse with a great temperament. I feel privileged to sell horses like this. ”
“Everything has to go right and most importantly that horse goes on and runs.”
When asked about the youngster's sire, St George said, “He's by a phenomenal stallion. They can run long, short, dirt, turf. Hopefully, we'll see this horse live up to his potential.”–@CBossTDN
Seven-Figure Success x 2 for Woods Edge
A colt by Not This Time (hip 238) helped get the O'Callaghans' Woods Edge Farm consignment off to a heady start to the September sale when selling for $1 million to Coolmore's M.V. Magnier and Peter Brant's White Birch Farm.
“It gets the show on the road and keeps us ahead,” Peter O'Callaghan said of the result.
The yearling is out of stakes winner Stillwater Cove (Quality Road). He was purchased by O'Callaghan for $375,000 at last year's Keeneland November sale.
“He was a beautiful animal,” O'Callaghan said. “He was a stunner the day we bought him. We absolutely reached for him as a foal. He's out of a fast mare and he vetted good and that's what it takes. It all has to add up. They want the sire, they want the physical, and the vetting. There can be no hole in it. And if you have that, you'll get paid, but for anyone involved, breeder, consignor, pinhooker, we are lucky to have one or two of those in any given session.”
O'Callaghan said the colt's weanling price tag reflected how competitive the foal market was last season.
“It was uber hot,” O'Callaghan said. “It was a lot of money for him at the time. If we didn't know who any of them were by, he was arguably our favorite foal as an individual. Luckily, he grew up as we expected. And the vetting stayed good on him. So we got rewarded. It's a big relief and we are delighted and thank you to M.V.”
2024 Keeneland September Sale | Keeneland
Woods Edge had its second seven-figure yearling of the session a little later in the day when WinStar Farm's Elliott Walden purchased a colt by Justify (hip 273) for $1 million. The colt out of Undercover Justice (Lawyer Ron) is a half-brother to graded-placed Conquest Babayaga (Uncle Mo). He was purchased for $400,000 at this year's Keeneland January sale.
“He's another lovely horse who was liked similarly to the Not This Time colt,” O'Callaghan said. “He's by another brilliant sire. He's a beautiful animal. We bought him in January for $400,000, so that's a big return in a short period of time. In our opinion he was arguably the best foal in the January sale. It worked out.” @JessMartiniTDN
Justify Colt Draws A Cool Million at Keeneland
Returning to a partnership that has served well in the past, China Horse Club, Maverick Racing and Siena Racing banded together to secure Hip 273, a colt by Justify, for an even million at Keeneland Tuesday. The sale was the leading price for the sire in Book 1.
“We just loved his quality,” said WinStar's Elliott Walden, who signed the ticket on the colt. “He's got a great hip, great balance, had the strength that Justify had behind. It's something we look for with those.”
Consigned by Woods Edge Farm, the May 20 foal is out of Undercover Justice (Lawyer Ron), dam of GSP Conquest Babayaga (Uncle Mo) and SP Sorrentina Lemon (Lemon Drop Kid). The 15-year-old mare is a half sister to Canadian champion juvenile filly Negligee (Northern Afleet). This represents the extended family of English Horse of the Year Zilzal.
Bred by Justice Stables, the chestnut was purchased as a short yearling by Peter O'Callaghan for $400,000 at Keeneland last January.
“He's a beautiful horse and had a great hip,” continued Walden. “A horse that we really liked. We saw him on the farm a few weeks ago and just feel like he's a horse that will continue to improve.”
Regarding the colt's late foaling date, he added, “It factors in whether he might run in August. As long as he runs at two, I think he's fine. It's tough to buy in there. Maybe because he was a May foal it made him a little more affordable, even though I don't know if a million dollars is affordable, but it seems to be today on the good ones.”
Undefeated in six starts on the track while racing for CHC, Head of Plains Partners, Starlight Racing and WinStar Farm, Justify collected four wins at the Grade I level, highlighted by the American Triple Crown and Santa Anita Derby. Retiring with over $3.7 million in earnings, the son of Scat Daddy was secured for stud duty by Coolmore and currently stands at Ashford Stud in Kentucky. Following his retirement, the chestnut has been enjoying a tremendous run in the breeding shed since entering stud in 2019.
In Europe, his son City Of Troy has been powering through his sophomore campaign with consecutive victories in the G1 Betfred Derby, G1 Coral-Eclipse Stakes and most recently in the G1 Juddmonte International. The stallion is also represented by Irish and French champion juvenile filly Opera Singer, winner of this season's G1 Qatar Nassau Stakes.
Domestically, the Coolmore sire has been represented by a bevy of top-rung stakes performers, including last season's Champion 2-year-old Filly Just F Y I, in addition to Grade I winners Hard to Justify, Arabian Lion and Aspen Grove.
Showing the breadth of his influence, the shuttle stallion is also responsible for Australia's 2023 Champion juvenile filly Learning To Fly (Aus).
“Justify is doing great and we're really proud of him,” affirmed Walden. “We're proud to have owned him. I'm really happy for Coolmore who stepped up to the plate and bought him [for stud duty]. Mr. [John] Magnier knows what he wants.”
He continued, “They came to us after the [2018] Derby and showed a great interest and he knew he needed and wanted him, and he deserves it. We're really happy we're able to breed quite a few each year. We've been really happy with the whole thing, but just really proud of the horse.”
At the conclusion of Book 1, a total of 13 yearlings by Justify had sold for $6,275,000 for an average of $482,692 .–@CBossTDN
Another Million-Dollar Maxfield
After a first-crop yearling (hip 53) sold for $1 million Monday, the Darley stallion doubled up with a second $1-million colt Tuesday afternoon. Consigned by Gainesway as hip 326, the Apr. 12-foaled colt was a pinhook, purchased by Enfuego Stables for $500,000 at last fall's Fasig-Tipton November sale. Ramspring Farm bred the colt and sold his dam at the same sale, with the unraced Belle's Finale (Ghostzapper) bringing $1.25 million to the bid of Summer Wind Equine while in foal to Not This Time.
Belle's Finale is the dam of champion turf male Up to the Mark (Not This Time), a first-year stallion in 2024 at Lane's End. She is a daughter of 1996 GI Test Stakes winner Capote Belle (Capote).
M V Magnier signed the ticket for the Maxfield colt Tuesday.
“This colt was a very nice horse,” said Magnier. “Brian Graves does a very good job raising yearlings as does everybody in Gainesway.”
Magnier said the colt would be sent to Ashford before a decision was made as to his future. When asked his thoughts on what he's seen from Maxfield as a young sire, he said, “Maxfield was a very good racehorse. He's definitely making nice horses and he's having a good sale.” @JillWilliamsTDN
Uncle Mo and Into Mischief Colts Headed to Japan
Trainer Mitsu Nakauchida, who picked up an Into Mischief colt (hip 167) for $1.25 million and a Curlin colt (hip 1) for $550,000 Monday, added two more big-dollar purchases Tuesday at the tail end of the session. He bought another Into Mischief colt (hip 343) out of Cariba (Cairo Prince) and an Uncle Mo colt (hip 368) out of Spring Eclipse (Unbridled's Song) for $1 million apiece.
“It is a competitive (market), but also at the same time there are many good horses in this market so we are very happy with our purchases,” said Nakauchida. “Obviously over here they have good dirt racing, so good dirt pedigrees. Dirt racing is getting more popular all over the world. This sale is basically all good horses with good pedigrees. I haven't come here for maybe four or five years because of Covid and I'm very happy to be back here.”
Nakauchida said his purchases will be brought back to Japan. He said he looks for horses “light enough to go on the Japanese turf, but if not we can try on dirt.”
Tuesday's $1-million Into Mischief colt was consigned by Candy Meadows Sales, who also consigned a $1.15-million Nyquist colt Monday. Candy Meadows also bred both of those seven-figure colts. Tuesday's Feb. 16-foaled offering is out of a stakes-winning full-sister to MGSW & MGISP Cairo Memories and a half-sister to the dam of GISW Zandon (Upstart).
Bred by Camas Park Stud in Kentucky, Nakauchida's Uncle Mo purchase was consigned by St George Sales. The Mar. 29-foaled colt is a half-brother to SW Bet She Wins (First Samurai).
Nakauchida, who worked for Bobby Frankel in the U.S. and Richard Hannon Sr. in the UK, among others, launched his stable in Japan in 2014. He is the trainer of Liberty Island (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}), winner of the Japan's Triple Tiara last year. The now-4-year-old was last seen finishing third in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic in March. @JillWilliamsTDN
Pinhooks Payoff in Second Session
As we did Monday, we've looked at how Tuesday's pinhooks fared and attempted to analyze how the prospects as a whole performed on the day. We've loosely used a cost of $25,000 for each yearling's board, veterinary expenses, farrier work, sales prep, and sales entry fees. Obviously, this amount can vary wildly per offering depending on whether one can keep a horse on their own farm or whether one boards, as well as each horse's particular veterinary needs.
A total of 25 yearlings were consigned to Tuesday's second session as pinhooks. Seven were outs and six were RNAs, leaving 12 to represent the pinhook sector. The dozen sold for a total of $7.445 million from a total output of $3.99 million at original purchase. Less $300,000 for the twelve in combined estimated costs, that leaves a profit of $3.155 million for the dozen or an average of just under $263,000. Nine were profitable and three lost money. @JillWilliamsTDN
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