'Robust Market' As Book 2 Opens With Trio of Million-Dollar Yearlings

09/11/2024 09:43 PM

by Jessica Martini and Christina Bossinakis

LEXINGTON, KY — The momentum which began with a competitive Book 1 section rolled into Book 2 with a trio of yearlings bringing seven figures and continued increases over last year during the third session of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale in Lexington Wednesday.

“We saw the same kind of momentum and trends just rolling over,” said Keeneland Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy. “There was a great positivity around the grounds. Consignors were invariably very pleased. And buyers found it tough and a very competitive environment. There were a lot of good horses on offer today. And I think it will be the same tomorrow. There was just great even trade. I think it was very, very strong, robust market.”

The Book 2 opener saw 220 yearlings gross $69,917,000. The session average rose 3.74% to $317,805 and the median was up 7.84% to $275,000.

From a catalogue of 380 head, a total of 306 yearlings were offered Wednesday and 86 failed to meet their reserves for a buy-back rate of 28.10%. It was 28.4% a year ago.

A colt by Tapit, purchased by the SF/Starlight/Madaket partnership, and a filly by Gun Runner sold to Douglas Scharbauer, shared Wednesday's top price of $1.05 million. A colt by Charlatan sold for $1 million to Pin Oak Stud.

The three million-dollar yearlings brought the total for the sale so far to 34–second most in the history of the September sale–and up from 28 at this same point last year.

During Wednesday's session, 47 yearlings sold for $500,000 or over, up from 39 during the corresponding session in 2023.

“I think it was probably above our expectations,” Lacy said of the results. “When you look at the figures last year, it was very strong, and we are up about 7% in the median over last year. And when you look at the $500,000 and above, we went from 39 last year and we are 47 this year. That's consistently above the mark. I think that is a really good trend.”

The diverse bench of buyers who were active in Book 1 remained competitive into Book 2 Wednesday, as the domestic bench dominated.

“We had a tremendously diversified buying bench,” said Keeneland Director of Sales Operations Cormac Breathnach. “We had 34 seven-figure horses already, which is second most in the history of the September sale. But when you look at who has bought those horses, very few people have bought more than one. So there are a lot of people here with significant money to spend and a real thirst and hunger for competition at the top end of the market. Others are getting pushed back and they still have orders to fill. That's what is really buoying this Book 2 and creating the momentum. The median has gone up to $275,000 for the session today, which is a really strong number. It's a very healthy market. The RNA rate is in step with last year's.”

The Keeneland September sale continues Thursday with a final Book 2 session beginning at 11 a.m. Following a dark day Friday, the auction resumes at 10 a.m. Saturday and continues through Sept. 21.

Another Gun Runner for Scharbauer

Douglas Scharbauer has bought five fillies during the first three days of the Keeneland September sale and four of them were by Gun Runner. The Texan, who purchased a filly by the Three Chimneys sire (hip 24) for $1.5 million on the first day of the auction, went to $1.05 million to acquire another daughter of the stallion (hip 695) Wednesday from the Taylor Made Sales Agency consignment.

“I saw her this afternoon for the first time,” Scharbauer said of hip 695. “My two advisors, Donny Denton, who manages Valor Farm for me, and Ken Carson, we all three looked at her, and liked her pretty much. I was hoping I could get her for a little less than a million, but I can see why she brought that. I really can.”

The yearling is the first foal out of 'TDN Rising Star' Always Carina (Malibu Moon), second in the 2021 GII Mother Goose Stakes. She was bred by Three Chimneys Farm.

“She was just a beautiful filly,” said Taylor Made's Frank Taylor. “She had a good walk to her. Everybody was lined up on her. We knew she was going to sell well. She was a really nice filly. Her mind is great. She showed really well at the barn. Things lined up and she showed well.”

Of the filly's placement in Book 2, Taylor said, “Three Chimneys had quite a few horses in Book 1 and they decided to hold back some nice ones and it worked well.”

As for a trainer for his newest acquisition, Scharbauer said, “I am not sure. Steve [Asmussen] might get her, but we will probably send some to Brad Cox. I've never sent any to him before. So we will send some to him, but I don't know which ones.”

Scharbauer's Gun Runner haul also includes hip 628, purchased for $650,000 from Terrazas Thoroughbreds, as agent for Corser Thoroughbreds; and hip 153, purchased for $500,000 from Denali Stud as agent for Bridlewood Farm. He also purchased a filly by Not This Time (hip 678) for $500,000 from Taylor Made.

“I've bought five fillies,” Scharbauer said. “There were a couple of colts that we bid on, but that's just gone for too much money.”

Always Carina, a half-sister to Grade I winner Structor (Palace Malice), produced a full-sister to hip 695 this year and she was bred back to Gun Runner. @JessMartiniTDN

Tapit Colt Shares Top Honors at KEESEP Wednesday

Keeping up the buying tempo that continued throughout Book 1, Tom Ryan signed for Wednesday's joint-topper, hip 674, a colt by Tapit. Extending to $1.05 million for the son of Grade III winner Verve's Tale (Tale of Ekati), Ryan secured the grey on behalf of the SF/Starlight/Madaket triumvirate.

Consigned by Hunter Valley Farm, the Mar. 7 colt was bred by Charles Fipke, who also campaigned the yearling's 11-year-old dam and broodmare sire. A full-sister to GI Preakness runner-up Tale of Verve, Verve's Tale hails from the family of GISW Zoftig, herself responsible for GISWs Zo Impressive and Zaftig.

“He is out of a very good mare; a very deep family. Beautiful piece of (pedigree) paper,” said Ryan. “And Tapit keeps on proving how good he is. He is a mainstay American star.

“[This colt's] temperament was great,” said Ryan in regards to the stallion's known propensity to throw offspring with some spunk. “We've seen him several times and you've seen in the ring he was a gentleman.”

Moments earlier, Ryan signed for hip 644, a colt by McKinzie. Offered by Gainesway, the bay colt came with a $950,000 price tag. Out of Take Charge Angel (Will Take Charge), the colt is a grandson of Georgie's Angel (Bellamy Road), the dam of GI American Pharoah Stakes and GI Runhappy Del Mar Futurity scorer Cave Rock (Arrogate). Trained by Bob Baffert for Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman, Cave Rock, a $550,000 KEESEP yearling purchase, also finished runner up in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Keeneland.

“This colt is out of a half sister to Cave Run who is really one of the best 2-year-olds we have seen in the last couple of years,” affirmed Ryan. “Physically, he was very straight forward horse.”

The colt was bred by Gainesway Thoroughbreds and Brian Graves. Carrying this foal, Take Charge Angel RNA'd for $575,000 at Keeneland November in 2022.

#KeeSept Book 2, Wednesday: A new session topper! Hip 674, a Tapit colt out of VERVE'S TALE, sells for $1.05 million to @DonatoLanni, agent for SF/@StarlightRacing/@MadaketStables from the @HunterValleyKY consignment. pic.twitter.com/QAF1koPQdI

— TDN (@theTDN) September 11, 2024

“We have a yellow [sales] ticket with a big number on it so clearly we loved the horse,” Ryan explained. “There is quite a criteria for these horses to jump through from the team and our partnership group. We do quite a bit of work to qualify these horses and he qualifies in every measure.”

Adding further padding to the page, the colt's 3-year-old full-brother to Cave Rock, named Assurbanipal, brought $1.05 million at OBSMAR in 2023 after topping Fasig-Tipton's New York-bred sale in Saratoga a year earlier at $700,000. He has won three of his four starts impressively in Japan.

Additionally, Furio, a full brother to this colt, brought $400,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Sale last year.

As for the hot Gainesway stallion, Ryan explained, “McKinzie has really kicked off in a star fashion. McKinzie was a great racehorse and it looks like his stock is more precocious than he was himself. He has shown precocity with his 2-year-olds this year. Lots to look forward to with McKinzie.”

Gainesway's Antony Beck added, “McKinzie's [offspring] are setting the track alight right now so I think [hip 644] will add to that.”

Included among the team's purchases Wednesday, hip 634, a colt by Uncle Mo out of Sundaysatthebeach. Purchased for $775,000, the colt was consigned by Woods Edge Farm.

“We are hitting plenty of targets but have to fight for them,” he said.—@CBossTDN

Donato Lanni, Agent for SF, Starlight, Madaket purchase a McKinzie colt out of Take Charge Angel for $950,000 at #KeeSept. Out of a half-sister to Cave Rock, the colt was consigned by @Gainesway. pic.twitter.com/1PvRgFTGfL

— Keeneland Sales (@keenelandsales) September 11, 2024

Regan Reflects On Tapit Topper

Tapit had his second seven-figure yearling of the week when the SF/Starlight/Madaket partnership paid $1.05 million for a son of the Gainesway stalwart (hip 674) Wednesday at Keeneland.

“With the way he's gone over the whole week, we were hoping, but you never know if you are going to get a million or not,” said Adrian Regan of Hunter Valley Farm, which consigned the yearling on behalf of breeder Charles Fipke. “I think there are only 70 or so Tapits in this yearling crop, there are not that many of them anymore, and he's still a very popular stallion.”

The yearling is out of Verve's Tale (Tale of Ekati), who won the 2016 GIII Comely Stakes in Fipke's colors. Fipke purchased Verve's Tale's dam Verve (Unbridled) for $160,000 at the 2005 Keeneland November sale.

“He was a lovely horse,” Regan said. “It's brilliant to do it for Mr. Fipke. We've sold for him for years. He has always been there for us.”

During the first session of the auction, Shadwell Farm purchased a filly by Tapit (hip 81) for $1.2 million. @JessMartiniTDN

Charlatan Colt Brings Seven Figures in Book 2 Opener

Sporting a markedly different pace than just one day earlier, Book 2 kicked off with plenty of activity of its own, highlighted by several yearlings by in-demand freshman sire Charlatan.

Marking the first seven-figure sale of the day was hip 509, who brought $1-million from Jim and Dana Berhard's Pin Oak Stud, bidding over the internet.

Consigned by Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa, the chestnut is out of Mike Pegram's GI Acorn Stakes and GI Humana Distaff Stakes winner Midnight Lucky (Midnight Lute). The Apr. 26 foal was bred by Pegram, his recognizable partners Karl Watson and Paul Weitman and Hill 'n' Dale.

An earner of $565,022 on the track while under the care of Bob Baffert, the colt's 14-year-old dam, who was purchased by Pegram for $220,000 at Fasig-Tipton Saratoga in 2011, is out of a sister to Grade I winner Hookedonthefeelin, herself the dam of three-time Grade I scorer Pussycat Doll and GI Malibu Stakes victor Jimmy Creed.

This represents the second seven-figure yearling for the mare following a colt by Curlin that brought $1.2 million at Keeneland September in 2020.

Also receiving a timely update to the page, a half-brother to the chestnut, Into Midnight (Into Mischief), finished a close-up second for Baffert at Del Mar Sept. 7.

“Bob is high on [Into Midnight]. Charlatan is flying at the moment, he looked the part and the stars aligned,” said Hill 'n' Dale's Jared Burdine. “He was our most popular horse for Book 2.”

Hill 'n' Dale's General Manager continued, “You never know until you get up here. Things have to line up. A couple of people lock horns and it's a little bit of magic. It exceeded our expectations. He was a nice colt so seven figures in Book 2 is impressive.”

Giving a nod to Hill 'n' Dale's hot young sire, John Sikura said, “”I want to thank Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman for their support. They committed a Grade I winner to a freshman sire. It all goes back to the beginning when we committed top, top mares to the horse. I think it's a commitment you have to make when you stand a horse, to have a commensurate quality mare. Charlatan was a superstar and provided the ammunition. [Charlatan's offspring] have certainly sold well in the market. The sale result is not the most important result; it's at the racetrack and the table is set.”

Later Wednesday, Pin Oak paid $625,000 for hip 538, a colt by Not This Time. Out of multiple stakes winner New York Groove (Verrazano), the dark bay was consigned by Denali Stud, agent.—@CBossTDN

Sharing smiles with our new Charlatan colt out of Midnight Lucky @keenelandsales@HillnDaleFarm#KeeSeptpic.twitter.com/VLXQwqKSS3

— Pin Oak Stud (@PinOakStud) September 11, 2024

Yaupon Colt to St. Elias

Monique Delk, bidding on behalf of Vinnie Viola's St. Elias Stables, went to $900,000 to acquire a colt from the first crop of Yaupon (hip 571) Wednesday at Keeneland. The colt was consigned by Highgate Sales as agent for his breeder, Terry Green's Jackpot Farm.

“He is just a beautiful colt,” Delk said. “We loved his physical. He looks just like his sire. He really stamped him. He's quite a lovely horse.”

The bay yearling is out of stakes-placed Q Go Girl (Quality Road) and is a half-brother to graded-winner Stretch Ride (Street Sense).

“He was an incredible horse,” Highgate's Jacob West said of the colt. “We just happened to be lucky that Jackpot entrusted us with him. We knew he was a star from the day we saw him. When we went through all their yearlings, he was one of the ones we earmarked. Terry Green and John Gray, their farm manager, wanted to support us with a nice horse.”

Jackpot purchased Q Go Girl for $147,000 at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton July Horses of Racing Age Sale. Her first foal, Stretch Ride, was third in last year's GII Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes. The mare produced a colt by Speaker's Corner this year and was bred back to Into Mischief.

Her yearling colt by Yaupon had plenty of admirers at the sales barn, according to West.

“He had the hair looked off him at the barn,” West said. “I think every vet on the sales grounds had vetted him. He handled everything with nothing but class. He's a really, really good horse. He deserved that price. Those are good people who bred him and even better people that bought him.”

Foals from the first crop of 2021 GI Forego Stakes winner Yaupon (Uncle Mo) were in demand last fall, with 47 weanlings selling for an average of $127,702, led by a colt at Keeneland November who sold for $450,000.

With 31 yearlings sold this year for an average of $198,774, Tuesday's colt was the Spendthrift stallion's highest-priced sale success so far.

“He's a son of Uncle Mo, who is one of the most brilliant horses we've seen probably in my generation, if not in the entire industry,” West said of the stallion. “He himself was a gorgeous horse who was incredibly fast. This is not shocking that we are starting to see these things come through and light up the tote board. It wouldn't shock me at all if they light up the racetrack. He's a well-bred horse who was very fast. To me, this is something you'd almost expect, to be honest. People have to be excited about them and let's see what they can do.”

Delk agreed she was impressed with Yaupon's first crop.

“So far, I love what I am seeing [of Yaupon],” she said. “They are very athletic looking, very attractive. They are very agile and light on their feet with a beautiful walk. Just the whole package.” @JessMartiniTDN

Lieblong Lands Charlatan Half-Brother to GISW Klimt

Earlier in Wednesday's session, Alex Lieblong, riding solo in the main pavilion, extended to $800,000 for hip 454, a ridgling by Charlatan.

“I liked everything about him except the price,” said Lieblong shortly after the purchase. “But it didn't shock me; he is from a heck of a family.”

Consigned by Eaton Sales, the chestnut is out of Inventive (Dixie Union), dam of GI Del Mar Futurity winner Klimt and Grade III-placed West Coast Chick (Malibu Moon). The Jan. 16 foal was bred by Tuscany Bloodstock.

Monique Delk, agent went to $900,000 to secure hip 571, a Yaupon colt out of Q Go Girl. The colt was consigned by @Highgate_Sales at #KeeSept. pic.twitter.com/cz8hyaSqWY

— Keeneland Sales (@keenelandsales) September 11, 2024

The mare, an $800,000 buy at the 2017 Keeneland November Sale while carrying a Medaglia d'Oro colt, was purchased by Baccari Bloodstock in foal to City of Light for $380,000 at Keeneland November in 2019.

“Evidently [his status as a ridgling] did not affect the price. I was hoping it would a little bit but it didn't,” Lieblong admitted. “I am spending more than I want to but I guess everyone feels that way going to the grocery store or anywhere.”

According to Lieblong, a trainer has yet to be decided for his latest acquisition.

In Book 1, the Arkansas resident secured Hip 33, a $500,000 Quality Road filly out of GISW Embellish the Lace, a filly that ran in his colors. Also during Wednesday's session, Lieblong paid $450,000 for hip 401, a filly by Justify out of Emily B—@CBossTDN

Mike Ryan Parts With $800K for Uncle Mo Colt

Early in Wednesday's opening Book 2 session, agent Mike Ryan signed the ticket on hip 468, a colt by Uncle Mo. Consigned by Lane's End, acting agent on behalf of breeder Jane Lyon's Summer Wind Equine, the bay is out of Irish listed winner Key to My Heart (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), a daughter of GI Frizette Stakes scorer and 'TDN Rising Star' A Z Warrior (Bernardini). This is the family of GSWs and GISP Jojo Warrior and E Z Warrior, both former 'Rising Stars'.

“The first time I saw him was at Summer Wind Farm about three weeks ago and he immediately reminded me of Nyquist,” said Ryan, referring to the GI Kentucky Derby-winning son of Uncle Mo. “He has an aura about him that only a handful of horses have. He's got size, depth, quality and an unbelievable pedigree.”

Key to My Heart, a 525,000gns purchase at Tattersalls February in 2018, was purchased by Lyon for $1.75 million at Keeneland later that November while in foal to War Front.

Despite sporting a female family that leans toward early precocity and speed, Ryan anticipates the colt will show a different dimension as well.

“He looks like a horse that will ge a mile-and-an-eighth and a mile-and-a-quarter,” he said. “And he looks like he will run at two as well.”

According to Ryan, the colt, who has been purchased by a new undisclosed client, will be trained by Chad Brown.

“I thought he was very special,” he said. “He would have stood out on any day. We were thrilled to get him.”—@CBossTDN

A well-deserved afternoon treat of @castleandkey cocktails and grilled cheese to celebrate day 3! #KeeSeptpic.twitter.com/bfnYGbXwuL

— Keeneland Sales (@keenelandsales) September 11, 2024

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