Stable Start to Keeneland September

by Jessica Martini, Brian DiDonato, and Christie DeBernardis

LEXINGTON, Kentucky–Trade was solid during Monday's opening session of the Keeneland September yearling sale, with slight increases in average and median and strength in the over $500,000, but under $1-million range.

A total of 108 yearlings sold for gross receipts of $34,531,000. From a larger day one catalogue in 2015, 150 head brought $44,642,000. Monday's average price of $319,731 represented a 7.43% increase from last year's corresponding figure of $297,613. The median was $267,500–up 0.94% year-over-year from $265,000. The RNA rate rose to 35.71% compared to 31.19% 12 months ago.

One yearling reached the seven-figure mark, with Coolmore's M. V. Magnier stretching to $1 million to secure hip 48, a Medaglia d'Oro colt consigned by Taylor Made Farm on behalf of Barbara Banke's Stonestreet Farm.

“I thought today's session started off the September Sale very well,” offered Keeneland's Director of Sales Geoffrey Russell. “We had one less million-dollar horse, but we had 25 horses over $500,000 compared to 19 last year. So there's good strength there at the top end of the market. Selective bidding, as we've anticipated and have seen in other markets, has continued.”

Bob Elliston, who began his new position as Keeneland's Vice President of Racing and Sales late last month, was also pleased with day one's activity.

“The word 'stable' feels like it might be appropriate here,” Elliston said. “We saw our average up and our median just a tick up over last year. With fewer offerings, and having our [number of horses over $500K] be up, and our median and average comparable or a little better than last year, we're pretty pleased.”

Both Russell and Elliston noted the diversity of the buying bench Monday. Seventeen different entities signed for the

25 yearlings to meet or exceed the $500,000 threshold.

“I'm very happy with the crowds on the ground at the moment and the diversity of buyers,” Russell said. “When they got into it, they were very spirited in their bidding, so that was positive. It's the same little comments we get back from both consignors and buyers: 'It's tough out there.'”

Elliston added, “Look at the summary page, and you'll see some folks who are playing at the high level who haven't necessarily been in the market this year. It's both domestic and international, and that bodes well for the remainder of the whole sale.”

Russell did admit that he had hoped to see more horses break out and reach seven figures.

“We were kind of all hoping we would get a breakout and have some bounce over, but a million dollars is a lot of money,” he said with a laugh. “There seems to be more of a comfort level just right underneath that million-dollar range than above it.”

Taylor Made Farm led all consignors by gross, selling 15 head for $5,552,000. Don Adam's Courtlandt Farm just edged Lane's End for leading buyer, taking home four yearlings for $2,520,000.

Wayne and Cathy Sweezey's Timber Town consigned a trio of pricey fillies for a combined $1.9 million, including the session's top female, a $900,000 War Front filly (hip 166) acquired by Sheikh Mohammed's bloodstock advisor John Ferguson. Sweezey was understandably pleased with the market Monday and looking forward to the coming days.

“This Book 1 is the upper end of the market, so you have to have people that have money that are willing to part with it to buy these kind of horses,” he said. “Mondays for me are typically a little bit scary because you don't know who is going to step up to the plate and spend. Thank goodness for the Shadwell boys and Darley and those guys here supporting it. I think when we get into the next books, into the athletes and the middle market, it is going to be super. What happens at the end of the sale, who's to say? I think it drops off precipitously, but I would hope the middle market is going to be stronger.

The second of three Book 1 sessions at the banner auction begins Tuesday at 11:00 a.m.

Coolmore Sees Shades of Vancouver in Medaglia Colt

The opening session of the Keeneland September sale might have gotten off to a slightly sluggish start, but hip 48 livened things up when selling to Coolmore's M. V. Magnier for a cool $1-million. The Medaglia d'Oro colt was consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, Agent for Stonestreet Bred & Raised.

“He reminded the lads of Vancouver, a horse from Australia who won the [G1 Golden] Slipper,” Magnier offered. “He's an exceptional-looking horse, and he was an unusually good 2-year-old, so if [hip 48] is anything like him, we'll be in good shape.”

'TDN Rising Star' Vancouver (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro), Australia's champion 2-year-old of 2015, has just begun his first breeding season at Coolmore Australia. Coolmore and the China Horse Club bought into the Gai Waterhouse-trained colt after his score in last March's Golden Slipper. He made one more unsuccessful start in Australia before joining conditioner Aidan O'Brien to prepare for Royal Ascot's G1 Diamond Jubilee S., but was retired before making a Northern Hemisphere start.

Magnier said hip 48 would likely stay in the States, and Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert was standing nearby as Magnier bid. Baffert conditions this year's three-time Grade II-winning sophomore Cupid (Tapit), himself a $900,000 KEESEP buy for the Coolmore partners.

Barbara Banke's Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings purchased hip 48's stakes-winning dam Spring Party (Smart Strike) for $525,000 at the 2012 Keeneland November sale in foal to Unbridled's Song–a couple months after her half-brother Emcee (Unbridled's Song) romped in Saratoga's GI Forego S.

Spring Party's now 2-year-old Malibu Moon colt brought $340,000 here last year. This is also the family of MGSW Constitution (Tapit) and GISW Awesome Humor (Distorted Humor).

“Our estimates were somewhere from $600,000 to $800,000, but we knew he could do that,” Taylor Made's Duncan Taylor said when asked about the lofty purchase price. “You hardly ever get a horse that well-bred who actually walks like that. He looks like he's gliding on air and he's got all the muscle in the world to go with it. You knew he was a special horse, but not what the market would say… They paid quite a bit for the mare, so it's nice to see them rewarded. I think that's a Medaglia d'Oro colt who might be standing in Kentucky for a lot of money one day. He sure looks the part.” -@BDiDonatoTDN

Godolphin Wins the 'War' for Aloof Filly

Godolphin's John Ferguson came out on top after a lively round of bidding to take home Hip 166, a War Front daughter of Irish GSW Aloof (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), for $900,000.

“War Front has done very well over the last few years,” remarked Ferguson after signing the ticket out back, beside the walking ring. “He's just progressing and building. Being out of a Galileo mare makes her very attractive. It's a great family and we are delighted to have her as a racehorse, and also as a future broodmare.”

He added, “It is a turf pedigree and I'd say she will most likely go to Europe.”

As for the price tag, Ferguson said it was about what he expected to pay.

“She had one of the better European pedigrees in the book,” he said. “People underestimate how difficult it is to breed yearlings that look like that and they deserve to be paid for when they come along.”

Out of Group 1 winner Airwave (GB) (Air Express), who was a Highweight filly at two and three in England, Aloof is a full-sister to SW Orator and a half to SW Meow (Storm Cat).

Hip 166 was bred by Mandy Pope of Whisper Hill Farm, who went to a sale-topping $3.9 million to acquire Aloof with this foal in utero at the 2014 Keeneland November sale. She was consigned by Wayne and Cathy Sweezey's Timber Town, where Pope boards her star broodmare band.

“It is hard [to sell], but obviously that's why you do it, to hopefully have a nice foal and you raise it well and you are paid for your efforts,” Pope said. “We do need to sell some, but I do happen to have the full-sister at the barn still with mommy. So one of them needed to go.”

Pope will offer another regally-bred War Front during Tuesday's session in Hip 383, a colt out of Horse of the Year Havre de Grace (Saint Liam), who Pope purchased for a record-setting $10 million at the 2012 Fasig-Tipton November sale.

“Fingers crossed that we do well with him, too,” she commented.

Sweezey was also quite pleased with the filly's sale, stating that the price was more than what he had expected, given the market.

“This market is so dodgy right now that we were a little concerned,” he said in the back walking ring after the sale. “It's Monday and things seem to be getting off to a slow start. We've taken two home and we are only selling five [Monday]. It was more than we expected, but on the other hand, Mandy paid $3.9

million for that mare, so not to think that you can't get almost a

million for a War Front that was perfect on the scope and x-ray. It ended well and Mandy is tickled, so this frees her up to go buy some horses here and help this market. It was a really, really good sale.”

War Front was very profitable for Sweezey during Monday's session. Timber Town sold a filly by that leading sire (Hip 120) to Crupi's New Castle Farm for $600,000 earlier in the day. Bred by Robert S. Evans, the bay is out of MSP Value Stream (A.P. Indy).

“We sold a War Front earlier for Mr. Evans for $600,000. That was very good too,” Sweezey remarked. “I'm not complaining about how we are doing, but we were fortunate enough to have some really good horses to sell.” -@CDeBernardisTDN

As Predicted, Courtlandt Back in Action

Trainer Mark Hennig told the TDN earlier this month that Don Adam's Courtlandt Farm would be active again at Keeneland September, and he wasn't kidding. Adam spent $2.945 million on six head at last year's sale, and picked up right where he left off Monday.

Courtlandt acquired four yearlings during day one of the auction for a combined $2.47 million.

Courtlandt's purchases included:

Hip 87, a $500,000 Tiznow colt out of MGSW Tar Heel Mom (Flatter), who is also responsible for the MGSP sophomore Vorticity (Distorted Humor). Upson Downs Farm consigned.
Hip 130, a Select Sales-consigned filly by Distorted Humor, who cost $500,000. The bay is out of a stakes-winning full-sister to MGSW Excited (Giant's Causeway) from the family of MGISW Spain (Thunder Gulch).

Hip 138, a full-sister to GSW Just Wicked (Tapit) who cost $670,000 out of the Gainesway consignment.

Hip 154, a Tapit son of MGSW Afleeting Lady (Afleet Alex). Afleeting Lady is a half to MGISW Shackleford (Forestry) and GISW Lady Joanne (Orientate). Mill Ridge Sales consigned the Mar. 4 foal.

Hip 154 was bred in Kentucky by Alpha Delta Stables and Colts Neck Stables. His year-older Medaglia d'Oro half-brother, now named Greek Alphabet, sold for $875,000 to John Ferguson here 12 months ago. Afleeting Lady RNA'd for $2.7 million at the 2013 Fasig-Tipton November sale while carrying Greek Alphabet.

“[Hip 154] is an exceptional horse,” offered Mill Ridge's Headley Bell after congratulating Adam, who declined to comment. “Exceptional people bought him. That's what we try to do. We work day in and day out to try and find a good horse, and hopefully it all comes together, but you don't know until the last minute that's it going to work.”

When asked about the market, Bell added, “It's all about the horse–this market is very specific. It feels like it's everything we were anticipating. There are a lot of quality horses, but not as many buyers, so not everyone is going to be as fortunate.” -@BDiDonatoTDN

More Tapit for Oxley

John Oxley and trainer Mark Casse struck Grade I glory with a daughter of Tapit when Pretty City Dancer won the Sept. 3 GI Spinaway S. at Saratoga. The two men were back in action to get another progeny of the leading stallion Monday at Keeneland, going to $800,000 to acquire hip 161. Out of Alittlebitearly (Thunder Gulch), the yearling is a half-brother to GI Breeders' Cup Classic winner Bayern (Offlee Wild).

“He checked all the boxes,” Oxley said of the yearling's appeal.

“He is a half to Bayern and he's by Tapit. You start with an excellent sire, then his conformation was perfect and he vetted perfectly. He's just looks like a class act. We are looking for Grade I winners and he looks like he could be that.”

The yearling was consigned by Gainesway, which co-bred the youngster

as part of a foal share with Helen Alexander and Stuart Huston.

“He was a chip off the old block,” commented Gainesway's Michael Hernon. “He is a half to a top horse. He was a very athletic, balanced, good-moving horse who looks like he'll have speed. And he's got a stallion's pedigree. We reserved well under that number, but the price was certainly within our expectation level.”

Alittlebitearly, who is a half to group winner Bertolini (Danzig), produced a Scat Daddy colt who sold for $1.4 million at last year's Fasig-Tipton Florida sale. -@JessMartiniTDN

Lane's End Continues Colt Quest

Lane's End made a splash at the juveniles sales last spring buying expensive, well-bred colts with an eye towards acquiring future stallion prospects. The farm's Bill Farish was in action again at Keeneland September, going to $675,000 to acquire a colt by Tiznow, among a handful of purchases Monday.

“It's for the same racing group that we bought for last year,” Farish confirmed. “It's getting harder and harder to [find proven horses for stallion duty.] So we are using both approaches, trying to have more in training at the same time we're still looking for proven horses.”

By Tiznow, hip 90 is out of Temple Street and is a full-brother to multiple graded stakes placed 'TDN Rising Star' Donworth and a half to juvenile Con Te Partiro (Scat Daddy), also a 'Rising Star' and recent winner of the Bolton Landing S. at Saratoga. He was consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency on behalf of breeder K.C. Garrett Farm.

“He's a lovely colt with a really nice pedigree and he's a full-brother to a very nice stakes horse and a half to a current

2-year-old stakes winner,” Farish commented. “So he checks a lot of boxes for us.”

Also Monday, Farish signed the ticket on hip 183, a son of Curlin, for a matching $675,000, and went to $575,000 for a son of Into Mischief (hip 153) and to $500,000 for a colt by War Front (hip 145).

“We've bid on just a few so far and it's been fairly competitive,” Farish said about halfway through Monday's session of the auction. “I expected it was going to be difficult to buy here and it's definitely been that way.”

Lane's End, in partnership, purchased the $1.8-million sale-topping son of Tapit out of this year's Fasig-Tipton Florida sale and topped the OBS March sale when purchasing a son of Smart Strike for $1.7 million. -@JessMartiniTDN

Successful Day for Woods Edge

Peter O'Callaghan's Woods Edge Farm packed a powerful punch into a 10-hip stretch during Monday's first session of the Keeneland September sale, first selling an Irish-bred son of Arch for $430,000 and then making a quick return to sell a colt by Tiznow for $575,000. O'Callaghan purchased both yearlings last fall.

By Arch, hip 135 is out of Weekend Fling (Forest Wildcat) and is a half to Group 3 winner Craftsman (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}). O'Callaghan purchased the youngster for $142,704 during last year's Tattersalls December sale. He was purchased Monday by Lothenbach Stables.

“There are always one or two every year in the [Tattersalls] book who might suit [as American pinhooking prospects], but I generally don't ever buy them,” O'Callaghan admitted. “I think this is the first one I've ever bought. I don't go over there to buy, I go over to help my family buy the foals and some mares. I don't go there to buy things to bring back. Usually we try to buy them at Keeneland or Fasig to resell here.”

But the colt, who was purchased in utero for $425,000 at the 2014 Keeneland November sale and was bred by Barronstown Stud, stuck out at Tattersalls as a good investment.

“He is by an American sire and this is his last crop,” O'Callaghan said of the colt's appeal. “He was a particularly good Arch. The good Arches have a bit of quality and he had that. He was a lovely, athletic mover. He just fit. He cost about $130,000 at the time and we had to ship him back. So he wasn't cheap. And it was hard to know how to value him and we didn't know if there would be much upside to him. It's all very well to say this horse is worth this much. But at the end of the day, you have to buy the horses you like. And the more you like them the more they are worth to you. That's the way we approach it.”

Hip 146, who was purchased by trainer D. Wayne Lukas for

owners William Mack and Robert Baker, was a more traditional pinhook for O'Callaghan, who purchased the youngster for $275,000 at last year's Keeneland November sale.

“He's was an exceptional foal and I paid an exceptional price for him,” O'Callaghan said of the dark bay, who is out of MGISP Wynning Ride (Candy Ride {Arg}). “It was hard to see that there would be a lot of profit in him, but he had a tremendous quality about him. And for a very robust horse, he was so light on his feet. He is out of a good racemare, a young Candy Ride mare, which I thought would be a good mix.”

The yearling did everything right over the winter, according to O'Callaghan.

“He did everything that we wanted him to do,” the Irishman confirmed. “He grew enough, he kept his athleticism. He was good at every month of the year and in my experience, those are generally the good ones.”

O'Callaghan continued, “It was a great price, we're very grateful to Wayne and Mack and Baker for buying him. Wayne has been very lucky with Tiznow and it's a great home for him. WinStar and China Horse Club were the underbidders, so we are thankful to them to them, too.”

Woods Edge completed its day with another strong result, selling a colt by The Factor (hip 201) for $450,000 to Spendthrift Farm. Out of Bayou Tortuga (Empire Maker), the yearling is a half-brother to 'TDN Rising Star' and G3 UAE Oaks winner Polar River (Congrats). He was a $200,000 purchase at last year's Keeneland November sale.

Keeneland has tweaked the format of its September sale several times over the last few years, settling for a three-day book 1 format for the last two renewals. O'Callaghan sees some drawbacks to the lengthy first book.

“It's extremely difficult to fill three days of Book 1 with Book 1 quality horses,” he explained. “Unfortunately they try to have an open format and I understand the concept, but there ends up being too much filler and it reflects on the results a little bit. If the buyers are here, they want to buy nice horses, but it's difficult to breed nice horses. People are very astute, they know exactly what they want and it's hard to qualify. When you qualify, you hope you get a payday like we did today, because they're not always going to qualify.”

After Book 1, Keeneland will be dark Thursday before resuming with its first Book 2 session Friday. O'Callaghan thinks the gap may force some buyers to leave town early.

“They need to condense the whole sale from start to finish so there is more overlap with the later buyers coming in while keeping the early buyers,” he said. “There is no point in having a day off after three days and 500 horses when there are people are in town. While they are here, we have to keep them here. If we keep the sale rolling, they will stay.” -@JessMartiniTDN

Winchell Returns to the Tapit Well

Ron Winchell, whose Winchell Thoroughbreds campaigned top sire and Grade I winner Tapit, as well as his champion daughter Untapable, went to $500,000 to acquire Hip 57, a Tapit half-brother to champion Shanghai Bobby (Harlan's Holiday).

“Physically he was excellent,” Winchell said while seated in the pavilion. “He had a few issues, so I think that helped his price stay down a little bit. From a Tapit perspective, he was what you look for physically, other than those few items that kept his price down.”

He added, “I thought he'd be a little less, but it didn't surprise me, given his pedigree and physically how he looked.”

Consigned by breeder Stonehaven Steadings, the bay colt is out of the stakes-winning mare Steelin (Orientate), and Shanghai Bobby, himself a $105,000 yearling purchase at the 2011 renewal of this auction, was her first foal. He was named 2012's champion juvenile colt after a perfect five-for-five season that included wins in the GII Hopeful S., GI Champagne S. and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile.

Winchell was active again later in the session when going to $200,000 for Hip 106, a colt by Majesticperfection. Out of MSP Try to Remember (Include), the bay is a half to SW & GISP Holiday Soiree (Harlan's Holiday) and was consigned to the sale by breeder Brereton C. Jones, whose Airdrie Stud stands Majesticperfection.

“He looks like a fast horse that is going to fit well in our program,” remarked Winchell, who added that both colts would go to trainer Steve Asmussen.

The 44-year-old had a big score as a breeder during the opening session of Keeneland September, selling Hip 138, a full-brother to GII Adirondack S. winner Just Wicked (Tapit) to Courtlandt Farm for $670,000.

Winchell also offered an update on MGSW Gun Runner (Candy Ride {Arg}), who he owns in partnership with Three Chimneys Farm and Besilu Stables. The chestnut, who is currently pointing for the $1 million GII Pennsylvania Derby Sept. 24, breezed five furlongs in 1:01.90 at Saratoga Sept. 12.

“He looks great,” Winchell commented. “He worked this morning and it was fantastic and we are going forward there.”

Winchell retired MGISW Untapable earlier this year with plans to breed her, but has yet to choose a stallion for his Eclipse-winning homebred.

“We are working on that one,” he said. “A couple options here and a couple options in Europe. We don't have long to figure it out.” -@CDeBernardisTDN

Fruitful Partnership Expands at KEESEP

The China Horse Club and WinStar Farm had a very successful summer together with their 2-year-old colts Theory Gemologist), Good Samaritan (Harlan's Holiday) and One Liner (Into Mischief) all winning on debut at Saratoga. The powerhouse partnership expanded their joint stable Monday, purchasing Hip 1, a Pioneerof the Nile colt, for $475,000; Hip 50, a Scat Daddy colt, for $500,000; and Hip 199, a Medaglia d'Oro colt, for $525,000.

Out of GSP Saint Bernadette (Saint Ballado), Hip 1 is a full-brother to the speedy Social Inclusion, who finished third in both the 2014 GI Preakness S. and GI TwinSpires.com Wood Memorial S. Consigned to this sale by Betz Thoroughbreds, Inc., the bay was bred in Kentucky by Robert Tillyer and Dr. Chet Blackey.

“He is a lovely Pioneerof the Nile colt,” said Elliot Walden, President and CEO of WinStar Farm, which stands Pioneerof the

Nile. “He looked like a very racy colt, very athletic, and didn't look like he'd take forever to come around. He looked like he'd be a really handy 2-year-old type, a real Saratoga type.”

Hip 50 is a son of GSP Stage Magic (Ghostzapper); and also hails from the family of GSWs Kid Cruz (Lemon Drop Kid) and Spellbound (Bernardini). The chestnut was consigned by Glenwood Farm Inc., Agent, on behalf of breeder John D. Gunther.

“He's a beautiful horse raised by really good people,” remarked Walden, who did his bidding alongside SF Bloodstock's Tom Ryan and China Horse Club's Michael Wallace. “We feel like he could be a horse that could be dual hemisphere if he wins the right races. Being by Scat Daddy, he'd be really popular in both hemispheres.”

WinStar and China Horse Club struck again late in the session for Hip 199, a son of Medaglia d'Oro out of MSW Barracks Road (Elusive Quality), who is a half-sister to Canadian champion Leigh Court (Grand Slam); German GSW King of Sydney (Diesis {GB}); and a full to MGSP sophomore Star Hill. Bred by Fred W. Hertrich III and John D. Fielding, the bay was consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, Agent CX.

The partnership between WinStar and China Horse Club began when the latter bought a minority interest in WinStar's GI Champagne S. winner Daredevil (More Than Ready), who they campaigned in partnership with Let's Go Stable, just before the beginning of his sophomore season last February. The now

4-year-old was retired last fall and stood his first year at stud at WinStar this year.

“The partnership started with Daredevil,” Walden offered. “They came to us and wanted to buy some younger horses. They are great guys so we decided to go ahead and buy some horses together in the yearling market.”

Theory, who is trained by Todd Pletcher on behalf of this partnership, was arguably the most impressive of their three juvenile winners, earning “TDN Rising Star” status after a decisive 5 1/2-length score July 30.

Originally scheduled to run in the Spa's GI Hopeful S. Sept. 5, the bay was removed from consideration for that Labor Day feature Aug. 29 after Pletcher was unhappy with the way he

exited a morning gallop. Walden announced at that point that the juvenile would go to Rood and Riddle to be checked and would likely miss the rest of the season, but following a clean exam, Theory has returned to training.

“He's doing good. We don't know what he's doing [next],” Walden said when asked if GI Champagne S. rumors were true. “He went to see Dr. [Larry] Bramlage [at Rood and Riddle] and everything checked out, so we put him back in training. It's undecided where he is going to go next.”

WinStar is also active as a seller at Keeneland September and will offer an interesting pinhook at the end of Book 1 Wednesday in Hip 533, a Japanese-bred son of Stay Gold from the family of Grade I winner Gabriel Charles (Street Hero). Walden purchased the colt, who is bred by Paca Paca Farm and consigned here by Taylor Made Sales Agency, Agent CXLVII, for $259,200 at the JRHA Sale last year with the intention of reselling him in the States.

“We just went over there and looked at that market,” Walden commented. “We are looking at Empire Makers primarily. This horse is Japanese-bred so it makes sense for him to go back home. We bought him with the intention to sell here. He's by a very good horse, who is well respected around the world. Stay Gold is a very good sire.” -@CDeBernardisTDN