Keeneland September

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...

A Curlin full-brother to MGISW Clairiere and an Into Mischief half-brother to GISW Girvin (Tale of Ekati)--both Stonestreet-breds--sold in a matter of minutes Tuesday afternoon at the Keeneland September sale for the two highest prices of the day thus far. Causing the biggest stir was hip 347, a Mar. 11-foaled chestnut colt by Curlin out of MGISW Cavorting (Bernardini), brought by Mandy Pope's Whisper Hill Farm for $5 million after a protracted bidding battle. Cavorting has three foals to race: MGISW Clairiere, SW La Crete (Medaglia d'Oro), and MGSP Judge...

With action fast and furious at the Tuesday session of the Keeneland September sale, three yearlings in a matter of four offerings each sold for more than $1 million. The first was hip 283, a Constitution colt out Via Veritas (Street Sense), who hammered to Lee Searing of CRK Stables through Mayberry Farm for $1.2 million. Bred by Runnymede Farm, Peter J. Callahan, Ecurie Loick Fouchet, and Meridian International Sarl, the Mar. 25 colt was consigned by Runnymede Farm LLC, agent. Magna Carta Bloodstock bought his dam for $275,000 at...

A Curlin colt whose fourth dam is the Phipps blue hen Blitey (Riva Ridge) sold for $1.3 million at Tuesday's session of the Keeneland September yearling sale. M V Magnier signed the ticket for Coolmore and White Birch. Consigned by Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa, where Curlin stands, the Feb.11-foaled colt is the first foal out of GII Adirondack Stakes winner Thoughtfully (Tapit). Through the ring as hip 262, the bay was bred in Kentucky by Hill n Dale Equine Holdings, Inc and Determined Stud.

A half-sister to champion and top young sire Nyquist brought $1.2 million to kick off the second session of the Keeneland September yearling sale early Tuesday afternoon when selling to AMO Racing USA. The chestnut filly, hip 206, is by Curlin and out of the winning Seeking Gabrielle (Forestry). She was consigned by Hinkle Farms, who also bred her. A Feb. 13 foal, she's from the family of GISW Sahara Sky (Pleasant Tap). Hinkle bought her dam for $100,000 at the 2013 Keeneland November sale.

Mandy Pope's Whisper Hill Farm went to $2.2 million for Hip 169, a Gun Runner colt out SW & MGSP Princesa Carolina (Tapit), on Monday at the Keeneland September sale. The gray colt, foaled Apr. 17 and consigned by Four Star Sales, was bred by Three Chimneys Farm. The $2.2-million colt is a grandson of MGISW Pure Clan (Pure Prize), who Borges Torrealba Holdings purchased for $4.5 million at the 2012 Keeneland November sale.

A full-brother to Horse of the Year and champion sophomore filly Rachel Alexandra (Medalia d'Oro)  realized a $1.35 million final bid from Epic Horses on Day 1 of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale in Lexington. Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa consigned the Feb. 23 foal. Bred by Dede McGehee, Hip 112 is out of Lotta Kim (Roar), also responsible for GSP Dolphus and Gladys. Rachel Alexandra is also the dam of Grade I winner Rachel Valentina (Bernardini).  

A Tapit filly from the family of Arrogate sold for $1.2 million to Shadwell Farm Monday during the first session of the Keeneland September yearling sale. The gray Mar. 7-foaled offering is the first foal out of the winning Into Mischief mare Immediate Impact, who is a daughter of Bubbler (Distorted Humor), dam of champion and successful sire Arrogate. Consigned by Clearsky Farms as Hip 81, the filly was bred by her consignor.

Hip 73, a Gun Runner colt out of GI Del Mar Oaks winner Harmonize (Scat Daddy), sold for $1.15 million to Chester Broman at Monday's opening session of the Keeneland September yearling sale. Consigned by Brookdale, agent, the colt is a half to recent GI Arlington Million runner-up Integration (Quality Road). The chestnut colt, a Mar. 23 foal, was the second yearling by Gun Runner to bring seven figures Monday, following a $1.5-million filly out of Dream Dancing (Tapit).

A bay colt from the first crop of Charlatan sold for $1.4 million at Monday's opening session of the Keeneland September sale to Coolmore and Peter Brant. The Mar. 7 colt, consigned by Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa, was bred in Kentucky by Hill 'n' Dale Equine Holdings and Matt Dorman. He is out of MGISW Guarana (Ghostzapper), who was a $4.4-million purchase by Hill 'n' Dale at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton November sale. Sold as Hip 70, the colt is from a deep female family. His young MGISW sire stands...

A dark bay filly by first-crop yearling sire Maxfield brought $1 million Monday at the first session of the Keeneland September yearling sale. John Stewart's Resolute signed the ticket for Hip 53, who is out of the unraced French Passport (Elusive Quality) and a half-sibling to GI Alabama Stakes and GI Ogden Phipps Stakes winner Randomized (Nyquist) from the same family as MGISW Got Stormy (Get Stormy). Consigned by Four Star Sales, agent, the $1-million filly and May 11 foal was bred by Cove Springs in Kentucky.

LEXINGTON, KY - The Keeneland September Yearling Sale, which has settled into a standard format over the last four years, opens its 12-day run Monday with the first of two boutique Book 1 sections beginning at 1 p.m. Bidders returning to the Lexington venue will be welcomed to a redesigned pavilion with a more wide open view of the rostrum from the entrance, as well as wider hallways, increased lighting, and a grouping of tables and sitting area behind the rows of seats in the pavilion. "It's something we've been...