Pin Oak Stud on Tuesday acquired the most expensive horse sold during the eighth session of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale since 1999 when it paid $925,000 for a colt by Twirling Candy.

Consigned by Paramount Sales, agent, the colt is out of the winning First Defense mare Hiking and from the family of English highweight Logician, Group 1 winner Cityscape and Grade/Group 2 winners Didina (GB), Bated Breath and Equilateral. Paramount was the day’s leading consignor with sales of $2,529,000 for 26 horses.

“He was a beautiful colt,” Pat Costello of Paramount said. “Everyone on the grounds was on him. We loved him from Day 1. We’re thrilled for the buyer (Pin Oak Stud) and I’m delighted for the breeder (Lady Bamford), a lovely lady. He was a special colt.”

Pin Oak Stud spent $1.03 million for two horses to lead buyers.

On Tuesday, Keeneland sold 301 yearlings through the ring for $21,476,500, for an average of $71,350 and a median of $50,000. The gross is 1.39% higher than the eighth session in 2022, when 295 horses sold for $21,182,500. The average is nearly even with $71,805 in 2022, and the median is 9.09% below last year’s $55,000.

Through eight sessions of the 12-day sale, a total of 1,805 yearlings have sold for $365,943,000, which is 2.84% lower than last year’s corresponding period when 1,851 horses sold for $376,636,000. Average price of $202,739 is slightly below the $203,477 from 2022, while the median of $125,000 is 3.85% lower than $130,000 last year.

In other sales Tuesday, Rigney Racing acquired a colt by Ghostzapper for $330,000 and a colt by Liam’s Map for $280,000. Four Star Sales, agent, consigned the son of Ghostzapper who is a half-brother to Grade 2 winner Lazy Daisy and is from the family of Grade 3 winner Valid Expectations. ELiTE, agent, consigned the son of Liam’s Map who is out of the winning Colonel John mare Elusive Joni.

Belladonna Racing VI, Cherie DeVaux, agent, spent $275,000 for a filly by Not This Time and $240,000 for a colt by Twirling Candy. The filly, who was consigned by Paramount Sales, agent, is out of the Tapiture mare Mojo Mama and from the family of Grade/Group 1 winners A Phenomenon, Seattle Meteor and Con Te Partiro.

The colt, who was consigned by Warrendale Sales, agent, is from the family of Grade 3 winner Derby Kitten and stakes winner William’s Kitten. He is out of Flush, a winning daughter of Violence.

HR Bloodstock paid $250,000 for a filly by Munnings from the family of Grade 1 winner Maracuja and Grade 2 winners Appealing Tale, Regally Appealing and Rockport Harbor. Out of Something New, by Medaglia d’Oro, she was consigned by Indian Creek, agent.