CHC Inc., Maverick Racing and Siena Farm paid $1.3 million for a colt by Nyquist and John Stewart’s Resolute Bloodstock paid $1.2 million for a son of the same stallion to lead Thursday’s fourth session of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale and increase the total number of horses to bring $1 million or more during the 2024 edition of the auction to 36. Meanwhile, the momentum of Week 1 continued to drive significant gains again today, resulting in double-digit growth in gross, average and median prices. 

Week 1 began Monday, Sept. 9, and featured Books 1 and 2 of more than 1,100 horses, among the sale’s finest individuals based on pedigree and conformation, in the catalog. The format was designed to offer the largest number of exceptional horses possible to major domestic and foreign buyers before the sale takes a one-day hiatus on Friday, Sept. 13. 

On Thursday, a total of 216 yearlings sold through the ring for $63,046,000, up 18.17% from last year’s comparable session when 207 horses brought $53,351,000. The average of $291,880 increased 13.25% over $257,734 in 2023. The median rose 25% from $200,000 to $250,000. 

Cumulatively at the close of Week 1, 640 horses have grossed $252,528,000, an increase of 7.78% from last year’s $234,300,000 when 637 horses sold. The average of $394,575 rose 7.27% from $367,818 in 2023, while the median of $300,000 remains unchanged from last year. 

“It was a great day. We are very pleased; it was very strong,” Keeneland Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy said. “The median is up 25% over last year, which is a metric that we always use and that lends to the fact that it was really difficult to buy a nice horse. Everyone was fighting over the ones they wanted, and it was a very vibrant trade. 

“It’s nice to see them (buyers) eyeballing each other,” Lacy said. “We saw Michael Costa from Jebel Ali Stable buying four and we’re seeing the Japanese very much in play still. There are a lot of Irish here that are looking to buy for pinhooking and Coolmore bought today. It’s a very, very vibrant and broad marketplace still. It gives you the feel that a lot of these people are not going anywhere. They’re going to be around next week.”

“To sum up Week 1, we want to thank the breeders and consignors that supported us. This is a great crop of yearlings. They’ve been very generous in what they’ve sent to us to catalog,” Keeneland Senior Director of Sales Operations Cormac Breathnach said. “We’re really pleased with the depth of the buyer base. The buyers have come back in force and really been here to challenge each other. We’re seeing evidence that buyers are extending their stays and new people are showing up, and this bodes really well into next week. The quality will stay strong for several days to come. We’re looking forward to it, the momentum in there, and it should be a great week next week.”

Purchased by CHC Inc., Maverick Racing and Siena Farm, the session topper is out of Spa Treatment, a winning daughter of Bernardini, and from the family of Grade 1 winner Joe’s Tammie and stakes winners Silver Knockers and Manipulated. He was consigned by Blake-Albina Thoroughbred Services, agent.

“Nyquist over Bernardini is a great cross,” Elliott Walden of Maverick Racing said. “That cross works very well. It’s a high-statistical cross, and he’s a beautiful horse – one of our favorites of the sale. Book 1, Book 2 – it didn’t matter. We were very bullish on him.

“Book 2 has been very strong,” Walden added, “and it’s a competitive market for the good horses.”

“He was always a beautiful colt, and we felt like Book 2 would suit him better: He would stand out,” consignor Ron Blake said. “He had such presence in the way he carries himself in everything he does. He is first class, and the buyers could see that. It’s always hard to get those kinds of numbers. We knew we had a lot of people on him, but we just didn’t know if it would go that far. He deserved it.”

Resolute Bloodstock paid $1.2 million for a colt by Nyquist from the family of Grade 1 winners Sydney’s Candy and Exchange. Consigned by Indian Creek, agent, he is out of the Candy Ride (ARG) mare Candy Swap and is a half-brother to stakes winner Bluegrass Parkway.

“I like the way that (Nyquist) horses have run,” John Stewart said. “There is nothing but upside there. Then the physical of the horse; it was our top colt for the day. I was joking around that I was waiting for that horse for four hours, and there was no way I wasn’t buying it. Whoever I was bidding against on the phone I was just watching thinking, ‘I’m going keep going. Let’s go.’ ”

Sarah Sutherland of Indian Creek said the colt’s movement and energy stood out.

“He is just one of those horses that really shows that he wants to do it,” Sutherland said. “I think he is going to want to train and be forward in everything that he does. He never got tired. He is a feel- good type of colt, and I think that translated well to what we asked of him here at the sales. He didn’t let us down at all.”

Resolute Bloodstock was Thursday’s leading buyer, spending $2.55 million for three horses. The group included a $750,000 filly by Authentic from the family of champion Maryfield. Consigned by Brandywine Farm (Jim and Pam Robinson) agent, she is out of the winning Candy Ride (ARG) mare Hallawallah.

Indian Creek, agent for Stonestreet Bred & Raised, also consigned a colt by Curlin purchased by Jones/Everett/Arnmore, Vekoma, Belmar, Pine, Legendary for $850,000. Out of stakes winner and Grade 1-placed Lady Kate, by Bernardini, he is from the family of Grade 2 winner Princess Haya and Grade 3 winner Slew of Pearls.

Megan Jones, bloodstock agent for trainer Danny Gargan, said she bought the colt for “most of the guys” who own Belmont (G1) winner Dornoch. Gargan trains Dornoch.

“This is the first horse we bought today,” Jones said. “We love Curlin and (his son) Good Magic (sire of Dornoch). Danny’s had three Good Magics and three graded stakes winners for (the group). We love Curlin and Good Magic, and we feel safe and happy there.”

“(The atmosphere at Keeneland) it’s amazing,” she added. “It’s great for horse racing and breeders. (The market is) incredibly strong and if you love a horse that does everything right, it’s very hard to take it home.”

“It (price) exceeded our expectations by a little bit,” Sarah Sutherland of Indian Creek said. “He’s just a really solid colt – a beautiful mover. He handled the sale. He was well received. There was a lot of activity on him, especially this morning when things really picked up. There was spirited bidding.”

Two colts sold for $825,000 apiece.

Windancer Farm Holdings paid the amount for a son of Into Mischief from the family of Grade 1 winners Fabulous Notion, Cacoethes, Fabulously Fast and City of Light. Consigned by Mill Ridge Sales, agent, he is out of the Quality Road mare Mighty Road.

“He was a really special colt,” Price Bell of Mill Ridge said. “He was the first from Mighty Road, a very good 2-year-old who sold for $1 million (at a 2-year-olds in training sale). She had a lot of ability. The colt has a ton of class. Margaux Farm raised the horse, and we had the privilege to consign him. He was a star from the beginning and had a lot of interest from a lot of good judges. What a sire Into Mischief has been. He throws all shapes and sizes, and the beauty is they all like to run.”

Also selling for $825,000 was a son of Not This Time purchased by Belladonna Racing, Cherie DeVaux, agent. Sarah and Leo Dooley’s Norevale Farm, agent, consigned the colt, whose dam is Allusion, by Street Cry (IRE). A half-brother to Grade 2 runner-up Common Defense, who was on the 2024 Kentucky Derby (G1) Presented by Woodford Reserve trail, the colt is from the family of Grade 2 winner Fearless along with Grade 3 winners Altesse and Far From Over.

“We’ve had a good sale,” Sarah Dooley said. “We knew we had good horses coming in here, and it’s nice to see that vindicated. Every day certainly won’t be like this, but it’s great when the puzzle pieces come together. We’re going to enjoy it – and it’s hard work – but in a couple months it will be on to the next batch.”

A colt from the first crop of Charlatan who is a half-brother to Grade 1 winner Bell’s the One and Grade 3 winner King Cause sold to Spendthrift Farm and Repole Stable for $775,000. Airdrie Stud Raised and Offered consigned the colt, who is from the family of Grade 2 winners Tap Day, Possible Mate and Fairy Garden.

A total of five yearlings sold for $750,000 each, joining the aforementioned Authentic colt sold to Resolute Bloodstock.

Mike Ryan, agent, purchased a Gun Runner colt who is a half-brother to Grade 2 winners Family Tree and Liora for the amount. Consigned by St George Sales, agent for Dell Ridge Farm Phase II Dispersal, he is out of the stakes-winning Giant’s Causeway mare Giant Mover and from the family of Grade 1 winner Dance Teacher, Grade 2 winner Gold Mover and Grade 3 winner Heroic Move.

“Thanks to (trainer) Chad Brown and his team and wish them the best of luck,” consignor Archie St George said. “We couldn’t do this without the buyers, and hopefully Chad has got a runner and he’s got a nice horse. Fingers crossed. (The colt) had a lot of action and a lot of big players, and he’s a very nice horse.”

M.V. Magnier and Peter Brant’s White Birch Farm went to $750,000 to acquire a colt by Gun Runner out of Grade 3 winner Kallio, by Scat Daddy. He was consigned by Warrendale Sales, agent.

ELiTE, agent for WinStar Bred & Raised, consigned a colt by Justify purchased by Donato Lanni, agent for SF/Starlight/Madaket, for $750,000. Out of stakes winner Kram, by Colonel John, he is from the family of Grade 1 winner Stormy Pick and stakes winners Net Gain, Cat Five’ O and Tut’s Revenge. 

“He’s a beautiful colt, raised by WinStar,” Tom Ryan of SF, who signed the ticket, said. “We all watched Justify grow up at WinStar, and it’s lovely to see them produce such quality animals by what looks to be an amazing stallion. We’ll put him in the program with (trainer) Bob Baffert and hopefully he has a bright future.”

The fifth $750,000 seller was a filly by Curlin who is a half-sister to European and Irish highweight Air Force Blue and was purchased by Donato Lanni, agent for Michael Lund Peterson. Consigned by Stone Farm, she is out of stakes-placed winner Chatham, by Maria’s Mon, and from the family of champion Flanders.

Thursday’s leading consignor was Taylor Made Sales Agency, which sold 33 horses for $7.98 million.