Keeneland’s September Yearling Sale recorded across-the-board increases during Wednesday’s third session and posted the sale of three seven-figure horses – led by a Tapit colt and a Gun Runner filly each for $1.05 million – to increase the total number of yearlings who have brought $1 million or more during the first three days of this year’s September Sale to 34 – the highest figure since 2005 with nine days remaining in the auction. 

The total number of seven-figure yearlings includes a Curlin filly offered in Tuesday’s session and sold for $1.2 million via a private sale.

Wednesday marked the first day of the Book 2 catalog, with 220 yearlings sold through the ring for $69,917,000, up 9.20% from the same session last year when 209 yearlings brought $64,024,000. The average of $317,805 was 3.74% above $306,335 in 2023. The median of $275,000 rose 7.84% from last year’s $255,000. 

Cumulative sales through the first three days of the sale are $189,482,000 for 424 horses, a 4.72% increase from the corresponding period last year when 430 yearlings brought $180,949,000. Cumulative average price of $446,892 rose 6.20% from last year’s $420,812, while the median of $350,000 was 6.06% above $330,000 in 2023. 

“We saw the same sort of momentum today, the trends, just rolling over. There was great positivity around the grounds,” Keeneland Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy said. “Consignors were very pleased, and buyers found it very tough in a competitive environment. 

“It was very, very strong – a robust market,” Lacy continued. “Today, 47 horses sold for $500,000 or more, up from 39 recorded on Day 3 last year. That is consistently above the mark. You see a lot of new people getting into the game at a significant level – people who were not intending to spend as much but they were engaged and they’re still here. The market today was very domesticated, even though there were international buyers. It just shows the strength of the U.S. industry and the confidence it has going forward.”

“We have a tremendously diverse buying bench,” Keeneland Senior Director of Sales Operations Cormac Breathnach said. “When you look at the 34 seven-figure 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. Those people obviously have other orders to fill as well so that is what is really buoying Book 2 and creating the momentum.

“The median of $275,000 for today’s session is really a very strong number,” Breathnach added. “It’s a very healthy market. The RNA rate is in step with last year’s exactly. That is what we think is underpinning it: the number of people that came here, their eagerness to participate and the fact that there is so much competition around them. Invariably they’re active into later books.”

Donato Lanni, agent for SF/Starlight/Madaket, paid $1.05 million for a colt by Tapit out of the Grade 3-winning Tale of Ekati mare Verve’s Tale. Consigned by Hunter Valley Farm, agent, he is from the family of Grade 1 winners Zoftig, Zo Impressive and Zaftig.

“You never know if you’re going to get to a million or not,” Adrian Regan of Hunter Valley said. “I think there were only 70 or so Tapits in this yearling crop, so there are not many of them anymore. (The yearling) was a lovely horse who showed excellently the whole week, and it’s brilliant to do (this) for (the colt’s breeder) Mr. (Charles) Fipke. We have sold for him for years, and he has been there for us.”

Tom Ryan of SF signed the ticket for the colt.

“He is out of a very good mare, a very deep family,” Ryan said. “Beautiful piece of (pedigree) paper. And Tapit keeps on proving how good he is. He is a mainstay American star. (This colt’s) temperament was great. We’ve seen (him) several times and you’ve seen in the ring (that) he was a gentleman.

“We are hitting plenty of targets (when buying at this sale) but have to fight for them.”

Lanni, agent for SF/Starlight/Madaket, also spent $950,000 for a colt by McKinzie from the family of Grade 1 winner Cave Rock. Out of Take Charge Angel, a winning daughter of Will Take Charge, he was consigned by Gainesway, agent.

“Physically (he) was a very straightforward horse,” Ryan said. “McKinzie was a great racehorse, and it looks like his stock is more precocious than he was. He has shown precocity with his 2-year-olds this year. We loved the (colt). 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.” 

“He was one of the most athletic colts on the farm we’ve raised all year,” said Antony Beck of consignor Gainesway, which stands McKinzie. “He’s a really special horse. I think he is going to be an outstanding racehorse. The McKinzie (offspring) are setting the track alight right now, so I think he will add to that.

“The market is very strong,” Beck continued. “They (buyers) always want the right horse. Those are the ones that generally run. I think Keeneland has done an outstanding job bringing a really great group of athletes into Book 1 and now into Book 2 and beyond.”

A filly by Gun Runner from the family of Breeders’ Cup winners Structor and More Than Real sold to Douglas Scharbauer for $1.05 million. Out of the Grade 2-placed winner Always Carina, by Malibu Moon, she was consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent.

“I saw her for the first time this afternoon,” Scharbauer said. “Donny Denton (General Manager of Scharbauer’s Valor Farm) and (retired manager) Ken Carson and I looked at her and liked her very much. I was hoping I would get her for less than a million dollars, but I can see why she brought that. I’ve bought five fillies so far (at this sale.) There were a couple of colts we bid on, but they went for too much money.”

“I am very happy with her even though it took a million fifty. We do have somebody who wants to go 50-50 with us. We’ll probably do that.”

“I ain’t never seen nothin’ like this,” Schaurbauer added about the atmosphere in the Sales Pavilion. “This is first class.”   

“She was just a beautiful filly,” Frank Taylor of Taylor Made said. “Had a good walk to her. Everybody was lined up on her. We knew she was going to sell well. Things lined up, and she showed well.”

Taylor Made Sales Agency was the session’s leading consignor, selling 34 yearlings for $10,055,000.

Jim and Dana Bernhard’s Pin Oak Stud went to $1 million to purchase a colt from the first crop of Grade 1 winner Charlatan out of Grade 1 winner Midnight Lucky, by Midnight Lute. Consigned by Hill ‘n’ Dale at Xalapa, agent, he is from the family of Grade 1 winners Hookedonthefeelin, Pussycat Doll, Aquaphobia and Jimmy Creed.

“I want to thank (breeders) Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman for their support,” John G. Sikura of Hill ‘n’ Dale said. “They committed a Grade 1 winner to a freshman sire (Charlatan, who stands at Hill ‘n’ Dale). It all goes back to the beginning when we committed top, top mares to the horse. 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. He (Charlatan) has certainly sold well in the market. The sale result is not the most important result; it’s at the race track and the table is set.”

A colt from the first crop of Yaupon sold to Monique Delk, agent, for $900,000. Consigned by Highgate Sales, agent, he is out of stakes-placed winner Q Go Girl and from the family of champion Eillo and Grade 1 winner Flat Fleet Feet.

“He was an incredible horse,” Highgate’s Jacob West said. “We just happened to be lucky that (breeder) Jackpot (Farm) entrusted us with him. We knew he was a star from the day we saw him. He had the hair ‘looked’ off him at the barn. He handled everything with nothing but class. He’s a really good horse.”

Delk said she purchased the colt for St. Elias Stable.

“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.”

Three yearlings sold for $800,000 each.

Alex and JoAnn Lieblong spent the amount for a colt by Charlatan who is a half-brother to Grade 1 winner Klimt. Consigned by Eaton Sales, agent, he is out of stakes-placed winner Inventive, by Dixie Union, and from the family of Grade 1 winner Concern.

“I liked everything about him except the price,” Alex Lieblong said. “But it didn’t shock me; he is from a heck of a family. Evidentially (his status as a ridgling) did not affect the price. I was hoping it would a little bit, but it didn’t.” 

Mike Ryan, agent, went to $800,000 to purchase a colt by Uncle Mo out of the stakes-winning Galileo (IRE) mare Key To My Heart (IRE). From the family of Grade 1 winner A Z Warrior, Grade 2 winner Jojo Warrior and Grade 3 winner E Z Warrior, he was consigned by Lane’s End, agent for breeder Summer Wind Equine.

“The first time I saw him was at Summer Wind Farm about three weeks ago,” Ryan said, “and he immediately reminded me of Nyquist (champion son of Uncle Mo who won the 2016 Kentucky Derby-G1). He has an aura about him that only a handful of horses have. He’s got size, depth, quality and an unbelievable pedigree. I thought he was very special. He would have stood out on any day. We were thrilled to get him. He was bought for a partnership and will be sent to trainer Chad Brown.”

The third yearling to sell for $800,000 was a colt from the first crop of Maxfield who is a half-brother to Grade 1 winner Bright Future and was purchased by Repole Stable and Grandview. Consigned by Clearsky Farms, agent, he is out of stakes winner Sophia’s Song, by Bellamy Road, and from the family of champion Housebuster and Grade 1 winner Nutella Fella.

Bright Future won the 2023 Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) and the 2024 Salvator Mile (G3) for Repole Stable and St. Elias Stables.

Wednesday’s leading buyer was West Bloodstock, agent for Repole Stable, which spent $4.78 million for 13 horses.