THE marathon Keeneland September Yearling Sale highlight emerged during the second session on Tuesday.

The partnership of Sonson, Woodford, West Point, and LEB spent $3 million, the highest price paid at the auction since 2019, for a colt by Into Mischief who is a half-brother to Grade 1 winner and sire Outwork. He was consigned by Lane’s End, and was one of 15 lots on the day that realised a million dollars or more, the most for the second session of the sale since 2007.

The first horse through the ring on Tuesday sold for $1.3 million, and the second-last horse brought $1.25 million.

The session-topping colt is out of the Empire Maker mare Nonna Mia. He is also from the family of Grade 2 winner and sire Cairo Prince. Terry Finley of West Point said. “He was always at Lane’s End, so we knew a little about his upbringing. We are really excited and we will try to get to the Derby in 2025.” The colt was bred by Mike Repole.

Gavin O’Connor, agent for John Stewart, paid $2.5 million for an Uncle Mo filly who is a half-sister to multiple Grade 1 winner Shedaresthedevil. Consigned by Denali Stud for WinStar Farm, she is from the family of Grade 2 winner Crafty C. T. “She is a lovely filly,” O’Connor said. “I know the family personally; I worked for WinStar for five years. She is an unbelievable broodmare prospect. The residual value is there; we feel like we have a safe asset.”

Coolmore’s M.V. Magnier purchased a colt by Into Mischief out of the Grade 2 Street Cry winner Princess Haya for $1.8 million. He is a half-brother to stakes winner and Grade 1-placed Lady Kate. Archie and Michelle St George’s Brookstone Farm purchased the colt at Keeneland in November for $550,000. “I’m kind of speechless at the moment,” Archie St George said: “We’re just very fortunate to have a horse as good as him.”

West Bloodstock, agent for Robert and Lawana Low, paid $1.35 million for a son of Not This Time who is a half-brother to Grade 1 winner and $2 million earner Bell’s the One and Grade 3 winner King Cause. Two horses brought $1.3 million apiece. Sinandigain Stable spent the amount on the first horse in the ring, a filly by Tapit out of Lady Take Charge, by War Front. In 2015 Mandy Pope bought Lady Take Charge as a weanling for a North American record $3.2 million.

Larry Best’s OXO Equine spent $1.3 million for a colt by Constitution out of the Medaglia D’Oro mare Solo Uno, from the family of Grade/Group 2 winners Tom’s Ready and Jean Gross. Best said: “I paid more than I would want to. This particular auction, I’ve never seen one quite this strong.” M.V. Magnier paid $1.25 million for a colt by Gun Runner from the family of champion Queena, and Grade 1 winners Chic Shirine and Brahms.

Four yearlings sold for $1.2 million apiece, a daughter of Gun Runner from the family of Grade 1 winner and sire Dialed In; a son of Into Mischief who is the first foal out of multiple Grade 1 winner Serengeti Empress; a filly by Into Mischief who is a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Eskimo Kisse; and another colt, bought by M.V. Magnier, by Into Mischief who is a half-brother to Grade 1 winners Gift Box and Gina Romantica.

Into Mischief filly leads the way

KEENELAND’S 80th September Yearling Sale began on Monday with the sale of eight horses for $1 million or more. The headline acts were an Into Mischief filly sold for $2.3 million to Shadwell Racing, and an Uncle Mo colt for $2 million, purchased by Donato Lanni for Zedan Racing.

The session-topping filly, who was consigned by Gainesway, agent, is out of the Grade 3 Tapit winner Delightful Joy, and a half-sister to Grade 2 winner Window Shopping. “I honestly thought she would bring every bit of $1.5,” Gainesway general manager Brian Graves said.

“She was one of the best-looking yearlings I saw this year. From the first time you looked at that filly, you thought that could happen. It’s a pleasant surprise but not shocking.”

A colt by Uncle Mo who is a half-brother to Grade 1 winner and sire Collected sold to Zedan Racing, for $2 million. Runnymede Farm consigned the colt, who is out of the winning Johannesburg mare Helena Bay. “Imagine selling your horse for two million dollars – there’s no words for that,” Runnymede’s Romain Malhouitre said.

Jersey City Destroyers Stable paid $1.7 million for a colt by Into Mischief out of the Indian Charlie mare I’ll Take Charge, a daughter of Broodmare of the Year Take Charge Lady, and from the family of champions Will Take Charge, Take Charge Brandi and Grade 1 winner and sire Omaha Beach. The colt was bred by Mandy Pope, who said: “It’s been a wonderful day. We’ve been selling, and we have not been able to buy anything.”

Winchell Thoroughbreds went to $1.4 million for a colt by Into Mischief who is the first foal out of multiple Grade 1 winner Guarana. Explaining the purchase, Ron Winchell said: “Obviously the first foal out of an amazing racemare. Do I need to say anything about Into Mischief?”

Two colts by Uncle Mo sold for $1.35 million apiece. The partnership of Sonson, Woodford, West Point, and LEB acquired the first, a half-brother to champion Midnight Bisou, while M.V. Magnier spent the same amount for a colt from the family of leading sire Galileo and Sea The Stars.

Half-brother to Kentucky Derby winner is star lot

DEMAND for quality lots continued to be strong into the third session of Keeneland’s September Yearling Sale on Wednesday, and was reflected by the sale of five seven-figure horses.

Trade was led by a son of McKinzie who is a half-brother to this year’s Grade 1 Kentucky Derby winner Mage, and was purchased by Mayberry Farm for $1.2 million. “The strength at the top is very obvious,” Keeneland’s Cormac Breathnach said. “There were 39 horses today that brought $500,000 or more compared to 29 horses last year, so that’s a significant increase. RNAs are just a touch higher than what we would want.”

Runnymede Farm sold the two highest-priced yearlings on Wednesday. The $1.2 million colt, who is from the first crop of McKinzie, is out of the Big Brown stakes-winning mare Puca, and from the family of Grade 1 winner Finnegans Wake.

Keeneland concluded the first week of selling on Thursday with a session highlighted by the sale of colts by Curlin for $1.1 million and by Not This Time for $1.05 million. The sale took a one-day hiatus yesterday.

Compared to week one last year, the gross dipped 1%, while the average was up 4% and the median climbed 9%. The 30 million-dollar horses equals the number sold last year. Keeneland vice president of sales, Tony Lacy, said: “To wrap up the first week with results that equate almost identically to last year, which was an incredible sale.”