$1 million Into Mischief colt tops Book 2 at Keeneland September sale

LEXINGTON, Ky. – A $1 million colt by Into Mischief pushed a solid Book 2 across the line as the bellwether Keeneland September yearling sale begins to test different levels of the North American market in the second week of its run.

Keeneland reported 380 horses sold through the ring in Book 2's two sessions on Wednesday and Thursday for gross receipts of $75,368,000, not factoring in private sales. Last year's two Book 2 sessions grossed $100,315,000 from 466 horses sold, although that does include private sales on horses who failed to meet their reserves in their trip through the sale ring.

Last year's second book was led by a pair of $1 million yearlings; five others sold for $750,000 or higher, and 19 others sold price points between $500,000 and $750,000. Although only one horse broke the seven-figure ceiling in the book this year, seven others went for $750,000 or higher, including a $950,000 Uncle Mo colt who led Wednesday's session. Fourteen others fetched prices of more than $500,000. That brisk trade helped Book 2 to a respectable average price of $198,337, a decline of 8 percent compared to $215,268 last year.

The buyback rate for the two sessions of Book 2 was 37 percent, compared to 26 percent, including post-ring private sales, in 2019.

"As we have said before, it is very selective," Keeneland director of sales operations Geoffrey Russell said. "The people who should be here and looking at the horses and making the decisions are here, and we are very happy that they are committed to this industry.”

This year's Book 2 was preceded by a two-day Book 1 portion; the 2019 Book 1 ran three days, meaning some cumulative gross figures at this point will not be comparable. To this year's point of the sale, through the first two books, the average price sits at $272,637, with the median at $200,000. Last year, those comparable figures sat at $328,724 and $250,000, respectively, through the first two books, before private sales were added.

Peter Leidel purchased the book-leading son of reigning leading sire and newly-minted classic sire Into Mischief in the final hour of Thursday's session. The colt was consigned by Warrendale Sales as agent for breeder Stonestreet Farm – which also bred the $2 million Tapit colt who led Book 1 earlier in the week. Stonestreet, which utilizes various consignors, sold three horses in the top nine lots Thursday, with a $675,000 Into Mischief colt and a $500,000 Curlin colt both going to Shadwell from the Taylor Made Sales consignment.

“He is a lovely horse, ticked all the boxes, as they say," Hunter Simms, a partner and director of bloodstock services for Warrendale, said of that outfit's Stonestreet colt. "Has a great walk. The Into Mischiefs have been on fire at this sale and on the racetrack. The mare was a track-record holder. Stonestreet did a nice job prepping him, and he showed himself well at the barn. He is a classy animal. Stonestreet has been very supportive of us over the years, and we greatly appreciate it. We have had good success for them.”

The Book 2 topper, an April foal, is out of the Tapit mare Teen Pauline, winner of the Grade 2 Top Flight Handicap and two other stakes in New York. She had established a track record sprinting five furlongs at Saratoga in her debut and was subsequently Grade 1-placed in that juvenile season. Both of the mare's foals to race are winners, including stakes-winning juvenile Cambria.

Teen Pauline is out of Grade 3 winner Effectual, and graded stakes winners Lemon Maid, Meter Maid, and Minister Wife appear on the catalog page.

Into Mischief, the sire of recent Kentucky Derby winner Authentic, recorded five of the day's top 11 prices, and continues to lead all sires by gross at Keeneland September. The sale continues through Sept. 25 with Books 3-6.

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