Distorted Humor colt sells for $510K

LEXINGTON, Ky. After a one-day break on Friday, Keeneland's September yearling auction reopened in Lexington, Ky., with strong selling on Saturday, continuing the auction's earlier trend of high prices in the middle market, especially for stock by young sires. The Saturday session was the fifth of the sale's 14 days, which this year cataloged a record 5,553 yearlings.

At 5 p.m. Eastern, the session-leader was Hip No. 1415, a $510,000 Distorted Humor colt out of Field of Glory, a winner by Meadowlake. John Brocklebank, agent, signed the ticket for the chestnut colt, who came to the auction as part of Legacy Bloodstock's consignment.

Hip No. 1415 was one of four horses to bring $400,000 or more by that hour. The others were Hip No. 1532, a $500,000 Successful Appeal colt out of My Swinger, a stakes winner and stakes producer by Groovy, that the new Texas-based partnership Maverick Racing purchased from the Woods Edge agency; Hip No. 1312, a $475,000 Silver Deputy filly out of stakes-placed Beat Your Feet, by Dixieland Band, that William Clifton purchased from Royal Oak Farm, agent; and Hip No. 1517, a $400,000 Mr. Greeley colt out of Grade 2-placed Miss Hot Salsa, by Houston, that BBA (Ireland) bought from the Taylor Made agency.

Saturday's session saw activity from some of the market's most prominent buyers, including Darley representative John Ferguson, Ahmed Zayat, B. Wayne Hughes, and Jay Em Ess Stable, among others. But the buyers' list was also rich with middle-market stalwarts and such pinhookers as David Scanlon, Nick De Meric, and Leprechaun Racing.

The auction was to continue through Sept. 25 with sessions beginning daily in the Keeneland sale pavilion at 10 a.m.