Gun Runner, Curlin lead the way among Book 1 sires

Horse of the Year honorees and Hall of Fame members Gun Runner and Curlin are now classic sires who rank among America’s best, and they led Keeneland September’s best, the Book 1 portion, by sales this week.

Gun Runner, who stands at Three Chimneys Farm, was represented by 24 yearlings sold during Book 1 for a total gross of $18,250,000. Curlin, of Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm, had 20 sold for $16,755,000. His average price was $837,750 – edging out Gun Runner’s $760,417.

Just behind them in third on the gross sales leaderboard for Book 1 was Spendthrift Farm’s reigning leading sire Into Mischief, with 25 yearlings sold for $15,795,000. Into Mischief is seeking to lead this 12-session sale by overall gross for the fifth straight year.

Curlin’s four seven-figure lots in Book 1 were led by the smashing $5 million full brother to multiple Grade 1 winner Clairiere, purchased by Mandy Pope’s Whisper Hill Farm.

“He’s, in my opinion, an elite sire,” Hill ‘n’ Dale’s John Sikura said. “He gets Grade 1 winners in multiplicity every year. He’s now a sire of sires with Good Magic. . . . He’s the best of the best, and the colt that just sold, beautiful pedigree, Curlin’s already worked [with the family]. Outstanding sire who deserves to be recognized in the sale ring, as he is.”

Gun Runner sired six seven-figure yearlings in Book 1, led by a $2.2 million colt, also purchased by Whisper Hill, who was the second-highest price of Book 1.

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