Huckabays have career session Wednesday at Keeneland September

It took about an hour for Wednesday’s session of the Keeneland September yearling sale to turn a good day for Jody and Michelle Huckabay into one they’ll never forget.

The Paris, Ky.-based boarding and consignment operation started the day off on a high note with the second offering of the session, a Scat Daddy filly, selling to trainer Wesley Ward for $650,000. That was followed shortly by a first-crop Will Take Charge colt who sold to Willis Horton for $975,000, making him the most expensive yearling the Huckabays have ever consigned.

Emotions ran high after the fall of the hammer for the Huckabays, who also co-bred the Will Take Charge colt with Curt Leake and Bart and Angie Stark.

“He’s honest to goodness been a good horse from Day 1,” Jody Huckabay said.

He remembers calling Grant Williamson, director of stallion nominations and sales at Three Chimneys Farm, where Will Take Charge stands, the day the colt was born.

“I said, ‘They don’t come like this every day,”’ Jody Huckabay recalled. “I’ve sold a lot of high-dollar horses, but nothing like this.”

Elm Tree Farm was founded in 1989 by the Huckabays and Jody’s late father, Jackie Huckabay. The Huckabays own about 40 mares, either whole or in partnership, most of whom reside on their 600-acre property. In addition to Thoroughbreds, they raise cattle on the land.

Wednesday’s standout yearling is out of the unraced Bernardini mare Oblige, whose first foal is the Grade 2 winner Hunter O’Riley. He is from the family of Grade 1 winner Diplomat Lady and Grade 2 winner Dream Play.