Keeneland January sale: Medaglia d’Oro colt to Gary and Mary West for $350,000

Owners Gary and Mary West raised the bar for highest price of the third session at the Keeneland January horses of all ages sale, going to $350,000 on a yearling Medaglia d’Oro colt.

The price was the second-highest paid for a yearling during this year’s January sale, behind the current sale topper, a $1.45-million Street Sense filly sold Tuesday.

“I loved the colt and I love Medaglia d’Oro. I think he’s a great sire,” said bloodstock agent Ben Glass, who signed the ticket for the Wests. “I really liked him and I didn’t want to have to try to buy him as a yearling. You’re better off to buy them now than wait, and then in September, you’ll have to give maybe twice as much.”

The dark bay or brown colt is out of the Grade 3-winning Carson City mare Bohemian Lady, who has produced one winner from two to race. Bohemian Lady, a half sister to Grade 1 winner and sire Any Given Saturday, was offered at the 2012 Keeneland November breeding stock sale, but finished below her reserve, with a final bid of $725,000.

Bred in Kentucky by Padua Stables, the colt was consigned by Three Chimneys Sales, agent. He became the second-highest-priced foal out of Bohemian Lady to sell at public auction behind Almoonqith, who commanded $725,000 at the 2011 Keeneland September yearling sale.