Keeneland September sale: Into Mischief's 12 seven-figure yearlings ties the great Storm Cat

Spendthrift Farm resident Into Mischief made headlines by siring the Keeneland September sale topper, a $3 million colt purchased by West Point Thoroughbreds, Woodford Racing, and Chuck Sonson.

“Into Mischief, obviously, you don’t have to say much,” West Point’s Terry Finley said.

That colt highlighted an outstanding sale for the nation’s four-time reigning leading sire. Into Mischief sired 12 seven-figure yearlings, the most in a single Keeneland sale since the late, great Storm Cat had 12 in 2005.

Into Mischief led Keeneland September by gross sales for the fourth straight year, with his 53 horses who sold bringing $36,996,000. He easily outpaced Uncle Mo of Coolmore’s Ashford Stud, whose 55 sold brought $20,138,000.

Into Mischief’s son Authentic, who stands alongside his sire at Spendthrift, was third on the list, with 67 first-crop yearlings sold for a combined $18,114,000. Gun Runner (Three Chimneys) and Constitution (WinStar) rounded out the top five by gross.

Into Mischief also led all sires by average price, at $698,019. Checking in second was Gainesway’s perennial leading sire Tapit, with his 25 sold averaging $441,480. Rounding out the top five were Curlin (Hill ‘n’ Dale), Gun Runner, and Quality Road (Lane’s End).

“There is no mystery about Into Mischief,” said Tom Ryan of SF Racing, which bought three Into Mischief colts, including one for $1.1 million, in partnership with Starlight Racing and Madaket Stables. “He is one of the best stallions to ever grace a stallion barn in America.”

Authentic led first-crop yearling sires by average, at $270,358. Following him were first-crop sires McKinzie (Gainesway), Volatile (Three Chimneys), Tiz the Law (Ashford Stud), and Vekoma (Spendthrift). McKinzie and Volatile were the only members of their class to sire seven-figure yearlings at this auction.

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