Maxfield tops first-crop sires at Book 1 of Keeneland September
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Multiple Grade 1 winner Maxfield was a breakout success during Book 1 of the Keeneland September yearling sale, with a pair of $1 million yearlings putting him in company with some of the nation’s elite sires.
All four of young Darley sire Maxfield’s yearlings sent to the ring in Book 1 sold, for an average of $706,250. That placed the son of Street Sense third behind classic sires Curlin and Gun Runner by average price, among stallions with three or more sold.
Maxfield made a splash last fall by siring the most expensive weanling for this first-crop class – a $500,000 half-brother to champion turf horse Up to the Mark, purchased by EnFuego Stables at Fasig-Tipton. That colt became a successful pinhook at Keeneland, purchased by Coolmore for $1 million from the consignment of Gainesway, as agent.
“He was everything you like to see in a horse,” Gainesway’s Brian Graves said. “I thought he was one of the best-moving horses in the Fasig-Tipton November sale, and he maintained that the entire time we had him. He just got bigger and stronger.”
Maxfield also was represented by a $1 million half-sister to Grade 1 winner Randomized, purchased by John Stewart’s Resolute Racing.
“We like Maxfield, think he’s coming on well,” Stewart said. “We actually bred him to some of our maiden mares this year.”
Overall, Maxfield has had 14 yearlings sold since the formal yearling season began in July – an outstanding strike rate from 15 sent through the ring – for an average of $351,607, well over eight times his introductory stud fee of $40,000.
Next in this first-crop class by average price during Book 1 was Grade 1 winner Charlatan, whose 10 sold averaged $426,000. Charlatan, who stands at Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm, sired a seven-figure yearling at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale, and added another to his résumé when a $1.4 million colt out of Grade 1 winner Guarana was purchased by Coolmore and Peter Brant.
“The results speak for themselves,” John Sikura of Hill ‘n’ Dale said. “The buyers are appreciating them and they are selling very well.”
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