Slow down? Hardly. The Keeneland September yearling sale continued to post major gains on Saturday as it moved into its Book 3 portion, with a $2 million Into Mischief colt leading multiple seven-figure horses traded in blockbuster results for this portion of the sale. Keeneland reported 278 yearlings sold Saturday for gross receipts of $61,799,000. In the comparable Book 3 opener last year, 273 horses brought $47,904,000. Both sets of figures include only horses sold through the ring, not yet accounting for private sales on the grounds that will ultimately be factored into official results. Last year, the top price through the ring in Book 3 was $900,000. With the Into Mischief colt leading three horses to match or exceed that price through the ring on Saturday, the average price for the session was $222,299, spiking 27 percent from $175,473 in this session last year. The median, considered a key figure for market health because it samples a wide swath of the activity rather than being influenced by the top prices as the average can be, significantly jumped 20 percent, to $180,000 from $150,000. The buyback rate improved a tick, to 25 percent from 26 percent in the comparable session. The strong start to Book 3 comes after the Book 1 and 2 portions of the sale, with the top crust of the marketplace posting a cumulative average up 16 percent, a median up 17 percent, and an improved buyback rate compared to 2024, which ultimately finished as a record edition of the sale The Into Mischief colt was purchased by Coolmore and Peter Brant’s White Birch, with Justin Casse as agent. He was one of two seven-figure colts sold through the ring, joined by a $1.15 million Not This Time colt to Bridlewood, Eclipse, LaPenta, and Warren. In a private transaction that does not factor in to the aforementioned through-the-ring gains, Douglas Scharbauer paid $1.4 million for another Not This Time colt after he did not meet his reserve in his trip through the ring.   Books 3 and 4, in the middle of the marathon September sale, can often represent a changeover in the buying bench, as those at the top of the marketplace fill their barns, and those who were unable to buy in competitive early sessions move in. All three buying parties behind the top lots Saturday were active earlier this week, suggesting both the stiff competition they faced and illustrating that there are still high-quality horses to be had. “The sustained momentum we’ve seen each day reflects both the exceptional quality of horses on offer and the depth of this sale,” Keeneland Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy said. “We’re fortunate to have some of the most astute judges of Thoroughbreds in the world here. One thing that really stands out is how many major players are still on the grounds and still are active." Into Mischief is the nation’s six-time reigning leading sire. His session-topping colt, consigned by Gainesway, as agent, is the second foal out of the unraced Empire Maker mare Miss Jessica J, who is a half-sister to champion Jaywalk. She is also a half-sister to stakes winner Danzatrice, dam of Grade 1 winner Tapit Trice. Casse said he was not surprised to have to stretch to $2 million to acquire the colt because of the record-setting market earlier this week. “I feel like that Book 2 was like Book 1 five years ago,” Casse said. “Book 1 was in a whole other stratosphere from what we’ve seen in the past. The other books have shifted up in value. There is a real hunger, and I’m just waiting to see what lies ahead because you have a different buyer base coming into town and the pedigrees are a lot different. I just hope for the market’s sake that it’ll all transition, which I think it should — maybe not at the level we’ve seen so far, but definitely everything should be up.” For hip-by-hip results, click here.