New blood in weanling market

Familiar names led the weanling sire standings at Keeneland November, although judging by the strong performances of first-year sires, they could have some company at the top soon.

Popular commercial sire War Front finished as the top weanling sire by gross, with eight youngsters sold for a total of $5,131,000, led by the sale’s most expensive weanling, a $1.45 million colt sold to Coolmore. The linchpin of the Claiborne Farm roster, War Front edged out his fiercest commercial rival, Gainesway’s Tapit, who came in with five sold for $3,460,000. The latter, North America’s two-time reigning leading sire, did best War Front by average price, at $692,000 to $641,875.

Rounding out the top 10 weanling sires by total gross receipts were rising star Uncle Mo; Scat Daddy, represented by his final crop; and Curlin, Will Take Charge, Medaglia d’Oro, Cairo Prince, Into Mischief, and Verrazano. Will Take Charge, Cairo Prince, and Verrazano are all first-year sires.

Champion Will Take Charge, who stands at Three Chimneys, was represented by 18 weanlings sold for $2,132,000 and also led first-year sires by average at $128,444. His group was led by a $350,000 colt out of Grade 1 winner Summer Soiree, sold to Dennis O’Neill.