Runhappy tops Keeneland Book 1 first-crop sires by average price; Frosted leads by gross sales

Eclipse Award champion Runhappy, who recorded two of his biggest career wins at Keeneland, is off to a strong start at his first Keeneland September yearling sale, finishing the auction’s marquee Book 1 portion as its leading first-crop sire by average sale price.

Runhappy, who raced for Jim McIngvale's Gallery Racing and who now stands at Claiborne Farm, finished with eight yearlings sold in Book 1 for a total of $3.7 million. Among first-crop yearling sires by gross, he trailed only Frosted, who had 12 yearlings that sold for a total of $4.12 million. Runhappy's average checked in at $462,500, easily outpacing Nyquist at $345,714 and his Darley stablemate Frosted at $343,333. Runhappy's average also placed him 10th overall among all sires with five or more yearlings sold in Book 1.

Runhappy won 7 of 10 career starts, highlighted by six straight victories during his 3-year-old campaign in 2015 that made him that year's Eclipse Award champion sprint male. The streak included a four-length victory in the Grade 1 King's Bishop; a score in the Grade 3 Ogden Phoenix at Keeneland over older horses, a race that included then-reigning divisional champion Work All Week; a three-quarter-length win over multiple Grade 1 winner Private Zone in the Breeders' Cup Sprint at Keeneland; and a 3 1/2-length win in the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes, with Lord Nelson finishing third.

Runhappy, by Super Saver, retired to Claiborne for the 2017 season and covered 127 mares, according to The Jockey Club's Report of Mares Bred. From that first crop, he is averaging $306,409 overall for his yearlings. His top lot thus far at Keeneland September is a $700,000 colt purchased by bloodstock agent Jacob West for Robert and Lawana Low. The colt, consigned by breeder Airdrie Stud, is a half-brother to Canadian Horse of the Year Biofuel, Canadian champion Tu Endie Wei, and stakes-placed Homer Matt.

Runhappy was also represented by a $575,000 colt out of stakes winner Tarty to the Party, sold to China Horse Club and WinStar Farm's Maverick Racing.

Those yearlings and others by Runhappy will be eligible for bonus funds when they begin their racing careers next season. A $100,000 bonus will be paid to any 2-year-old by Runhappy who wins an unrestricted maiden race during the 2020 meets at Saratoga and Del Mar, when the stallion will be among North America’s freshman sire class.

“It’s an incentive for the buyers, and it’s also a reward for the breeders that have invested in Runhappy,” McIngvale said of the bonus. “Hopefully, it’ll make people more interested in the foals. It should be exciting for the breeders and the buyers and the trainers.”

Runhappy has 43 lots remaining on offer during Keeneland September, which continues through Sept. 22. Those include half-siblings to Grade 1 winners Fault and Hunter O'Riley; yearlings from the immediate families of champions Ria Antonia and She's a Tiger, as well as Grade 1 winners Mitole and Smiling Tiger; half-siblings to graded/group stakes winners Economic Model, Heavenhasmynikki, Mendip, and Well Monied; and a colt out of graded stakes winner Derwin's Star.

Frosted's top lot in Book 1 was a $600,000 filly sold to Northshore Bloodstock, as agent. The filly, whose granddam is Kentucky Oaks winner Flute, is a half sister to Grade 1 winner Weep No More and Grade 3 winner Current.

Nyquist's top-selling yearling was a $550,000 colt from the family of champion Halfbridled, sold to Bradley Thoroughbreds.