Keeneland September wrapped up its Book 2 portion on Saturday night with continued momentum, as a pair of $1 million colts in the book helped fuel across-the-board gains.
After fireworks lit up Book 1 of the Keeneland September yearling sale earlier this week, plenty of sparks were still left as the auction moved into its Book 2 portion, with a flurry of high-ticket horses in Friday's session led by a $1 million Union Rags colt who helped power a big day for the Lane's End Farm stallions and consignment.
Two-time Horse of the Year and consistent classic sire Curlin is enjoying a monster year in the commercial arena, and that continued at the Keeneland September yearling sale.
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.
A filly by Triple Crown winner and leading freshman sire American Pharoah and out of Broodmare of the Year Leslie's Lady sold to Mandy Pope for $8.2 million, among the highest prices in the history of the Keeneland September yearling sale, on Wednesday afternoon.
A colt by Curlin sold for $4.1 million, one of two seven-figure lots for the stallion on Tuesday and the top price at the Keeneland September yearling sale in nearly a decade, as the early days of the bellwether auction continued with strong figures.
The Keeneland September yearling sale, considered the bellwether for the market in North America, opened its two-week run on Monday with fireworks at the zenith.
A filly by Maclean's Music brought $145,000 from East Hickman to top the Consignor Select Yearling Sale conducted by the Equine Sales Company in Opelousas, La., on Sept. 5.
Multiple Grade 1 winner Midnight Bisou, the leading active older female, will be offered for sale at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky fall selected mixed sale.
The Keeneland September yearling sale, which this year has 4,644 yearlings in the catalog for the 13-session sale that runs from Sept. 9-22, is considered the bellwether for the market in North America, testing the market at all levels. Not only that, as a sale that reliably attracts global buyers at many levels, the sale can give an indicator of how American sires and the American Thoroughbred are considered worldwide. The Daily Racing Form will have you covered throughout the sale's marathon run, beginning with our special preview edition, presented by Stonestreet Farm.
