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.
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The Korea Racing Authority hit a home run when it purchased Knicks Go for $87,000 in the second week of the 2017 Keeneland September yearling sale. Knicks Go went on to win seven graded stakes and earn more than $9.2 million. Although he has not been the easiest sell as a stallion, Knicks Go is now in a strong position as one of the nation's leading freshman sires.
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The Keeneland September yearling sale gets to catch its breath with a day off on Friday following a breathtaking start to its marathon run, with double-digit gains through the upper-market portion of the bellwether auction that have it poised for, perhaps, another historic edition.
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With a $1.9 million colt by Gun Runner leading the way, a remarkable 13 horses sold for seven-figure prices in Wednesday’s Book 2 opener at the Keeneland September yearling sale. Five horses reached seven figures in the entire two-session Book 2 last year.
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A colt by 2017 Horse of the Year Gun Runner and a filly by 2022 Horse of the Year Flightline each sold for $2.2 million to lead Tuesday's action as the Keeneland September yearling sale wrapped up its elite Book 1 portion with big improvements in key economic indicators.
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With Gun Runner colt from a deep Phipps family attracting a session-leading $3.3 million, 15 horses ultimately sold for seven-figure price tags as Keeneland September began its 12-session run with double-digit gains in key economic indicators on Monday.
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Among this year's first-crop yearling sires, the obvious headliner has been unbeaten Horse of the Year Flightline, who garnered a stellar book of mares in his first season at stud and is already garnering strong commercial results. But he is by no means the only accomplished racehorse in this class.
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Although bidding can take place online, the yearling market has remained largely a brick-and-mortar one, with horses presented physically on the sale grounds and through the sale ring. Nowhere is that more evident than at Keeneland September, which brands itself as the world's marketplace. Buyers representing 31 countries purchased horses at the 2024 edition of the auction, which set records for gross and average and tied the record median.
Fasig-Tipton has already hosted three yearling sales to start the season, including its marquee Saratoga selected sale. The bellwether Keeneland September yearling sale has cataloged 4,692 yearlings – more than 28 percent of this foal crop, according to estimates from The Jockey Club. However, the season will by no means be over when the hammer falls on Sept. 20 at Keeneland.
The 12-session Keeneland September yearling sale kicks off with two intensely focused days. The Book 1 portion of the auction consists of those yearlings the sales company's inspections teams have judged to be the finest, based on their pedigrees and physical conformation. While a seven-figure bidding war could easily erupt on any of the yearlings in this book, here are a few to watch based on their pedigrees, compelling storylines and page updates, or the commercial histories of their families.
