War Front, Tapit continue reign at Keeneland September

As Keeneland September moved toward its finale, one thing was certain: Commercial rivals War Front and Tapit would again reign atop the sale by average price.

War Front, who stands at Claiborne Farm, concluded his set of Keeneland offerings with 18 yearlings sold for $14,085,000, an average price of $782,500. His five seven-figure yearlings were led by the sale-topping $2.4 million colt out of Grade 1 winner Streaming, from the family of blue hen Better Than Honour. The colt sold to the international Coolmore partnership.

“What can I say about War Front?” Coolmore’s M.V. Magnier said. “Over the last couple of years, we’ve been exceptionally lucky with the horse.”

Gainesway’s perennial leading sire Tapit had 25 yearlings sold for $15,280,000, an average of $611,200. Tapit had a pair of seven-figure yearlings, including a $1.4 million half-sister to Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner Liam’s Map who was sold to Don Alberto Stable.

These two stallions have made up the exacta by Keeneland September average price for four straight years now, with Tapit leading in 2016 and 2017 and War Front leading in 2015 and this year. Tapit also led by average in 2014, with War Front checking in third.