Echo Zulu winning the GI Ballerina S. She put on an impressive performance. I've always been a fan of hers. She's a hell of a horse. Exceptionally fast and a generational defining talent.
–Clay Scherer, Bloodstock Agent

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“We always thought that the St. Moritz white turf races were so cool, so appealing,” Restrepo said.

In a few months, the three will be in St. Moritz, but not as fans but as owners. At this week's Tattersalls Autumn Horses In Training Sale 2023 they bought a horse named Cumulonimbus (Ire) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) with the specific goal of sending him to Switzerland to compete in the biggest race of the meet, the Feb. 18 Grosser Preis von St Moritz. The horse cost 150,000 guineas.

The race will be contested at a mile-and-a-quarter and the purse is 100,000 Swiss Francs, which equals about $110,000 U.S.

“Last year, we decided to forget about going in there as fans,” said Restrepo, part owner of 2023 GI Kentucky Derby winner Mage (Good Magic). “We decided why don't we try to win this thing. We spent the year putting our heads together and tried to figure out the best way to approach it.”

Part of that approach is to involve a large contingent of friends and colleagues. The three decided to sell 50 shares in the horses and Restrepo said that about 40 have already been sold.

“We wanted to put forth a strong investment to acquire a prospect who we could have some fun with running in Switzerland and, also, going forward, run in a couple of other international races and just have fun,” Restrepo said. “We want to put 40-50 horsemen together and put aside the competition and the egos. We want this to be more a brotherhood and sisterhood of horsemen, whether its consignors, owners, breeders, someone who works for a sales company. We just want to make this a fun thing. We spend all year fighting each other in sales ring and on racetrack. Here is a chance for all of us to come together under one banner as equal shareholders and have a great time competing in a unique international race.”

But how do you find the right horse for a race that is not run on dirt, grass or a synthetic surface, but on snow? What is there to go on?

The group put European bloodstock expert Martin Buick, the brother of jockey William Buick, in charge.

“Martin Buick helped us out through the process,” Restrepo said. “We were going through potential horses in this horses of racing age sale and looked at previous horses that won this race and their ratings. We did our homework and Martin was our eyes and ears on ground.”

Restrepo said winners of the Grosser Preis von St Moritz tend to be close to the pace early because those in the back can be hindered by what can be a heavy kickback of snow. Considering the conditions, you also need a horse with proven stamina. Restrepo believes that Cumulonimbus is a perfect fit for the race.

“This one fell in our lap,” Restrepo said. “He has the style for it. He's won handicaps with Frankie Dettori and Hollie Doyle up, so you know he has some class. He just kind of fit the bill.”

Cumulonimbus has been turned over to U.K. based trainer George Baker, no stranger to the White Turf races. He won the 2020 Grosser Preis von St. Moritz with Wargrave (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).

“This is something fresh, something new that we wanted to try,” Restrepo said. “What could be better than to spend a weekend of racing with a good group of people? This race is a bucket list item for a lot of people. It's easy to see why and we'd love to win it.”

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Through two sessions of the three-day sale, 410 juveniles have sold for $14,922,600. The average of $36,397 is down 5.1% from the 2022 figure of $38,358–which includes post-sale transactions–and is down 8.9% from the $39,961 close-of-day average from a year ago. The median of $20,000 dipped 13% from last year's final figure and 20% from the end-of-day figure.

The cumulative buy-back rate stood at 21.9% after the fall of the last hammer Wednesday.

At this same point a year ago, with 125 horses reported not sold, the buy-back rate was 22.9%. With 32 additional post-sales transactions, 452 horses had sold for $17,337,600 and the two-day final buy-back rate was 17.1%.

Wavertree Stables, which sold two of Wednesday's top five lots, was the session's leading consignor.

Following a season of polarized results at the 2-year-old sales, the June figures were no surprise to Wavertree's Ciaran Dunne.

“It's not anything we didn't expect,” Dunne said. “For what are perceived to be the top-end horses, there are plenty of people there. For everything else, we are just fighting over scraps. The attendance is probably a little disappointing, but I think that is reflective of small fields and super trainers. It's harder for the smaller trainers to drum up clients, so it makes it even harder for them to come here and buy. A thousand horses is a lot of horses in the June sale. I think they are doing very well to have the clearance rate they have.”

The OBS June sale concludes with a final session beginning at 10 a.m. Thursday.

Scherer Takes the Blame

A colt by Blame (hip 430), who worked a co-bullet quarter-mile in :20 3/5 during last week's under-tack show, will be joining the barn of trainer Brad Cox after bloodstock agent Clay Scherer signed the $485,000 ticket to acquire the youngster on behalf of an undisclosed client Wednesday at OBS.

“He was a big, strong colt who worked fast, did everything like you want to see here and he acted fresh every day,” Scherer said of the juvenile's appeal.

The dark bay colt is out of Soul Spirit (Quality Road), a daughter of multiple Grade I-placed Soul Search and a half-sister to graded winner Journey Home (War Front). He was purchased by Ciaran Dunne for $210,000 at last year's Keeneland September sale and was making his first trip through the sales ring this year with Dunne's Wavertree Stables consignment.

“He's big, tall and long legged,” Dunne said following the colt's bullet breeze last week. “He looks like a horse who will go two turns easily. So the fact that he has that speed makes you think he's going to be very dangerous going long.”

Of the colt's yearling price tag, Dunne admitted, “It did seem like a lot, but he was a beautiful yearling. The trend at the 2-year-old market is that they want big, two-turn horses and if you can get a horse like him who looks like he'll go long to show the kind of speed he showed, then you're going to get paid, more so than with the ready-made spring 2-year-old types. So it was a lot of money for him, but he was a beautiful horse.”

Scherer said the June sale has become an increasingly reliable source of good horses, pointing to 2021 graduate and multiple graded winner Adare Manor (Uncle Mo) who won Saturday's GII Santa Margarita S. at Santa Anita.

“Every year, people have been putting good horses in June and good horses have come out of June every year,” he said. “Adare Manor just ran off the screen. There is always a good one here.”

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OCALA, FL-The Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training reached its halfway mark Wednesday with a familiar name at the top of the sheets as Amr Zedan paid a session-topping $900,000 for a son of Frosted as figures kept largely on par with the auction's record-setting 2022 renewal.

Through two sessions of the four-day auction, 351 juveniles have sold for $45,886,000. The average is down 6.3% from the end-of-day figure from a year ago and the median is down 6.7% to $70,000. The buy-back rate was 18.9%. It was 19.5% at the same point a year ago.

When post-sale transactions are included in the 2022 figures, the median is unchanged at $70,000 and average is almost identical at $131,826.

The Spring sale a year ago had a million-dollar juvenile on each of the auction's four days and the absence of a break-out horse left Wednesday's session feeling a little threadbare.

“We had some fireworks yesterday and maybe there was a disappointment that we didn't have similar fireworks today, but you can't pick how the catalogue goes,” said OBS Director of Sales Tod Wojciechowski. “But I thought it was steady all day. I thought we got a lot of horses traded and I though the action was steady.”

With a pair of $700,000 juveniles leading the way, Wavertree Stables was the session's leading consignor, selling eight lots for $2.4 million.

“It doesn't feel like the easiest market,” Wavertree's Ciaran Dunne said. “We sold two really nice horses really well. It's been sticky in spots, but we are really happy with what we've sold and a little disappointed in what we didn't get done.”

Making two purchases on behalf of Repole Stable, West Bloodstock was the session's leading buyer.

The OBS Spring Sale continues through Friday. Bidding begins each day at 10:30 a.m.

Frosted Colt Another for Zedan

A day after going to a session-topping $1.45 million for a son of Arrogate, trainer Bob Baffert and bloodstock agent Donato Lanni were back in action for Amr Zedan Wednesday at OBS, going to $900,000 to acquire a colt by Frosted (hip 449) from Longoria Training & Sales. The juvenile worked a furlong last week in :9 3/5.

“He was ridiculously fast,” Baffert said of the colt. “He worked beautifully and came out of it well. That's half the battle.”

The colt is out of Handwoven (Indian Charlie), a full-sister to multiple stakes-placed Auspicious.

“This was one of the best horses in the sale, I thought,” Lanni said. “He deserved to bring that kind of money.”

Of the juvenile's sire Frosted, Lanni added, “I believe in the sire. He's still very young and he doesn't have that many crops out there.”

Jesse Longoria and Paul Neatherlin | Jessica Martini

The colt was consigned by Jesse Longoria, who partnered with Paul Neatherlin, the vice president of sales for the Texas-based Platinum Pipe Rentals, to acquire him for $50,000 at last year's Keeneland September sale.

Asked about the colt's appeal last fall, Longoria said, “The first thing I want to say, because I've been very blessed, I want to thank my Lord and Savior. It's because of him that I am able to do this.”

He continued, “When we saw that horse, I just knew I had to have him. And he has been nothing but a blessing. He was kind of late in the sale. I just happened to be in the right place at the right time. And here we are. He's been so easy to train. Everything he did was effortless.”

Longoria said he had spent the spring trying to slow the colt down, so he didn't know what to expect of his work last week.

“We've never been able to turn him loose at home,” Longoria said. “He was always so fast, I was afraid he would get hurt. He was too fast for what he was fit for. So I always had to be really easy with him because he would give you too much.”

Of the $900,000 price tag, Longoria said, “We knew it was going to be good, but we didn't know how good. I am tickled to death by that result.”

Longoria and Neatherlin have been friends for three decades, but this is the first year they have partnered up on pinhooking prospects. The partners, all smiles in the back walking ring Wednesday, readily agreed it wouldn't be their last partnership. “He's been great to work with,” Longoria said of Neatherlin.  @JessMartiniTDN

Justify Colt Sparkles at OBS Spring

Well into Wednesday's second session, a colt by Horse of the Year Justify realized a $750,000 final bid from Mick Wallace, bidding via phone on behalf of Kuldeep Singh Rajput's Gandharvi Racing Stables. Stationed in the back ring, Ben McElroy handled the bidding duties. Consigned by Paul Sharp, Hip 510 breezed an eighth in :10 flat last Tuesday.

“We had appraised him right before the sale and that was right on the money,” said Sharp. “We came in here with quiet confidence. He was a horse on the farm that we really liked. And until you go through the battle, you never know. But we really expected him to do well.”

Paul Sharp | Photos by Z

Outlining several of the May 8 foal's main attributes, Sharp explained, “He's just a really well put together horse. The appeal obviously was his sire. I have quite a few [by Justify] at the farm, and they all train great, so that was the key. In addition to the fact that he worked really well. It was a really spectacular work and the gallop out was one of the best that we have seen.”

“He is no nonsense, just a good horse and people recognize that.”

The bay is out of Iadorakid (Lemon Drop Kid), a half-sister to Canadian champion turf horse El Tormenta (Stormy Atlantic) and graded stakes winner Zero Tolerance (Mizzen Mast). The colt was bred by Idaho native Jason Hall in partnership with BCS Thoroughbreds.

Wallace, formerly Chief Operating Officer with China Horse Club, is very well acquainted with the Ashford Stud stallion, who swept the 2018 American Triple Crown while remaining undefeated. Trained by Bob Baffert, Justify was campaigned by a partnership including China Horse Club.

“He took the eye, physically,” said Wallace of the colt. “Back on the shank, everything appealed to us. Obviously, we had some familiarity with Justify. He was a colt we were keen to acquire. We had to pay a little bit for him, but that's the way things go.”

Confirming where the colt would go next, he added, “He's going to stay in the States. He'll go out to California to Bob Baffert and we'll take our chances out there.”–@CBossTDN

A Homerun for Hall

The reward in the ring of the Justify colt (Hip 510) on Wednesday also provided a broader success for his co-breeder Jason Hall, who has connections with several key members of the immediate female family.

Hall first tasted success with the family when purchasing Iadorakid's dam, Torreadora (El Prado {Ire}), for $8,200 out of the Sam-Son Farm consignment at the Keeneland January sale in 2017. For her breeder, the bargain mare went on to produce El Tormenta, who most notably won the 2019 renewal of the GI Ricoh Woodbine Mile en route to a year-end championship. Hall was not left out in the cold, however, since Torreadora would go on to drop a filly by Mizzen Mast in 2018. Campaigned by Hall in partnership, Zero Tolerance would become the longtime breeder's first graded stakes winner as an owner. According to Hall, that grey mare is in foal to Justify.

“We sold Torreadora after [El Tormenta] won the Grade I in Canada, but we still have Zero Tolerance,” confirmed Hall.

Jason and Silvia Hall | Courtesy Jason Hall

Iadorakid herself was a $130,000 KEENOV purchase in 2019 carrying a colt by Creative Cause, subsequently named Welton. The 3-year-old broke his maiden first time out at Golden Gate in March for trainer Jonathan Wong and Hall in partnership with Custom Truck Accessories and MJVET Stables, and is set to return in a second-level allowance at Golden Gate shortly. RNAing for $80,000 at Keeneland November last fall, Iadorakid is back in foal to Midnight Lute.

Asked about co-breeder BCS Thorougbred with whom he partnered to sell Wednesday's second-highest priced colt, Hall explained, “Scott Carbone is a longtime friend and partner from Louisiana. He was one of my original clients back in the day. We've partnered with several horses over the years.”

He continued, “Our total operation is at over 90 horses right now and I have partners on every single one.  It allows me to diversify and to spread out over 90 rather than own only 20.”

Over the past two days of selling, Hall was also represented in the breeding lines by Hip 239, a colt by Jimmy Creed, who sold for $240,000 and Hip 470, a colt by Munnings who brought $170,000. Bred in partnership, Hall also offers Hip 776, a colt by Tapwrit, who sells Thursday. All of the members of Hall's other offerings at this year's OBS Spring sale are consigned by Marcial Galan.–@CBossTDN

Omaha Beach Filly to Join Cox Barn

A filly by Omaha Beach (hip 532), who worked a furlong in :9 4/5 during last week's under-tack preview, will be joining the barn of trainer Brad Cox after selling for $700,000 to bloodstock agent Clay Scherer, bidding on behalf of an undisclosed client, Wednesday in Ocala.

“She had a great work,” Scherer said of the filly. “It was really fast, she leveled off, changed leads. She did everything you like to see.”

Clay Scherer | Photos by Z

The bay filly is out of Intelyhente (Smart Strike)–a full-sister to graded winner Bel Air Beauty–and is a half-sister to stakes-placed Count Alexander (Scat Daddy).

The filly was consigned by Ciaran Dunne's Wavertree Stables and was purchased for $200,000 at Keeneland September last year for the Red Wings Enterprises pinhooking partnership of Dunne and Paul Reddam.

Red Wings had pinhooking success at the beginning of Wednesday's session, selling a colt by Bolt d'Oro (hip 320) for $700,000 to Kerri Radcliffe, as agent for Lady Sheila Stable and Partners. That gray had been purchased for $210,000 at Keeneland last fall.

“They were two really nice horses who worked really well,” said Dunne. “They were well-received at the barn and I think they sold well.”

Freshman sire Omaha Beach was represented by a host of speedy juveniles over the OBS track last week and they began delivering in the sales ring Wednesday. In addition to hip 532, the sire had a colt (hip 466) who worked in :9 4/5 who sold for $650,000 to Spendthrift Farm and Nice Guys Stables from the Mayberry Farm consignment.

“The Omaha Beaches are incredibly athletic,” Scherer said. “They do everything the right way. He's a good son of War Front and he comes from a huge family. He's a horse who won the GI Arkansas Derby and another Grade I at seven furlongs. I think, like every other son of War Front, he's going to get you a good horse.” @JessMartiniTDN

Colt Proves Lucky for Arellano, Cortez

Javier Arellano, who has been pinhooking for just three years and admits he buys only three or four yearlings a year while working on budget, hit a home run in the OBS sales ring Wednesday, selling a colt by Lookin At Lucky (hip 570) for $700,000 to Jacob West, bidding on behalf of Repole Stable. Arellano and Alex Cortez purchased the bay for $50,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton October sale.

“Dr. Gustavo Vautier helped me to look at horses,” Arellano, still basking in the glow of the sales success, said. “I liked the colt, I liked the pedigree. Lookin At Lucky is a nice stallion who was doing really well in Chile and I am from Chile. I liked him physically and I was looking at how I thought he would develop in a couple of years. I was looking to see if he would develop into what he looks like right now.”

Javier Arellano | Photos by Z

The bay colt is out of stakes-winner Joffe's Run (Giant's Causeway) and worked a furlong last week in :10 flat.

“We are extremely happy to sell him for that much,” Arellano said. “We were expecting a good result, but not this much, to be honest with you. So we are extremely blessed.”

Arellano was first exposed to racing in his native Chile. Now an insurance inspector in South Florida, he has been involved in racing for just a few years.

“I started racing some and pinhooking seriously two or three years ago,” Arellano said. “And I've been blessed with some good horses, but this is my biggest score so far. It feels great. I can't put it into words. I am just extremely happy.”

He continued, “Alex Cortez is the consignor and my partner on the horse. He does really well. He's a horseman. We are a small operation. I normally try to pinhook three or four horses a year. But we just want to do the right amount–we don't want to pay too much on the pinhooking. It's kind of tough if you buy too expensive to do well down the line.”

Arellano concluded, “This is my passion. I race as well and I love both aspects of the business. Racing is a lot of fun, too, but you see me here, I got a good rush out of this.” @JessMartiniTDN

Arrogate Colt a Highwater Mark for Weiss

When the hammer came down at $1.45 million for a son of Arrogate (hip 253) Tuesday at OBS, it marked a new high sale for his breeder, Jeff Weiss's Rosedown Racing.

“I sold one for $1.1 million [at the 2018 OBS Spring Sale], a beautiful Medaglia d'Oro filly,” Weiss said Wednesday morning. “I didn't think I would beat that, but I did. So I am happy about that.”

Hip 253 | Photos by Z

Still, Weiss admitted it was a bittersweet decision to part with the colt, who was purchased by Amr Zedan and will be joining the Southern California barn of trainer Bob Baffert.

“It was a bit emotional,” he said. “I really liked this horse. He was big, 16.2, and he's fast. I love that combination. And it turns out that Baffert does, too.”

Based in South Florida, Weiss is involved in commercial real estate, with properties throughout the southeast. He has been involved in racing for over a decade.

“I went to my cousin's wedding in Louisville,” Weiss explained of his introduction to the sport. “I met someone who hooked me up with Three Chimneys and I got involved with syndications. And then I went out on my own from there. I really enjoy it. It is my best hobby.”

Weiss currently has six horses in his broodmare band.

“These mares are top of the line,” he said of the group. “Scat Daddys, War Front, Medaglias. They are the best of the best. I bought them to race and most of them got injured, that's how they ended up as broodmares. They are all quality, unbelievable pedigrees.”

The unraced Destine (War Front), who produced the Arrogate colt, went through the sales ring while in foal to Improbable at last year's Keeneland November sale. Rosedown Racing purchased out a partner on the mare for $30,000.

“She just foaled a bay filly on Saturday,” Weiss said. “I am looking at stallions for her. I am looking at Uncle Mo and Justify.” Weiss both races and sells his foals as 2-year-olds. His current racing stable is led by Champions Dream (Justify), who won last year's GIII Nashua S.

Weiss admitted he kept celebrations over the seven-figure sale to a minimum.

“I didn't really do anything,” he said. “I had some fried chicken. Which I never eat because it's too fattening.” @JessMartiniTDN

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Now midway through the 12-day auction, figures continue to be well ahead of 2021 levels. During the weekend's two Book 3 sessions, 586 yearlings sold for $92,258,500. The Book 3 average of $157,438 is up 14.5% from a year ago, while the median is up 20% to $120,000.

Through six sessions, Keeneland has sold 1,242 yearlings for $327,909,500. The average of $264,017 is up 10.67% from a year ago and the median is up 11.11% to $200,000.

A filly by Curlin brought the 2021 Book 3 section's top price of $800,000 and was one of 12 yearlings to sell for $500,000 or more during the two sessions. Curlin again had the highest-priced Book 3 yearling this year, with a colt selling for $900,000. That yearling was one of 19 to sell for $500,000 or over.

Asked to describe the action at Keeneland Sunday, Four Star Sales' Kerry Cauthen said, “Flipping incredible. It was just a great day.”

“We came in with nice individuals that we thought would sell well,” Cauthen continued. “They had nice physicals that would probably suit a pinhooker or a higher-end racing stable. And we just found the competition for those individuals was incredible.”

The Keeneland September sale was strong out of the blocks last Monday and Cauthen agreed there was a carryover to the auction's later books.

“This sale started in Book 1 with a bang. We kept selling great horses above and beyond expectations,” Cauthen said. “But we were putting very good individuals in front of them. And that does tend to trickle down into the next books because if they keep getting pressed out of the market, they realize they have to adjust their sights and probably spend a little more.”

The domestic buying bench continued to dominate the results sheets through Book 3.

“The strength of the domestic market is directly related to the strength of our racing market,” Cauthen said. “You can go out with a racehorse and earn a horse's money back and continue to have enjoyment and have it make some sense. And that has led us to a very, very strong domestic market.”

Bloodstock agent Clay Scherer, who purchased Sunday's session-topper on behalf of Staton Flurry, agreed the country's purse structure has led to plenty of competition in the sales ring.

“There is still strong demand for a Thoroughbred,” Scherer said. “It's never been more profitable to own one on the racetrack with the purse money that we have now. You are almost at the point where you can run year-round for six-figure purses for a maiden special weight. That's incredible.”

The Keeneland September sale continues through Saturday with sessions beginning daily at 10 a.m.

A Late Flurry of Activity

Staton Flurry had already left Lexington when bloodstock agent Clay Scherer called to tell him about a colt by Audible (hip 1952) selling late in the day at Keeneland and, with Scherer's enthusiasm in high-gear, the owner went to a session-topping $725,000 to acquire the youngster from the Paramount Sales consignment as Book 3 came to a close Sunday.

“I've just seen pictures of him,” Flurry said Sunday night. “I left the sale yesterday morning and Clay hadn't looked at him yet. But I had the Wi-Fi on in the plane when I was flying home and he texted me, '1952 is a freak.' He said, 'We have to buy this thing.' He sent me some photos and I saw the walking video online. He has been driving me crazy all morning about this horse–he's probably called 10 or 12 times today and texts and similar pictures. The last time he was this hyped up about a horse was at the 2-year-old sale last year and we ended up buying what became Interstatedaydream. She has worked out all right for us. For him to get this hyped up about a horse, I said it must be something special.”

Interstatedaydream (Classic Empire), purchased for $175,000 at the 2021 OBS Spring Sale, won this year's GII Black-Eyed Susan S. and GIII Indiana Oaks.

Hip 1952 is out of Oh Boo Hoo (Kafwain), a half-sister to multiple Grade I placed Palacio de Amor (Dixieland Band).

“He was just a nice, beautiful horse,” Scherer said of the yearling's appeal. “He has a typical Into Mischief look to him and bred the same way as [champion] Gamine. He looks like a fast horse who can carry it around two turns, a Classic distance type horse.”

Asked if he thought he would have to go that high to acquire the colt, Scherer laughed and said, “Not even close. I was on the phone with Staton and, when you fall in love with one and you have the right people behind you, they don't want to lose when they think they have a shot to go win the biggest races.”

Asked what he thought about the session-topping price tag, Flurry said, “We knew he was going to be expensive. We were thinking probably in the $600,000 range. I actually told Clay to stop bidding, but he said, 'Let's hit it one more time.' It's rare for Clay to get this excited or this hyped up about a horse, so for him to really say that told me all I needed to know.”

Flurry admitted, among the many partnerships shopping for colts, it has been tough finding the Classic-type youngsters he is looking for in order to fulfill a lifelong goal.

“The top of my bucket list–everybody looks at me like I am crazy–but I want to win the Arkansas Derby more than anything,” Flurry said. “It's home. I grew up about 1/4-mile from there. So we are looking for something that can win us that and, if you win that, you've got a good shot at the Kentucky Derby.”

Flurry continued, “It's been especially tough at this sale. Normally you see a million-dollar horse sell. But this sale, it seemed like every other horse was a million-dollar horse. You've got the partnership groups partnering with each other where normally they go against each other and this year they are all forming teams to buy the big ones to go for the two-turn horses. It's like the whole dynamic of the sale has changed from last year to this year.”

Duignan Calls an Audible

Gabriel Duignan hit a pinhooking home run with the $725,000 session-topping son of Audible. The horseman had purchased the colt for $160,000 as a short yearling at this past Keeneland January sale.

“He was a beautiful foal when I bought him,” Duignan said, while savoring the late-session fireworks. “It seemed like a good price at the time. He's just done super. He's just an absolutely beautiful horse. He's a horse that there is nothing you would change about him.”

Of the colt's development from January to September, Duignan said, “I think maybe the market has changed a bit, too, but he came in and he did super. He was squeaky clean on the X-rays. He was just a marvelous horse. He was probably the busiest horse I've ever had at a sale. And he showed like a champ. He never got tired. Every show was a good one. He turned out beautiful. He did everything you dream of.”

Yearlings by first-crop sire Audible (Into Mischief) have been in demand all summer and Duignan is at the top of the list of the stallion's fans. Just prior to selling hip 1952, Paramount sold another colt by the sire (hip 1941) for $350,000 to Mike McLoughlin. Duignan's Springhouse Farm purchased Mrs Vargas (Bernardini) with the colt in utero for $200,000 at the 2020 Keeneland November sale.

“I do love them,” Duignan said of Audible's offspring. “I think he was a very good racehorse with a nice pedigree. I think he is making nice stock. He's been very good to me at this sale.”

Through six sessions, 35 yearlings by Audible have sold for $7,747,000. In addition to Sunday's session topper, the sire was represented by a $675,000 son (hip 1167) Saturday.

Into Mischief Colt Joins Lynnhaven Roster

Jim and Dana Bernhard's Lynnhaven Racing continued its shopping spree at the Keeneland September sale with a pair of purchases Sunday. The duo was led by a colt by Into Mischief (hip 1871) who the couple purchased for $650,000 from the Four Star Sales consignment. Bred by Susan Casner, the yearling is out of stakes-placed Kayce Ace (Tiznow), a full-sister to Colonel John.

“He was a super nice colt,” said Four Star Sales' Kerry Cauthen. “Probably in the spring when we first saw him, he toed in a little bit and we didn't think he probably belonged in Book 2. He was probably a little weedy at that time. But he just bloomed into what was a heckuva nice, racy body. And matured. And we couldn't have been happier with him. That was rewarded in the marketplace today.”

Also Sunday, Lynnhaven Racing purchased a colt by Collected (hip 1672) for $300,000 from the Stone Farm consignment.

Through six sessions, the operation has purchased 10 yearlings for a total of $3,820,000.

Gun Runner Colt Rewards de Sousa

Sergio de Sousa freely admits he forms an attachment to his broodmares and the Hidden Brook managing partner, was rewarded for his faith in Wedding Jitters (Broken Vow) when the mare's colt by Gun Runner (hip 1681) sold for $500,000 to Winchell Thoroughbreds and Three Chimneys Farm Sunday at Keeneland. De Sousa co-bred the yearling with Jonathan Mills from Cranford Bloodstock and in a foal share with Three Chimneys.

“He was a very straightforward colt and we always liked him at the farm,” de Sousa said. “He showed well and he got a lot of action. You always hope for them to do well–$500,000 was great. We were hoping he would do something in there, but you never know until they go through and the hammer drops.”

Wedding Jitters was bred by Hidden Brook and sold by the operation for $110,000 at the 2015 Keeneland September sale. She won twice in nine starts and set a track record at Gulfstream in 2017. De Sousa claimed the filly for $16,000 out of that 7 1/2-furlong record-setting performance.

“I have always been a huge fan of Broken Vow,” De Sousa said of his decision to claim the mare. “And she was a beautiful foal. We had her dam, Lightfoot Lane, and we sold her, I think she went to Saudi. But I like to buy back into our families.”

Of the mating to Gun Runner, De Sousa said, “He was a tremendous race horse. He was typey and that's kind of what I wanted to breed the mare to. She has a Nyquist who is very nice and very typey. It was a bit of a gamble on Gun Runner. Three Chimneys was good enough, through Doug Cauthen, to do a foal share with us on the mare. It was a gamble, but the body type was what we were looking for, we were looking for a stallion to complement her. And we obviously got lucky that Gun Runner is just a fantastic horse having a great start at stud. Everything kind of lined up the right way.”

De Sousa purchased back into another Hidden Brook family which was represented by a yearling in Sunday's sixth session of the Keeneland sale. Theory of Chance (Archarcharch) was sold by Hidden Brook for $95,000 at the 2014 Keeneland September sale and was reacquired by the operation for $45,000 at the 2017 Keeneland November sale. Her Collected colt (hip 1652) sold for $210,000 to John Brocklebank, as agent for Bill Peeples.

“I have a problem sometimes with some of these mares, especially some of the ones we sold,” De Sousa said with a chuckle. “It's hard for me to let them go. I really enjoy breeding horses because there is a connection and a story behind the ones we have. I can only imagine how people like Claiborne and Mr. Hancock, they go so far back on these families, it's very neat to be able to talk about the family that deep. Obviously, we want to make as much money as everybody else, that is what our business is, but I think there is also an attachment to the families or the horses as individuals.”

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“The September Sale can be measured as a success given that in these uncertain times the market proved there is still tremendous interest and money for quality racehorses at all levels,” Keeneland President and CEO Bill Thomason said. “Everyone who participated should be applauded for their unprecedented efforts to make this market a reality.”

The September Sale is a bellwether for the global Thoroughbred industry and a significant economic driver for Central Kentucky breeders.

“Keeneland is fortunate, in the midst of a pandemic, to be able to not only hold the September Sale but do so on its originally scheduled dates,” Keeneland President-Elect and Interim Head of Sales Shannon Arvin said. “I'm so proud of the Keeneland team who, immediately after the Spring Meet was canceled and the lockdown in Kentucky was announced in mid-March, began collaborating with state and local health officials, breeders, consignors, buyers and others in the Thoroughbred industry, to plan for the September Sale even as the landscape changed almost daily. The success of this sale is a testament to the cooperation among everyone involved and the resiliency of our industry.”

Among the health and safety protocols implemented for the September Sale by Keeneland were the requirements that people who accessed the grounds during the sale be credentialed through the Virtual Badge digital ID and that all Keeneland employees, consignors and their staffs, veterinarians and their staffs, farriers, van representatives and media show proof of a negative COVID-19 test. Everyone entering the Keeneland grounds underwent a daily health screening with a temperature check and questions. Face coverings and social distancing of at least six feet were required, and the Sales Pavilion, including the Sales Arena and Back Holding Ring, had reduced capacity. Nearly all food service moved from the Sales Pavilion to concessions and the Phoenix Room in the track Grandstand.

“Full credit for this year's September Sale goes to everyone – breeders, consignors, owners, buyers, agents, trainers and countless other people – for their cooperation in following the health and safety protocols and adapting to the new forms of buying that allowed us to offer this important market in this unusual time,” Keeneland Director of Sales Operations Geoffrey Russell said. “It certainly wasn't your normal September Sale, and we know it wasn't easy. We sincerely thank all who participated and made the best of the challenging circumstances. We look forward to 2021 and the return of the hustle and bustle.”

For the sale, held Sept. 13-25, Keeneland sold 2,346 yearlings for $238,454,300, for an average of $101,643 and a median of $37,000.

In 2019, the 13-session September Sale was one of the strongest in recent years, with 2,850 horses selling for $359,789,700, for an average of $126,242 and a median of $45,500. Last year Book 1 spanned three days versus two days this year.

“Last year was an incredible market,” Russell said. “Trying to replicate those results, even in a normal year, would have been difficult. No doubt, COVID-19 and the travel restrictions due to the pandemic had a strong impact on some aspects of the market. Certain major players did not take part. However, a deep, diverse buying bench still participated at all levels. It was very rewarding that the second week of the sale was stronger than anticipated.”

Keeneland demonstrated its flexibility by providing a variety of options to allow buyers to participate remotely, headlined by the successful launch of online bidding. Online bidding attracted a total of 1,857 bids, which resulted in the sale of 126 horses for a total of $12,165,900 to buyers in 17 U.S. states, Japan, United Kingdom, Canada and Spain. The highest price recorded online was the $825,000 paid by Yuji Hasegawa for a colt by Tapit out of Breeders' Cup Distaff winner Stopchargingmaria.

“Online bidding worked as smoothly and was as popular among buyers as we had hoped,” Arvin said. “When you try something new, you kind of hold your breath to see how it goes. We are very pleased with our partner, Xcira, and the online auction technology system, as well as the level of participation by buyers.”

Keeneland expanded its phone bidding service to accommodate remote buyers, and to enable greater social distancing, added a third on-site bidding location in the Show Barn, the area just outside the Sales Pavilion where horses begin their journey to the sales ring. The area proved very popular with buyers.

In an effort to deliver more information directly to buyers, Keeneland further enhanced its digital catalog to feature walking videos of yearlings and comments from consignors. Keeneland also offered a list of bloodstock agents who planned to attend the sale and could work with buyers participating remotely.

As in recent years, demand for quality individuals continued to drive the market, and buyers remained highly selective in their quest for Thoroughbred racing prospects.

Proving the diversity of Keeneland's buying bench was the fact that 14 different entities, dominated by domestic buyers, purchased the 15 seven-figure yearlings.

“Breeders are to be commended for bringing a very good crop of yearlings to market,” Keeneland Director of Sales Development Mark Maronde said. “The value found here encouraged strong trade through the entire sale. Horse people are optimists in the best of times, and here they are – while there are no fans at many race tracks and with all the uncertainty in every facet of life – doing more than $238 million worth of commerce. That's huge.”

Tom Hinkle of consignor Hinkle Farms agreed. Hinkle sold all 22 yearlings in its consignment for a total of $3,124,000. They included a $750,000 Arrogate colt purchased on the internet by Hasegawa and a $750,000 Gun Runner filly bought by Robbie Medina, agent.

“Because of COVID, there was a lot of uncertainty – not just in the Thoroughbred market but in everything,” Hinkle said. “After COVID really took hold in April, we adjusted our projections on what we thought our yearlings would bring. Fortunately, we had a great sale. We've not only exceeded our revised projections but we've exceeded our original projections.

“We just sell our own horses, so we look at (sales results) as an aggregate,” he added. “As an aggregate, we've been very pleased.”

The September Sale topper sold on the second day of the two-day Book 1 when the partnership of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Robert LaPenta, Gainesway and Winchell Thoroughbreds paid $2 million for the Tapit colt. Out of Grade 1 winner Tara's Tango, he was consigned by Eaton Sales, agent for Stonestreet Bred & Raised.

Tapit also sired the $1.25 million filly who led the opening session. Claiborne Farm, agent, purchased the daughter of Grade 1 Alabama winner Embellish the Lace, by Super Saver. Consigned by Bluewater Sales, she is from the family of Grade 1 winners Afleet Express and Materiality.

Later sessions showed signs of strength in the market as competitive bidding for premium individuals continued.

“Bidding has been challenging – we have all landed on the same horses on numerous occasions,” said Clay Scherer, who during the fourth session signed the ticket for Flurry Racing Stables to acquire a Speightster half-sister to their September Sale graduate and recent Kentucky Oaks winner, Shedaresthedevil, for $350,000.

Boosting the ninth session was Marsha Naify's purchase of a $500,000 colt by Karakontie consigned by Gainesway, agent. That day, Naify purchased three yearlings through phone bidding.

Overall, the sale's leading buyer was Donato Lanni, agent for SF/Starlight/Madaket. On behalf of the partnership, Lanni purchased 28 colts for $11.25 million. At $775,000, the group's most expensive purchases were sons of Into Mischief and Quality Road.

Other leading buyers who spent more than $3 million were West Bloodstock, agent for Repole Stables and St. Elias Stable; Mike Ryan, agent; Shadwell Estate Company Ltd.; B S W/Crow; Mayberry Farm; Courtlandt Farm; OXO Equine; Maverick Racing and Winchell Thoroughbreds. In addition, MyRacehorse.com, co-owner of Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) winner and September Sale graduate Authentic, purchased 14 yearlings either singly or in partnership with Spendthrift Farm for total expenditures of $3,355,000.

Buyers had an appetite for yearlings by Authentic's sire, Into Mischief, who ranked as the sale's leading sire with 57 horses sold for $25,401,000, for an average of $445,632. Among them were five seven-figure horses, including the $1.9 million top-priced filly during the second session, the $1 million colt who topped the fourth session and the $625,000 colt who led the fifth session.

Larry Best's OXO Equine purchased the $1.9 million filly. Consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent, she is out of the stakes-winning Medaglia d'Oro mare Taylor S, a half-sister to Grade 1 winner and sire Liam's Map and Grade 3 winner and sire Not This Time.

Medaglia d'Oro was the leading sire by average with 18 yearlings averaging $599,722. He sired four seven-figure horses – all fillies: $1.6 million (sold to Shadwell Estate Company Ltd), $1.4 million (Robbie Medina, agent), $1.1 million (Whisper Hill Farm) and $1.1 million (What Time Is It Racing – Oracle Bloodstock, agent). Horse of the Year Gun Runner was the leading sire among stallions represented by their first yearlings at the auction with total sales of $8.12 million for 32 horses.

Other top-priced horses represented such successful sires as American Pharoah, Curlin, Kitten's Joy, Quality Road, Speightstown, Uncle Mo and War Front. Leading later sessions were progeny of established sire Ghostzapper and such emerging young stallions as Cupid, Karakontie, Mastery, Not This Time, Nyquist, Practical Joke and Unified.

For the sixth year in a row and the 22nd time since 1988, Taylor Made Sales Agency was the September Sale's leading consignor. Taylor Made sold 252 horses for $29,783,400, including the $1.9 million Into Mischief filly.

Meanwhile, using seven consignors, Stonestreet Bred & Raised sold 30 yearlings for $9,911,000. Joining the $2 million sale topper among the Stonestreet horses was the $1 million colt by Into Mischief who was offered by Warrendale Sales and purchased by Peter Leidel to lead the fourth session.

During Friday's final session, 167 yearlings sold for $1,143,000, for an average of $6,844 and a median of $4,500. Stonehaven Steadings consigned the $45,000 high seller, a colt by Cupid purchased by Scott Gelner, agent.

Racing returns to Keeneland on Friday, Oct. 2, opening day of the 17-day Fall Meet and the start of the prestigious Fall Stars Weekend. A total of 10 stakes, including five Grade 1 races, will be run over three days. Nine stakes during Fall Stars Weekend are Breeders' Cup Challenge “Win and You're In” races, which award each winner an automatic and free entry into the World Championships at Keeneland on Nov. 6-7.

Keeneland's November Breeding Stock Sale begins two days later and will run through Nov. 18.

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The chestnut filly, whose eighth in :9 4/5 was the fastest at the distance at Thursday's under tack session, is out of Exotic Design, by A.P. Indy, a daughter of grade one stakes winner Exotic Wood and a full sister to stakes winner Key to Power.

• Dennis O'Neill paid $185,000 for Hip No. 383, a son of Half Ours consigned by Blue River Bloodstock, Inc., Agent, whose quarter in :20 1/5 on Wednesday was the sale's fastest at the distance. The bay colt is out of All About Ju Ju, by Into Mischief, a half-sister to stakes placed Gregorian Bay.

• Hip No. 473, a daughter of Palace Malice consigned by Hoppel's Horse & Cattle Co., Inc, was sold to Clay Scherer, Agent for Al & Bill Ulwelling, for $175,000. The bay filly, whose eighth in :10 flat was co-fastest at the distance on Wednesday, is a half-sister to stakes placed Merveilleux out of Breech Inlet, by Holy Bull, a half-sister to graded stakes winner Bauble Queen.
• Hip No. 427, a daughter of Uncle Mo consigned by Gayle Woods, Agent, who breezed three-eighths in :34 2/5 on Wednesday, was purchased by Randy Bradshaw, Agent, for $150,000. The bay filly is out of Bama Belle, by Giant's Causeway, a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Funny Moon.
• West Bloodstock, Agent for Repole Stables, paid $110,000 for Hip No. 643, Amount, a son of Curlin who breezed an eighth in :10 2/5 on Thursday. Consigned by Harris Training Center LLC, Agent, the chestnut colt is a half brother to graded stakes winner Size out of Extent, by Pulpit.

For the session, 155 horses sold for a total of $3,869,800, compared with 225 grossing $7,719,700 at last year's second session. The average was $24,966 compared with $34,310 a year ago, while the median price was $13,000, compared to $17,500 in 2019. The buyback percentage was 25.7 percent; it was 17.3 percent last year.

The July Sale continues Thursday at 10 a.m. Hip No.'s 721 – 1114 will be offered.

To view the full results from Wednesday's session, click here.

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