A colt by Sensible Joke topped the fifth session of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, promoting for $900,000 to Monique Delk Sept. 14. The colt (Hip 1361) is out of the graded stakes-producing mare Ridingwiththedevil .
Hip 1361 was bred in Kentucky by Whisper Hill Farm, Gainesway Thoroughbreds, and Brian Graves, and consigned by Gainseway. Gainesway additionally consigned Hip 1343, a colt by Liam’s Map who fetched $700,000, and Hip 1458, a $675,000 Structure colt, to have the highest three hips of the session.
“The horse (Hip 1361) offered a good a methods over the reserve however it’s a aggressive marketplace for the highest choices and I suppose that is the reply. Folks thought he was a high providing. He is an actual leggy colt, the most effective walkers on the farm. It does appear to be when you have sire energy and sufficient on the dam’s facet to make a case for a stallion prospect that costs like this could materialize, so we’re actually grateful to Monique Delk and the consumers and I want them the perfect of luck and hope it updates the mare,” mentioned Brian Graves, basic supervisor of Gainesway.
The colt is by Coolmore’s Sensible Joke, sire of grade 1 winners equivalent to 2022 Frizette Stakes (G1) winner Chocolate Gelato , 2023 Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner Sensible Transfer, and present runners Home Product , who took the Aug. 24 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes (G1), and Take a look at Stakes (G1) victress Methods and Means .
Monique Delk on the Keeneland September Yearling Sale
“He is a good looking colt, he checked all of our containers; stunning bodily, stunning stroll, simply appeared to be all class. We had been completely satisfied to stretch for a colt like this” Delk mentioned.
“I used to be (shocked), however for a horse like that, it’s important to anticipate that might occur,” she mentioned on the $900,000 it value to safe the colt. “We had been prepared to go the additional, however I assumed he can be rather less than that.
“I am not overly shocked (with the demand), it was such a aggressive E book 2 that now we have trickled down and the highest choices, particularly colts that look they could possibly be a stallion if they’ll run, are breaking via,” Graves mentioned on the energy of E book 3.
“For the nice horses, it’s extremely aggressive. They’re bringing the cash. I felt like earlier on it was a bit slower, however I really feel just like the momentum has picked up. And, you recognize, good horses are going to promote nicely, it doesn’t matter what e book they’re in, they usually actually stand out,” added Delk.
The second-highest priced colt of the day was Hip 1343, a Liam’s Map colt out of the Bernardini mare Pop a Choc . He offered for $700,000 to Pin Oak Stud.
Hip 1343 is the mare’s first foal, and hails from the household of a number of graded stakes winner Airoforce . The grey or roan colt was bred in Kentucky by Gainesway Thoroughbreds and Graves
“Once I noticed the vet work coming in on him, I assumed that he may promote actually, rather well. We had been delighted with the value however once more, a Bernardini mare, sufficient graded stakes high quality within the pedigree you can see him changing into a very good stallion prospect at some point if he can run. I feel if a mare is younger it escalates the value of those stallion prospect colts. Good broodmare sires and a bit little bit of sire energy is the key method to having an opportunity,” mentioned Graves.
The highest-priced filly of the day was Hip 1293, a filly by Liam’s Map out of the Uncle Mo mare Mo Dean . The mare is a half sister to graded stakes winner Crupi , who was lately second within the Whitney Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course.
She was bred in Kentucky by Kim Nardelli, Rodney Nardelli, and Susan Casner and consigned by Nardelli Gross sales.
The common for the fifth session was $167,789, with a gross of $49,330,000 together with non-public gross sales from 294 horses offered. The median was $140,000. Seventy-six horses failed to fulfill their reserve, leading to an RNA price of 20.5%.
The gross, common, and median are all up from this time final yr on the September Sale. General, product sales elevated 6.6% via the primary 5 classes over 2023, with the typical up 7.7%.
Gainesway was the main consignor with product sales of $6,495,000 from 22 horses offered. Delk was the main purchaser with 5 yearlings purchased for a complete of $2,335,000. Sensible Joke topped the day as main sire with 14 offered for a complete of $3,420,000. Liam’s Map got here in second additionally being represented by 14 offered for a complete of $2,660,000.
“It looks as if there are new faces round, it looks as if individuals are wanting to purchase horses. I really like the modifications they made within the pavilion. All of us need to preserve adapting and preserve making an attempt to enhance, it feels good and it is quite a bit brighter,” mentioned Value Bell Jr. of Mill Ridge Gross sales.
The Keeneland September Yearling Sale continues Sept. 15 at 10:00 a.m. ET. With hips 1551-1970 to undergo the ring. As of Saturday night, Keeneland has reported 42 outs.
