Seven-Figure Yearlings Drive Keeneland Book 1 to 150M

The Keeneland September Yearling Sale opened with remarkable numbers as Book 1 concluded with total receipts approaching $150 million. A strong lineup of pedigreed yearlings, particularly those by first-crop sire Flightline and proven stallion Gun Runner, fueled a wave of seven-figure purchases across the two-day session.

The first horse to break the million-dollar mark came early in the sale when Hip 10, a colt by Flightline out of Lady Shipman, brought $1.5 million from John Stewart’s Resolute Racing. Named Stock Rising, the colt is a half-brother to stakes winner Golden Pal. Stewart later shared on X, formerly known as Twitter, that he increased his bid in the heat of competition to secure the youngster. The transaction reflected the strong demand for Flightline’s first yearlings, whose presence in the catalog attracted significant buyer attention.

Later in the opening session, Hip 45, another colt by Flightline, sold for $1.7 million to Naohiro Sakaguchi. The dam, Mira Alta, never raced but has produced three graded stakes winners, adding depth to the colt’s pedigree. Flightline, the unbeaten 2022 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner, is among the most anticipated new sires of the year, and his offspring consistently commanded strong prices throughout the session.

Not every highly anticipated prospect changed hands. Hip 98, a full brother to multiple Grade 1 winner Jack Christopher, was led out unsold after bidding reached $800,000. The colt, by Munnings out of Rushin No Blushin, remains one of the more notable RNA (reserve not attained) horses from Keeneland Book 1.

The top price of the opening book arrived during Session 1 when Hip 177, a colt by Gun Runner, sold for a leading $2.3 million. The winning partnership consisted of M.V. Magnier, Peter Brant’s White Birch, and Winchell Thoroughbreds. Beforehand, this identical group acquired Sierra Leone, the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner and three-year-old champion, at the Saratoga Sale for $2.3 million. Winchell Thoroughbreds, the stable that was associated with Gun Runner during his career on the track, is still a solid backer of his progeny and keeps on making high-level investments in his descendants.

Momentum carried into Session 2 with sustained interest in well-bred offerings. Twenty yearlings reached seven figures on the second day, with two surpassing the $2 million threshold. Hip 243, a colt by Gun Runner out of Amore d’Ete and a full brother to 2022 Preakness Stakes winner Early Voting, sold to Wesley Ward for $2.2 million. Shortly afterward, Hip 338, a filly by Flightline out of graded stakes winner Four Graces, matched the $2.2 million price when LSU Stables signed the ticket.

By the conclusion of Book 1, Keeneland reported sales of nearly $150 million from 228 yearlings. The average price reached $652,698, while the median settled at $525,000. Of the total sold, 217 horses were purchased directly in the sales ring, and another 11 were confirmed as post-sale transactions.

The results reaffirmed the strength of the North American yearling market and the draw of new and established sires alike. Flightline’s first crop commanded attention from major buyers, while Gun Runner continued to demonstrate his value as one of the most reliable stallions in the marketplace in horse racing. Other established sires also contributed to the overall figures, but the headliners of the sale were clearly the offspring of these two stallions.

World buyers crammed the pavilion, looking for pedigrees that can perform at the track and in the breeding shed. The auction was energized by both high-profile partnerships and single buyers, which led to a continuous flow of seven-figure prices being hammered down.

As the sale moves into subsequent books, the early sessions set a confident tone for the remainder of the auction. The combination of promising first-crop sires and proven stallions, paired with deep pedigrees, helped Keeneland achieve a robust start to its signature September event. The opening book’s results leave little doubt that demand for quality yearlings remains strong, giving sellers reason for continued optimism as the sale progresses.