Ten buyers share Day 2 Keeneland top lots as Into Mischief colt makes US$3.7 million
Keeneland sold 114 yearlings for US$81.14 million (AU$114 million) in the second session of its September Yearling Sale, with separate buying interests securing each of the 10 highest-priced lots.
An Into Mischief half-brother to Mo Town topped the second session of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale at US$3.7 million (AU$5.2 million), leading a day in which the 10 highest-priced lots went to 10 different buying interests.
M.V. Magnier bought Hip 242 for Coolmore and Peter Brant’s White Birch Farm. The price was the highest at Keeneland September since a Curlin colt out of Cavorting sold for US$5 million in 2024.
Final reported sales for Tuesday’s session produced US$81.14 million (AU$114 million) in turnover from 114 yearlings, at an average price of US$711,755 and a median of US$550,000. The spread of buyers at the top end followed Monday’s record opening session, when 18 yearlings made at least US$1 million.
Across the two Book 1 sessions, 208 yearlings sold for US$151.4 million at an average of US$727,885 and a median of US$600,000, increases of 9.55 per cent and 9.09 per cent respectively from 2025. A record 41 yearlings made seven figures, up from 35 last year, although the clearance rate fell from 79 per cent to 71 per cent.
“We saw some selectivity in the market and are keeping a close eye on that,” Keeneland vice-president of sales Tony Lacy said. “Overall we’re very pleased with the numbers. To see us surpass last year in most metrics is really, really encouraging. They’re sustainable increases, which I think is more encouraging. We’re not on a sugar high, and we’re very much on a solid trajectory.”
Keeneland president and chief executive officer Shannon Arvin acknowledged the rise in horses failing to meet their reserves. “The RNA rate was a little higher; it ticked up higher than we would like it to, so we’d like to see that continue to go down,” she said. “That means we may have some sellers excited to keep their stock, and we may have some sellers disappointed that they didn’t find a spot in the market. We definitely are paying close attention to that.”
The session-topper is out of the Bernardini mare Grazie Mille, whose four winners from five runners include Grade I winner and sire Mo Town. The colt is also a half-brother to stakes winner and multiple graded stakes-placed Justique, while his extended family includes stakes-placed Champagne Lady and stakes winner West Memorial.
John D. Gunther and Eurowest Bloodstock bred the colt in Kentucky, with Glennwood Farm consigning him.
“He was just a big strong colt, tremendous walk and a great presence about him,” Gunther said.
Gunther said the yearling had attracted extensive veterinary inspections and that the new ownership group intended to keep him in the United States to race.
Hip 313 was the session’s second lot to sell above US$3 million, bought by AMO Racing for US$3.1 million; the Gun Runner colt is a full-brother to multiple Grade I winner Locked.
The colt is out of Luna Rosa, a Malibu Moon half-sister to multiple Grade I winner Gabby’s Golden Gal and multiple graded stakes winner Always a Princess.
The mating also carries the established Gun Runner–Malibu Moon cross found in Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Sierra Leone.
The Flying Dutchmen, who were active at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale this year, paid US$2.6 million for Hip 351, a Flightline full-brother to Powerline. Summer Wind Equine and Sarah S. Farish bred the colt, who was offered by Lane’s End as agent.
His dam, stakes winner Park Avenue, cost Summer Wind US$1.45 million at the 2022 Keeneland November Sale. Her first foal, Powerline, subsequently made US$1.8 million at the 2025 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale.
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