Keeneland September Yearling Sale Day 3: Our Shopping Cart

Gene McLean |

(Hip 476, a colt by Candy Ride and consigned to the sale by B.C. Jones’ Airdrie Stud is on our “shopping list.” / Photo by Holly M. Smith)

(Hip 542, a daughter of the great Curlin, turned a few heads this week. She is on our list, too. / Photo by Holly M. Smith)

(Hip 532, a colt by Into Mischief and from the consignment of Dromoland Farm and Gerry Dilger, is another ready to spike a price fever on Wednesday. / Photo by Holly M. Smith)

The heat certainly got cranked up a notch on Tuesday, the second day of this year’s annual Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

And, so too did the bidding. Tepid turned to warm. Warm to hot. Hot to white hot. White hot to whatever comes next.

A Curlin colt went for $4.1 million, to become the highest priced yearling sold at public auction this year. Godolphin bought him.

A little earlier in the day, a War Front colt went for $2.9 million, which made him the highest priced yearling to be sold — for just a little bit. Godolphin bought him, too.

That’s $7 million for two horses, and that’s coming on the heels of Monday’s session when Godolphin purchased the two highest priced yearlings on the day, as well.

So, the moral of the story is pretty simple.

If you have a good looking horse and you want to make a lot of money send someone over to the Godolphin contingency and issue them a private invitation to take a gander at your horsepower. It may add up to a handsome sum, and a good day at the office — all rolled into one.

Here’s a look at our “Shopping List” for Wednesday, Day 3 and the final installment of Book 1 in this year’s event:

Day 3
381ColtCandy RideFirst SamuraiLane’s End1 & 62nd Dam is Sister to Pulpit / 1st Dam is GSP & SW
382ColtAmerican PharoahSmart StrikeHunter Valley21Althea FF
384ColtWar FrontGalileoTaylor Made22 & 23Cross Worked On G3 Winner Mizzou / Grass Pedigree
386FillyAmierican PharoahGalileoHunter Valley212nd Dam Is Mariah’s Storm / Giant’s Causeway FF
388ColtGhostzapperTiznowKatieRich Farms14Dam is G2 Stakes Placed
389FillyMedaglia d’OroSilent NameTaylor Made22 & 23G2 Winning Dam / First Foal /
395ColtSpeightstownWar FrontTimber Town6Dam G3 Stakes Placed / Dance Colony, Cavorting FF
397FillyCurlinBernardiniHill ‘n’ Dale7First Foal Out of G2 Stakes Winner
400FillyKitten’s JoyDistorted HumorTaylor Made22 & 231/2-Sister to Naughty Joker, Cathedral Reader
405ColtNyquistUnbridled’s SongAshview15Dam G3 Stakes Placed / At the Half, Lu Ravi, Ravi’s Song FF
408ColtGhostzapperSmart StrikeGainesway2 & 51st Foal out of Winning Mare / 2nd Dam G2 Winner
409ColtInto MischiefDistorted HumorCastle Park261/2-Brother to GSP Dam / Munnings FF
412ColtGhostzapperGilded TimeTaylor Made22 & 23Full Brother to Shaman Ghost
414ColtTwirling CandySilver GhostStone Farm151/2-Brother to Roadster & Ascend
416ColtCurlinGiant’s CausewayLane’s End1 & 61/2-Brother to Family Tree & Liora
420FillyMedaglia d’OroGhostzapperTaylor Made22 & 23G3 Stakes Winning 1st Dam
424ColtGhostzapperMedaglia d’OroSierra Farm25Fire the Groom 2nd Dam / Stravinsky, Moscow Ballet FF
425ColtMedaglia d’OroCoronado’s QuestBuck Pond Farm201/2-Brother to Wedding Toast / Congaree FF
426FillyCurlinYes It’s TrueGainesway2 & 5Full Sister to Valadorna
428ColtCurlinA.P. IndyHill ‘n’ Dale72nd Foal Out of G1 Winning Dam Got Lucky
431ColtCurlinBernardiniGlennwood Farm141/2 Brother to Mo Town
434FillyTapitHard SpunDenali Stud52nd Foal From G1 Winning Dam
437FillyAmerican PharoahjohannesburgRunnymede Farm61/2 Sister to Collected — Who Earned Over $2.9M
439FillyWar FrontUnbridled’s SongTaylor Made22 & 23Dynaformer’s FF
444ColtUncle MoChester HouseGainesway2 & 51/2-Brother to Twirling Candy
453ColtMedaglia d’OroDixie UnionHunter Valley211/2-Brother to Klimt
456ColtWar FrontBluegrass CatMt. Brilliant151/2-Brother to Wweet Loretta
459ColtHonor CodeTiznowGreenfield Farm251/2-Brother to It Tiz Well
460FillyCurlinCongratsMill Ridge Farm11Constitution’s Female Family
462FillyCurlinJewel of a CatTaylor Made22 & 231st Foal Out of Stakes Winner Jewel of a Cat
466ColtPioneerof the NileDixie UnioClearsky Farms121/2-Brother to Mohaymen, New Year’s Day, Kingly
467FillyUncle MoTapitGainesway2 & 51st Dam Is Sister to My Miss Lilly, Wiucked Indeed
471FillyKitten’s JoyMaria’s MonFour Star Sales181/2-Sister to Lady of Fifty & Others
471FillyAmerican PharoahJoharDenali Stud51/2-Sister to Ticonderoga
477ColtCandy RideIncludeB.C. Jones121/2-Brother to Sam’s Sister & Sensitive
478ColtMore Than ReadyTale of the CatMill Ridge Farm11Quality Road FF
479ColtGhostzapperFasliyevHill ‘n’ Dale71/2-Brother to America / Blush With Pride Is 3rd Dam
480ColtTapitGhostzapperTaylor Made22 & 23Full Brother to Bellavais
481ColtSuper SaverHoly BullFour Star Sales181/2-Brother to Munnings
485FillyEmpire MakerOrientateGainesway2 & 51/2-Sister to Jaywalk
486ColtUncle MoMidwhipmanTaylor Made22 & 231st Foal out of Lady Shipman
488ColtInto MischiefMunningsBuck Pond Farm201st Foal out of SW Mare
489ColtCurlinTapitGainesway2 & 5Verrazano FF
498FillyAmerican PharoahTricky CreekClarkland Farm51/2-Sister to Beholder, Mendelssohn, Into Mischief
499ColtCandy RideMenifeeBetz Thoro261/2-Brother to J Boys Echo
500FillyGhostzapperJade HunterValkyre24Lethal Heat FF
501FillyAmerican PharoahTiznowStone Farm151/2-Sister to American Patriot
503ColtWar FrontSadler’s WellsFour Star Sales18Full Brother to Brave Anna & Hit It a Bomb
508FillyCurlinA.P. IndyFour Star Sales181st Dam G1 Winner / Bernardini FF
510ColtWar FrontSadler’s WellsLane’s End Farm1 & 61/2-Brother to Storm the Stars / Giant’s Causeway FF
512FillyEmpire MakerTale of the CatDenali Stud5Versailles Treaty is 3rd Dam
517ColtWar FrontGalileoDenali Stud5Found’s FF
519ColtPioneerof the NileDistorted HumorTaylor Made22 & 231/2-Brother to Guarana, Magic Dance
523FillyInto MischiefMalibu MoonFour Star Sales18Dam G2 Winner / 1/2-Sister to Coasted
524ColtCandy RideCarson CityBedouin Bloodstock25McKinzie FF
534FillyGhostzapperStreet SenseMill Ridge Farm11Same Cross as G3 Winner Ghost Hunter
537ColtPioneerof the NileStreet SenseWoodford Thoro111st Foal Out of GSP & SW Dam / Rushing Fall in 2nd Dam
542FillyCurlinMedaglia d’OroGainesway Farm2 & 51/2-Sister to Gun It / Gun Runner FF
545FillyNyquistPulpitElm Tree LLC20Rush Bay FF
546ColtUncle MoTrippiTaylor Made22 & 231/2-Brother to Liam’s Map, Not This Time
555FillyTapitSmart StrikeEaton Sales1My Miss Aurelia 1st Dam / She won Over $2.5M
557ColtInto MischiefGhostzapperCandy Meadows24Dam is G2 Winner / Degenerate Gal FF
560ColtGhostzapperSmart StrikeDenali Stud5Dam is G2 Winner / Klimt FF
561ColtUnion RagsIndian CharlieAshview Farm151/2-Brother to Wyatt’s Town / 2nd Dam Is Lu Ravi
562ColtFlatterStrong HopeClaiborne Farm61/2-Brother to Recuriting Ready / Bolt d’Oro FF
563ColtQuality RoadSpeightstownWoods Edge Farm41/2-Brother to Engage

The horse broke well today,” Gaffalione said. “I had the horse inside, Dunph, going to the lead and then (Gun It) showed a little bit of speed. When I saw they were intent on going I just tried to get him back and got him to relax. He came back to me nicely and settled well down the backside. Got a little keen going into the far turn and wanted to move a little early. But I didn’t want to take too much away from him so I tried to sit as long as I could. He was waiting on horses down the lane but I kept him at task and there was plenty of horse there.”

“Mark (Casse, the trainer) and his team have done a great job,” Gaffalione said. “They’ve had a ton of confidence in this horse the whole way. It’s just an honor to be able to ride the horse. He’s just so professional, trains great and he’s a pleasure to be around.”

Tyler Gaffalione, Rode of War of Will to victory in the G2 Risen Star Stakes at the Fair Grounds
  • Gene McLean

    Gene McLean

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    Gene McLean began his professional career in 1977 as a sportswriter and columnist for the Lexington Herald-Leader in Lexington, Ky., and was recognized as one of the state’s best writers, winning the prestigious “Sportswriter of the Year” honor in 1985. Now the President and Publisher of The Pressbox, McLean sets ...

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