US$2.8 million Gun Runner colt on top as Keeneland September Yearling Sale blasts off

Cover image courtesy of Keeneland

Buoyant Keeneland opener sees averages rise again

The Keeneland September Yearling Sale stormed out of the gates with a power-packed, record-setting opening session Monday in Lexington.

“It was a great opening session,” Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin said when the dust had settled at the end of Monday's session.

“It was really fun to see. I don't remember seeing that many people in the sales pavilion in seats since we sold the interest in Flightline in '22. There was really lots of energy, lots of excitement, lots of interest certainly in the sale, and the results were incredible.”

For the session, 97 yearlings sold for US$71,770,000 (AU$100.6 million). The average of US$739,897 (AU$1.04 million) was up 13.3% from the 2025 opening session, and the median of US$625,000 (AU$876,314) was up 16.3%. Both figures were also up over the cumulative Book 1 section of last year's auction, which produced an average of US$664,447 (AU$931,622) and a median of US$550,000 (AU$771,156), and were the highest figures ever produced at any session of the September sale.

“When you see confidence in the buyers and the sellers, there is just a feeling that we're in a good market,” said Keeneland's Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy. “It's a good, healthy market, and it allows breeders to feel confident about what they're doing.”

Lacy continued, “The quality of stock that's being bred right now–we heard that this was probably the strongest group on the sales grounds in a long time. We had 18 $1-million plus horses for the first time since 2006. So it's a real encouraging stat to watch those numbers come through.”

The 18 horses who sold for US$1 million (AU$1.4 million) or over included three who brought over AU$2 million (AU$2.8 million). Leading the way was a son of Gun Runner who sold from the Four Star Sales consignment for US$2.8 million (AU$3.93 million) to RTM Racing. Seven of the day's top 12-priced offerings–including the top two–were by Gun Runner.

“It just was really strong, and again, very diverse,” Arvin said. “Thirteen different consignors sold 14 of the top lots, and there was a very diverse buying bench again. There was lots of Japanese participation, lots of domestic participation. We saw some new faces. So it really was encouraging, and what we were hoping to see today.”

From a catalogue of 184, 140 yearlings went through the sale ring Monday with 43 failing to meet their reserves for a buy-back rate of 30.71%. It was 20.90% a year ago.

“People are not letting them go, as we've seen in the last couple of years where they value their horses and they're happy to run them if they feel like they're not getting enough, and that's again, it's very healthy,” Lacy said. “Obviously, the RNA rate was a little higher than last year, but again, there was a little protectionism in there.”

The final Book 1 section of the Keeneland September sale begins at 1 p.m. Tuesday. Book 2 sections begin at 11 am. Wednesday and Thursday. Following a dark day, the auction continues through September 26 with sessions beginning at 10 am.

Tagermeen Racing Kentucky dreaming with US$2.8 million Gun Runner colt

When Mahmud Mouni signed the ticket at $2.8 million to acquire a colt by Gun Runner (hip 84) on behalf of Tagermeen Racing Monday at Keeneland, he said the goal was clear.

“Our dream is for Kentucky,” Mouni said. “We bought the horse for the Kentucky Derby.”

The yearling was consigned by Four Star Sales on behalf of his breeder, Three Chimneys Farm. He is out of Twenty Carat (Into Mischief) and his 3-year-old full sister French Blue was third in this year's GIII Santa Ysabel.

The pedigree could get another update this Friday when his 2-year-old full brother Bletchley makes his debut at Belmont Park. That colt was purchased by M.V. Magnier and White Birch Farm for US$1.55 million (AU$2.17 million) at last year's Keeneland September sale and is now trained by Chad Brown.

“The full-brother with Chad Brown is amazing,” Mouni said, while adding hip 84 will also be heading to the Brown barn.

Mouni, signing on behalf of the Tagermeen Racing partnership as RTM Racing, also paid US$1 million for a colt by Not This Time (hip 115) from the Brookdale consignment.

US$2.3 million Gun Runner colt tops Coolmore, Brant purchases

Coolmore's M.V. Magnier and Peter Brant's White Birch Farm went all in on Gun Runner Monday at Keeneland, acquiring three seven-figure yearlings by the Three Chimneys stallion. Leading the trio was a US$2.3 million (AU$3.22 million_ half-brother to multiple Grade I winner Colonel Liam (Liam's Map) (hip 116) who was consigned by Darby Dan Farm.

Coolmore was co-owner of champion and 2024 GI Breeders' Cup Classic winner Sierra Leone and now stands that son of Gun Runner at Ashford Stud. They also stand Gunite (Gun Runner).

“We were lucky enough to have Sierra Leone and he was exceptionally popular at stud this year,” Magnier said. “And Gunite is going very well.”

Of hip 116, Magnier said, “All the lads liked him, Peter Brant liked him. It's a great pedigree from a very good farm. We haven't decided where he is going to go, but he will stay in the U.S.”

Hip 116 was bred by GRS and Phillips Racing Partnership and the Phillipses involvement in the pedigree goes back generations. His second dam is multiple Grade I winner Wonder Again (Silver Hawk) and the Phillipses have owned the family back to his fifth dam.

“It was credit to the team and the pedigrees and generations of Darby Dan horses,” said John Phillips. “This colt has done nothing but improve ever since he was a baby. My expectations are always modified because you can come in here and get disappointed. And on occasion elated. Today, I am elated. The whole crew is happy. They deserve the credit, not me.”

Asked what it was like watching the colt sell, Phillips said, “My heart was pounding, to say the least. It's exciting. You get to watch them grow up. In January, I never would have guessed that we would have gone to those levels, but it's a great pedigree, and it's been in our family for five generations now.”

Also Monday, Magnier and Brant purchased a Gun Runner half-brother to Nyquist (hip 17) for US$1.4 million (AU$1.96 million) from Hinkle Farms and a Gun Runner colt from the Lane's End consignment (hip 98) for US$1.5 million (AU$2.1 million).

'The (market)'s very strong,” Magnier said. “Keeneland has done a great job, like they always do. They have brought a very international group of people here. The sale is going really well. It's fantastic.”

Japan strikes late for Not This Time colt, half to Shinzo

When the last yearling cataloged in the main section of the September sale entered the ring Monday, it was clear that something was about to happen given the assembly of buyers still found both on the front and back end of the Keeneland pavilion.

Escalating past the US$1-million mark in a flash, Hip 181, a colt by Not This Time, ultimately brought US$2.1 million (AU$2.94 million) from J. S. Company, buying on behalf of Japanese-based Yosuke Imafuku.

The 18th yearling to bring over seven figures on Day 1, the colt was consigned by Gainesway, who also bred the colt.

In attendance at Keeneland on Monday, Yoshito Yahagi, internationally known for training reigning Japanese Horse of the Year and U.S. Champion Older Horse Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}), will also train the newest acquisition.

“It was a very nice pedigree and a very nice conformation,” said Yahagi through a translator. “Although a bit expensive. (It was) more than expected.”

The March 14 foal is out of stakes winner and Graded peformer Danzatrice, already responsible for GI Toyota Blue Grass Stakes winner Tapit Trice (Tapit), who was a US$1.3 million (AU$1.82 million) purchase at this venue in 2021.

The 14-year-old mare is also a half-sister to champion juvenile filly Jaywalk (Cross Traffic).

The colt represents the third US$1 million plus yearling out of the mare, who was secured by Gainesway for US$105,000 (AU$147,000) at OBS April in 2014.

Also during Monday's session, Imafuku purchased Hip 112, a filly by Not This Time out of Allende (Candy Ride {Arg}), herself a daughter of dual champion Ashado. Consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, the filly brought US$850,000 (AU$1.19 million).

Imafuku campaigns Japanese Group 3 winner Realize Sirius (Jpn) (Poetic Flare {Ire}), who was runner-up to Lovcen (Jpn) (World Premiere {Jpn}) in the G1 Satsuki Sho Japanese 2000 Guineas in April. Lovcen, who returned to win the G1 Japanese Derby on May 31, will attempt to complete the Japanese Triple Crown in the G1 Kikua Sho in October.

Relatedly, earlier in Monday's session, Hip 12, a colt by Justify, went the way of Haruki Sugiyama for US$1.1 million (AU$1.54 million). The Japanese-based horseman, who also trains Lovcen, indicated the colt is expected to head to Japan.

Consigned by Four Star Sales, the May 27 foal is out of Australian champion sprinter and G1 Blue Diamond heroine Samaready (Aus) (More Than Ready), making him a half to champion juvenile and G1 Golden Slipper hero Shinzo (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}).

US$1.9 million Justify half-brother to Winchell

Ron Winchell went to $1.9 million to acquire a half-brother by Gun Runner to Triple Crown winner Justify (hip 47) from the Glennwood Farm consignment Monday at Keeneland.

The chestnut colt is out of Stage Magic (Ghostzapper) and, like Justify, was bred by John Gunther of Glennwood.

“He was a very nice colt and from a very nice family,” Winchell's racing manager David Fiske said. “The Gunthers have a reputation for raising very successful horses. We had some people who wanted to go partners on him with him. We will see how that goes.”

Fiske added, “Steve Asmussen will train him. Hopefully, he will turn out.”

Winchell and Fiske did their bidding a few rows behind Gunther, who congratulated them on the purchase as the ticket was being signed.

“I said I would love to stay in for a piece of him, for a quarter,” Gunther said afterwards. “If I could do that, that would be fantastic. He said he would get back to me.”

Gunther saw a lot of similarities between the colt and his famous brother.

“He was such a beautiful colt and so smart,” Gunther said. “He is just going to develop a lot more. If you give him a couple months, he will look just like Justify.”

Between Justify's success on the track and so far in the breeding shed, his half-brother has all the makings of a promising stallion prospect and it's a path well-traveled by Winchell with both leading stallions Gun Runner and Tapit.

“That's kind of what we do,” Fiske said. “Or, it's what we hope to do. We like all things Gun Runner, all things Tapit.”

Gunther admitted it was tough to watch the colt sell Monday.

“I wanted to keep him,” the breeder admitted. “I have been having sleepless nights for two weeks. I wanted to keep him so much. So many times, I wanted to scratch him.

"I think Justify is doing so well now, I think he could be the leading sire in Europe in a couple of years. And if all that happens, by the time this colt is a 3-year-old, one stakes win and he's a stallion.”

Flightline colt provides quick return for Bentleys

Gregory and Caroline Bentley, generally active in the breed-to-race sphere, made a less usual appearance at the sales Monday and came away with a home run when selling a colt by Flightline (hip 160) for US$1.7 million (AU$2.38 million) to J.S. Company.

Consigned by Paramount Sales, the yearling was out of Chasing Summer (Uncle Mo), a mare the Bentleys purchased with the foal in utero for $320,000 (AU$448,700) at the 2024 Keeneland November sale.

“They said if I saw something that I liked that I should call Joe Cassidy, who is their farm manager,” Paramount's Gabriel Duignan said of the purchase of Chasing Summer.

“I've had a long relationship with Joe. I called him and told him, 'I found a lovely mare, if you're interested.' He said, 'Give me 10 minutes,' and then he called me back and said they'd try to buy her.”

Chasing Summer is a half-sister to champion Accelerate (Lookin At Lucky). The yearling is her first foal.

“He is a beautiful horse,” Duignan said of the bay colt. “I knew he was extremely popular and everyone was on him. He's a fantastic-looking horse with a fantastic temperament. He's the real deal. And Jim Moloney at Dunlane Farm did a fantastic job prepping him.”

Of the Bentleys, Duignan said, “They breed to race and every now and again, they will peel one off to sell. They thought this was one that might be good to sell and they were right.”