Agent Baffert goes to $700,000 for Uncle Mo colt

Friday’s session topper is by champion Uncle Mo (Keeneland Photo) The 72nd Keeneland September Yearling Sale took a day off Thursday and resumed Friday with the start of the two-day Book 2 catalog. Bob Baffert, who trains 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile), spent $700,000 on Hip No. 942, a colt by Uncle Mo consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent. The colt is the first foal out of the stakes-placed Quiet American mare Kiss the Lady. He is from the family of Grade 2 winners A Little Warm (Stormin Fever) and Mini Sermon (Pulpit) and descends from Irish champion Minstrella (The Minstrel). “It’s an Uncle Mo; he’s hot,” said Baffert, who bought the colt for a client. “He’s just a really solid, sound, good walking colt,” said Frank Taylor, vice president of boarding operations for Taylor Made Sales Agency. “He had a lot of class about him, and everybody lined up on him and really liked him.” “Today’s auction was very good,” Keeneland Director of Sales Geoffrey Russell said. “A number of different buyers and a great group of international buyers, including horsemen from Venezuela, bought yearlings. The session-topping Uncle Mo colt was obviously very special. He looked like he was getting ready to run at Keeneland today; he was that advanced. Overall, it was a very successful day.” About 1 1/2 hours after the session began, Zayat Stables paid $600,000 for Hip 775, a colt from the first crop of The Factor from the family of Grade 1 winner Great Hunter (Aptitude). “By The Factor, a beautiful-looking horse, athletic, had all the parts,” said Justin Zayat, racing manager for his family’s Zayat Stables, owner of American Pharoah. “We loved him. The first second we saw him he was a standout to us. Bred by Barbara (Banke) at Stonestreet, so you know they are going to breed a good horse. We are looking forward to racing him.”

The colt was consigned by Elm Tree Lane Farm, agent for
Stonestreet Bred & Raised. His dam is the unraced Bernardini mare Aspen Light,
who is a
half sister to Great Hunter.

“I thought he’d be about that (price) range,” Zayat added. “I knew he
was a nice horse, and it’s going to take a lot of money to buy a nice horse. The
good horses are bringing a lot of money so you’ve got to step up to the plate if
you believe they’re a good horse.”

Baffert also signed the ticket for Hip 1094, a Flatter colt purchased
for Three Amigos for $550,000. Consigned by Bluewater Sales, agent, the colt is
out of the winning Cherokee Run mare Stormy B. He is a half-brother to 2015
Fountain of Youth (G2) winner Itsaknockout (Lemon Drop Kid) and from the family of
Grade 3 winner Rush Bay (Cozzene).

Woodford Racing paid $500,000 for Hip 781, a Hard Spun colt
consigned by Gainesway, agent. He is the first foal out of the Empire Maker mare
Azorina, whose dam is Grade 1 winner Aldiza (Storm Cat).

“He’s a beautiful horse,” David Ingordo of Woodford Racing said. “He
looks like a dirt horse. He’s got all the right components. We’re trying to buy
some dirt, two-turn colts that can be stallions, and he looks the part. That’s
the kind of horse you’ve got to pay for.”

Ben Glass, agent, also spent $500,000 on Hip 932, a Tiznow colt out
of Grade 3 winner Island Bound (Speightstown). Nursery Place, agent, consigned
the colt, who is from the family of Grade 3 winners Savorthetime (Gilded Time) and Rogue
Romance (Smarty Jones). His fourth dam, the Manila mare Katie Love, is a half-sister to Grade 1
winner Ogygian (Gonfalon).

The session’s highest-priced fillies sold within minutes of the sale starting
on Friday.

Chadds Ford Stable paid $475,000 for Hip 759, a Tapit filly
consigned by Gainesway, agent. Braxton Lynch signed the ticket for the filly.

“We tried hard (to buy a horse) in Book 1 and were getting closer and closer
(to buying) and finally we landed one,” Lynch said. “It was our last one (on the
list). I think it’s a great price for a Tapit from that family. She’s a
beautiful filly and we’re thrilled. Very happy to have her.”

The filly is out of the Stormy Atlantic mare Aguadilla, a
full sister to Grade 3 winner Assateague and a half-sister to Grade 3 winners
Kindergarden Kid (Dynaformer) and Rainha Da Bateria (Broken Vow) and 2014 Breeders’ Cup
Juvenile (G1) runner-up He’s Had Enough (Tapit).

For Friday, 258 horses brought $38,462,000 with an average of $149,078 and a
median of $120,000. There was no Friday session last year, though the 2014
opening session of Book 2 attracted a gross $35,634,500 for 294 yearlings,
averaging $121,206 with a median of $100,000.

With four days now in the books, 701 yearlings have been purchased for a
gross $172,823,000. The average comes to $246,538 and the median is $200,000.
Friday saw the start of Book 2, whereas in 2014 Book 1 lasted the first four
days of the sale and brought in a total $142,153,000 for an average of $300,535
and a median of $240,000 for 473 yearlings sold.

Book 2 continues Saturday beginning at 10 a.m. (EDT) and the sale runs
through September 26. It is streamed live at keeneland.com.