Tapit colt sells for $2.1 million during third Keeneland September session

Tapit colt sells for $2.1 million during third Keeneland
September session

Hip 614 became the current Keeneland September sale topper early Wednesday (Keeneland Photo) Hip No. 614, a colt by Tapit, became the highest-priced purchase of Keeneland’s 2015 September Sale when he sold for $2.1 million to Mandy Pope’s Whisper Hill Farm. Gainesway, agent, consigned the colt, whose second dam is champion and Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Winning Colors. Five yearlings have sold for seven figures or more during the session. The sale-topper is out of Winning Colors’ daughter Silver Colors (Mr. Greeley). “I thought he was one of the nicest colts in the sale,” Pope said. “He has such a gorgeous, gorgeous long stride, lovely hip and shoulder, great attitude. I just love the way this horse moved. I bought his full sister (Tapping Colors) last year for $700,000. She hasn’t made it to the races yet, but she’s going to. It’s a great family.”  Gainesway also consigned the second high-seller, Hip 530, another son of Tapit who sold for $1.65 million to Roy and Gretchen Jackson’s Lael Stable. He is out of multiple Grade 1 winner Pure Clan (Pure Prize). “We just thought he was the nicest colt in the sale, and we’re just glad we were able to buy him,” said Roy Jackson, who said the colt will be owned in partnership with Three Chimneys Farm.  “I just told Roy Jackson when he’s done with him I have a stall ready for him at Gainesway,” said Michael Hernon of Gainesway. “We knew he was a colt who could bring this kind of money. He sold well past the reserve. We had a lot of major people on this horse; we were optimistic and hopeful (about the price the colt would command).” Gainesway, agent, also consigned Hip 511, a Bernardini filly who is a full sister to multiple Grade 1 winner and sire To Honor and Serve and Grade 1 winner Angela Renee as well as a half-sister to Grade 1-placed stakes winner Elnaawi (Street Sense). She sold to Justin Zayat for $1.5 million and is out of the stakes-winning Deputy Minister mare Pilfer.

“She’s beautiful,” said Zayat, whose family races 2015
Triple Crown winner American Pharoah. “Her pedigree spoke and she had all the
parts. She passed the vetting and we loved her. She’s a beautiful filly and
we’re excited to add her to the family.”

Zayat said the filly will be owned in partnership with
Coolmore.

Thirty minutes after the session started, Coolmore’s M.V.
Magnier paid $1.15 million for a War Front colt from the family of deceased
leading sire Pulpit (A.P. Indy).

Claiborne Farm, agent, consigned the colt, whose dam, the
A.P. Indy mare Orate, is a full sister to Pulpit. The colt, Hip 495, is a half-brother to
stakes winner Endless Chatter (First Samurai).

“He’s a War Front and comes from a great family,” said Magnier, who has
purchased three colts by War Front for a total of $2.55 million at the sale.
“Just a very nice horse. He’s a great mover. He’s just a quality horse.”

Pope paid $1.05 million for Hip 718, a Street Cry filly who is a half-sister to
Grade 1 winner and sire Paynter. Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent, consigned the
filly out of the Cee’s Tizzy mare Tizso. Tizso is a full sister to Horse of the
Year Tiznow.

Mayberry Farm signed the ticket for Hip 618, the $1 million War
Front filly consigned by Hill ‘n’ Dale Sales Agency. She is out of the Unbridled’s Song mare Siren Sereade,
who is a half-sister to Breeders’ Cup Juvenile
Turf (G1) winner George Vancouver (Henrythenavigator) and Grade 2 winner Saarland
(Unbridled). The filly’s
second dam is multiple Grade 1 winner Versailles Treaty (Danzig).

Numbers were up across-the-board for the day. A total of 151 yearlings were
sold on Wednesday, bringing a gross $46,754,000, a $309,629 average and a
$250,000 median. Those numbers represent increases of 57.9 percent, 8.7 percent
and 25 percent, respectively, over the $29,615,000 total, $284,760 average and
$200,000 median that was realized for 104 yearlings on the third day in 2014.

For the first three days of the sale, 443 horses have been purchased for
$134,361,000, a jump of 33.6 percent over the 345 sold for $100,568,000 for the
initial three days last year. The $303,298 average shows a rise of 4 percent
over the 2014 average of $291,501 by this point, while the $250,000 median
remains the same.

Eleven yearlings have sold for $1 million or more compared with 13 from Book
1 last year, which lasted four days. Thursday is a dark day in the sale, which
will resume on Friday with Book 2 at 10 a.m. (EDT). The September Sale continues
through September 26 and is streamed live at keeneland.com.