Offspring from the final crop of Scat Daddy continued to command attention at Wednesday’s third session of the 2017 Keeneland September Sale. Topping the day’s trading, at $1.1 million, was an Ontario-bred son of that late stallion.
Consigned by Anderson Farms, agent, and sporting Hip No. 578, the February 5 colt was gaveled down to Coolmore’s M.V. Magnier. The session topper is out of Orchard Beach, a Tapit half-sister to Grade 3 winner Necessary Evil and from the family of multiple Grade 1 winner Over All.
“He’s very lovely, looks like he’s going to be a fast horse, very good mover, he’s all quality,” Magnier said. “Mr. (David) Anderson said he was the best horse he ever had on the farm, so let’s hope he’s right. I would say most likely (the colt will go to Europe). It’s a lot of money for a horse. But he’s by the right sire that everybody wants, so I suppose he was he was entitled to it.”
Magnier, in partnership with White Birch Farm, also secured a full brother to multiple Grade 2 winner Blofeld for $1 million. By Quality Road and out of stakes winner Storm Minstrel, by Storm Cat, Hip 804 was consigned by Indian Creek, agent.
The March 1 Kentucky-bred counts as his second dam Grade 2 winner Colonial Minstrel.
Also bringing $1 million was a son of Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Orb, gaveled down to Kerri Radcliffe Bloodstock and Eric Fein. Consigned by Dromoland Farm (Gerry Dilger), agent, the February 14 Kentucky-bred toured the ring as Hip 844 and had previously sold for $175,000 at Keeneland November.
Out of the stakes-placed Tally Ho Dixie, by Dixieland Band, the colt is a half-brother to Grade 3-placed stakes winner Kyriaki. This is the family of multiple Grade 1 winners Stellar Jayne and Starrer.
Willis Horton, who campaigned 2013 champion three-year-old colt Will Take Charge, went to $925,000 to obtain a colt from the first crop of that stallion. Hip 564 was consigned by Elm Tree Farm (Mr. and Mrs. Jody Huckabay), agent.
Out of the Bernardini mare Oblige, the March 24 Kentucky-bred is a half-brother to recent Bowling Green (G2) winner Hunter O’Riley.
“We were absolutely not expecting that much,” Jody Huckabay said. “We don’t even wish that high. We knew we had a lot of people interested. He has always been a good one.
“The (catalog) update was huge. We were screaming at the TV when (Hunter O’Riley) was coming down the stretch (to win the Bowling Green at Saratoga on July 29).”
Hailing from the extended family of Grade 1 winner Diplomat Lady, the yearling will go into training with Steve Asmussen.
Ruis Racing obtained the highest-priced filly of the session, by Pioneerof the Nile, for $825,000. Hip 672, consigned by Four Star Sales, agent, is out of Grade 1-placed multiple stakes winner R Gypsy Gold, a Bernardini half-sister to Grade 2 winner Broadway’s Alibi and Grade 3 victor Golden Lad.
The filly’s fourth dam was 1992 champion juvenile filly Eliza, and this is also the family of Grade 1 winners Dinard and Dialed In.
On Wednesday, 194 horses sold for $47,018,000, a dip of 1.5 percent from last year’s third session, still in Book 1, which saw 119 yearlings sell for $47,735,000. The session average was down 39.6 percent, from $401,134 to $242,361, while the median dropped 40 percent, from $300,000 to $180,000.
The auction average and median are both in negative territory after three sessions compared to last year. The average is down 11 percent, from $347,471 to $309,346, while the median is off 26.7 percent, from $300,000 to $220,000. Gross receipts after three days total $149,414,000 from the sale of 483 head, up 24.3 percent from this point in 2016 when 346 yearlings had sold for $120,225,000.
Book 2 concludes Thursday beginning at 11 a.m. (EDT). After a dark day Friday, the sale continues Saturday daily through September 23 with sessions beginning at 10 a.m.
Full results can be found at keeneland.com.
