Springhouse Farm Springs for Uncle Mo Colt

The adage that public auction buyers will find yearlings perceived to have the best chance at future success regardless of catalog placement played to perfection during the Jan. 15 third session of the Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale when an Uncle Mo  colt sold for $400,000.

Consigned as Hip 830 by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent, the colt was bred in Kentucky by Mike Abraham and is out of the stakes-winning Big Brown  mare Red Sashay, who is a half sister to Jebel Ali Mile Sponsored by Shadwell Farm (G3) winner Shamaal Nibras and grade 2-placed stakes winner New Edition.

The price paid by Gabriel Duignan's Springhouse Farm for the dark bay or brown colt is the highest in January sale history for a yearling sold during the third session, according to BloodHorse MarketWatch data. Wednesday was the first day of the three-day Book 2 of the sale that runs through Friday

"To me, he was the nicest foal on the grounds," said Duignan, who bought the colt to sell at a future auction. "Uncle Mo couldn't be any hotter—great sire. That's a lot of money, but he's a real horse. You're always going to have to pay a lot for a horse like him."

"I thought he would bring maybe $250,000, so I'm very happy," Abraham said. "He stood out in the book, but he would have stood out anywhere. We thought he was a really, really nice colt. He was considered for the Keeneland November sale, but we took him out because he was a big, awkward sort. He has really turned flips the last couple of months."

It was most fortuitous circumstances that resulted in the colt being placed in Book 2, according to Taylor Made's Mark Taylor. The decision to place the colt in the year's first major auction was made late, and Taylor Made's spots in the sale's first two sessions that comprise Book 1 were full.

"Our history has shown that if you have a really nice yearling, (buyers) will find it," he said. "It wasn't a real complicated decision. He's a nice horse, and it all worked out."

Later in the session, Taylor Made sold a colt (Hip 908) by 2019 second-leading first-crop sire Constitution  to Solis/Litt for $210,000.

The colt, bred in New York by Fred Hertrich III, is out of the Tiznow  mare Tiz Willy, a half sister to multiple stakes-winning millionaire Win Willy and multiple graded-placed My Arch Enemy.

"Constitution is a hot horse, and he's a lovely-bodied colt," said Jason Litt, adding the colt would either be resold or will be raced. "We weren't surprised to have to go that high. The Uncle Mo brought $400,000, so this one is basically half price. Nice horses bring a lot of money. It's been competitive; it's good."