Into Mischief Dominates Day 1 at Keeneland September

Spendthrift Farm's marquee sire Into Mischief   was the runaway leading sire during opening day of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, which kicked off its two-week run Sept. 11.

Besides being represented by the day's $2.3 million top seller (Hip 92), the four-time-leading North American sire was flattered by four other seven-figure sales. Into Mischief is the first sire to be represented by five seven-figure yearlings in one session since Storm Cat achieved the feat during the second session of the 2007 September sale.

What would be a remarkably strong day for Gainesway started early and ended with its consignment selling three of the Into Mischief yearlings that brought $1 million or more, including the sale-topper.

The consignor's first horse in the ring was the session's first to break the million-dollar mark, selling for $1.1 million to Grandview Equine. The Into Mischief colt, sold as Hip 18, was bred by Mandy Pope's Whisper Hill Farm out of the multiple grade 1 winner American Gal , a daughter of Concord Point . Pope bought the mare for $3 million during the 2018 Fasig-Tipton November Sale out of the Hill 'n' Dale Sales Agency consignment.

Brian Graves, general manager of Gainesway, said such a strong early result was more than a pleasant surprise.

"You never know. That's your first horse in the ring bringing a million dollars," he said after Hip 18 sold. "I hope all the rest of them do as well."

The final price was a bit higher than Graves said was expected but he said there was a lot of interest in the colt leading up to the sale.

"As an individual the horse was drop-dead gorgeous and by the right sire and out of a grade 1 winner, a young mare who was precocious," he said. "There were a lot of top people on the horse, and we thought something like that might happen. It's good to see Mandy Pope selling million-dollar horses."

Deep into the session, Gainesway sold its third high-priced Into Mischief yearling, a $1.7 million colt (Hip 162) out of the winning Indian Charlie mare I'll Take Charge. The mare is out of 2013 Broodmare of the Year Take Charge Lady, who is the dam of grade 1 winners and sires Will Take Charge  and Take Charge Indy   and the granddam of multiple grade 1 winner and sire Omaha Beach   and champion Take Charge Brandi .

An entity called Jersey City Destroyers Stables bought Hip 162 via the internet.

"It takes a long time to get (a breeding program) off the ground and going," said Pope who also bred Hip 162. "Fingers crossed, we will continue with a lot of racing success in the future, and breeding and selling success. The homebred thing is so gratifying. We had high expectations coming in and you always panic at the last minute. Gainesway has done a wonderful job selling yearlings for me. We've been selling, and we have not been able to buy anything."

Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa sold Hip 145, a colt it co-bred with Matt Dorman, for $1.4 million to owner/breeder Ron Winchell. The colt is the first foal out of multiple grade 1 winner Guarana , a millionaire daughter of Ghostzapper   who won the 2019 Acorn Stakes (G1) and Coaching Club American Oaks (G1).

"Dr. Lambert, with Equine Analysis, loved him and that's all I needed to hear. Do I need to say anything about Into Mischief?" said Winchell. "We are the lucky ones to be the last, lucky or unlucky ones to be the last person with their hand up."

John Sikura, president of Hill 'n' Dale, said the sale was a great result for a great mare, which Hill 'n' Dale raced with Three Chimneys Farm.

"Into Mischiefs are obviously magical horses. No matter the sire, you have to meet the scrutiny of the buyers at the upper end," he said. "The horse moved very well. Has a lot of bone, looks sound. One of the astute guys in the business who has had great success bought him. I hope this is his next big horse. We're excited and happy."

Eaton Sales sold the fifth seven-figure Into Mischief yearling when new Central Kentucky farm owner John Stewart went to $1 million for a colt (Hip 147) out of stakes-placed winner Halo Humor (Distorted Humor), who is the dam multiple grade 1 winner Practical Joke  . Stewart bought his first horse at auction last year.

Stewart said if he decides to bid on a horse then he's determined to the eventual buyer.

"Once I decide I am going to buy, I buy. We are looking for a lot of reps if we want to have a horse in the (Kentucky) Derby," he said. "I was in Pebble Beach to buy a car and I bought 12. I don't do anything halfway."

Gavin O'Connor, a bloodstock adviser to Stewart, said having Practical Joke as a full sibling drove the deal.

"He has done massively this year (as a sire)," he said. "Into Mischief is a sire of sires. We looked at this horse physically (and liked him) and he passed the vet (examinations)."

Reiley McDonald with Eaton Sales said he was not surprised to see Hip 147 sell so well.

"You don't know when you put two people together how far they're going to go. I'm not surprised by my last two," he said also referring to Hip 148, an Uncle Mo   colt that sold for $900,000 to Kim Lloyd, agent for Talla Racing. "They sold well and they should have. The upper end, it's been really good; the upper stuff is very strong."