Dams of Seven-Figure Yearlings in Keeneland Books 1, 2

Fourteen dams represented by seven-figure yearlings during the 2023 Keeneland September Yearling Sale are back with foals in Book 1 and 2 of this sale's catalog.

Of the 14, two are represented by full siblings to the homerun sellers of last year and three have produced half siblings that are by first-crop yearling sires. 

Gainesway consigns the two full siblings: Hip 123 is a full sister to Cornucopian, a colt by Into Mischief   out of the winning Distorted Humor mare Magical World, who is the dam of multiple grade 1 winner Guarana , grade 3 winner Beatbox , and graded-placed stakes winner Magic Dance ; and, Hip 225, is a full sister to a yet unnamed son of Curlin   out of the multiple champion and nine-time grade 1 winner Songbird . Cornucopian sold for $1.1 million to agent Donato Lanni on behalf of SF Bloodstock, Starlight Racing, and Madaket Stables. The Curlin colt sold for $1 million to Grandview Equine.

The three Keeneland September yearlings that are by first-crop yearling sires include two by Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa's Charlatan  , a multiple grade 1 winner who sired a $1.5 million colt and half brother to top freshman sire Complexity   who was sold during The Saratoga Sale, Fasig-Tipton's select yearling sale. Hill 'n' Dale consigns one of the Charlatan September yearlings, a colt (Hip 70) out of grade 1 winner Guarana. Last year a colt by Into Mischief out of Guarana, now named Mischievous Intent, sold for $1.4 million to Winchell Thoroughbreds. Airdrie Stud bred and consigns the other Charlatan yearling, a colt (Hip 994) cataloged in Book 2 that is out of the Street Cry winner Street Mate, the dam of grade 1 winner Bell's the One  and grade 3 winner King Cause . Street Mate was represented in 2023 by a Not This Time   colt named Highlands Way who West Bloodstock bought for $1.35 million on behalf of Robert and Lawana Low.

Runnymede Farm consigns the third September yearling in this group by a first-crop yearling sire, a Book 2 filly (Hip 498) by Spendthrift Farm's Yaupon   out of the Speightstown daughter Margate Gardens. Last year, Repole Stable and Spendthrift Farm bought a colt by Gun Runner   out of Margate Gardens for $1.15 million.

Chart: Dams of '24 Keeneland September Yearlings With Seven-Figure Offspring in 2023

Though a mare has already proven she can produce a foal of the quality capable of attracting a million dollars or more at a sale, savvy breeders know such success has no bearing on the future value of her offspring. Essentially, the slate is wiped clean.

"This year is independent from last year, as the market judges the individual and the pedigree," said John Sikura, with Hill 'n' Dale about the Charlatan—Guarana colt. "With regards to this colt, we rate him very highly. The mare was a multiple grade 1 winner and the Into Mischief colt is training forwardly with Steve Asmussen. As an individual, he has supreme quality and has tremendous power, balance, and movement. We are excited to offer him."

Romain Malhouitre, president of Runnymede, and Brutus Clay, chairman and CEO of Runnymede, both echoed Sikura's comment that sales history has no bearing on the valuation of a horse.

"We are just looking at the horse as an individual," Malhouitre said. "We don't take sale history into consideration at all. You are looking at the value of the stallion fee, the pedigree, and the conformation of the horse itself."

When setting a reserve, another important intangible is the amount of interest shown by prospective buyers in the days leading up to a horse's turn through the sales ring.

"Generally, we let the market value the horses," said Clay. "Certainly having some good runners puts air in your sails, but it comes down to the individual and who is on it. The morning the horse is going into the ring, Romain will gauge the level of interest and propose a reserve, and we're pretty conservative with our reserves." 

While not every seven-figure horse will fulfill the highest expectations, these yearlings are still collectively outperforming their peers by a wide margin. According to statistics from The Jockey Club, the foals of 2012-21 by sires among the top 1% by progeny earnings collectively include 5.1% stakes winners, 2.4% graded stakes winners, and 0.67% grade 1 winners. Among the seven-figure yearlings sold during the 2000-22 editions of the September sale, they so far include 15% stakes winners, 10% graded stakes winners, and 2.5% grade 1 winners. The stars of the 2000-22 September yearlings are led by six-time grade 1 winner and dual champion Malathaat , champion and prominent sire Good Magic  , 2007 Belmont Stakes (G1) winner and champion Rags to Riches , and grade 1 winner and prominent sire Mendelssohn  , who are among the group's 43 graded stakes winners.