Spirited Buying Kicks Off Keeneland's Book 5

Horse trading continued to be brisk Sept. 22 for the first day of Book 5 at the Keeneland September yearling sale.

As they have for the entire sale, the most valued horses attracted spirited bidding and premium prices. James J. Crupi's New Castle Farm, one of the sale's' leading buyers who has been active every day since the first session, was intent on taking home a son of Into Mischief  , going to $210,000 for the colt from the extended female family of grade II winners Nannerl, Magicalmysterycat, and Burmilla.

Consigned as Hip 3283 by Baccari Bloodstock, the colt represented a healthy return on the $20,000 paid for him as a weanling by Jumping Jack at last year's Keeneland November breeding stock sale. The colt, bred in Kentucky by Pegasus Stud, was sold in November out of Gainesway's consignment.

"I loved the horse," said Crupi, adding that the acquisition was purchased to race rather than to be added to his vast group of pinhook prospects. "I had to have him. He is going to be a racehorse."

Crupi described the Keeneland September sale as a "fair market," adding the "good horses sell good. The people here are smart; they know the good ones." 

Crupi's New Castle spent $724,000 for nine yearlings, among them four of the day's highest-priced horses, to be the session's leading buyer. Other prominent buyers to sign tickets for horses today include Ben Glass as agent for Gary and Mary West, Patrice Miller/EQB, PTK LLC, trainer Ken McPeek , Ken and Sarah Ramsey, and China Horse Club and Maverick Racing.  

Book 5 began with 299 yearlings selling for a total $6,772,700, up a hair short of 4% compared with the 10th session of the 2015 sale when 283 yearlings grossed $6,513,000. The average of $22,651 was less than 2% below last year's $23,014, and the median was down 23.53% from $17,000 to $13,000.

Cumulatively through 10 sessions of the 13-day sale, 2,215 yearlings have sold for $266,614,200, a dip of 3.74% from the corresponding period last year when 2,359 horses brought $276,960,300. The average of $120,368 is up 2.52% from $117,406, while the median of $65,000 has remained unchanged.

Other top purchases during the day included Hip 3412, a Maryland-bred colt by Quality Road   from the consignment of Upson Downs Farm, agent, that sold to W.D. North Thoroughbreds for $200,000. The colt is the first foal out of the Tiz Wonderful mare Polyester, whose dam No More Ironing produced stakes winners Sneaky Quiet and Ironman Dehere.

The day's top-priced filly was Hip 3221, a daughter of freshman sire Maclean's Music out of stakes winner Class Above (Quiet American), that sold to McPeek for $165,000. Consigned by Hill 'n' Dale Sales Agency, agent, she is from the family of grade III winner Promise Me Silver and grade I winner Try Something New. Hill 'n' Dale Sales Agency, agent, was the leading consignor, selling 12 yearlings for $535,000.

The September Sale continues through Sept. 25 with all sessions beginning at 10 a.m. ET. The entire sale is streamed live at Keeneland.com.