A bright, Berning light at Keeneland’s September Sale

Top price for all sires on day one of the 2014 Keeneland September Yearling Sale went to Bernardini in the shape of hip 105, a filly out of G1 winner and millionaire Mushka. Purchased by John Ferguson for $1.2 million, she was consigned by Eaton Sales, agent. Bernardini was also represented by three other six-figure yearlings that brought $600,000 or higher. Hip 149, a full brother to multiple G1 winner To Honor And Serve, sold to Northwest Stud for $750,000, hailing from the consignment of Lane’s End Farm, agent. Earlier in the sale, a colt from the same family also sold very well.  Hip 87, a half-brother to the dam of multiple G1 winner To Honor And Serve (by Bernardini), to the multiple Graded winner India and to Listed winner/G3-placed Sing Softly, brought a final bid of $650,000. Lane’s End, agent, was again the consignor with Black Rock Thoroughbreds signing the ticket. Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent, sold hip number 133, a bay filly out of the talented, multiple G2 winner Oonagh Maccool for $600,000. Chiefswood Stable was the purchaser. Bernardini’s average for his five yearlings sold was $694,000, highest among all sires at the sale’s first session.

Medaglia d'Oro continued on with his popularity among buyers at the major sales exemplified by hip 72, a half-brother to G1W Dixie Chatter, who was knocked down at a final bid of $400,000. Consigned by the Royal Oak Farm of Damian and Braxton Lynch, the beautiful colt was purchased by Mark Casse. Another of his yearlings to reach six figures, a yearling filly out of G2 winner One Caroline, brought a final bid of $390,000. Sold by Lane’s End Farm, hip number 129 was purchased by Cheyenne Stables, LLC.

With Hip 19 - a Hard Spun filly out of the mare Layreebelle - it was a bit of a family affair for Darley sires as the yearling is a half-sister to Bernardini’s 2014 G2-winning daughter Spellbound. Consigned by Select Sales, agent, she’s also a half-sister to 2014 G3 winner Kid Cruz. Allan Lavin, through his Lavin Bloodstock, purchased the filly for $370,000 for new owner James Karp. Hard Spun was also represented by a $280,000-priced yearling later in the sale as hip number 151, a full brother to his son Sweet Seventeen, was purchased by Centennial Farms. Denali Stud (Craig & Holly Bandoroff) was the selling agent.

Street Cry, yet again, was a popular “destination” for buyers at the sale. The leading sire by yearling average since 2011, his yearling colt out of the Sunday Silence mare, Million Gift, brought $300,000 from the consignment of Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent. Million Gift is the dam of Stakes winner Million Seller and is a half-sister to champion Sky Beauty.

The first Lonhro yearling to be sold at the Keeneland September Sale was well received bringing $170,000. Hip number 46, produced from a daughter of the well-bred G3-winner Flagbird (by Nureyev), was purchased by John Ferguson and was consigned by Brookdale Farm.

The sale continues on September 9th.