The excitement and momentum seen on Day 1 of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale spilled into the second session Sept. 12, seeing a new high price of $3 million for an Into Mischief colt purchased by L.E.B., agent for Chuck Sonson, Woodford Racing, and West Point Thoroughbreds. Lane's End consigned the colt for breeder Repole Stable as Hip 261, who achieved the highest price at the sale since 2019.
"I see so many Uncle Mo fillies and mares," Mike Repole said at Tuesday's conclusion. "If he's having the best sale (Into Mischief), Uncle Mo is having the second-best sale. Just seeing them, whether I bid on them or not or sell them. I was a 13-year-old kid going to Aqueduct, betting two dollars on those horses. Now I'm selling them for $3 million or buying them for a million. It's surreal."
The colt is a half sibling to grade 1 winner Outwork , a son of Uncle Mo whom Repole Stable bred and campaigned; he now stands at WinStar Farm. Further down the page is the grade 2-winning son of Pioneerof the Nile, Cairo Prince , who stands at Airdrie Stud.
Repole Stable has seen much success and will continue to do so this year with 2022 champion juvenile colt Forte , but the New York native is quick to give credit to his team working behind the scenes.
"These horses don't know how much they cost," said Repole. "Two years ago, I bought two Violence colts, one for $110,000 and one for $950,000. The $950,000 one is now at New Vocations, and the $110,000 one will be in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). So, you don't know. I do think it's a numbers game."
Repole continued: "Many people in my position look to buy sports teams, and Repole Stable is my team, from Jim Martin and Ed Rosen, who have been with us for 15 years, and Jacob West, Danielle Bricker, Madison Scott, and Alex Solis. It's a good roster. Jacob is my offensive lineman, and Ed is my running back."
Day 2 concluded with 112 horses traded of the 154 on offer for a gross of $61,695,000, up 5% over the previous year. The average price was up 8% to $550,848, while the median dropped 8.3% to $412,500 from 2022. An RNA rate of 27.3% is representative of the 42 yearlings who failed to sell.
"It was a great day!" Keeneland president and CEO Shannon Arvin said. "There were lots and lots of buyers. The partnerships were active. It was active from the domestic side and the international side. The 15 top prices were bought by 13 different buyers, a real diversity among the consignors, which was really nice to see. There were a lot of consignors that had success today."
Last year, during Day 2, Keeneland reported 115 of the 138 horses through the ring were sold for a gross of $58,680,000, an average price of $510,261 and a median of $450,000. There were 23 horses who failed to meet their reserve to represent an RNA rate of 16.7%.
There were 15 horses that sold for $1 million or more, by Into Mischief, Uncle Mo , Not This Time , Tapit , Gun Runner , Volatile , Medaglia d'Oro , and Curlin .
Over the past two days, 229 yearlings have been traded of 298 to go under the hammer, for gross receipts of $118,465,000. An average price of $517,314 and a median of $400,000 was made. The 69 horses who failed to attain their reserve represent an RNA rate of 23.2%.
At this point last year, 235 yearlings had sold of the 282 on offer for gross receipts of $117,295,000, at an average price of $499,127 and a median of $450,000. An RNA rate of 16.7% is representative of the 47 yearlings who failed to sell.
"When you look at everybody from Elm Tree Farm having their first (seven-figure sale), seeing Brian Graves (Gainesway) having a banner Book 1, and for Mandy Pope (breeder, Whisper Hill Farm), it was a testament to her breeding program that she was able to gain such amazing results," Tony Lacy, vice president of sales, said. "It was incredible to see."
West Bloodstock, agent for Repole Stable, made 11 purchases Tuesday for gross receipts of $4,790,000, at an average price of $435,455, to be the session's leading buyer. Gainesway sold 17 yearlings for a gross of $11,310,000, at an average of $665,294 per head, to be the leading consignor for Day 2.
"I don't believe we've had this many $1 million horses in one location before," Gainesway's Graves said. "It's been a fantastic market, and we've been very fortunate buyers have landed on our horses. We've worked hard for 20 years to do the best job we can for our clients. Presentation is essential to us, and we try to present their product in the best possible way we can as if we owned them. We try to place them in the best possible location to maximize their results. We've worked hard and had success for our clients over the years; that's why they continue to support us."
"The depth and diversity of the market was encouraging," Lacy said. "It was great to see new money still here. The Japanese were very active today. People say they are enjoying themselves again, and seeing people happy is good. It's not an easy process. There are good sales and some slightly disappointing sales, but people are encouraged by the fact that so many people here are very active. The repository was getting a lot of hits from the vetting side."
Selling from Book 2 begins tomorrow at 11 a.m. ET, with Hips 401-761 to head through the ring. As of Tuesday evening, 38 horses had been withdrawn from the third session.
