Spendthrift Farm's first-crop weanling sire and grade 1 winner Yaupon exits the first two books of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale with the highest ratio of average price to stud fee among the sires of his class with six-figure averages so far.
The strong returns are expected to continue with 10 weanlings being offered Nov. 11, which is the first session of Book 3, based on the earlier results.
The 6-year-old son of Uncle Mo has been represented by 11 weanlings averaging $205,455, which makes him the third-leading first-crop weanling sire by average behind Darley Stallions' Essential Quality ($382,500 average from two sold) and Hill 'n' Dale Farm's Charlatan ($206,154, 13 sold).
Yaupon entered stud at $30,000, which means his weanling average is nearly seven times his stud fee. By comparison, both Essential Quality and Charlatan's averages are around four times their initial stud fees of $75,000 and $50,000, respectively. The other weanling sires with six-figure averages include Darley's Maxfield at $176,667 (more than four times his stud fee).
Vinery Sales is anticipating good results with the three Yaupon colts it will offer during Keeneland's Saturday session.
"We have been really pushing it with him," said Derek MacKenzie, co-owner of Vinery Sales. "We had a really good one sell in New York in October and that was our first one and then we had a good one yesterday and now we have three more good ones here. I may be his biggest fan right now."
Vinery sold its first Yaupon weanling during the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Fall Mixed Sale, which was one of two offered. Vinery sold a colt out of Frostie Anne for $120,000. At the Keeneland November sale, the consignment offered Hip 551 during the first session of Book 2 and sold him for $450,000 to AAA Thoroughbreds, a pinhooking venture owned by Randy Hartley and Dean DeRenzo.
MacKenzie said he is not surprised at the strong reception the stallion's first crop is receiving because the progeny simply look fast.
"They look precocious, have a lot of power, and great balance. The athleticism is off the charts," he said. "Also, it seems like everybody likes them. The one we had yesterday (Hip 551), I have not had a horse vetted that many times in November in awhile. It was fun to have him because we didn't know where he was going to go, but we knew it would be someplace strong."
The first Vinery weanling to go through the ring Nov. 11 will be Hip 1078, a New York-bred colt out of The Factor mare Fiftyplustip. The mare is out of the Gold Token stakes winner Big Tease, making her a half sister to King's Bishop Stakes (G1) winner Willy Beamin.
Also being offered is Hip 1253, a colt out of the Bernardini winner Quirky, who is a half sister to stakes winners and multiple stakes producers Walkwithapurpose (Candy Ride ) and Charged Cotton (Dehere).
The third Vinery Yaupon weanling is Hip 1342, a colt out of the City Zip mare Top Performance, who is the dam of grade 3-placed winner Violent Runner (Violence ). The mare also is a half sister to Arlington-Washington Lassie Stakes winner Into Trouble (Into Mischief ).
James Keogh's Grovendale Sales is offering a Yaupon colt out of an active family as well. St. Simon Place bred Hip 1319 out of the Quality Road mare Sunday Driver, a half sister to Twinkling (War Chant), who is the dam of multiple grade 1-placed, multiple graded stakes winner Skippylongstocking (Exaggerator). During the Breeders' Cup World Championships, Skippylongstocking finished third in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1). Twinkling also is the dam of stakes winner Olivia Twist (Mshawish), who was third in this year's Fantasy Stakes (G3).
"A lot of good horses have come off that farm in the last two or three years, like grade 1 winner Rattle N Roll and graded winner Hidden Connection. It doesn't hurt when you're raising that kind of stock," said Keogh, who also is a fan of Yaupon's first crop.
"I love them. They have so much of their dad in them, and he was a fast horse. I love speed horses," he said. "(Yaupon) is pretty much a no-brainer. He is a fabulous horse, and he is throwing fabulous stock."
Bill and Corinne Heiligbrodt campaigned Yaupon with trainer Steve Asmussen. Raced at 3 and 4, Yaupon won six of eight career starts including victories in the Forego Stakes (G1), Amsterdam Stakes (G2), and Chick Lang Stakes (G3). He won all three graded stakes in front-running fashion by more than six lengths combined.
Yaupon weanlings being offered Nov. 11 at the Keeneland November Sale
- Hip 1078, colt out of The Factor mare Fiftyplustip. Consigned by Vinery Sales
- Hip 1190, filly o/o Mineshaft winner Mine as Well. C: Turning Point Bloodstock
- Hip 1191, colt o/o Into Mischief winner Mischief Galore. C: Taylor Made Sales Agency
- Hip 1246, colt o/o Pulpit winner and stakes producer Pulpit Angel. C: Highgate Sales
- Hip 1253, colt o/o Bernardini winner Quirky. C: Vinery Sales
- Hip 1319, colt o/o Quality Road mare Sunday Driver. C: Grovendale Sales
- Hip 1342, colt, o/o City Zip mare Top Performance. C: Vinery Sales
- Hip 1361, colt o/o Animal Kingdom winner Whatdoesasharksay. C: Valkyre Stud
- Hip 1430, colt o/o Bustin Stones stakes winner Cartwheelin Lulu. C: Legacy Bloodstock
- Hip 1450, filly o/o Danza stakes winner Cruise and Danze. C: Highgate Sales
