Nearly three-quarters of the way through the third day of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, SF Racing, Starlight Racing, and Madaket Stables went to $1.05 million for the Sept. 11 co-session topper, the Tapit colt consigned as Hip 674.
The price tag was matched shortly afterward by a Gun Runner filly (Hip 695).
The ticket for Hip 674 was signed by Donato Lanni, agent for the ubiquitous partnership.
"You know, it's a very deep family. ... It's a beautiful piece of paper, out of a very good fast dirt mare. By Tapit. What else can we say about him? He just keeps on proving how good he is and age hasn't slowed him down," said the partnership's Tom Ryan.
The colt will be heading to trainer Bob Baffert, who Ryan said doesn't have much experience with Tapit's offspring. Though he noted that one who is currently under Baffert's tutelage, Fort Bragg, last year won the Dwyer Stakes (G3) at Belmont Park.
"We haven't had a great deal of exposure to Tapit in the Baffert barn, but we've had a lot of exposure to Tapit through Constitution , and we've always been big fans of Flightline . Tapit is a mainstay American star," said Ryan.
Tapit stood this year at Gainesway near Lexington for $185,000.
Hip 674 is out of the Tale of Ekati mare Verve's Tale, winner of the 2016 Comely Stakes (G3). She has been bred five times, all to Tapit, most recently resulting in a live foal reported in May. Of Hip 674's three older full siblings, two have started but have yet to win.
The colt was consigned by Hunter Valley Farm, agent, for Charles Fipke, who bred the horse in Kentucky. The gray's mare is a full sibling to the Fipke-raced Tale of Verve, runner-up in the 2015 Preakness Stakes (G1).
"You never know if you're going to get to a million or not," said Hunter Valley managing partner Adrian Regan. "I think there were only 70 or so Tapits in this yearling crop, so there are not many of them anymore. He was a lovely horse who showed excellently the whole week and it's brilliant to do for Mr. Fipke. We have sold for him for years and he has been there for us."
Regan said he and fellow managing partner Fergus Galvin had thought the colt was not big enough for Book 1 of the sale, deciding instead to include him in Book 2. But the son of Tapit has since given them second thoughts.
"Since we saw him until he came to the sale grounds, the horse has thrived. He's just turned into a proper horse. Maybe he should have been in Book 1 but I think he would have sold in any book," Regan said.
SF Racing, Starlight Racing, and Madaket Stables bought eight hips Day 3 for a gross of $4,545,000. In addition to the Tapit colt, they went to $950,000 for a McKinzie colt and $775,000 for a son of Uncle Mo .
