Shortly after the Keeneland September Yearling Sale had the first $1 million horse of its fifth session with Hip 1250, a second colt, a son of Not This Time consigned by Gainesway as Hip 1275, surpassed that figure in selling for $1.5 million to RTM Racing.
Mahmud Mouni of RTM Racing, who has remained active during all five sessions of the sale as one of the leading buyers, said he had to go higher than he originally planned for the son of Not This Time. He noted that being nearly halfway through the sale, there will not be many more opportunities to find a horse of his caliber.
"He's gorgeous, nice pedigree," Mouni said. "He's been on our list from day one. This horse could be in Book 1 or Book 2."
Mouni said the immediate plans for the colt are to head to Randy Miles' farm near Ocala, Fla., where he will go through the early training stages. Mouni said a trainer will be determined down the road.
The colt was bred in Kentucky by Three Chimneys Farm, and is the first foal out of the Gun Runner mare Ana's Gun. Ana's Gun showed promise in limited racing action during her racing career, posting two seconds and then a victory in her third and final start for trainer Chad Brown and owner Three Chimneys Farm.
Ana's Gun is a half sister to Structor, a Brown-trained son of Palace Malice who won the 2019 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T) for owners Jeff Drown and Don Rachel. Another half sibling to the dam, Always Carina, was graded-placed for Brown and Three Chimneys and later produced Always a Runner, winner of this year's Kentucky Oaks (G1) for Brown and co-owners Doug Scharbauer and Three Chimneys.
Not This Time is the leading sire this year in North America. He stood this past breeding season for $250,000 at Taylor Made Stallions in Kentucky.
