Flurry of seven-figure hips get third session off to a flying start

With a record heatwave blanketing Lexington, action at Keeneland fired up immediately on Wednesday as an American Pharoah colt, only the second horse in the ring for the third and final session of Book 1 of the September Yearling Sale, brought $1.3 million from a partnership of Coolmore and Sarah Kelly.

Not long afterwards, a pair of colts by sizzling sire Curlin cruised to the seven-figure mark as the most electric energy of the week pushed up the figurative temperature in the sale pavilion the day after the outside gauges had reached an all-time high of 100 degrees for the day.

Throughout the first two hours of trade on Wednesday, four yearlings had gone under the hammer for at least $1m and five others had brought at least $900,000. Godolphin remained active near the top, buying a colt and a filly for $800,000 each.

The striking bay American Pharoah colt, offered as hip 382 by Hunter Valley Farm, is from the deep family founded by Broodmare of the Year Courtly Dee and encompassing the likes of champion Althea and Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Bayern.

The colt is due to be trained by Bob Baffert, said MV Magnier.

“We’re absolutely delighted to get that horse,” he reported, adding that Baffert was “very high” on the colt, who is the third foal produced by breeder Dixiana Farms’ Smart Strike mare Escampette.

The colt had been a $340,000 purchase by Hunter Valley as a weanling at the Keeneland November sale.

“American Pharoah is going so well,” Magnier added, noting that Coolmore’s Monarch Of Egypt, who was the sire’s first winner and runner-up in the Phoenix Stakes, is getting ready to run in the Middle Park Stakes this month and has trainer Aidan O’Brien feeling confident.

British-based agent Jamie McCalmont, representing Kelly, signed the ticket and said Kelly has horses in training with Baffert.

“We loved the horse,” McCalmont said. “We just knew he would be very expensive so we thought it would be better to team up. Jon and Sarah have owned horses with Coolmore in Australia so it’s not a new thing. We’re very excited to have a horse like that.”

McCalmont also bought two yearlings for Jon Kelly during Tuesday’s session, topped by an $875,000 American Pharoah filly.

“It must be American Pharoah fever,” McCalmont said with a laugh.

The earlier filly is out of Grade 1-placed Connie And Michael, by Roman Ruler.

Meanwhile, the Curlin colts turned up the heat in the Keeneland ring when they elicited volleys of bids when selling just two hips apart early on Wednesday.

Hip 431, a chestnut who is a half-brother to Grade 1 winner Mo Town, was purchased by agent Jacob West on behalf of owners Robert and Lawana Low, who have campaigned high-profile horses including Grade 1 winner Magnum Moon. The colt was offered by Eclipse Award winner John Gunther’s Glennwood Farm.

“We did our inspections early, saw him and fell in love with him," said West. "We passed on some others, which I don’t think we would have had the money for anyway with the way the sale is going. We waited around on this one - he was one of our favourites."

West added that his clients are hoping the colt will be a Classic type, particularly since he is by Curlin.

“He’s an incredible stallion," he said. "He does things that not a lot of horses can do. He was an incredible racehorse and he’s passing that on to his offspring. It seems like they are dirt, turf, short, long, and it’s showing up in the sales ring and on the racetrack.".

Just prior to West’s purchase, trainer Todd Pletcher signed the $1 million ticket on hip 428, a Curlin colt out of Grade 1 winner Got Lucky, a daughter of AP Indy, consigned by Hill ‘n’ Dale Sales Agency.

Pletcher not only trained the dam, but he also trained another more famous member of the family, Kentucky Derby winner and sire Super Saver.

The colt was acquired for the partnership of Magnier, Mike Repole and Vinnie Viola’s St Elias Stable, with the principals intent on buying top quality colts, Pletcher said.

“A world-class family; he’s an athletic colt, a good mover, Classic prospect - and he’s a stallion prospect, all the things we’re looking for,” he added.

“I had [Curlin’s Belmont Stakes-winning son] Palace Malice early on, so I’ve been a Curlin fan from the beginning. And we’ve had a good year with [Curlin’s son] Vino Rosso winning the Grade 1 Gold Cup at Santa Anita for Mr. Viola and Mr Repole, so they’re fans of Curlin as well.

"To get into a family like this, by a top-class stallion, that’s what we’re trying to do.”

View Keeneland sale results

Read our Keeneland September Yearling Sale supplement