A bright, Berning light at Keeneland’s September Sale

Top price for all sires on day one of the 2014 Keeneland September Yearling Sale went to Bernardini in the shape of lot 105, a filly out of G1 winner and millionaire Mushka. Purchased by John Ferguson for $1.2 million, she was consigned by Eaton Sales. Bernardini was also represented by three other six-figure yearlings that brought $600,000 or higher. Lot 149, a full brother to multiple G1 winner To Honor And Serve, sold to Northwest Stud for $750,000, hailing from the consignment of Lane’s End Farm. Earlier in the sale, a colt from the same family also sold very well.  Lot 87, a half-brother to the dam of To Honor And Serve, the multiple Graded winner India and to Listed winner/G3-placed Sing Softly, brought a final bid of $650,000. Lane’s End was again the consignor with Black Rock Thoroughbreds signing the ticket. Taylor Made Sales Agency sold lot number 133, a bay filly out of the talented, multiple G2 winner Oonagh Maccool for $600,000. Chiefswood Stable was the purchaser. Bernardini’s average for his five yearlings sold was $694,000, highest among all sires at the sale’s first session.

Medaglia d'Oro continued on with his popularity among buyers at the major sales exemplified by lot 72, a half-brother to G1 winner Dixie Chatter, who was knocked down at a final bid of $400,000. Consigned by the Royal Oak Farm of Damian and Braxton Lynch, the beautiful colt was purchased by Mark Casse. Another of his yearlings to reach six figures, a yearling filly out of G2 winner One Caroline, brought a final bid of $390,000. Sold by Lane’s End Farm as lot number 129, she was purchased by Cheyenne Stables, LLC.

Street Cry, yet again, was a popular “destination” for buyers at the sale. The leading sire by yearling average since 2011, his yearling colt out of the Sunday Silence mare, Million Gift, brought $300,000 from the consignment of Taylor Made Sales Agency. Million Gift is the dam of Stakes winner Million Seller and is a half-sister to champion Sky Beauty.

The first Lonhro yearling to be sold at the Keeneland September Sale was well received bringing $170,000. Lot number 46, produced from a daughter of the well-bred G3-winner Flagbird (by Nureyev), she was purchased by John Ferguson and was consigned by Brookdale Farm.

The sale continues on September 9th.