The marketplace does not learn much more about the progeny of first-crop yearling sires at the winter mixed sales, with the "short yearlings" only a few months older than they were during their sales debut in the fall. But we can get an idea of their relative value looking at the fall results.
A majority of the sires who entered stud in 2023 and were represented in the fall sales by three or more sold and an average of $20,000 or more will be represented at the upcoming Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale being held Jan. 13-15.
Of the sires with short yearlings in the January sale, Spendthrift Farm's 2021 champion sprinter Jackie's Warrior comes in with the highest weanling average, at $174,762 from 21 sold. The top seller by the son of Maclean's Music brought $385,000 during the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale from Bolter Bloodstock. Lane's End consigned the colt out of the Trappe Shot mare Taking Aim. He was represented by 10 weanlings that sold for $200,000 or more that helped deliver an 81% profitability rate among the weanlings sold. Jackie's Warrior's first crop was bred on a $50,000 stud fee. The stallion stands for $35,000 this year.
Five other stallions are bringing six-figure weanling averages into the January sale. They include Ashford Stud's Epicenter ($122,619), Golden Pal ($107,582), Corniche ($105,235), and Jack Christopher ($104,727) along with Gainesway's Olympiad ($108,981).
Among these five, Epicenter is the only one also with a six-figure median of $120,000. The son of rising sire Not This Time was named champion 3-year-old sire of 2022 following victories in the Travers Stakes (G1), Jim Dandy Stakes (G2), Louisiana Derby (G2), and Risen Star Stakes (G2) plus runner-up efforts in the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness Stakes (G1). Epicenter's top weanling brought $300,000 at the Keeneland November sale from Brady Bloodstock, which bought the colt out of Majestic Jewel from Warrendale Sales. Four of Epicenter's weanlings sold for $200,000 or more.
By profitability, Gainesway's grade 1-winning sprinter Drain the Clock stands out. Another son of Maclean's Music, his weanlings generated the second-highest profitability rate among the first-crop yearling sires represented in the January sale and with a weanling average above $20,000. He was represented last year by 39 weanlings (91% sold from those offered) that averaged just over $55,000. Of the ones sold, 74% were profitable, meaning they sold for more than two times his 2023 stud fee of $10,000 plus another $10,000 to account for the upkeep costs of the foal. The profitability rate also takes into consideration the commissions going to the sales company and consignor.
Drain the Clock's top seller, a colt out of the Freud mare Making a Point, brought $120,000 from the buyer You Hit It You Make It during Fasig-Tipton's Saratoga Fall Mixed Sale. The colt was consigned by Saratoga Glen Farm. Drain the Clock's weanlings included six that sold for $100,000 or more.
What we won't see in the sales ring in January or February are progeny by Lane's End Farm's Flightline or WinStar Farm's Life Is Good , who are the leaders of this sire class by weanling average. Flightline had five sold for a $465,000 average, while Life Is Good was represented by eight that averaged $325,625. To see how their progeny are maturing, we'll have to wait for summer.
| Weanling Sales Results for 2025 First-Crop Yearling Sires | |||||||||
| Listed for each stallion (three or more sold and a weanling average of $20,000 or more) are the number offered and sold, the maximum price paid, average and median, and averages for colts and fillies. Listed with the 2023 fee on which the weanlings were bred is the percentage of profitable weanlings; a weanling is considered profitable if its sale price exceeds twice the 2023 fee plus $10,000 for upkeep. Profitability takes into account a 10% sales commission. The auction data include all weanlings offered in North America in 2024 through Dec. 2, 2024. | |||||||||
| Stallion | No. Off. |
No. Sold (% Off.) |
Max. | Avg. | Med. | Colt Avg. (No. Sold) |
Filly Avg. (No. Sold) |
'23 Fee (% Prof.) |
|
| Aloha West | 13 | 12 (92%) | $57,000 | $24,083 | $20,000 | $26,786 (7) | $20,300 (5) | $10,000 (25%) | |
| Corniche | 21 | 17 (81%) | $250,000 | $105,235 | $82,000 | $142,000 (5) | $89,917 (12) | $30,000 (59%) | |
| Cyberknife | 30 | 23 (77%) | $235,000 | $79,261 | $70,000 | $78,846 (13) | $79,800 (10) | $30,000 (39%) | |
| Drain the Clock | 43 | 39 (91%) | $120,000 | $55,038 | $47,000 | $56,848 (23) | $52,438 (16) | $10,000 (74%) | |
| Early Voting | 22 | 14 (64%) | $230,000 | $83,357 | $76,000 | $86,000 (5) | $81,889 (9) | $25,000 (57%) | |
| Epicenter | 29 | 21 (72%) | $300,000 | $122,619 | $120,000 | $161,500 (10) | $87,273 (11) | $45,000 (62%) | |
| Flightline | 5 | 5 (100%) | $675,000 | $465,000 | $500,000 | $472,500 (4) | $435,000 (1) | $200,000 (60%) | |
| Golden Pal | 41 | 33 (80%) | $325,000 | $107,582 | $90,000 | $114,647 (17) | $100,075 (16) | $30,000 (58%) | |
| Highly Motivated | 21 | 20 (95%) | $100,000 | $24,025 | $23,500 | $28,250 (12) | $17,688 (8) | $7,500 (45%) | |
| Idol | 23 | 18 (78%) | $140,000 | $26,156 | $14,500 | $28,617 (12) | $21,233 (6) | $10,000 (22%) | |
| Jack Christopher | 44 | 33 (75%) | $350,000 | $104,727 | $85,000 | $120,643 (14) | $93,000 (19) | $45,000 (36%) | |
| Jackie's Warrior | 25 | 21 (84%) | $385,000 | $174,762 | $190,000 | $193,000 (10) | $158,182 (11) | $50,000 (81%) | |
| Life Is Good | 12 | 8 (67%) | $410,000 | $325,625 | $325,000 | $324,000 (5) | $328,333 (3) | $100,000 (88%) | |
| Mandaloun | 22 | 19 (86%) | $200,000 | $71,132 | $50,000 | $63,357 (7) | $75,667 (12) | $25,000 (42%) | |
| Mo Donegal | 30 | 19 (63%) | $150,000 | $37,342 | $25,000 | $42,455 (11) | $30,313 (8) | $20,000 (16%) | |
| Mystic Guide | 16 | 11 (69%) | $120,000 | $59,455 | $65,000 | $60,857 (7) | $57,000 (4) | $15,000 (64%) | |
| Nashville | 27 | 20 (74%) | $230,000 | $67,525 | $46,000 | $73,375 (8) | $63,625 (12) | $15,000 (50%) | |
| Olympiad | 37 | 26 (70%) | $450,000 | $108,981 | $70,000 | $122,000 (16) | $88,150 (10) | $35,000 (42%) | |
| Pinehurst | 15 | 12 (80%) | $70,000 | $23,083 | $18,000 | $21,563 (8) | $26,125 (4) | $7,500 (42%) | |
| Speaker's Corner | 21 | 15 (71%) | $140,000 | $40,267 | $22,000 | $65,500 (8) | $11,429 (7) | $20,000 (27%) | |
| Source: BloodHorse MarketWatch | |||||||||
