First Keeneland September Yearling Sale, first seven-figure horse down for Headley VanMeter.
Eight hips into the Sept. 8 opening session, a strapping chestnut son of Flightline dropped the hammer for $1.5 million to Resolute Bloodstock's John Stewart.
The seven-figure sale marked a stellar accomplishment for VanMeter, the youngest son of longtime consignor Tom VanMeter.
"I grew up in Lexington in this business," VanMeter said. "I spent five years working at Lane's End so that makes this colt even more special because I was there when Flightline came to the farm (after winning the Breeders' Cup Classic) and I saw the first foals hit the ground. For us to raise this colt (on the VanMeter family's Stockplace Farm) where we foal about 35 to 40 mares a year, the first horse (the breeder) has ever sold, this is incredible. We had high expectations but we didn't think he would do that."
The colt, consigned as Hip 10, was also the first horse sold by breeder Randall Lowe, the breeder behind Lady Shipman. Lowe raced the grade 3-winning Lady Shipman and bred the Midshipman mare's two-time Breeders' Cup-winning son Golden Pal .
"Lady Shipman is on the farm, he was born and was raised and sales prepped at (the VanMeter Family's Stockplace Farm) so that makes this all the more special," VanMeter said.
Golden Pal, renown for his blazing speed on the track, retired to Ashford Stud for the 2023 breeding season with seven graded stakes wins on his resume and $1.8 million in earnings. The son of the late Uncle Mo is represented by his first yearlings this year, with five going through the ring during Monday's session.
Stewart, the leading buyer at the recent The Saratoga Sale, Fasig-Tipton's select yearling sale, said Hip 10 rated highly in his self-owned pedigree analysis tool Pedigrees 360.
"That's how we shortlist the system and kind of look through everything," he said. "And then, you know, we have a bunch of people that look at the horse and it was on all of our lists and Flightline, you know, we bought Queen Caroline (in foal to Flightline in November 2024). She has a nice Flightline filly and I bought a nice Flightline up in Saratoga. So I really like the way those horses are looking, and I think it was the No. 1 colt today.
"If everybody on the team likes him and he lines up in our system, then like for us, it's one of the ones that we're just not leaving without."
Stewart also purchased Hip 39, a Constitution half brother to 2022 Blue Grass Stakes (G1) winner Zandon , for $500,000. The colt, bred by the Estate of Bereton Jones, was consigned by Airdrie Stud Raised and Offered.
