The powerhouse status of Three Chimneys Farm's premier stallion Gun Runner was shown again, not just on the racetrack, but this time in the sales ring when seven of his yearlings brought seven figures Sept. 14 during a strong Day 1 of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
Leading the pack was Hip 84, who topped the session at $2.8 million, selling to RTM Racing.
"We are so excited. We love it because we put this colt in our plans two days ago, so we are so happy about it," said Mahmud Mouni, who signed the ticket on behalf of RTM Racing. "Honestly, we were not expecting that much, but that's what the horse deserves. I know the full brother (Bletchley) with (trainer) Chad Brown is amazing and he's running next Friday. Our dream is the Kentucky Derby. I hope we get it."
Mouni said the colt will be trained by Brown. The colt's full brother, Bletchley, sold for $1.55 million at last year's September sale to M.V. Magnier and White Birch Farm. He has been working steadily all summer and is entered for his racing debut in a maiden special weight race Sept. 18 at Belmont Park.
Mouni could strike again at this sale, which offers a second Book 1 session Tuesday in Lexington.
"We still have some (horses) in our plan," Mouni said. "We will see if we are lucky, and we hope we get them cheaper than this one."
Kerry Cauthen of Four Star Sales, who consigned the session topper and also consigned Bletchley, was elated with Monday's result.
"The reserve was a million, so it was quite fair," Cauthen said. "I think we all thought we would possibly get two (million), but it was a great sale for everybody.
"It's like all of them, you don't ever want to expect something like that, but it was always a possibility."
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Hip 84 was bred in Kentucky by Three Chimneys Farm out of graded stakes winner Twenty Carat (Into Mischief ). The colt's 3-year-old full sister, French Blue, was third in this year's Santa Ysabel Stakes (G3) for trainer Bob Baffert and owner/breeder Three Chimneys Farm. He hails from a family that includes grade 1 winners Shared Account and Sharing.
"(The market) is very hot," Mouni added. "The market has been increasing for two years. Honestly, we were shocked. All the prices we did not expect. If you (bid on) one for a million, you get it for $2 million. All the horses in Book 1 deserve what they go for. High-quality pedigrees and conformation are everything."
The highest-priced and lone seven-figure Gun Runner filly was Hip 110, a half sister to multiple grade 1 winner Bellafina. Hip 110 was bred in Kentucky by GRS, Three Chimneys Farm, Whisper Hill Farm, and JSM Equine and was consigned by Gainesway. JSM Equine bred Bellafina after purchasing her dam, Akron Moon, for $175,000 at the 2014 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale.
Gun Runner had five other colts reach seven figures, including Hip 116, a colt out of the Bernardini mare Amazement who is out of grade 1 winner and millionaire Wonder Again. Hip 116 is a half brother to multiple grade 1 winner and freshman sire Colonel Liam .
READ: Gun Runner Yearling Provides Thrill for Darby Dan Farm
"Gun Runner is having an exceptional year, with four 3-year-old grade 1 winners, including Kentucky Oaks winner Always a Runner and Travers winner Leading Change," said Rebecca Nicholson, director of stallion nominations at Three Chimneys. "His success on the racetrack is carrying over to the sales ring, and we're seeing strong demand from buyers. We're incredibly thankful to the breeders who have supported him along the way."
A filly (Hip 156) from the final crop of the late Uncle Mo fetched $1.5 million from Windancer Farm Holdings to become the highest-priced filly of the first session. Hip 156 was bred in Kentucky by WinStar Farm out of the Pioneerof the Nile mare Catch My Drift, who produced graded stakes winners and millionaires Bishops Bay (full brother) and Catching Freedom (Constitution ).
Metrics Increase From 2025 Opener
Keeneland September saw increases across nearly all metrics compared with last year's corresponding session with 104 horses selling for $73,550,000, including private sales. The gross was up slightly from 2025, when 116 horses sold for $73,395,000. Average price increased 11.8% to $707,212, and median was up 17.1% to $600,000. Thirty-six horses failed to meet their reserve, resulting in an RNA rate of 25.7%.
Eighteen horses sold for $1 million or more, the highest number for the sale's opening day since 2005.
"We surpassed last year's opening session. It was really strong and very diverse," said Keeneland president and CEO Shannon Arvin. "Thirteen different consignors sold 14 of the top lots, and (we saw) a very diverse buying bench once again."
Keeneland vice president of sales Tony Lacy said the confidence in the buyers and sellers shows the industry is strong.
"It's a good, healthy market, and it allows breeders to feel confident about what they're doing," Lacy said. "For us, the greatest reward is watching people like the Gunthers (John and Tanya) sell the half to Justify for $1.9 million. That's a father-daughter operation that put a lot of time and investment into what they do."
M.V. Magnier and Peter Brant's White Birch Farm were the leading buyers of the day with three purchases totaling $5.2 million. All three of their yearlings were colts by Gun Runner, who has rewarded them with much success, highlighted by 2024 champion 3-year-old male Sierra Leone . In addition to Hip 116, the pair also bought Hip 98, a half brother to multiple grade 1 winner Paradise Woods, for $1.5 million, and Hip 17, a half brother to 2015 champion 2-year-old male and top sire Nyquist , for $1.4 million.
"The (market)'s very strong," Magnier said. "Keeneland has done a great job, like they always do. They have brought a very international group of people here. The sale is going really well. It's fantastic."
Last year's Session 1 and sales topper was also a colt by Gun Runner, who brought $3.3 million from Magnier, White Birch Farm, and Winchell Thoroughbreds.
Gainesway led the consignors, selling 19 from its draft for a total of $12.75 million.
The action continues Sept. 15 with the second and final session of Book 1, beginning at 1 p.m. ET. Hips 190-377 are slated to go through the ring. As of Monday evening, Keeneland had reported 29 outs for Tuesday's session.
