Life Is Good has translated his summer racetrack momentum straight into the sales ring, solidifying his status as a standout freshman sire for WinStar Farm.
Boosted by his first grade 1 winner earlier in the month when The Good Life captured the Hopeful Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course, the son of Into Mischief has now carried that momentum into a red-hot sales ring.
Hip 1412, a colt out of the Liam's Map mare Graceful Fancy, sold for $1.25 million—matching Life Is Good's top-priced yearling to date—to St. Elias Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds, Lane's End Racing, and Belladonna, a partnership that has been very active during the September sale.
The sale of Hip 1412 marked the sire's second seven-figure sale during Keeneland's 12-day September sale. CHC, Maverick Racing, and Light Post Ventures went to $1 million for Hip 941 during the final day of Book 2.
Life Is Good finished second among sires by gross during the fifth session. Ten head brought $4.23 million.
Hip 1412 was bred in Kentucky by Sun Valley Farm and Life is Good Syndicate, and purchased as a pinhook prospect for $285,000 by Gainesway's general manager Brian Graves under the name En Fuego Stables.
"He's a perfectly balanced individual. Wasn't the biggest horse I've ever bought, but he had everything in the right spot," Graves explained.
"He's always had a lot of definition to his shoulder and wither, something I'm really fond of in a horse. Life Is Good really took off, and is clearly doing a great job as a stallion, and I think that probably helped more than anything."
Graves said he believes The Good Life winning the Hopeful propelled the added interest in the colt.
"He was extremely quality, and when Life Is Good got a grade 1 winner, I think that cemented in everybody's mind that he's a serious stallion prospect, and I think what you see now is that these horses are in high demand.
"I have to be honest, I didn't think he'd bring seven figures today, but I'm not shocked. I was not expecting that, but I'm really happy about it."
Gainesway also sold the session’s second-most-expensive offspring by Life Is Good, a colt (Hip 1344) out of the Exaggerator mare Concert Hall for $675,000 to Colt Pike, agent for Highlander. The colt was bred in Kentucky by Ceahorse and is the second foal of Concert Hall, who is a half sister to the dam of grade 1 winner Sandman. Hip 1344 also hails from the immediate family of multiple grade/group 1 winners Music Note and Musical Chimes.
Life Is Good's highest-priced filly of the day was Hip 1328, who sold for $625,000 to Lauren Carlisle, agent. Hip 1328 is the first foal of the Empire Maker mare Chance to Rule, who hails from the immediate family of grade 1 winner and first-crop yearling sire Arabian Lion , and the strong Phipps family of Personal Ensign.
Life Is Good stood the 2026 season at WinStar Farm near Versailles, Ky., for an advertised fee of $60,000. He currently ranks second on North America's freshman sire list.
