Progeny of Spendthrift Farm's Yaupon remained in demand through the close of Book 4 of Keeneland's September Yearling Sale Sept. 22. Hip 2446, a colt by Yaupon, topped the day's trade at $850,000, selling to Donato Lanni, agent for Frank Fletcher and Jackpot Farm.
The colt was bred in Kentucky by John Gunther and consigned by Glennwood Farm, which has had a very successful sale in addition to Hip 2446. The farm bred and consigned the $3.7 million sales-topper—a colt by Into Mischief , who sold to M.V. Magnier and White Birch Farm on Day 2 of the sale.
"The Yaupon, Strombolian colt has really been blossoming coming into this sale and we hoped he would stand out in this book," said Tanya Gunther of Glennwood Farm.
"He's a May 18 baby and very strong and forward for a late foal, which has been a theme since he was born. He definitely looks a lot like his sire, who is on a fantastic roll with his progeny right now."
Gunther, who does all the matings at Glennwood, said Strombolian's immediate family, which includes sire and grade 1-winner Mo Town—who is by the same sire as Yaupon in Uncle Mo—was a factor in the mating decision.
"This sale has been absolutely incredible, like nothing I've ever seen before," Gunther said. "I am still stunned by the reception our yearlings have received and so very proud of our team."
The top-priced filly of the day was also by Yaupon. Hip 2692 brought $500,000 from By Talla Racing. The filly was bred in Kentucky by Michael and Linda Mazoch and consigned by Hermitage Farm, agent.
"This filly is out of a mare that always gives tremendous physicals," said Melissa Cozart, director of equine operations at Hermitage Farm. "Combined with sire power, this is exactly what you hope for.
"You always watch freshman stallions closely, especially when you have a foal by them and Yaupon is no exception. We'd hoped he'd be as prolific as he's turned out to be."
Hip 2692 is out of the stakes-winning mare Jan's Perfect Star, who is the dam of six horses to race, five winners. The Mazochs purchased Jan's Perfect Star in foal to Practical Joke for $35,000 at the 2021 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale.
Brian Knippenberg, farm manager at Hermitage, said the farm has historically performed well with Book 4 horses in both sale and race results.
"We have a smaller boutique consignment of mostly homebreds," Knippenberg said. "This filly is actually the first horse these clients have sold at Keeneland. We couldn't be happier for the Mazochs, who typically race and are venturing into the sales this year.
"(Hip 2692) is a good-bodied horse with a tremendous walk and a great mind. She has the makings of a serious racehorse and we look forward to seeing her be successful with her new connections."
Yaupon led the eighth session by gross with 11 horses selling for a total of $2,617,000. The average price was $237,909.
Leading second-crop sire Yaupon stood the 2026 season at Spendthrift Farm near Lexington for an advertised fee of $60,000.
Significant Gains Across All Metrics
The eighth session of the September sale saw significant gains across all metrics, highlighted by a 21.1% jump in gross sales compared to last year's corresponding session. A total of 304 horses changed hands for gross receipts of $30,630,000, including private sales. The average price was up 16.3% to $100,757, and the median was up 13.6% to $75,000. The RNA rate was 19.6%, representing the 74 horses who failed to meet their reserve.
Kenny McPeek's six purchases totaling $925,000 put him atop the buyers for the day. Taylor Made Sales led the consignors, selling 37 head for $2,986,000.
The ninth session of the sale begins at 10:00 a.m. ET Sept. 23 with hips 2816-3242 slated to go through the ring. As of Tuesday evening, Keeneland had reported 45 outs.
"Going into Book 5, we're finding many buyers still looking to fill orders because of the prices," Cozart said. We think that will only benefit the later books, keeping the market competitive and strong."
