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Leidel parts with US$1 million for yearling at Keeneland on Thursday.
A colt by Into Mischief (Harlan's Holiday) topped the second session of Book 2 of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale on Thursday as Peter Leidel forked out US$1 million for the Warrendale Sales-consigned youngster.
Catalogued as Lot 1203, the colt is out of Grade 2 winner Teen Pauline (Tapit), who has already produced a stakes winner in Cambria (Speightstown).
Further back this is the same family as Grade 3 winner Meter Maid (Geiger Counter) - the dam of fellow Grade 3 winner Lemon Maid (Lemon Drop Kid).
"He is a lovely horse – ticked all the boxes as they say. Has a great walk," said Hunter Simms, partner and director of bloodstock services for Warrendale. "The Into Mischiefs have been on fire at this sale and on the race track.
Stonestreet did a nice job prepping him, and he showed himself well at the barn. He is a classy animal. Stonestreet has been very supportive of us over the years, and we greatly appreciate it. We have had good success for them."
Into Mischief, the September Sale's leading sire with sales of $23,280,000 for 45 yearlings, stands at Spendthrift Farm.
Earlier on in the session, Donato Lanni, agent for SF/Starlight/Madaket, paid US$775,000 for a colt by Quality Road (Elusive Quality) consigned by Candy Meadows Sales.
Catalogued as Lot 1197 ,the colt is out of three-time-winning mare Forestry (Storm Cat) mare Sustainable, who is herself a half-sister to Culotte (Sky Mesa).
Further back this is the family 1997 Del Mar Oaks (Gr 1, 9f) winner Famous Digger (Quest For Fame).
"He's a Quality Road – a great stallion," Tom Ryan of SF said. "We're just starting to see the cream rising to the top now with him. Just think of what he's accomplished already; the future's so bright for him."
Matt Lyons - Candy Meadows senior vice president and COO - said: "We're delighted. He's a lovely horse and a homebred for the farm. We didn't have any horses in Book 1 so this is our first group here. We've waited all day for him, and there were some very good judges of horseflesh on him.
"You have groups looking to buy two-turn Derby-type horses, and there are a lot of people looking for that type of horse," Lyons added. "When they all land on the same one, they can bring an exceptional price. The group that bought him obviously know how to win the big races so that's great for us having the mare at home and having siblings coming. He'll be trained by Mr. (Bob) Baffert, and he knows how to win the big races, too."
Lanni, agent for SF/Starlight/Madaket, was the session's leading buyer, acquiring five horses for US$1,660,000.
"It's been a busy sale for us," Ryan said. "Keeneland assembled a great group of horses here, and good horses are hard to buy."
Keeneland sold 195 yearlings during Thursday's session for US$34,507,000, at an average of US$193,554 and a median of US$160,000. Cumulatively, 589 horses have grossed US$160,583,000, for an average of US$272,637 and a median of US$200,000.
With the top-priced yearling on Thursday, a total of 15 horses have sold for US$1 million or more.
"Very exciting finish today," Keeneland director of sales operations Geoffrey Russell said. "To have three individuals bidding all the way to the million-dollar mark was very exciting. There was a lot of depth to the market. As we have said before, it is very selective. The people who should be here and looking at the horses and making the decisions are here, and we are very happy that they are committed to this industry."
