$2.55 million Nyquist colt sets session record

The Keeneland September Yearling Sale continued to post impressive numbers as it moved into its third day on Wednesday, the first day of the Book 2 catalog. The high seller was a colt by Nyquist purchased for $2.25 million by Kimmel/Sallusto, agent for Alex and JoAnn Lieblong. The price was the highest for Day 3 since the auction’s current format of a two-day Book 1 and two-day Book 2 was established in 2021. 

In addition, the Nyquist colt was one of 14 yearlings to sell for $1 million or more during the session — setting a record for the number of seven-figure horses in Session 3 — while Keeneland recorded through-the-ring sales of $89,535,000 for 209 horses.

Compared to the third session of last year’s September Sale, the total rose 4.47% from $85,702,000 for 221 yearlings. The average of $428,397 was 10.47% above $387,792 in 2025, while the median of $310,000 dipped 4.62% from $325,000. Last year, 13 yearlings brought seven figures or more during the third session to set a record for the session that stood for one year.

Through the first three days of the sale, Keeneland has sold 417 horses through the ring for $240,935,000 for a 4.81% increase from the corresponding period last year when 438 yearlings brought $229,887,000. In other cumulative figures, the average price of $577,782 increased 10.08% from last year’s $387,792, while the median of $450,000 rose 5.88% from $425,000 in 2025. 

With nine sessions remaining in this year’s September Sale, a total of 55 horses have sold for $1 million or more. The record for the entire sale is 56, set in 2025.

“Overall it was a really solid, incredible day,” Keeneland Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy said. “When you’re in the middle of the sale, you’re seeing the real trade. The good horses were bringing incredible prices. I think everybody was getting rewarded for the horses that people gravitated toward. As we compare with last year — last year we set the bar in the stratosphere. Now that we’re trending above, that means we’re still riding at a very high level in the market.

“You could see a little bit of frustration from buyers that wanted the ones they wanted,” Lacy added. “They were having to really reach for them and that’s good. The breeders got well rewarded.”

“Our gross is up, our average is up each day and cumulatively the median is just sort of a step behind where it was last year,” Keeneland Senior Director of Sales Operations Cormac Breathnach said. “But in the context of it being a magnificent sale last year, we’re just watching the slightly higher RNA rate as indicative that not everybody’s getting exactly what they want out of the market. Most people are, so we’re just going to do our best to keep it going through tomorrow, reassess on the Dark Day on Friday and then we get into the rapids and go into Books 3 through 5B.”

Wednesday’s session topper was consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent. Out of the Bernardini mare Hot Cha, he is from the family of champion Xtra Heat and Grade 3 winners Scalding and Hot and Sultry.

“He just stood out,” Alex Lieblong said. “He’s in a different class. Obviously, the price showed that.” Lieblong then added with a laugh, “So if we can just get the check to clear, we’ll be in good shape.” 

The colt was bred in Kentucky by Fred W. Hertrich III and John D. Fielding. 

“We knew he was a very special, very nice colt,” Duncan Taylor of Taylor Made said. “Nyquist has been selling very well. But that kind of price? No (we didn’t guess that) We thought he was a million-dollar horse, but $2.2 (was not expected). Just got to give all the credit to the team at Watercress Farm for having the horse ready, had him looking magnificent (when he arrived at Taylor Made to sell). They couldn’t have had him prepped any better. He was just a very special horse from the minute he arrived. He never turned a hair or got upset.”

In Wednesday sales of other top-priced yearlings:

Stonehaven Steadings consigned a colt by Into Mischief purchased by Legion Bloodstock, agent, for $2 million. He is out of the winning Grade 2-placed mare Miss Costa Rica. By Hit It a Bomb, she is a half-sister to Grade 3 winner Gas Station Sushi. The colt is from the family of Grade 1 winner Taste of Paradise.

“The minute we saw him, just fell in love with him immediately,” said Kristian Villante, who signed the ticket. “Brought the whole team over to see him, and everyone just fell in love. Never expected to pay $2 million dollars for the horse, but we knew we were going to have to dig deep for him.”

Earlier in the day, Stonehaven Steadings also sold a Flightline colt for $1.1 million to Flying Dutchmen.

“A day of days as they say,” Aidan O’Meara of Stonehaven Steadings said. “The classy ones just kind of rise. Every day, you saw them (the colts) come to a different level. Then as people get interested, you start getting excited. 

“We were hoping and dreaming, and sometimes you’re surprised, and sometimes it goes beyond your expectations.”

Ron Winchell’s Winchell Thoroughbreds paid $1.85 million for a son of Flightline who is out of the Uncle Mo mare Velvet Sky. Breeder Killora, agent, consigned the colt, who is from the family of Grade 1 winner Grace Hall.

“We were very reasonable with expectations,” said Aidan Jennings, who owns Killora Stud in Paris, Kentucky, with his wife, Hannah. “We were hoping for the best, but that was way beyond our reserve, never really expecting that.” 

The Jennings bought Velvet Sky during Book 1 of the 2020 September Sale.

“It’s been a very long road to get here,” Hannah Jennings said. “This is the first foal out of the mare, so we’re excited for the future.”

RTM Racing purchased a son of Nyquist consigned by Claiborne Farm, agent, for $1.75 million. Out of the Bernardini mare Sibaaq, a full sister to Grade 1 winner Takaful, he is from the family of European champion Shadayid and Grade 3 winner Haikal.

The colt was bred by Claiborne and foaled at the Paris, Kentucky farm.

“He’s an unbelievable colt,” Claiborne’s Walker Hancock said. “I actually found a picture of (multiple Grade 1 winner) Nysos (also by Nyquist out of a Bernardini mare) earlier this summer, and (this yearling) looked just like him. With the success of the Nyquist over the Bernardini cross, we had a feeling he was going to sell very well.”

Nursery Place, agent, consigned a colt from the first crop of champion Up to the Mark purchased by Kia Joorabchian’s AMO Racing USA for $1.65 million. A half-brother to Group 1 winner Ruling Court, he is out of the winning Grade 3-placed High Chaparral (IRE) mare Inchargeofme (GB).

“Obviously a stunning horse, brother to a Guineas winner (Ruling Court),” AMO Racing Consultant Alex Elliot said. “Up to the Mark was a magnificent-looking horse by Not This Time. Kia could decide to take him back to England. His brother was very good there.”

Mayberry Farm purchased a Gun Runner filly consigned by the Knelman family’s Farfellow Farms of Paris, Kentucky for $1.55 million. Out of stakes winner Another Broad, by Include, she is from the family of Grade 2 winners Stellar Brush and Star Minister.

April Mayberry, who signed the ticket, said the filly was bought for Lee and Susan Searing’s C R K Stable and would go to her farm in Ocala, Florida, to be started. 

Farfellow, which raced Another Broad, bred the filly with GRS (Gun Runner Syndicate) on a foal share. She became the most expensive horse the Knelmans have sold at public auction.

“She’s a really classy filly,” Jak Knelman said. “Every day, she just got better. It was so exciting — it was really fun — because of the compliments from all the buyers coming through.”

Spendthrift Farm and Epic Horses spent $1.5 million on a colt by Into Mischief who is a half-brother to stakes winner Valentine Candy. Consigned by Nicky Drion Thoroughbreds, agent, he is out of the winning Grade 1-placed Candy Ride (ARG) mare Taste Like Candy and from the family of Grade 1 winners Exbourne, Expelled and Affirmed Success.

“He’s a late April foal, so for a while he was a little bit behind the ball,” Drion said about the colt, the most expensive sales horse for breeder Ben Lengacher’s Pine Creek LP. “But the last month and a half he really kicked in. So going in I was quietly confident.”

Douglas Scharbauer led all buyers during the session, spending $3.85 million for five horses. They included a Not This Time filly for $1.05 million and a Nyquist filly for $1 million.

With sales of $10.89 million for 29 horses, Gainesway was the leading consignor.

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The September Sale continues Thursday with the second session of Book 2, which begins at 11 a.m. ET. The sale runs 12 sessions through Saturday, Sept. 26 and is streamed live at Keeneland.com.