Bernardini colt tops Monday sale at Keeneland

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ) – A colt by Bernardini whose family includes 2016 Mohegan Sun Metropolitan Handicap (G1) and Whitney (G1) winner Frosted and 2008 champion 2-year-old male and sire Midshipman sold for $600,000 to Ben Glass, agent, to lead Monday’s seventh session of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

On Monday, the final day of the Book 3 portion of the sale, 286 yearlings sold for $20,935,500, down slightly from the seventh session last year when 270 horses brought $21,034,500. The average of $73,201 dipped 6.04 percent from $77,906 in 2015. The median increased 4.55 percent from $55,000 to $57,500.

“Today’s session was very steady, and overall it was a good, solid Book 3,” Keeneland Director of Sales Operations Geoffrey Russell said. “Competition was good. There are a lot of people who haven’t been able to buy in Book 3 who will hopefully be here for Book 4.”

Through seven sessions, Keeneland has sold 1,367 horses for $233,684,500, down 4.84 percent from the corresponding period last year when 1,504 horses sold for $245,570,500. The cumulative average of $170,947 increased 4.70 percent from $163,278 in 2015. The median of $100,000 dipped 4.76 percent from last year’s $105,000.

Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent, consigned Monday’s session-topper, who is out of the winning Unbridled’s Song mare With Sugar On Top, a half-sister to Frosted. Their dam is the Grade 2-winning Deputy Minister mare Fast Cookie, a half-sister to Midshipman.

Mike Ryan, agent, paid $485,000, the day’s second-highest price, for a Curlin colt out of the winning Lawyer Ron mare Sing Like a Bid, a half-sister to stakes winner Wiredfortwotwenty. From the family of Group 1 winner Little Baby Bear and Grade 3 winner First American, the colt was consigned by Lane’s End, agent.

Ryan was the day’s leading buyer, spending $1,020,000 on five horses.

Lane’s End, agent, topped the consignor ranks, selling 31 horses for $2,726,000.

At $250,000, the session’s highest-priced filly was a daughter of Congrats sold to EQB Inc. for Ahmed Zayat’s Zayat Stables. Brookdale Sales, agent, consigned the filly, who is out of the Dixie Union mare Azalea Belle, a daughter of 2002 Alcibiades (G2) winner Westerly Breeze. The filly is from the family of Grade 3 winner Officer Rocket.

EQB Inc., on behalf of Zayat Stables, also paid $250,000 for a colt by Into Mischief out of the winning Songandaprayer mare Broadway Lullaby. Paramount Sales, agent, consigned by the colt, who is from the family of graded stakes winners Belong to Me and Eight Belles.

The September Sale continues through Sunday with all sessions beginning at 10 a.m. ET. The entire sale is streamed live at Keeneland.com.