Keeneland Bonanza Continues Into Book 2; $1.9-Million Gun Runner Leads The Way

[Wandering Eyes]

by Jessica Martini, Christina Bossinakis, and Jill Williams

LEXINGTON, KY -The only thing that could slow down the momentum of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale was a brief interruption in Wednesday's action when the fire alarms late in the day caused the evacuation of the pavilion.

“We joked in the back ring the market was so hot, it set the fire alarms off,” Keeneland's Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy said with a chuckle after the dust had settled on another competitive day of bidding at the first of two Book 2 sessions.

During the session, 221 yearlings grossed $85,702,000. The average rose 22.02% from last year's opening Book 2 session and the median rose 18.18% to $325,000. At last year's corresponding session, 220 horses sold for $69,917,000 for an average of $317,805 and a median of $275,000.

“It was incredible,” Lacy said of Wednesday's market. “I think we knew there was a really, really good group of horses. A lot of these horses who were bringing big money were ones that we were lobbying to get into earlier sessions, so we knew the fire power was still here. And the money was obviously well represented.”

With 100 horses reported not sold at the close of business Wednesday night, the buy-back rate for the session was 31.15%.

“There is realism in the market as well,” Lacy said, pointing to the buy-back rate. “It was not that it was all easy going. You had to be realistic with your reserves. That's a testament that it's not just people throwing money at stuff. People are doing their homework, they are doing what they feel is their due diligence and they are paying a premium for what they want. Quality is getting rewarded heavily.”

Trade was brisk during day three, book 2 | Keeneland

Spendthrift Farm purchased the session topper late in the day, going to $1.9 million for a colt by Gun Runner from the Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa consignment. The colt was one of 13 to bring seven figures on the day–up from three at the same session a year ago.

“The 13 seven-figure horses were bought by 11 different buyers and they are by 10 different stallions,” said Keeneland Senior Director of Sales Operations Cormac Breathnach. “There is still a great variety of activity here and great variety in the catalogue. Pretty much everybody who was here over the weekend is still here and still hunting and still with money to spend trying to find fast horses. That's really rewarding to us and the whole team at Keeneland.”

Wednesday's 13 seven-figure yearlings–a record for an opening Book 2 session–brought the total through three days of the auction to 48, surpassing the auction's previous all-time record of 40 set in 2005.

The buzz felt throughout the pavilion and grounds had buyers and sellers reminiscing about another sales era.

“It's incredible,” said bloodstock agent Mike Ryan. “I don't think we've seen anything like this since Keeneland July in the '80s with the likes of Sheikh Mohammed and Robert Sangster. I think the strength of the sale will trickle down to the rest of the sale. With the dark day Friday, Saturday's horses will get shopped very well.”

Peter O'Callaghan, who sold a $1.3-million son of Jackie's Warrior through his Woods Edge Farm consignment Wednesday, said these home runs are needed for the health of the breeding industry.

“Horses like this have to make up for a lot,” O'Callaghan said of the million-dollar yearling. “Big farms like ours, we can't continue to operate unless we get a couple of scores like this. Operational costs are so astronomical now with the payroll, vet bills, stud fees, everything, that if we don't get a couple of scores, we can't continue. That's what we all need. Anybody who gets a score in this game has absolutely earned it.”

The Keeneland September sale continues with a final Book 2 session Thursday beginning at 11 a.m. ET. Following a dark day Friday, the auction continues through Sept. 20 with sessions beginning daily at 10 a.m. ET.

 

Baffert 'Humbled' as Co-Breeder of $1.9-Million Gun Runner Colt Sold to Spendthrift

Bob Baffert is not usually one to be lost for words, but the Hall of Fame trainer admitted he was still processing the experience after watching a Gun Runner (hip 731) colt he co-bred sell for $1.9 million to Spendthrift Farm Wednesday at Keeneland.

“I have never been in this situation before,” Baffert said. “I am taking it all in right now.”

Baffert trained the session topper's stakes-placed dam Ginja (Quality Road) on behalf of his wife, Jill. The colt was co-bred on a foal share with Three Chimneys' Goncalo Torrealba.

“I am not much of a breeder,” Baffert said. “I did it for my wife, Jill. I asked Goncalo if he would do a foal share because I really liked the mare. I have to thank him for doing the foal share, and Hill 'n' Dale for raising him and selling him.”

Of his expectations sending the colt through the ring with the Hill 'n' Dale consignment Wednesday, Baffert said, “You never know. It's a crazy sale. Jill is watching and we sold one earlier for $100,000. I thought this one would bring more. But all of a sudden everybody was liking him. I thought maybe $500,000 or something. Jill was very excited about it. She called me up and asked if it was for real.”

Ned Toffey with Bob Baffert | Keeneland

Jill Baffert was back on the West Coast where her colors were carried to victory in the GI Del Mar Debutante by Bottle of Rouge (Vino Rosso) last Saturday.

“Jill has had a good week,” Baffert said with a smile.

Baffert's limited breeding program also produced Grade I winner Misremembered (Candy Ride {Arg}), who won the 2010 GI Santa Anita Handicap for Jill Baffert and George Jacobs.

“I bred Misremembered and he made $1 million and was a Grade I winner,” Baffert said. “Now I can say I sold a horse for a million dollars. I will just add it to my resume.”

Baffert watched the colt sell while sitting alongside Summer Wind Farm's Jane Lyon just a section removed from the Spendthrift team. He spoke briefly with Spendthrift's Ned Toffey after the farm's general manager purchased both his colt and the Summer Wind Farm-bred Flightline colt who sold immediately afterwards.

“I said, 'Thank you, Ted,” Baffert joked of the conversation. “He said I could stop by in the spring and see if I want to train him.”

Baffert added, “I have to thank Spendthrift and everyone who bid on him. I am very humbled by this moment.”

.@spendthriftfarm delivers $1.9 million for a Gun Runner colt, consigned by @HillnDaleFarm! #KeeSept pic.twitter.com/fj4tfVWo2E

— Keeneland Sales (@keenelandsales) September 11, 2025

Baffert sold Ginja, in foal to Coady's Wish, for $290,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton November sale.

Meanwhile, Toffey, asked about the session topper, quipped, “I'm a little concerned if Bob is getting rid of him.”

Toffey added, “He was a beautiful colt. We thought he was one of the best colts in the sale today. We are really happy to get him because it's been a tough market. Nobody is really stealing much here.”

Of plans for the yearling, Toffey said, “He will go to Raul Reyes in Ocala who breaks for us. We generally let them get to where they are breezing in the spring before we make a decision on where it makes sense to send each horse. We've got some good options.” @JessMartiniTDN

 

Gainesway Opens Book 2 with a Bang

Antony Beck's Gainesway, which sold nine million-dollar yearlings during Book 1 at Keeneland September, rode the market's momentum into Book 2 with a tour de force day of selling Wednesday. The operation sold three of the day's top five priced lots–led by a $1.4-million homebred son of Curlin (hip 652)–and four of the day's 13 million-dollar yearlings. Gainesway was the session's leading consignor with 30 horses sold for $17,165,000.

“I thought we had some good horses,” admitted Gainesway's Brian Graves. “As it turned out, it looks like we had a group that was even more competitive than I thought. It's probably a new record for us for Book 2.”

Antony Beck with Mike Ryan | Keeneland

In addition to hip 652, Gainesway also sold a colt by Not This Time (hip 480), co-bred with Whisper Hill Farm, LLC, and Graves, for $1.35 million to St. Elias, Albaugh Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds, and Railbirds. Mayberry Farm purchased a Gainesway-consigned colt by Tapit (hip 413), bred by Nick Cosato and Tapit Syndicate, for $1.3 million.

Rounding out its four million-dollar yearlings Wednesday, Gainesway sold a colt by Constitution (hip 536) on behalf of Stonestreet for $1 million to Spendthrift Farm.

“Every year, you look at them and you divide them by what your eye tells you,” Graves said of placing the farm's yearlings between Books 1 and 2. “You make a split and this year we had a high volume of horses. Obviously, the line was a high one. The horses just fit highly into the book and sold probably even better than anticipated.”

$1.4 million in the ring for a Curlin colt from the @Gainesway consignment, purchased by Mike Ryan, agent. pic.twitter.com/EHbiZThsnJ

— Keeneland Sales (@keenelandsales) September 10, 2025

During Book 1, Gainesway sold nine million-dollar yearlings, led by a $2.2-million daughter of Flightline (hip 338). The farm was Book 1's second leading consignor with 28 sold for $23,050,000.

Graves added, “I would like to thank all of our clients that trust us with their yearlings and make a day like this possible. I am grateful for each and every one of them.” @JessMartiniTDN

 

Looking for More 'Magic' at Keeneland September

In 2017, Good Magic rose to the top of the juvenile division, winning the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile for e Five Racing Thoroughbreds and Stonestreet Stables, ultimately garnering the Eclipse Award as champion 2-year-old.

At Keeneland Wednesday afternoon, another chestnut colt by Curlin was among the main attractions, commanding a $1.4 million final bid from Mike Ryan, the very same agent that had extended to seven figures at this venue for Good Magic nine years earlier.

“He was a duplicate of Good Magic,” Ryan said. “He has the same size, shape, color, movement and class.”

Consigned by Gainesway, Hip 652 is out of the Bernardini mare SW and GISP Cherry Lodge, a half-sister to GI Hollywood Futurity winner Stormello, in addition to GSWs My Best Brother and Gala Award. Canadian champion 2 and 3-year-old filly Curlin's Voyage can also be found under second dam Wilshewed. Cherry Lodge was purchased by Gainesway for $450,000 at KEESEP in 2015.

“The Curlin was a gorgeous horse,” said Gainesway's Brian Graves. “He was everything you'd want physically with a good pedigree. He could be a stallion prospect, but I'd say that his price exceeded our expectations.”

According to Ryan, the Mar. 30 foal has been purchased on behalf of a partnership that includes Jeffrey Drown, who also campaigned GI Blue Grass and GI Woodward winner Zandon (Upstart), third in the Kentucky Derby.

Both Good Magic and Zandon were trained by Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown.

“I loved him when I saw him at the farm at Gainesway,” recalled Ryan. “At the time, I said how much he reminded me of Good Magic, who turned out to be a really good sire and a great racehorse. I'm hoping lightening can strike again.””

Ryan continued, “I got a chill when I saw him at the farm. He showed himself very well here and came from a great consignment that raised a lot of good horses. The Good Magic factor is what really sold me. He's so like Good Magic.”

Of obvious talent at two, Good Magic extended his form into his sophomore season, winning the GI Haskell Stakes and GII Blue Grass and finishing runner-up behind ultimate Triple Crown winner Justify.

Regarding his latest acquisition, Ryan explained, “He'll be a 2-year-old, but he won't be limited to one turn. Good Magic was a very good 2-year-old which had the class to stretch on. This colt is one of the nicest Curlins I've seen in a while. Hopefully, I'm proven right.”

Ryan also purchased the colt's full-brother at this venue last year for $700,000. Named Mr. Miracle, the colt is also under the care of Brown.

“He hasn't run yet,” said Ryan. “He was ready to run at Saratoga, but had a minor setback and he's back training again. We really like him. So that played into the decision as well.”—CBossTDN

 

Albaugh Partners with West Point, St. Elias on Not This Time at KEESEP

For the Albaugh Family Stables, homebred Not This Time (Giant's Causeway) showed a world of ability on the racetrack at two, including a win in the GIII Iroquois Stakes and a close-up second in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile, but sadly, never had the opportunity to realize his full racing potential after being forced into retirement after the World Championships.

$1.35-million Not This Time colt (hip 480) | Keeneland

What may have seemed a stroke of misfortune for the Albaughs and trainer Dale Romans at the time, has turned into spun gold in the breeding shed, with the striking dark bay ascending to be among the leading stallions in the nation.

Clearly sold on the sire, the Albaugh family joined forces with St. Elias Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds and Railbirds to secure a colt by the Taylor Made sire for $1.35 million during Wednesday's Book 2 opener at Keeneland. It was the fourth highest-priced yearling by the sire at Keeneland through three days of selling.

Offered as Hip 480 by Gainesway, the Apr. 8 foal is out of Ridingwiththedevil (Candy Ride {Arg}), making him a half-brother to MGISW Reinvestment Risk (Upstart).

“By Not This Time, we own the horse, and it means so much to us that we thought this [colt] was the best one–the best Not This Time of the sale,” said Albaugh Stables' Jason Loutsch. “It's a great cross with Candy Ride, so we're really excited for the opportunity to partner up with Vinnie [Viola] and West Point. Couldn't be more happy to get the colt.”

Asked about what Not This Time has meant to the Albaugh family, Dennis Albaugh explained, “He's unbelievable. We couldn't be happier.”

“We started him out way young,” he recalled. “He's a homebred, so we raised him out of our mare, [GSW] Miss Macy Sue [Trippi], too. Now to come to the sale and see Not This Time just routinely going for high prices. The only negative is we're trying to buy them! And now we're having to pay up on our own bloodstock. It couldn't be better and we are very fortunate.”

Jason Loutsch and Dennis Albaugh | Keeneland

The chestnut was bred by a partnership of Whisper Hill Farm, Gainesway Thoroughbreds and Brian Graves. Gainesway secured Ridingwiththedevil–in foal to Practical Joke–for $210,000 at Fasig-Tipton November in 2022.

A total of 11 yearlings by Not This Time sold for $7,790,000, averaging $708,182 Wednesday. The media was $700,000.

“The versatility of [Not This Time's offspring], they run on everything, every distance,” said Albaugh's son-in-law, Loutsch. “That's what is so important to all these buyers. If they don't run on dirt, try them on turf–they are all going to run. We can't be more proud of them.”—CBossTDN

 

Tapit Colt to C R K Stable

The Keeneland September sale produced its 36th million-dollar yearling when April Mayberry, bidding on behalf of CRK Stable's Lee Searing, went to $1.3 million to acquire a colt by Tapit (hip 413) from the Gainesway consignment early in Wednesday's third session of the auction.

“April Mayberry and her staff loved that horse,” Searing said of the purchase. “They had been looking at him for a couple of days. So we got here and loved that horse.”

Searing said he knew he was going up against some big guns bidding on the half-brother to Grade I winner Drain the Clock (Maclean's Music).

“When it stopped at $1.15 and we knew it was Spendthrift, I was surprised they stopped,” Searing said. “I was about where I was going to stop, but we threw a few more bids in there and it worked.”

The gray colt is out of Manki (Arch) and was bred by Nick Cosato and Tapit Syndicate. Cosato also bred Drain the Clock and his Slam Dunk Racing was co-owner of the chestnut who won the 2021 GI Woody Stephens Stakes and now resides at Gainesway.

Searing was hoping to be active in Book 2 after making one purchase during the auction's boutique Book 1.

“We bought one horse in Book 1,” he said. “Book 1 was more money than I think most people imagined. But Book 2 has always been really good. So we are here to buy more horses. We are specifically looking right now for colts. We have a lot of fillies, raced a lot of good fillies, too, this year.” @JessMartiniTDN

 

'Very Special Horse': $1.3-Million Jackie's Warrior Colt Rewards O'Callaghan's Faith

After Peter O'Callaghan paid $385,000 for a colt from the first crop of Jackie's Warrior at last year's Keeneland November sale, the horseman admitted, “It was a ridiculous amount of money for him last November. My parents told me I was a crazy man. And I have been sweating it all the year.”

It all came right in spades Wednesday at Keeneland when the colt (hip 546) sold for $1.3 million to the bid of Jacob West, acting on behalf of Robert and Lawana Low.

$1.3-million Jackie's Warrior colt (Hip 546) | Keeneland

“He was a very special horse,” O'Callaghan recalled of his early impressions of the bay. “In my personal opinion, he was the best foal in the whole November sale last year. I overpaid for him at the time, for a freshman sire, but I wasn't leaving the sale without him. He was a special individual–the athleticism, the natural strength of him and his conformation was flawless. He had a beautiful head and expression. And everything moved. He took one step and he was halfway down the lane. Those kinds of horses are hard to come by.”

The yearling, bred by Dixiana Farm, is out of Taking Aim (Trappe Shot) and is a half-brother to graded winner Taking Candy (Twirling Candy) and graded-placed Rascality (Into Mischief). Taking Aim is a half-sister to GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner Tapizar (Tapit).

“He came back a spectacular animal,” O'Callaghan said. “He was not in his stall for two days. He walked up and down there like a champion every time. He had absolutely bottomless energy. Not many have that. We are extremely grateful to Jacob West and Mr. and Mrs. Low for buying him. And all of the people who were interested in him. It is a privilege for us when we bring a horse to sale and so many people like him.” @JessMartiniTDN

 

30 Minutes of the Best Kind of Fun for McDonald

The principal of Eaton Sales, accustomed to seeing top horses pass through his consignment, had two seven-figure yearlings in a short time Wednesday, but wasn't about to rest on any laurels.

“I'll take more,” said Eaton's Reiley McDonald. “You never really know if you have a seven-figure horse until it goes through the ring.”

Hip 522, the first of Eaton's two millionaires in the first session of Book 2, is a chestnut colt by Not This Time out of MSW & GSP Stageplay (Curlin). Bred by Mike G. Rutherford in Kentucky, the April colt sold for $1.2 million to Repole Stable and Delta Squad Racing. McDonald was full of praise for the colt.

$1.2-million Not This Time colt (hip 522) | Photographer

“He's just an extraordinarily good-looking horse,” he said. “I think if you took that horse and took a picture, that could be the one in the conformation book for people to study to see what a profile should look like. Beautiful neck, great shoulder, perfect length, good hip, great mover. Just all the quality in the world to be around.”

McDonald thinks the colt has a big future.

“He's just a really, really good physical,” said McDonald. “We're talking sire right now.”

Just 30 minutes later, McDonald got a second millionaire on the day when hip 544, a bay colt by Good Magic out of Tactical Range (Union Rags) brought $1 million when selling to Donato Lanni, agent for SF Racing/Starlight/Madaket. Bred by Perrine Time Thoroughbreds, the colt was a pinhook, having gone through the Keeneland November ring last November for $275,000 when picked up by BT Stables.

“This one was just a beautiful colt,” said McDonald. “Everybody that saw him loved him. Great mover, beautiful neck and shoulder, average length. Big, big walker and just a lovely horse.”

Like several others around the sales pavilion, McDonald commented on the positive market.

“It's a good market and fortunately we brought two good horses to the right spot.” ––JillWilliamsTDN

 

Hugo Merry Goes to $1.175M for Ghostzapper Half to Late Ruling Court

In 2023, Nursery Place brought a Justify yearling to this sale who was purchased for $150,000, pinhooked to the Arqana Breeze-Up Sale for €2.3 million, and went on to win the 2,000 Guineas. It's a success story only tempered by news two weeks ago that Ruling Court has since been euthanized following complications from laminitis.

Wednesday, consigner Nursery Place was back late in the session with a Ghostzapper half-sister to Ruling Court, and was rewarded by a prolonged bidding war that saw Hugo Merry Bloodstock sign the ticket for $1.175 million. Bred in Kentucky by Nursery Place, Manfuso, and Wilhite, the daughter of Inchargeofme (High Chaparral {Ire}) was sold as hip 762.

“I knew there was a lot of interest in her and it was frustrating me because I didn't want to go anything like that sort of money,” said Merry, “but it's what the market is today, isn't it? It's an extraordinary market. It feels like the 80s, when I was very young here.”

Merry bought the bay filly on behalf of Imad Al Sagar's Blue Diamond Stud, which added Stonereath Farm near Paris, Kentucky to his portfolio in 2023.

Griffin Mayer and Hugo Merry | Keeneland

“This filly will probably go to Europe to race where he's got another farm and where he's a very successful breeder and owner,” said Merry, who added that Al Sagar usually uses John Gosden and Andre Fabre as trainers. “Imad is a very brave man and he's a very successful owner. He owned Authorized, who won the Derby. Nashwa is his most recent top, top filly and hopefully this one will live up to her price.”

When asked about the Ghostzapper filly, Merry said, “She is just a very sweet filly who is a beautiful horse. Ghostzapper gets some turf horses and we thought she was a very nice, lovely, balanced filly and hopefully would work in both America and Europe.”

He continued: “Also, she's a half to a Classic winner by a tremendous broodmare sire, so for a breeder like him there's a lot of residual value there.”

Merry said this filly was the only yearling he'd been able to purchase over the three days of the sale so far. He'd been beaten out on several others and said it was “very tough” to successfully buy a good horse this week, but he was delighted to get this one for Blue Diamond.

“[Al Sagar] is very committed to the business, loves the business, and hopefully he's got many years and a lot of success ahead, otherwise I'm going to get the boot,” Merry said with a laugh.

The 25-year-old Ghostzapper, who most recently stood in 2024 in Kentucky at Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa, spent the 2025 season at Adena Springs North covering a limited book of mares. He's had a resurgence of sorts these last few years, winning Breeders' Cup races the last three years running with Goodnight Olive and Moira. ––JillWilliamsTDN

 

Tom Ryan's Team gets a Repeat of Last Year with Nyquist Colt

When Donato Lanni, agent for SF/Starlight/Madaket, signed for a Nyquist colt Wednesday out of SP Velvet Sister (Bernardini) for $1.05 million Wednesday, it may have sparked a little bit of deja vu for SF Racing's Tom Ryan.

“We bought a beautiful colt by Nyquist here last year called Kristofferson that we're very excited about,” said Ryan.

The team had gone to $1.15 million for Kristofferson a year ago, now a winner at Del Mar in his only start Aug. 31. The group's other Nyquist purchase at last year's edition of this sale is named Taj Mahal and has not yet seen the starting gate in the afternoon. The group paid $525,000 for him.

This year's Nyquist yearling is a bay colt consigned by Summerfield. Sold as hip 573, he was bred by Stonestreet.

“He's bred and raised the right way,” said Ryan. “A Stonestreet colt by Nyquist, looks very fast. We've seen it with [Baoma Corp's 'TDN Rising Star', MGSW, & GISP] Nysos: Nyquist can really produce brilliance. Nyquist to us is a very elite stallion and we're happy to be involved.”

He continued: “[Hip 573] is a horse that has to jump through a lot of hoops. One, [bloodstock agent] Donato [Lanni] needs to like him. Two, [Hall of Fame trainer] Bob [Baffert] needs to get there. He's a colt that met all the criteria that we've put in place.”

The SF Racing, Starlight, and Madaket partnership closed out Wednesday with 10 yearlings purchased over the first three sessions of the September sale. Their purchases included a Good Magic colt (hip 544), who brought $1 million, and two $900,000 colts by Gun Runner, including a son of multiple champion Songbird (hip 128).

“It's been a great market here the last couple of days,” said Ryan. “We feel fortunate to be on the board again, so we'll keep rolling.” ––JillWilliamsTDN

 

Lael Remains Active at Keeneland Wednesday

Gun Runner continued to be popular at Keeneland this week, with a filly out of SW Stronger Than Ever (Congrats) bringing $950,000 from agent Chief Stipe Cauthen, acting on behalf of Roy and Gretchen Jackson's Lael Stables. The filly named One Family Strong was the sole purchase for the Jacksons in the Book 2 opener.

Consigned by Gainesway, Hip 536 is a full-sister to MSP Denington. This represents the family of GI Hollywood Gold Cup winner Rail Trip.

The Apr. 19 foal was bred by GRS, Fern Circle Stables and Magdalena Racing. A $310,000 purchase at Keeneland September in 2016, Stronger Than Ever–in foal to Candy Ride (Arg)–RNA'd for $285,000 at Keeneland last November.

$950k One Family Strong (Hip 536) | Keeneland

“It was a foal share,” confirmed Cauthen. “I've been fortunate enough to see her a couple of times and just the development she's had even in the last month has been pretty tremendous.”

He added, “She's by a great sire…she just moved so well, she was kind of the top filly for the Jacksons today.”

Pointing to the stalwart Three Chimneys sire, Cauthen explained, “He gets runners of all shapes and sizes. They all walk, they all move well and they've got great minds. He can get a sprinter type, he can get a two-turn type, and he can get a turf horse. It's kind of amazing. Obviously, he's known in the U.S. for dirt horses, but we think he can do anything. The Jacksons wanted to pick up some Gun Runners, so it worked out well.”

In Book 1, the Jacksons purchased a filly by Practical Joke out of Collegeville Girl (Hip 285) for $975,000, in addition to a colt by Speightstown out of Golden Review (Hip 344) for $750,000.

“It's pretty crazy wild. It's very strong,” said Cauthen of the sale's activity thus far. “But I just heard somebody saying that you have to participate in the market that you're in and it's a really strong market so you have to adjust your expectations.”—CBossTDN

 

After a Scare, Candy Ride Filly Gives Penns a Career High

Kendra Penn and her husband Alex enjoyed their biggest sales success as breeders when a filly by Candy Ride (Arg) (hip 493) sold for $900,000 to the bid of Pin Oak Stud Wednesday at Keeneland, but the path to the sales ring was anything but smooth sailing.

“Something spooked her and she just went flying backwards and reared up and landed by the tree and then she got up and leapt backwards again. And I went down,” Kendra Penn, sporting ripped jeans and skinned arms, recalled of the walk from Penn Sales's barn 28 to the sales pavilion.

Of her thoughts as the filly careened through the Keeneland backstretch, Penn smiled and said, “Don't let go. I can't let go. Stop baby.”

The yearling did indeed stop and made her way to the sales ring without further incident. She even earned a big kiss from Penn after the hammer fell.

“The reserve was $200,000,” Penn said. “We thought she would do better than that, but we can't afford to push them. We are not in the market to race. We had all of the right people on her. She had shown lights out for the last four days and every day just kept working harder and harder. I walked over 22 miles in four days showing her. Every time, she came out a class act and put on a show.”

$900k Candy Ride filly (Hip 493) | Keeneland

Alex and Kendra Penn, who have six or seven broodmares, purchased the yearling's dam, Seeking a Star (Pioneerof the Nile), for $25,000 at the 2019 Keeneland November sale.

“This is the third filly we have out of that mare,” Penn said. “And they are all the same. They will work so hard for you. My husband and I and his dad, we do everything ourselves. We have all been there from the time they are born. We are there every day. And they work so hard for you, but they are very tough. There is no forcing them to do anything. They do things out of kindness and out of respect.

“This filly got really tired yesterday morning showing and somebody came up and started loving on her and she flipped that switch back on and went back to work for the rest of the day. When they work that hard for you, you just hope the next person can realize that and foster that and let it take off. The goal is to give them the best chance. We take a lot of pride in raising a good and sound horse and a respectful horse, too. And hope they go on and the next person can go and do the same.”

Penn said Wednesday's career high hadn't quite set in yet and she was trying to keep an even keel in the face of all the peaks and valleys the breeding game can throw at you.

“This game has a lot of lows and we've had a lot of lows this year,” she said. “So honestly, it hasn't set in because you have to keep the emotions in check. We lost a full-sister to this filly in a paddock accident in the spring. So I told her, 'You have to bring enough for you and your sissie.' It's heartbreaking to not have a Candy Ride again next year.”

On the peaks side of things, Seeking a Star is back in foal to Forte and her yearling half-sister is shaped with promise.

“I hope she goes on and Pin Oak can go all the way with her,” Penn said. @JessMartiniTDN

 

NOTHING BUT NET

Constitution Colt a Home Run for Bregman

Alex Bregman may have been on the West Coast for his day job as third baseman for the Boston Red Sox, but he was well represented at the Keeneland September sale where his homebred Constitution colt (hip 519) sold for $775,000 to D J Stable and West Point Thoroughbreds. The yearling is the first foal out of Spare Cash (Quality Road), a mare the Bregman family acquired for $240,000 at the 2022 Keeneland November sale.

“The Bregman family bought Spare Cash as a maiden,” Bregman's advisor Mike Akers said. “The Klein family of Louisville raced that entire family and it was very sound and there were lots of good racehorses in there.”

Spare Cash, who failed to win in eight lifetime starts, is a daughter of multiple graded stakes winner Cash Control (Pioneerof the Nile). The yearling's third dam is graded winner Hidden Assets (Mt. Livermore).

Of expectations for the mare's first foal, Akers said, “We were hoping that $500,000 was a nice round number. And it hung around that for 30 seconds and then it took off again. We are very happy with that result. That can be a 'Nothing But Net,' for sure.”

The 7-year-old Spare Cash produced a colt by Into Mischief this year and was bred back to the Spendthrift stallion.

“Obviously, she is throwing nice foals,” Akers said.

Bregman has been slowly building a broodmare band and will be picking spots to race or sell his foals.

“We are building a broodmare band for Alex to race and sell out of and we are looking at different strategies,” Akers said. “I think he could offer them all for sale and play it from there. I think that's a good way to approach it.”

Akers continued, “Right now, Alex has seven mares, six pregnant, and we have a couple of stakes fillies that will probably come in eventually. The plan is to build the band by racing nice fillies and buying the occasional broodmare or broodmare prospect and to build a breeding stock base that he can have long term to race or sell out of.”

Bregman is currently in the midst of his first season playing for the Red Sox, who sat in third-place Wednesday morning in a tight battle in the American League East.

“Right now, he is totally locked in on getting Boston into the playoffs,” Akers said of Bregman. “He loves Boston.” @JessMartiniTDN

The facts and figures through Session 3 of The World's Yearling Sale. #KeeSept pic.twitter.com/qSOKMTugV5

— Keeneland Sales (@keenelandsales) September 11, 2025

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