Hip 1197 Into Mischief Colt. (Keeneland Photo)
Hot Market Continues Saturday at Keeneland September Yearling Sale
Keeneland Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Following the first four days of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, which produced cumulative gross sales, including post sales, of more than $318 million for premier Thoroughbred racing prospects, the auction resumed Saturday after a one-day pause and continued its strong pace.
Justin Casse/M.V. Magnier/White Birch today paid $2 million for a colt by Into Mischief to be the highest-priced horse of Session 5 of any September Sale. With the post-sale acquisition of a $1.4 million colt by Not This Time plus the $1.15 million through-the-ring sale of another son of Not This Time, three horses sold for $1 million or more to set a record for Session 5 and increase the record number of seven-figure horses for the entire 2025 auction to 56.
Cumulatively, 949 horses have sold through the ring for a total of $369,438,000, an increase of 22.97% from the same period in 2024 when 913 horses brought $300,432,000. The average of $389,292 rose 18.30% from $329,060 last year, while the median was up 20% from $250,000 to $300,000. Last year, 36 horses sold for $1 million and more.
Book 3 showcases strength at $2 million. Justin Casse, M.V. Magnier & White Birch secure an Into Mischief colt out of Miss Jessica J. From the family of Jaywalk and Tapit Trice, the colt was consigned by @Gainesway. #KeeSept pic.twitter.com/9cUHGFtBIQ
— Keeneland Sales (@keenelandsales) September 13, 2025
On Saturday, the first day of the Book 3 catalog, Keeneland sold 278 yearlings through the ring for $61,799,000, up 29.01% from last year’s comparable session when 273 horses brought $47,904,000. The average of $222,299 increased 26.69% over $175,473 in 2024. The median rose 20% from $150,000 to $180.000.
“Today marks the fifth consecutive session in which we’ve set a record, an achievement that speaks volumes about the strength of Keeneland as the global marketplace,” Keeneland Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy said. “The sustained momentum we’ve seen each day reflects both the exceptional quality of horses on offer and the depth of this sale.
“We’re fortunate to have some of the most astute judges of Thoroughbreds in the world here,” Lacy continued. “One thing that really stands out is how many major players are still on the grounds and still are active. There’s been a convergence of new participants arriving with those who were here in the early books and remain determined to secure horses. The competition is still incredibly strong, and it’s been exciting to watch so many engaged buyers driving the market forward. The energy that defined the opening books has carried over through each session. What we’re experiencing here is truly extraordinary.”
$1.4 million for hip 1426, a Not This Time colt out of Bella Runner! From the @TaylorMadeSales consignment, and purchased by Douglas Scharbauer. #KeeSept pic.twitter.com/SUkn8PSqQx
— Keeneland Sales (@keenelandsales) September 13, 2025
Today’s top-priced yearling, who was consigned by Gainesway, agent, is from the family of champion Jaywalk, Toyota Blue Grass (G1) winner and sire Tapit Trice along with Grade 2 winners and sires Mission Impazible and Forest Camp. At the 2019 September Sale, Gainesway, agent, sold the colt’s dam, Miss Jessica J, a daughter of Empire Maker, for $2 million.
Asked what appealed to him about the colt, Casse said, “The sire, the pedigree, the individual. He could have been easily in any one of the last few days; he just ended up on this day. He was a real standout. He was a beautiful physical with a lot of scope and obviously by a sire of sires who can do no wrong.”
Casse said he was not surprised to have to stretch to $2 million to acquire the colt because of the record-setting market during Week 1.
“I feel like that Book 2 was like Book 1 five years ago,” Casse said. “Book 1 was in a whole other stratosphere from what we’ve seen in the past. The other books have shifted up in value. There is a real hunger, and I’m just waiting to see what lies ahead because you have a different buyer base coming into town and the pedigrees are a lot different. I just hope for the market’s sake that it’ll all transition, which I think it should — maybe not at the level we’ve seen so far, but definitely everything should be up.”
$1.15 million in the ring for hip 1517! The Not This Time colt out of Flash Magic was consigned by Summerfield, agent for @StonestreetFarm, and purchased by Eclipse, Bridlewood, LaPenta, Warren. #KeeSept pic.twitter.com/0wQUAXVm8D
— Keeneland Sales (@keenelandsales) September 13, 2025
Gainesway was the session’s leading consignor with through-the-ring sales of $12.25 million for 35 yearlings.
In a post-sale transaction of $1.4 million, Douglas Scharbauer purchased a colt by Not This Time who is the first foal out of stakes winner Bella Runner, by Gun Runner. Consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent, he is from the family of champion and sire Bernardini and Grade 1 winners Love and Pride and Cara Rafaela.
Eclipse, Bridlewood, LaPenta and Warren paid $1.15 million for a colt by Not This Time from the family of champion and sire Good Magic. Out of the winning Pioneerof the Nile mare Flash Magic, he was consigned by Summerfield (Francis and Barbara Vanlangendonck), agent for Stonestreet Bred for Brilliance.
SOLD. Case Clay purchases hip 1325, an Into Mischief colt out of the Curlin mare Superlative, for $900,000 from @HillnDaleFarm consignment. #KeeSept pic.twitter.com/xRKWZmeSRT
— Keeneland Sales (@keenelandsales) September 13, 2025
Into Mischief is also the sire of a colt sold for $900,000 to Case Clay Thoroughbred Management. Consigned by Hill ‘n’ Dale at Xalapa, agent, he is from the family of Belmont (G1) winner Touch Gold, Canadian Horse of the Year With Approval, Canadian champion Serenading and Toyota Blue Grass winner Brilliant Speed. His dam is the Curlin mare Superlative.
Jones/Everett, agent – Belmar, Legendary went to $800,000 to acquire a colt by Good Magic from the family of Canadian champion Lukes Alley and Grade 1 winner Coup de Fusil. Consigned by Gainesway, agent, he is out of the winning Empire Maker mare Easy to Love.
Belladonna Racing, West Point T’Breds and Woodford Rcg. was the session’s leading buyer, spending $2,435,000 for five horses.
The September Sale continues Sunday at 10 a.m. ET and runs daily through Saturday, Sept. 20 for a total of 12 sessions. The entire auction is streamed live at Keeneland.com.
