Chain of Records Set at Keeneland September Following Weekend Action

With six sessions in the books, the 2025 Keeneland September Yearling Sale has already surpassed last year’s record, generating more than $417 million, featuring 56 seven-figure horses, and showcasing a market that continues to impress with its strength and competitiveness

A son of Into Mischief changed hands at Keeneland on Saturday / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

LEXINGTON, Kentucky (Special for Turf Diario).- The 2025 Keeneland September Yearling Sale continues to write a superlative story. After a first week that saw over $318 million in sales—including post-auction transactions—the sale resumed on Saturday with the opening of Book 3, once again producing historic figures and confirming the extraordinary strength of the U.S. Thoroughbred breeding and sales market.

The headline numbers are striking: with six of the twelve sessions completed, cumulative sales through the ring reached $417.6 million, surpassing the total for the entire 2024 edition ($411 million) with half the calendar still to come. A total of 1,216 yearlings were sold at an average of $343,439 and a median of $250,000, representing year-over-year increases of 19% and 24%, respectively. So far, 56 horses have reached or exceeded seven figures, compared with 36 at the same point last year.

Saturday’s standout news was the top price of $2 million paid by Justin Casse / M.V. Magnier / White Birch for a son of Into Mischief from the family of Jaywalk (Cross Traffic) and Tapit Trice (Tapit). “The sire, the pedigree, the physique… This was a horse who could have been a feature on any previous day. A total standout,” said Casse, who added that he wasn’t surprised to have to go that high in a market this hot.

That same day also saw a $1.4 million post-auction transaction for a Not This Time colt, as well as a $1.15 million sale in the ring for another colt by the same sire, bringing the session’s total of seven-figure lots to three. Gainesway led the consignors, selling 35 horses for $12.25 million.

The momentum carried into Sunday, when Book 3 closed with $48.1 million in sales from 267 horses, up 34% from 2024. The average rose to $180,464 and the median reached $150,000, representing year-over-year gains of 27% and 36%, respectively.

The top prices of the day went to two Not This Time colts: one purchased for $875,000 by Repole Stable and St. Elias Stables, from the family of champion Zenyatta (Street Cry); and another sold for $775,000 to Bradley Thoroughbreds. Four more yearlings topped $600,000, including a Bolt d’Oro filly who is a half-sister to It’s Our Time (Not This Time).

Taylor Made Sales Agency led the Sunday consignors with 30 yearlings selling for $5.39 million, while Chad Summers, buying four horses for $1.17 million, was the session’s most active buyer.

Through 949 yearlings sold to date, the sale’s cumulative total stands at $369.4 million, up 23% from 2024, with both averages and medians posting double-digit gains.

Tony Lacy, Keeneland’s vice president of sales, celebrated: “Today we closed another book at the top, with packed stands and strong competition in the ring. Surpassing last year’s record with six sessions still to go speaks volumes about the health of the market. But most importantly, every success here translates into direct support for people, horses, and the initiatives that sustain our sport.”

The Keeneland September Yearling Sale continues, and all signs indicate that the record-setting story is only just beginning.