Keeneland stays relentless: a $2,250,000 Nyquist colt tops another record day
Book 2 opened with 14 yearlings selling for seven figures, the highest total ever recorded for a third session. Through three days of selling, 55 yearlings have already been traded for $1,000,000 or more, sitting just one shy of the all-time record set in 2025
LEXINGTON, Kentucky (Special for Turf Diario).— The catalog changed, but the heat remained. Following an extraordinary Book 1, the Keeneland September Yearling Sale entered its third session on Wednesday without losing momentum: a colt by Nyquist reached $2,250,000, 13 other yearlings surpassed the million-dollar mark, and the cumulative total climbed to $240,935,000.
The top price paid for the son of Nyquist was the highest for Day 3 since Keeneland established its current format in 2021, featuring two Book 1 sessions followed by two in Book 2. Purchased by Kimmel/Sallusto, agents for Alex and JoAnn Lieblong, he headlined a day that once again delivered extraordinary numbers.
Fourteen yearlings were sold for $1,000,000 or more, setting a new record for a third session and topping the 13 recorded during the equivalent session in 2025. With nine days of selling remaining, 55 million-dollar yearlings have already been traded—just one shy of the all-time auction record of 56 established across the entire sale last year.
Keeneland sold 209 horses during the session for $89,535,000, a 4.47 percent increase over the $85,702,000 grossed by 221 head on the corresponding day in 2025.
The average rose 10.47 percent, from $387,792 to $428,397, while the median dipped 4.62 percent, from $325,000 to $310.000. It served as a slight sign of selectivity in a market that, whenever it found the right physical and pedigree, pushed ahead aggressively.
Through three sessions, 417 yearlings have been sold for $240,935,000, up 4.81 percent from $229,887,000 for 438 horses at the same stage last year. The cumulative average reached $577,782, a 10.08 percent gain, while the median rose 5.88 percent, from $425,000 to $450,000.
“It was a really solid and incredible day. When you get into this part of the sale, this is where the real market is, and the good horses fetched extraordinary prices,” analyzed Tony Lacy, vice president of sales at Keeneland.
The executive noted that the previous edition had set “the bar in the stratosphere,” making current gains over those figures a clear validation of the industry's health. “You could see some frustration among buyers who were targeting the same horses. They had to stretch to secure them, and that's good news—the breeders were very well rewarded,” he added.
Cormac Breathnach, senior director of sales operations, highlighted the daily and cumulative growth in gross and average, though he noted that the median finished slightly behind the third session of 2025. Keeneland is also keeping an eye on a slightly elevated RNA rate.
“That indicates not everyone is getting exactly what they want out of the market, though the vast majority are. We'll look to maintain this momentum, evaluate everything during Friday's dark day, and then move into Books 3 through 5B,” Breathnach noted.
Nyquist dominant once again
Consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, the session-topping $2,250,000 colt is out of Hot Cha (Bernardini), from the family of champion Xtra Heat (Dixieland Heat) and G3 winners Scalding (Nyquist) and Hot and Sultry(Speightster). He was bred in Kentucky by Fred W. Hertrich III and John D. Fielding.
“He just stood out; he was in another category. Obviously, the price reflected that,” commented Alex Lieblong, before joking: “Now, if we can just make sure the check clears, we’ll be in good shape.”
Duncan Taylor of Taylor Made acknowledged expecting a strong sale, though the final price exceeded their wildest projections. “We knew he was a very special colt. Nyquist is selling extremely well and we thought he could be a million-dollar horse, but we never envisioned $2,200,000. You have to give huge credit to the team at Watercress Farm. He arrived brilliantly prepared and never lost his cool,” he explained.
Nyquist was also responsible for another banner transaction: RTM Racing paid $1,750,000 for one of his sons consigned by Claiborne Farm. Out of Sibaaq (Bernardini), a full sister to G1 winner Takaful, he stems from the family of European champion Shadayid (Shadeed) and Haikal (Daaher).
The Nyquist—Bernardini nick has already produced elite results, and Walker Hancock of Claiborne drew a direct comparison. “Over the summer I saw a photograph of Nysos, who is also by Nyquist out of a Bernardini mare, and this colt was the image of him. With the success that cross is having, we figured he would sell very well,” he said.
Into Mischief hits the two-million mark again
The second highest price of the session belonged to a colt by Into Mischief, purchased by Legion Bloodstock for $2,000,000. Consigned by Stonehaven Steadings, he is out of Miss Costa Rica (Hit It a Bomb), a stakes winner and G2-placed mare, from the family of G1 winner Taste of Paradise (Conquistador Cielo).
“From the moment we saw him, we fell in love. We brought the whole team over, and everyone felt the same way. We never thought we’d pay two million, but we knew we’d have to go deep to get him,” said buyer Kristian Villante.
It was a memorable session for Stonehaven, having earlier sold a Flightline colt for $1,100,000 to Flying Dutchmen.
“It was one of those special days. Quality horses always find a way to stand out. You dream and hold out hope; sometimes you get surprised, and other times the outcome surpasses all expectations,” summarized Aidan O’Meara of Stonehaven Steadings.
Into Mischief added another seven-figure lot when Spendthrift Farm and Epic Horses went to $1,500,000 for a half-brother to stakes winner Valentine Candy (Justify).
Consigned by Nicky Drion Thoroughbreds, he is out of the G1-placed mare Taste Like Candy, by Candy Ride, and belongs to the family of G1 winners Exbourne (Explodent), Expelled (Explodent), and Affirmed Success(Affirmed). He became the most expensive horse ever sold by breeder Pine Creek LP (Ben Lengacher).
Flightline stays strong
Winchell Thoroughbreds (Ron Winchell) invested $1,850,000 in another colt by Flightline, this one out of Velvet Sky (Uncle Mo). Offered by his breeder, Killora, he hails from the family of G1 winner Grace Hall (Empire Maker).
Aidan and Hannah Jennings, owners of Killora Stud, had purchased Velvet Sky during Book 1 of the 2020 Keeneland September Sale and were rewarded with this result for her first foal.
“We were very conservative with our expectations. We hoped for the best, but the price ended up way past our reserve,” admitted Aidan Jennings. “It’s been a long journey to get here. He’s the mare's first foal, so we’re thrilled for the future,” added Hannah.
Up to the Mark makes a splash
A major highlight of the day came via a colt from the first crop of champion Up to the Mark (Not This Time), acquired by Kia Joorabchian’s AMO Racing USA for $1,650,000.
Consigned by Nursery Place, he is a half-brother to Ruling Court (Justify), winner of the English 2000 Guineas(G1), and out of Inchargeofme (High Chaparral), a G3 winner and placed runner.
“He's a striking individual and a half-brother to a Guineas winner. Up to the Mark was a superb racehorse by Not This Time. Kia might decide to send him to England; his brother performed exceptionally well over there,” explained Alex Elliott, bloodstock advisor for AMO Racing.
Among the fillies, a daughter of Gun Runner reached $1,550,000. She was bought by Mayberry Farm on behalf of C R K Stable (Lee and Susan Searing) and will travel to Ocala to begin her early training.
Consigned by Farfellow Farms, she is out of stakes winner Another Broad (Include) and belongs to the family of Stellar Brush (Broad Brush) and Star Minister (Deputy Minister). The filly was bred in partnership by Farfellowand GRS (the Gun Runner syndicate) and became the most expensive horse sold at public auction by the Knelmanfamily.
“She just kept getting better every day. It was thrilling and a lot of fun to hear so many compliments from buyers coming to look at her,” said Jak Knelman.
Douglas Scharbauer topped the session's buyers index, securing five yearlings for $3,850,000, including a Not This Time filly for $1,050,000 and a daughter of Nyquist for $1,000,000. Meanwhile, Gainesway finished as the leading consignor, selling 29 yearlings for $10,890,000.
Book 2 picked up right where the opening segment ended: with buyers forced to stretch, breeders richly rewarded, and top-tier yearlings commanding massive valuations. Three days into the Keeneland sale, the all-time record for million-dollar horses is just one away from falling, and the market appears in no mood to wait.
