With Day 2 of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale posting $79.6 million in sales, with 23 horses bringing $1 million or more, the auction continues to attract leading horsemen from around the world.
In an electric atmosphere, Tuesday’s second session saw an Into Mischief colt sell for $3.7 million to M.V. Magnier and Peter Brant’s White Birch Farm to become the most expensive horse of the sale.
The day set a single-session record for the September Sale and increased the total number of seven-figure horses at this auction to 41 — the most in the first two days of the sale in history.
On Tuesday, the final day of Book 1, Keeneland sold 111 yearlings through the ring for $79,630,000, up 6.25% from the second session last year when 111 horses brought $74,945,000.
The average of $717,387 rose 6.25% from last year’s $675,180, while the median of $550,000 equalled that of the corresponding session in 2025. Cumulatively, 208 horses grossed $151.4 million.
That was an increase of 5% from last year’s $144,185,000 for 217 horses sold. The average of $727,885 rose 9.55% from $664,447 in 2025, while the median of $600,000 was 9.09% above $550,000.
“It was a great day,” Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin said. “Lots of energy carried through with great participation internationally and domestically. The prices held and better.”
“The gross was up 5%. Median, average — both up about 9%. The RNA rate was a little higher and it ticked up higher than we would like it to, so we’d like to see that continue to go down.”
“That means some sellers are excited to keep their stock, and we may have some sellers disappointed that they didn’t find a spot in the market. We definitely are paying close attention to that.”
Tuesday’s $3.7 million colt is a half-brother to Grade 1-winning sire Mo Town and Grade 2-placed stakes winner Justique, and is from the family of Grade 3 winner Molta Vita. He was consigned by Glennwood Farm.
“He’s a big, strong colt, tremendous walk and a great presence,” said Glennwood’s John Gunther. “Everybody loved this one. I wanted to stay in, of course, but that’s not going to happen.”
AMO Racing USA paid $3.1 million for a Gun Runner full-brother to Grade 1 winner Locked, from the winning Malibu Moon mare Luna Rosa and from the family of Grade 1 winner Gabby’s Golden Gal.
“We loved him from the get-go,” said Ben McElroy, who signed the ticket. “By a sensational sire, his full brother is at stud so we are hoping for the same. This horse made a ton of sense to buy.”
Flying Dutchmen spent $2.6 million on a Flightline full-brother to two-year-old Saratoga performer Powerline. Consigned for Summer Wind Equine, he is out of stakes winner Park Avenue, by Quality Road.
He is from the family of Irish highweight Tomahawk, Grade 1 winners Golden Ticket, Well Chosen and Telling, and Grade 2 winners Academy Award, Magical Feeling and Imagination.
Flying Dutchmen acquired five horses for $6 million to be the session’s leading buyer, while two yearlings sold for $1.95 million each, another two for $1.6 million each and two yearlings for $1.5 million each.
“We saw some selectivity in the market,” Keeneland Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy said, “and are keeping a close eye on that. Overall we’re very pleased with the numbers.”
“I think watching the young stallions like Elite Power and Cody’s Wish getting well rewarded today was wonderful to see. They and many others have a great crop of young produce out there.”
Monday’s vibrant first session saw gross sales of $71,770,000, led by the $2.8 million purchase by RTM Racing of a Gun Runner colt, with 18 horses selling for $1 million or more — the most for the sale’s opening day since 2005.
