BY BROCK SHERIDAN
A Florida-bred filly selling as Hip 153 sold to Douglas Scharbauer for $500,000 Monday during the first day of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Consigned by Denali Stud as an agent for Bridlewood Farm, the bay filly is by Gun Runner out of the stakes-winning mare Osare, by Medaglia d’Oro. Osare is a half-sister to champion 3-year-old colt and multiple Grade 1-winner Arrogate and stakes-placed Diamond Ore.
Osare was purchased by Bridlewood Farm as a yearling for $300,000 at the 2016 Keeneland September Sale. While racing in the colors of Bridlewood, Osare earned $234,605 while winning two of six starts including the $300,000 Fifth Third Insurance Dueling Grounds Oaks in 2018.
Osare is the dam of two other registered Florida-breds, including the 3-year-old Quester, by Into Mischief and a winner of two of five starts and $65,073. She also produced Curved, an unraced 2-year-old colt by Into Mischief.
The Gun Runner filly was one of two Florida-breds cataloged to sell on the first day of the prestigious Book 1 along with Hip 126, who was an out.
Opening day of Keeneland’s 2024 September Yearling Sale featured vibrant trade among the world’s major buyers, resulting in double-digit gains in average and median prices and the sale of 14 horses for $1 million or more. The day was highlighted by a colt by Gun Runner selling for $2.2 million to Mandy Pope’s Whisper Hill Farm.
“He’s an amazing horse,” Todd Quast of Whisper Hill said. “He’s got everything: the looks, the shoulder, the hip, the movement. We do a lot with Three Chimneys, so we know he was raised right. We’re just super happy to have him. [The purchase price is] what it takes to get these good prospects that have a chance to be a stallion that look like that. He really looks the part.”
Total sales for 98 horses were $54,795,000, nearly even with last year’s first session gross of $55,330,000 when 110 yearlings, including eight seven-figure horses, sold. The average of $559,133 was 11.16% above last year’s $503,000, and the median rose 12.50% from $400,000 to $450,000.
Monday was the first of 12 sessions scheduled during the Keeneland September Yearling Sale that runs through Sept. 21. The sale will be conducted each day except Friday, Sept. 13.
Portions of this story were taken directly from a Keeneland press release
