Coolmore sending $1.3 million American Pharoah colt to Baffert

Coolmore struck early Wednesday at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, going to $1.3 million for the second horse through the ring.

The colt, a son of American Pharoah, will go to Hall of Famer Bob Baffert once in training, said Coolmore’s M.V. Magnier, who relayed that Baffert is “very high on the horse.”

"He says that he's got a couple of very good American Pharoahs," Magnier added of Baffert.

The 2015 Triple Crown winner stands at Coolmore’s Ashford Stud only miles from Keeneland in Lexington, Ky. Horses from his first crop have won multiple stakes on turf and are performing on dirt as well.

Hip 382’s female family indicates he should excel on the main track, as the dam, Escampette, is by Smart Strike, and the Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Bayern appears on the catalog page as a family member.

Jamie McCalmont bid on behalf of Coolmore. Sarah Kelly also signed the ticket.

Hunter Valley Farm consigned the colt.

“As a weanling, we thought he was the best foal on the grounds,” said the farm’s manager, Adrian Reagan.

Hip 382 is a May 13 foal, indicating we may not see him too early on as a 2-year-old once of racing age.

“He’s only going to get better,” Reagan said.