Million-dollar babies: See the highest-priced yearlings of '21
Despite an ongoing global pandemic, buyers arrived at this year’s yearling sales ready to buy, particularly on the high end of the market.
The Keeneland September, Fasig-Tipton Saratoga and Fasig-Tipton Kentucky yearling sales all joined other smaller auctions with banner results on a variety of fronts. How strong was the top of the market? Nineteen yearlings sold for a million dollars are more this year led by a $2.6 million colt by City of Light. In 2020, seven yearlings sold for seven figures.
Below were this year’s million-dollar babies.
Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling sale
Hip 168 - Colt
Price: $2.6 million
Sire: Into Mischief
Dam (damsire): Paola Queen (Flatter)
Buyer: M.V. Magnier
This was the highest-priced yearling of the year. He is the second foal out of Paola Queen, who won the 2016 Test (G1). Her first foal by Medaglia d’Oro, the 2-year-old Pass and Stow, brought $100,000 at auction last year and is unraced.
Hip 73 - Colt
Price: $1.6 million
Sire: Uncle Mo
Dam (damsire): Dame Dorothy (Bernardini)
Buyer: Lawana Low
Dame Dorothy was a Grade 1 winner for Todd Pletcher who has also produced Spice Is Nice, winner of this year's Allaire DuPont Distaff (G3) at Pimlico.
Hip 132 - Colt
Price: $1.4 million
Sire: Bolt d’Oro
Dam (damsire): Lotta Kim (Roar)
Buyer: OXO Equine
From the first crop of Bolt d’Oro, this is a three-quarter sibling to Hall of Famer Rachel Alexandra.
Hip 160 - Filly
Price: $1 million
Sire: Quality Road
Dam (damsire): Above Perfection (In Excess)
Buyer: Kindred Stables
Veteran broodmare Above Perfection was a graded-stakes winner on the track and has produced eight winners, including Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming and Grade 1 winner Hot Dixie Chick.
Hip 61 Filly
Price: $1 million
Sire: Tapit
Dam (damsire): Checkupfromzneckup (Dixie Union)
Buyer: West Point Thorougbreds, Scarlet Oak Racing & NBS Stable
This is a half sister to undefeated graded-stakes winner Caribbean Caper, who won this year's Audubon Oaks at Ellis Park and the Dogwood (G3) at Keeneland. Checkupfromzneckup was stakes-placed on the track compiling a record of 10: 4-3-1 and earnings of $187,470 while racing in the Northeast.
Keeneland September yearling sale
Hip 612 - Colt
Price: $1.7 million
Sire: City of Light
Dam (damsire): Anchorage (Tapit)
Buyer: Woodford Racing, Talla Racing, West Point Thoroughbreds
He is from the first crop of City of Light, who won the 2018 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile and 2019 Pegasus World Cup before retiring with more than $5.6 million in earnings. Anchorage was a multiple stakes-placed winner for Todd Pletcher who also produced Abaan, recent winner of the listed H. Allen Jerkens at Gulfstream Park.
Hip 300 - Colt
Price: $1.6 million
Sire: Quality Road
Dam (damsire): Catch the Moon (Malibu Moon)
Buyer: Woodford Racing and West Point Thoroughbreds
Catch the Moon was unraced but has been prolific in the breeding shed. Her previous offspring include four graded-stakes winners: Midnight Bourbon, Pirate’s Punch, Girvin and Cocked and Loaded.
Hip 580 - Colt
Price: $1.55 million
Sire: Justify
Dam (damsire): True Feelings (Latent Heat)
Buyer: Talla Racing and West Point Thoroughbreds
This colt is from the first crop of Triple Crown winner Justify. True Feelings was graded-stakes placed as a juvenile (2011 Schuylerville (G3)) and has had four previous foals including Royal Act, who was second in the 2020 Robert B. Lewis (G3).
Hip 43 - Doing Justice (filly)
Price: $1.4 million
Sire: American Pharoah
Dam (damsire): Letgomyecho (Menifee)
Buyer: Northshore Bloodstock
This gal is a half sister to this year’s de-facto 2-year-old filly champion Echo Zulu, Grade 1 winner Echo Town and five other six-figure earners including 2017 Gotham (G3) winner J Boys Echo.
Hip 177 - Colt
Price: $1.35 million
Sire: Into Mischief
Dam (damsire): Superiority Complex (Ire) (Hard Spun)
Buyer: Winchell Thoroughbreds
By 2021’s top stallion in North America, she is the first foal out of Superiority Complex, who was a multiple winner in England. She hails from the same family of 2003 champion turf mare Islington.
Hip 331 - Colt
Price: $1.3 million
Sire: Tapit
Dam (damsire): Danzatrice (Dunkirk)
Buyer: Whisper Hill Farm
She is the second foal of Danzatrice, who was graded-stakes placed for trainer Steve Asmussen. Her 2-year-old half brother, General Strike, is a gelding in training with Asmussen and is 0-for-4 at Churchill Downs and Saratoga.
Hip 333 - Colt
Price: $1.3 million
Sire: Curlin
Dam (damsire): Dashing Debby (Medaglia d’Oro)
Buyer: M.V. Magnier
This colt is a half brother to Dawn the Destroyer, who was third in the 2019 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint and banked more than $550k for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin and Stonestreet Stables.
Hip 356 - Filly
Price: $1.25 million
Sire: Into Mischief
Dam (damsire): Embellish the Lace (Super Saver)
Buyer: Spendthrift Farm
Embellish the Lace won the 2015 Alabama (G1). She has produced two other foals, including Tap the Faith, who was a debut winner at Belmont Park this year for trainer Christophe Clement and most recently was fifth in the Demoiselle (G2).
Hip 223 - African Waters (filly)
Price: $1.2 million
Sire: War Front
Dam (damsire): Vaulcluse (A.P. Indy)
Buyer: Seahorse Stables
Vaulcluse started only three times and won all three, including the 2008 Suncoast Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs. Her previous produce includes multiple graded-stakes winner Lukes Alley and Arrifana, who was stakes-placed and won five of six starts at Laurel Park.
Hip 286 - Colt
Price: $1.15 million
Sire: Quality Road
Dam (damsire): Brielle’s Appeal (English Channel)
Buyer: Mayberry Farm
This is the first foal out of Brielle’s Appeal, who was Grade 3-placed and is a half sister to Authenticity, a Grade 2 winner who is the dam of Charlatan.
Hip 89 - Evergrande (filly)
Price: $1.1 million
Sire: Uncle Mo
Dam (damsire): Nikki’s Choice (Forestry)
Buyer: Courtlandt Farm
Nikki’s Choice was a multiple winner and both her previous foals to make the race have also reached the winner’s circle. This gal hails from the family of Champagne (G1) winner Greenwood Lake.
Hip 376 - Colt
Price: $1.05 million
Sire: City of Light
Dam (damsire): Ghostslayer (Ghostzapper)
Buyer: West Bloodstock for Repole Stable & St. Elias
Ghostlayer, who won her one and only start for Jerry Hollendorfer, has also produced graded-stakes winner Biddy Duke.
Hip 309 - Sir Blue Eyes (colt)
Price: $1 million
Sire: War Front
Dam (damsire): Chatham (Maria’s Mon)
Buyer: Lynnhaven Racing
Chatham was multiple stakes-placed for Dallas Stewart and previously produced Air Force Blue, a multiple Group 1 winner in Europe for Aidan O’Brien.
Hip 874 - Colt
Price: $1 million
Sire: Into Mischief
Dam (damsire): Secret Someone (A.P. Indy)
Buyer: Mike Ryan, agent
Secret Someone was graded-stakes placed for Michael Stidham. Neither of her two other foals, 3-year-old Rule the World and 2-year-old Chameleon, have raced.
Hip 1022 - Colt
Price: $1 million
Sire: Street Sense
Dam (damsire): Critikal Reason (Aptitude)
Buyer: BSW/Crow Colts Group
By the 2007 Kentucky Derby winner, this colt is kin to five winners including graded-stakes placed runners Bajan and Virtual Machine.