Hip 1686 $1.2 Million Nyquist Colt Keeneland September Yearling Sale 9.20 - Photo: Keeneland Sales
LEXINGTON, Ky. — The momentum at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale showed little sign of slowing over the weekend, as strong demand carried through Book 3 and pushed the number of seven-figure yearlings sold during the 2026 auction to 70, compared with 56 at the same point last year.
Following Friday’s scheduled dark day, buyers returned Saturday with significant appetite for quality. The fifth session generated $61.07 million in through-the-ring sales and produced four million-dollar yearlings, led by a $1.5 million colt by Not This Time.
The market remained active Sunday, when Book 3 concluded with another $50.85 million in sales, a 5.54% increase over the comparable session in 2025. A $1.2 million son of Nyquist topped the day.
Together, the two sessions reinforced one of the major themes of this year’s September Sale: buyers continue to compete aggressively for horses they believe possess elite racing and stallion potential, regardless of where they appear in the catalog.
70 million-dollar yearlings — and counting
Through six sessions, Keeneland has sold 1,150 yearlings for $430.04 million, up 2.97% from the corresponding period in 2025.
Even more notable has been the strength of the average and median. The cumulative average stands at $373,947, an 8.88% increase from last year, while the median has risen 10% to $275,000.
And at the top of the market, the numbers continue to stand out.
A total of 70 yearlings have now sold for $1 million or more, compared with 56 through the same stage last year.
Saturday alone added four members to that exclusive group.
Not This Time colt leads Saturday at $1.5 million
The Saturday session topper was a $1.5 million colt by Not This Time, purchased by RTM Racing from the Gainesway consignment.
The colt is the first foal out of Ana’s Gun, a daughter of Gun Runner and half-sister to Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) winner Structor. His extended family includes Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Always a Runner and Australian champion Lady of Camelot.
Agent Mahmud Mouni, who signed the ticket for RTM Racing, suggested the colt demonstrated why the best prospects can command major prices regardless of catalog placement.
“It’s really tough to find the horses like him,” Mouni said. “He’s amazing, he’s gorgeous, amazing pedigree. He’s been on our list [from day one].”
“For the good horse, everybody likes it. It doesn’t matter what book it is. I think the horse deserved what he got [bidding-wise]. This horse could be in Book 1, Book 2.”
Not This Time also supplied Saturday’s second-highest-priced yearling, a $1.4 million filly purchased by Lauren Carlisle, agent. Out of the Paddy O’Prado mare O’Maggi, the filly comes from the family of Grade 1 winner Dream Tree.
Carlisle finished as Saturday’s leading buyer after spending $2.835 million on five yearlings.
Another major transaction came when St. Elias, West Point, Lane’s End Racing and Belladonna teamed to acquire a $1.25 million colt by Life Is Good.
The colt, consigned by Gainesway, is out of Graceful Fancy, by Liam’s Map, and comes from a family that includes Grade 1 winners La Gueriere and Al Mamoon, as well as prominent sire Munnings.
A son of Into Mischief completed Saturday’s seven-figure quartet when Fergus Galvin, agent, went to $1 million for the colt out of the Curlin mare Weather Delay.
Other notable Saturday transactions included an $850,000 Good Magic colt, an $850,000 Flightline colt, a $750,000 son of Honor A. P., and yearlings by Candy Ride and Gun Runner who each brought $700,000.
Gainesway dominated the session from the consignor side, selling 39 yearlings for $12.685 million.
Nyquist takes center stage Sunday
The action continued Sunday as Book 3 concluded with another seven-figure purchase.
A Nyquist colt brought $1.2 million from Donato Lanni, agent for FRC/Starlight/Madaket, making him the session topper.
Consigned by Four Star Sales, the colt is out of stakes winner Alexandria, by Constitution, and comes from the family of Group 1 winner Wandack.
The purchase helped make Lanni the day’s leading buyer on behalf of FRC/Starlight/Madaket, acquiring five horses for a combined $3.06 million.
Tom Ryan of FRC pointed not only to Nyquist’s growing reputation but also to the potential long-term value of the colt.
“Obviously by a stallion everybody now respects in Nyquist,” Ryan said. “You’re giving yourself a chance at creating a potential Kentucky sire down the road if he lives up to our expectations.”
Ryan also echoed one of the weekend’s recurring themes: elite horses can emerge from anywhere in the September catalog.
“It doesn’t really matter what book they come out of if they’re fast enough, right?” he said.
Ryan pointed to Authentic as a prime example. The future Kentucky Derby (G1) winner was purchased for $350,000 as Hip 2616 at the 2018 September Sale before developing into a champion and successful stallion.
Depth continues beyond the million-dollar level
Sunday’s market demonstrated strength well beyond its $1.2 million session topper.
A Maxfield colt brought $900,000 from CHC Inc., Maverick Racing and Light Post Ventures, while another son of Nyquist sold to Pin Oak Stud for $825,000.
Pin Oak also paid $800,000 for a Liam’s Map colt, while trainer Kenneth McPeek, acting for Dream Big Racing, went to $775,000 for a son of Golden Pal.
A colt from the first crop of Grade 1 winner Gunite brought $700,000 from Gold Square, while another first-crop yearling, this one by multiple Grade 1 winner Taiba, sold for $625,000 to Donato Lanni for FRC/Starlight/Madaket.
A Maxfield colt purchased by Kimmel/Sallusto, agent for Flanagan Racing, rounded out the major Sunday transactions at $600,000.
Book 3 reinforces the strength of Keeneland September
Saturday and Sunday offered another important indicator of the depth of this year’s market.
Saturday’s average climbed 7.74% to $239,498, while its $200,000 median represented an 11.11% increase over the corresponding session in 2025.
Sunday followed with an average of $194,092, up 7.55%, while its $150,000 median matched last year’s figure.
More importantly, the cumulative figures through six sessions remain ahead of 2025 despite fewer horses having gone through the ring.
Through the same point last year, 1,216 yearlings had generated $417.62 million. This year, 1,150 horses have produced $430.04 million.
That combination — fewer horses sold, higher gross receipts, a rising average and median, and 70 seven-figure yearlings — illustrates the strength that has characterized the opening week of the 2026 Keeneland September Sale.
Book 1 established a torrid pace at the top of the market. Books 2 and 3 have shown that demand is extending deeper into the catalog.
For buyers, the competition remains intense.
For breeders and consignors bringing the right horse to the ring, Keeneland September continues to demonstrate that quality can command a premium no matter the hip number or the book.
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