FAB FOUR SHINE AT KEENELAND SEPTEMBER

First-crop Lane’s End stallions Honor Code, Liam’s Map, Mr Speaker and Tonalist all made impressive first showings throughout their inaugural yearling sales and through the recently concluded Keeneland September Sale.

Classic winner Tonalist proved to be a fashionable newcomer at Keeneland. He now boasts an average of $118,500 and median of $92,500. Manganaro Bloodstock bought his priciest Keeneland yearling, a filly from the Frankfort Park Farm consignment, for $410,000. During Book 1, a colt by the multiple Grade I winner was hammered down for $275,000 to Winchell Thoroughbreds. West Point Thoroughbreds, Voute Sales, J.J. Crupi, and Tom McGreevy all got in on the action, each taking home a Tonalist of their own.

From a stud fee of just $10,000, Mr Speaker has proven to be one of the more economical sires of the first-crop stallions. A well-bred colt by Mr Speaker brought $80,000 from Tiffany Raimonde during Book 1 of Keeneland September. The Grade I-winning millionaire has had yearling sales up to $180,000 with his highest yearling at Keeneland bringing $100,000. The consistent young sire had 24 of his 31 offered progeny sell this year.

A.P. Indy’s Honor Code proved to be one of the most popular new sires with 54 yearlings sold so far this year for an average of $240,370 and a median of $250,000, second only to American Pharoah in both categories. Honor Code’s highest-priced yearling, a colt out of the graded stakes-placed Aspiring, was purchased for $650,000 by Ingordo Bloodstock during Book 1. The flashy dark bay was well supported by preeminent buyers such as bloodstock agent Mike Ryan, West Point Thoroughbreds, Winchell Thoroughbreds, Centennial Farms and China Horse Club.

Liam’s Map climbed to third on the list of first-crop sires by both average ($174,514) and median ($150,000) after a stellar September Sale. The multiple Grade I winner’s highest-priced filly brought $500,000 from Alex and JoAnn Lieblong, while his most expensive colt was purchased by agent Frank Alosa for $450,000. Bloodstock agents such as Steve Young, Marette Farrell, Ken McPeek, and J.J. Crupi supported the stallion with purchases during the Keeneland sale.