Street Sense Colt Leads Record-Breaking Session of Kentucky October Yearlings
A lively renewal of the Kentucky October Yearlings sale continued Wednesday in Lexington, Kentucky, led by the record-setting sale of Sam-Son-bred Street Sense colt from the family of Hall of Famer Dance Smartly.
A colt by Street Sense lit up the board shortly after 6:00 PM when sold for a sale record $925,000 to West Bloodstock, agent for Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable (video). The price matched that paid for a Storm Cat filly at the 1999 edition of the sale and set a new highwater mark for a colt in the sale's history. Offered as Hip 1107 by Sam-Son Farm, the bay colt is out of the winning A.P. Indy mare Dance With Doves, whose four winners to date including Grade 2 winner Dance Again (Awesome Again) and graded stakes placed Swoop and Strike (Smart Strike). The colt's second dam is champion three-year-old filly Dancethruthedawn, a Grade 1 winner in the United States and winner of the prestigious Queen's Plate S. in Canada. His third dam is 2003 Hall of Fame inductee Dance Smartly, whose list of accomplishments include: Sovereign Horse of the Year, Sovereign Champion Three-Year-Old Filly, Eclipse Champion Three-Year-Old Filly, Sovereign Champion Two-Year-Old Filly, Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) Champion, and Canadian Broodmare of the Year. This exceptional family includes two-time Leading Sire Smart Strike, champion Say the Word, and Grade 1 winners Moreno and Full of Wonder. Hip 1107 was bred in Ontario by Sam-Son Farm.
"Honestly, the sales topper's a little bittersweet," said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning. "(Sam-Son has) had a wonderful program. They've (brought) wonderful horses to us here in October. Tom Zweisler and Dave Whitford are true professionals in every sense of the word… It was a great tribute to them and to the Samuel family to set the record here in October."
Rounding out the top five prices of the third session were:
- Hip 870, a colt by current leading first-crop sire Gun Runner out of Archstone (Arch), which sold for $750,000 to St. Elias Stables, from the consignment of Eaton Sales, agent (video). The chestnut colt is a half-brother to multiple Grade 2 winner Proctor's Ledge (Ghostzapper). Hip 870 was bred in Kentucky by Patricia L. Moseley.
- Hip 893, a colt from the first crop of Triple Crown hero Justify out of Back to Love (Street Cry-IRE), which sold for $450,000 to John Fahey, agent, from the consignment of Hunter Valley Farm, agent. The bay colt is out of a half-sister to the graded stakes winner Necessary Evil and to the dam of group stakes winner Sergei Prokofiev, and hails from the immediate family of multiple Grade 1 winner Over All. Hip 893 was bred in Ontario by Peter A. Berglar Racing Interests LLC and Anderson Farms.
- Hip 890, a colt by three-time Leading Sire Tapit out of six-time stakes winner Awesome Flower (Flower Alley), which sold for $300,000 to BSW/Crow Colts Group from the consignment of Gainesway, agent. The chestnut colt is a half-brother to Zia's Song (Kitten's Joy), a winner at 3 this year, and to promising juvenile Cyberknife (Gun Runner). The immediate family includes champion and Dubai World Cup (G1) victor Well Armed and Grade 1 winner American Patriot. Hip 890 was bred in Kentucky by Kenneth L. Ramsey, Sarah K. Ramsey, and Tapit Syndicate.
- Hip 1063, a colt from the first crop of multiple Grade 1 winner Bolt d'Oro out of Colby Cakes (Scat Daddy), which sold for $300,000 to Donato Lanni, agent for Michael Lund Petersen, from the consignment of Timber Town, agent. The bay colt is out of a half-sister to stakes winner and stakes winner-producer Lucky Copy, and hails from the immediate family of Grade/Group 1 winners Golden Pheasant and Henley's Joy. Hip 1063 was bred in Kentucky by Timber Town Stable and Wood Duck Stable.
"It's nice to see people walk around smiling, even the buyers," added Browning. "It feels really good to be involved in a marketplace that's active and healthy… It's been a great three days and we hope to finish off strong tomorrow."
During Wednesday's session, 302 yearlings changed hands for a gross of $14,534,500, setting a single-session record for the third day in a row. The day's average was $48,127 and the median was $22,000. Thirty-six horses sold for $100,000 or more.
Over the course of the first three sessions, 856 horses have sold for $39,511,600, surpassing last year's three-session gross of $25,452,800 paid for 726 horses by 55.2%. The running average is $46,158, up 31.7% from $35,059 at a comparable moment in 2020. The running median rose 40% to $21,000 from $15,000 after last year's third session. The RNA rate through three sessions stands at 16.6%.
The final session of this year's Kentucky October Yearlings sale begins Thursday at 10 AM. Results are available online.