At the midpoint of the 2025 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, the auction has delivered remarkable double-digit growth across all major indicators compared to 2024. Through six sessions ending September 14, Keeneland sold 1,305 horses for $434,982,000.
The sale’s momentum has been extraordinary from the opening session, which posted a record average price of $653,208 while selling 15 horses for $1 million or more. This opening-day average topped the previous record of $611,038 set during Day 2 in 2024, establishing the tone for what has become one of the strongest September sales in Keeneland’s history.
Million-Dollar Horse One of the most striking indicators of market strength is the dramatic increase in seven-figure sales. By the midpoint, 56 yearlings had sold for $1 million or more, compared to just 36 during the entire 2024 September sale. This represents a 55.6% increase in million-dollar horses, with nine sessions still remaining in the auction.
The third session alone produced 13 horses selling for $1 million or more, breaking the previous third-session record of eight from 2019. Remarkably, this single day’s total of million-dollar horses exceeded the 40 yearlings sold during the entire September Sale in 2005.
The sale’s highest-priced horse through the midpoint was a Gun Runner colt purchased by M.V. Magnier and Peter Brant’s White Birch Farm for $3.3 million. This colt, consigned by Hill ‘n’ Dale at Xalapa, is out of Grade 2 winner Thoughtfully and comes from the family of Grade 1 winners Furlough, Dancing Spree, and Fantastic Find.
Flightline yearlings commanded exceptional prices, reflecting the stallion’s growing reputation. Notable sales included:
- A colt purchased by Naohiro Sakaguchi for $1.7 million, half-brother to Grade 3 winner Promise Keeper
- A filly sold to Sakaguchi for $1.5 million from the family of Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner Liam’s Map
- Stock Rising, a colt and half-brother to two-time Breeders’ Cup winner Golden Pal, sold to John Stewart’s Resolute Bloodstock for $1.5 million
Gun Runner offspring maintained their market leadership with multiple high-dollar sales:
- A $1.9 million colt purchased by Spendthrift Farm from the family of Japanese champion Danon Decile
- A $1.3 million filly sold to Nick Sallusto/Thorostock, half-sister to Grade 1 winner Speech
- A $1.2 million colt acquired by Spendthrift Farm out of Grade 1 winner Restless Rider
Into Mischief yearlings continued commanding premium prices, including:
- A $1.5 million colt sold to Magnier and White Birch Farm out of Grade 2 winner Point of Honor
- A $1.25 million colt purchased by Eclipse, Bridlewood, La Penta and Warren, full brother to Grade 2 winner Maximus Mischief
The sustained demand reflects what Keeneland Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy described as market conditions reminiscent of “the July Sale of old, when things were just amazing”. The strength has been broad-based, with the 13 seven-figure horses on the third day purchased by 11 different buyers and sired by 10 different stallions.
Consignor performance has been equally impressive, with operations like Gainesway posting record-breaking Book 2 results and Taylor Made leading multiple sessions with substantial gross sales. The market’s depth is evidenced by strong demand not just at the top tier, but across multiple price levels, with Session 1 seeing 66 yearlings bring $500,000 or more, up from 46 in 2024.
