A colt by 2008 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) and Preakness Stakes (gr. I) winner Big Brown commanded attention during the late afternoon portion of the Sept 12 third session of the Keeneland September yearling sale when Irish agent Demi O'Byrne signed an $825,000 ticket for the striking dark bay.
The Big Brown colt, who was consigned as Hip No. 645 by Kitty Taylor's Warrendale Sales, agent, for Whitechurch Bloodstock, is the second high-priced horse of the day bought by O'Byrne.
"He's a great mover, has a lovely head, and he's a very stylish horse I thought," said Byrne, who said the colt would most likely be sent to trainer Todd Pletcher as he is an American-style horse. "Basically we buy the horses, take them back to the farm, and the decisions will be made after that," he explained.
The agent, who purchases horses for the Coolmore Stud interests of Michael Tabor, Susan Magnier, and Derrick Smith, also acquired the session's current sale topper, a $1.55 million colt by Bernardini −Wilshewed, by Carson City.
The Big Brown colt was bred in Kentucky by IEAH Stables and Resolute Group Stables and is out of the stakes-placed Dehere mare Cold Awakening, who brought $50,000 from Sallusto and Albina, agents at the 2011 Keeneland November mixed sale. Carrying a full sibling to the Big Brown colt, she was consigned by Three Chimneys Sales, agent.
That foal, a filly, was born April 27.
The Big Brown colt fetched $140,000 as a weanling from Ziffer Racing at the same sale with Three Chimneys consigning. He is a half brother to Recapturetheglory, winner of the 2008 Illinois Derby (gr. II).
Last year, Charlie Allnut, another full sibling to the Big Brown colt, fetched $140,000 from Adena Springs at the 2011 Keeneland September yearling sale. He was consigned by Blake-Albina Thoroughbred Services, agent.
The $825,000 yearling isn't the first high-priced Big Brown colt purchased by O'Byrne. Earlier this year, the Coolmore associate paid $1.3 million for a colt by Big Brown at the Fasig-Tipton Florida select sale of 2-year-olds.
Consigned by Ciaran Dunne's Wavertree Stables, the Big Brown colt was bred in Pennsylvania by Lansdon Robbins and Tom Hansen. He worked an eighth of a mile in :10 1/5 during the auction's under tack show at Palm Meadows Training Center.