A filly by Giant's Causeway produced from Horse of the Year Azeri brought a top price of $800,000 from Robert and Lawana Low during the first session of the Keeneland September yearling sale.
Consigned by Hill ‘n’ Dale Sales Agency, the filly was among the most anticipated yearlings during the first session of the sale that will continue for 13 more sessions. Not only was the filly sired by one of the leading North American sires, but her dam was among the all-time leading female race horses, winning 17 of 24 starts and earning $4,079,820.
Robert Low said the filly will be sent to trainer Danny Peitz, who trained Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) third-place finisher Steppenwolfer for the Missouri couple.
"We’re pleased with getting her at that price," Low said of the final bid for the filly. "I think everyone knows we’re dealing with a discounted market."
Low said he and his wife would probably be buying more yearlings during the auction, adding that they were also selling some yearlings they have bred. "We will probably be buying more than we will be selling."
Hill ‘n’ Dale’s John Sikura said the final price for the filly was "a lot of money in this market."
Azeri was bought back for $4.4 million at the Keeneland January sale earlier this year by the Allen E. Paulson Living Trust, on whose behalf the Giant’s Causeway filly was consigned. Azeri’s first foal, once named Vallenzeri but now named Take Control, set a world Thoroughbred auction record when he was a $7.7-million buy-back at the 2008 Keeneland September yearling sale. Hill ‘n’ Dale was his consignor.