$1.2M Tapit colt new top price at Keeneland

Leading sire Tapit’s $1.2 million colt sold during the second session of the Keeneland September yearling sale Sept. 13 is the new top price through the first two days of the marathon auction.

Consigned by Baccari Bloodstock as agent, Hip 399 went to Crupi’s New Castle Farm, agent. The striking gray Kentucky-bred is out of Ashland S. (G1) winner Hooh Why. The colt was bred in Kentucky by SF Bloodstock.

“He just had a beautiful body, he had a big walk, and I fell in love with him,” J.J. Crupi said of the colt. “We weren’t leaving here without him. It’s going to the racetrack, it’s not going to the sale, it’s going to become a racehorse, he’ll be broken at Crupi’s New Castle Farm and then move on probably to Todd Pletcher.

“I fell in love with him when I saw him come out of his stall. I just thought he was gorgeous. I mean, you can knock any horse, he’s got some knocks, but Tapit overcomes those knocks. We just finished in a dead heat with two Tapits at Saratoga (in the Grade 1 Spinaway S.).”

Tapit also finished one-two with top sales horse of the session when Hip 207, consigned by Brereton Jones, went for $900,000 to William Mack and Robert Baker. The gray colt is the first foal out of Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Believe You Can, who Jones campaigned.

Tapit was by far and away the leading sire of the day, having an incredible seven of the top 12 sellers during the session. With a total of 10 lots sold Tuesday, his daily average was $651,500.

Tapit colt out of Hooh Why brings $1.2 million at Keeneland September
Mathea Kelley/Keeneland