Buyers came out guns blazin’ on Day 2 of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale Sept. 12 as the first horse to step through the ring, a Tapit filly cataloged as Hip 202, dropped the hammer for $1.3 million to a buyer over the internet identified as Sinandigan Stable.
Mandy Pope’s Whisper Hill Farm bred the filly out of the War Front daughter Lady Take Charge, a daughter of 2013 Broodmare of the Year Take Charge Lady . Lady Take Charge is a half sister to grade 1 winners and sires Will Take Charge and Take Charge Indy . The immediate family also produced grade 1 winner and champion Take Charge Brandi and multiple grade 1 winner and sire Omaha Beach .
“We started yesterday with a million-dollar horse and started today with one as well. Everybody’s happy,” said Brian Graves, general manager of Gainesway. “She was a beautiful physical. Everything was in balance and comes from one of the best families. Mandy only reserved her for half that high.
“It is really rewarding to see someone like Mandy getting paid after all the years she has invested in these mares. Everybody reaches the point where you need to sell some horses, and it is good to see her winning. It takes five or six years to get results, but she’s doing it.”
An Into Mischief colt (Hip 162) from the same family, also bred by Whisper Hill, sold for $1.7 million during Monday’s session.
