Alicia Wincze Hughes on horse racing

The second to last horse through the ring Monday night delivered the most fireworks inside the Keeneland sales pavilion as the first foal out of Grade I winner Mushka sold to Shadwell Farm for $1.65 million to lead the opening session of the September yearling sale.

The world’s leading auction of its kind got off to a somewhat tepid start. As the evening trudged forward, however, the best of the best emerged from the boutique session. A total of five youngsters ended up hitting the seven figure range, the best being the bay colt by Distorted Humor that came sauntering through just as the auction was reaching its conclusion.

Consigned by Eaton Sales, the colt is out of the aforementioned Mushka, a daughter of Empire Maker who captured the 2009 Grade I Juddmonte Spinster Stakes at Keeneland.

“Good pedigree, nice conformation and fit well into the program,” Rick Nichols, general manager of Sheikh Hamden bin Rashid al Maktoum’s Shadwell Farm, said of the purchase.

Moments before that colt sold, the filly A.P. Sonata – one of the foals from the final crop of leading sire A.P. Indy – went to Mandy Pope for $1.1 million.

Consigned by Mill Ridge, A.P. Sonata is out of the Grade III-winning mare Moonlight  Sonata and is a half brother to graded stakes winners Wilburn and Beethoven.

A half brother to Grade  I winner Contested became the third horse to reach the seven-figure mark thus far during the opening session of the Keeneland September yearling sale, going for $1.05 million to Jane Dunn on Monday.

Dunn, who operates Holly Hill Training Center in South Carolina, purchased the dark bay son of War Front on behalf of partnership that includes Adele Dilschneider.

“He was a lovely colt,” Dunn said. “If you want a nice horse, you have to get a little brave. So we’re happy.”

The colt was consigned by Claiborne Farm, who have campaigned numerous horses in partnership with Dilschneider including 2010 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner and current Claiborne stallion, Blame.

“We’re thrilled with the way the horse handled himself up here, he did everything and he’s a grand looking horse,” said Dell Hancock of Claiborne. “He’s a  half to a filly that has just been so good this year and the best part is he’s going to a great home. I never think a horse is going to bring a million dollars but he got up here and he showed so well that I just felt like he could bring that. I never expect it but I thought it wasn’t out of the realm of possibility. Hopefully he’ll go on and do great things (for Adele) and come back to Claiborne as a stallion.”

The exploits of former Grade I winning stablemates Paynter and Bodemeister resonated strongly within the Keeneland sales pavilion Monday.

Minutes after a half brother to Paynter sold for an even $1 million to become the first horse to reach the seven-figure mark during the opening session of the Keeneland September yearling sale Monday,  a half sister to Bodemeister established a new bar when she elicited a final bid of $1.3 million.

John Sikura, owner of Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm, purchased the bay filly on behalf of himself and Bruce Lunsford and – like her older brother – she will be trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert.

“I went and saw her maybe two months ago in Virginia and she’s come along way,” said Donato Lanni, director of bloodstock services for  Hill ‘n’ Dale. “John (Sikura) used to own the dam and she was a real nice filly. And this filly just had a lot of class about her. Hopefully we get lucky. The good ones, that’s what they cost.”

Out of the Grade III winning Storm Cat mare Untouched Talent, the bay filly is by Smart Strike and was consigned by Brookdale Sales.

“I think what made her a standout first off is her walk, she had such a great walk,” said Joe Seitz of Brookdale Sales. “She had a  lot of range for a filly, had a walk like a colt and a very live, classic family. And a stud prospect like Bodemeister who a lot of people are looking forward to breeding to.”

Bodemeister won the Grade I Arkansas Derby this spring and was second in both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes behind I’ll Have Another. The son of Empire Maker was retired this summer due to a shoulder injury and will stand stud at WinStar Farm.

Before Sikura prevailed in that bidding war, the half brother to Grade I Haskell Invitational winner Paynter sold to Chuck and Maribeth Sandford for $1 million following a protracted battle which saw the bidding open at $100,000. Consigned by Taylor Made Sales, the bay colt is by Street Cry and is out of the Cee’s Tizzy mare Tizso, who is a full sister to champion Tiznow.

“He is very well balanced and hopefully we’ll have some fun with him,” said trainer Pat Byrne, who will train the colt for the Sandfords.

The Sandford’s own and campaign this year’s Grade I Florida Derby winner Take Charge Indy and were previously the underbidders on Paynter when he sold at public auction.

“This was the big one for us tonight,” Chuck Sandford said. “We had three or four we were going to play on but he was the first one to come up. We went a little bit more than I wanted to but if you want to play, you have to pay. We’re thrilled to get him, we’re just thrilled. Hopefully he’s going to be our next Derby horse.”