Agent Baffert goes to $700,000 for Uncle Mo colt

The colt was consigned by Elm Tree Lane Farm, agent for

Stonestreet Bred & Raised. His dam is the unraced Bernardini mare Aspen Light,

who is a

half sister to Great Hunter.

"I thought he'd be about that (price) range," Zayat added. "I knew he

was a nice horse, and it's going to take a lot of money to buy a nice horse. The

good horses are bringing a lot of money so you've got to step up to the plate if

you believe they're a good horse."

Baffert also signed the ticket for Hip 1094, a Flatter colt purchased

for Three Amigos for $550,000. Consigned by Bluewater Sales, agent, the colt is

out of the winning Cherokee Run mare Stormy B. He is a half-brother to 2015

Fountain of Youth (G2) winner Itsaknockout (Lemon Drop Kid) and from the family of

Grade 3 winner Rush Bay (Cozzene).

Woodford Racing paid $500,000 for Hip 781, a Hard Spun colt

consigned by Gainesway, agent. He is the first foal out of the Empire Maker mare

Azorina, whose dam is Grade 1 winner Aldiza (Storm Cat).

"He's a beautiful horse," David Ingordo of Woodford Racing said. "He

looks like a dirt horse. He's got all the right components. We're trying to buy

some dirt, two-turn colts that can be stallions, and he looks the part. That's

the kind of horse you've got to pay for."

Ben Glass, agent, also spent $500,000 on Hip 932, a Tiznow colt out

of Grade 3 winner Island Bound (Speightstown). Nursery Place, agent, consigned

the colt, who is from the family of Grade 3 winners Savorthetime (Gilded Time) and Rogue

Romance (Smarty Jones). His fourth dam, the Manila mare Katie Love, is a half-sister to Grade 1

winner Ogygian (Gonfalon).

The session's highest-priced fillies sold within minutes of the sale starting

on Friday.

Chadds Ford Stable paid $475,000 for Hip 759, a Tapit filly

consigned by Gainesway, agent. Braxton Lynch signed the ticket for the filly.

"We tried hard (to buy a horse) in Book 1 and were getting closer and closer

(to buying) and finally we landed one," Lynch said. "It was our last one (on the

list). I think it's a great price for a Tapit from that family. She's a

beautiful filly and we're thrilled. Very happy to have her."

The filly is out of the Stormy Atlantic mare Aguadilla, a

full sister to Grade 3 winner Assateague and a half-sister to Grade 3 winners

Kindergarden Kid (Dynaformer) and Rainha Da Bateria (Broken Vow) and 2014 Breeders' Cup

Juvenile (G1) runner-up He's Had Enough (Tapit).

For Friday, 258 horses brought $38,462,000 with an average of $149,078 and a

median of $120,000. There was no Friday session last year, though the 2014

opening session of Book 2 attracted a gross $35,634,500 for 294 yearlings,

averaging $121,206 with a median of $100,000.

With four days now in the books, 701 yearlings have been purchased for a

gross $172,823,000. The average comes to $246,538 and the median is $200,000.

Friday saw the start of Book 2, whereas in 2014 Book 1 lasted the first four

days of the sale and brought in a total $142,153,000 for an average of $300,535

and a median of $240,000 for 473 yearlings sold.

Book 2 continues Saturday beginning at 10 a.m. (EDT) and the sale runs

through September 26. It is streamed live at keeneland.com.