$400,000 Colt Leads Mendelssohn’s Book 1 Offerings

Mendelssohn ended the second session of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale on an explosive note Tuesday when his colt out of Tessie Flip sold for $400,000.

The last offering in the regular session, the supplemental entry was purchased by M.V. Magnier from the Paramount Sales consignment.

A three-quarter brother to stakes winner and Grade III-placed Jo Jo Air from Tessie Flip’s three winners from three to race, the colt was bred by Springhouse Farm and Circular Rd Breeders. His winning dam is a half-sister to dual Grade I winner Switch and stakes winner Keystone Gulch. The latter mare is also the dam of Grade II-placed Top Ravine and Grade III-placed Celtic Beauty.

This colt is also a grandson of Grade III winner Antoniette, who is one of two stakes winners for her own dam.

The $400,000 colt followed up a $310,000 filly for Mendelssohn on Monday, with that filly purchased as Hip 11 by Mike Ryan. Offered by Betz Thoroughbreds, the filly is a three-quarter sister to both stakes winner Man of Promise and Conquest Sure Shot.

Their winning Speightstown dam is a half-sister to multiple graded stakes winner Skip to the Stone and stakes winner My Heavenly Sign, with that mare also the dam of stakes-placed Avasarala. The filly’s fourth dam is the Grade I winning The Very One.

A Breeders’ Cup winning half-brother to Into Mischief and Beholder, Mendelssohn’s strong support from breeders is on display at the Keeneland September Sale with 93 yearlings cataloged - the most of any stallion.