Justify Kicks Off Keeneland November With $600,000 Weanling

The first Justify weanling through the ring on Tuesday at Keeneland set a high bar when selling for $600,000 to Donato Lanni as agent to top the session alongside an American Pharoah colt.

Consigned by Hunter Valley Farm for Mountmellick Farm, the colt took the early weanling lead and was the ninth most expensive of all offerings through the first 65 hips of the sale. Out of Groton Circle, the colt is a half-brother to stakes winner Supreme Aura out of a half-sister to stakes winner Abraham and Grade I-placed Beat the Benchmark.

The colt also comes from the family of Grade II winners Miss Isella and Sir Cherokee with Miss Isella also Grade I-placed.

Undefeated Triple Crown winner Justify has found plenty of success during the early days of the November breeding stock sales as the sire of one of the most expensive weanlings at Fasig-Tipton and Uncle Mo’s triple Grade I winner Bast selling for $4.2 million while in-foal to the Horse of the Year.