A Distorted Humor colt topped Day 2 of the Keeneland September yearling sale after agent Mike Ryan paid $2.05 million to secure the flashy chestnut from Lane’s End Stud on Monday evening.  

“This colt is an exceptional horse — an outstanding physical with the pedigree to match,” said Ryan, who signed the ticket on behalf of an undisclosed overseas client.  “He’s the complete package and has unbelievable stallion potential.”

The session-topper is the third foal from the unraced Storm Cat mare Angel’s Nest.   She is a daughter of Hall of Fame mare Miesque (Nureyev) and is a half-sister to G1 winners Kingmambo (Mr. Prospector), East of the Moon (Private Account) and the dam of champion European juvenile filly Rumplestiltskin (Danehill).

Distorted Humor was also responsible for a $900,000 colt who was knocked down to Spendthrift Farm.  He is a half-brother to G1 filly Pussycat Doll (Real Quiet) and was offered by Gainesway Farm as agent for Stonestreet Holdings.  Their dam is the G1 La Brea Stakes winner Hookedonthefeelin (Citidancer).

The two top fillies also fetched $900,000 on Day 2.  The first was a Dynaformer filly from G2 winner Bank Audit (Wild Rush).  

The other $900,000 filly was a chestnut daughter of A.P. Indy and G1 star Madcap Escapade (Hennessy).  Bruce Lunsford, who campaigned Madcap Escapade and bred the filly in partnership with Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm, secured sole ownership of the yearling.

“This horse is kind of close to my heart,” said Lunsford, who had previously sold Madcap Escapade for $6 million at Keeneland’s 2006 November Breeding Stock Sale.  “I made the decision that I want to keep a filly out of the family and I’ve always wanted to have a nice A.P. Indy in my broodmare band.  She’s pretty special.”

Monday’s second and final select session averaged $350,690 which represented a 19.3% jump from the corresponding session last year.

The revised format for the two streamlined opening sessions on Sunday and Monday saw gains in average (31.8%) and median (32.6%).   “We hoped that the momentum from Sunday would continue and it did,” Keeneland Geoffrey Russell said.  “One of our goals all along has been to broaden our buyer base and we saw that with a great balance of domestic and international buyers.

“We know that there are some people on the grounds that have not yet made a purchase,” Russell added.  “There are many, many good horses still left in this sale.  Hopefully, those buyers will become active in Book 2 that starts on Tuesday.”