Yaupon hits high-water mark with $900,000 colt

All eyes were on Yaupon’s hip No. 571 when the Yaupon colt entered the ring Wednesday at Keeneland, and when bidding ended, the bay juvenile went to agent Monique Delk for $900,000, who was bidding on behalf of Vinnie Viola’s St. Elias Stables.

With 31 yearlings sold this year for an average of $198,774, Wednesday’s colt was the Spendthrift stallion’s highest-priced sale of 2024 so far.

The colt was consigned by Jacob West’s Highgate Sales as agent for his breeder, Terry Green’s Jackpot Farm.

“He is just a beautiful colt,” Delk said. “We loved his physical. He looks just like his sire. He really stamped him. He’s quite a lovely horse.

“So far, I love what I am seeing [of Yaupon],” Delk added. “They are very athletic looking, very attractive. They are very agile and light on their feet with a beautiful walk. Just the whole package.”

West noted all the pre-sale attention the colt received.

“He had the hair looked off him at the barn,” West said. “I think every vet on the sales grounds had vetted him. He handled everything with nothing but class. He’s a really, really good horse. He deserved that price. Those are good people who bred him and even better people that bought him.”