Klaravich Stables and trainer Chad Brown have had their fair share of top dirt horses in recent years and, as the Keeneland September Yearling Sale Book 3 came to a close, they were active in the ring reloading their dirt inventory ahead of the 2026 Triple Crown.
Their three purchases Sept. 15, all colts, totaled $1,215,000. Mike Ryan, who was acting as agent for Seth Klarman, said he felt these three horses were among the nicest on the day.
"Those are the kind of horses that we're trying to get for Klaravich. Horses that we hope can be Saturday afternoon, top horses on the New York circuit," Ryan said. "(Klarman's) a great owner, he loves the game, and he invests significant capital. It's really nice when you see him rewarded on Saturday afternoons."
The highest price came on Hip 1940, a son of Candy Ride consigned by Scott Mallory for breeder Determined Stud, who was purchased for $475,000.
Bred in Kentucky, the bay colt is the first foal out of the winning Super Saver mare Caught Looking. Determined Stud purchased the mare while in foal with Klaravich's Sunday purchase for $325,000 at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Mixed Sale.
The second dam, Amour d'Ete, produced one of Klaravich and Brown's two Preakness Stakes (G1) winners Early Voting .
"He was very like Early Voting," Ryan said of the colt. "He looks like a horse that's going to have speed. He's going to be able to stretch it to two turns. Obviously, Early Voting was a very good horse for Klaravich. We were pretty determined to get this horse."
Another colt that impressed Ryan on a recent farm visit, this one at Three Chimneys, was Hip 1673. The son of Volatile was consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency and purchased for $450,000.
"He was a standout," Ryan said. "I saw him at Three Chimneys about three weeks ago, he was very special."
Bred in Kentucky by Three Chimneys, the gray or roan colt is also the first foal out of his dam, the unraced Malibu Moon mare Lune d'Amour. The second dam, Reve d'Amour produced multiple stakes winner Mundaye Call (Into Mischief ).
Grade 1-winning Three Chimneys stallion Volatile is off to a successful start at stud, ranking seventh among first-crop sires. Among his leading progeny is Incentive Pay, a recent third in the Hopeful Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course.
The final of the three purchases came with Hip 1687, a son of Practical Joke consigned by St George Sales that Klaravich bought for $290,000.
Klaravich and Brown raced Practical Joke and have had plenty of success with his offspring, most recently with Saratoga grade 1 winners Domestic Product and Ways and Means.
This dark bay or brown colt, bred by George E. Bates Trust, is out of the winning Pioneerof the Nile mare Media Tone.
"A very smooth horse, looks like a horse that will run a route of ground," Ryan said about the colt.
Through the sales first three books, Klaravich has purchased 15 yearlings (eight colts, seven fillies) for more than $5.7 million. Ryan assessed the market as selective, but very strong.
"People don't want average horses," he said. "They are prepared to step up and pay good money for the right horse."
