Paynter has top-five colt Friday at Keeneland

The fourth day at the Keeneland September Yearling sale was highlighted by a $520,000 colt from the first crop of WinStar stallion Paynter.

The final bid was one of the top five prices paid during the session and was the top figure for a Paynter yearling to sell this year at auction.

The colt, hip No. 747, was consigned by Dromoland Farm Inc., and purchased by E5 Racing & Magic Cap/Mike Ryan, agent. The bay Kentucky-bred is out of the stakes winner Bobbie Use and is a half-brother to Princess Rooney H. (G1) winner Starship Truffles.

“I thought he was one of the top horses of the day,” Ryan said. “I love Paynter. I have a share in him. I was so impressed with him on the racetrack—his courage, his tenacity, his desire to win.

“And then to overcome an incredible illness afterwards and to perform so well afterwards; he had to have the heart of a lion. This is the best one I have seen by him and obviously I was not alone because we stretched. We stretched big time.” 

Through four days of the auction, which runs through Sept. 25, Paynter’s yearlings have sold for an average of $256,667.