Ruler of Dubai pays $1 million for filly to top Keeneland sale on second day

First million-dollar horse sells at Keeneland

LEXINGTON, Ky. — The first million-dollar horse was sold Tuesday morning at Keeneland’s yearling sale, a day after the opening session failed to produce a seven-figure bid for the first time in 13 years.

Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai, paid $1 million for the filly by Unbridled’s Song out of Strawberry Reason. That topped Monday’s high price of $925,000.

At least one million-dollar horse has been sold at Keeneland every September since 1995. The 1996 sale was the last time before Monday there was no seven-figure horse sold in the opening session.

The sale grossed just $25 million on Monday, less than half of last year’s total.