Grade 1 winner Eskendereya’s first weanlings offered at Keeneland struck a strong chord with buyers at the Lexington, Ky. November auction as a pair of colts from the Taylor Made stallion’s first crop brought $210,000 and $130,000. With an overall weanling sales average of $136,000, Eskendereya is in the top 3 among all first-crop sires.

Both six-figure colts sold are chestnuts, like their sire. Hip No. 879, a Kentucky-bred consigned by Eaton Sales, brought $210,000 from Stonestreet Stables, LLC. The weanling is a half-brother to the top-class sprinter Eaton’s Gift, winner of the Smile Sprint H. (G2) and Swale S. (G2). Their dam, Kit’s Girl, is a half-sister to Canadian Champion 2-year-old filly Knights Templar.

Hip No. 560 went for $130,000 to John Reyonalds. From the dispersal of Kennelot Stables Ltd., the weanling is the second foal out of the Canadian stakes winning mare Quiet Action.

Eskendereya was the highest rated three-year-old in the world on dirt in 2010 by the World Thoroughbred Rankings. The copper-chestnut son of Giant’s Causeway was a dominant 9 1/2-length winner of the Wood Memorial (G1) and 8 1/2-length winner of the Fountain of Youth S. (G2) at three.

Eskendereya broke his maiden in the Pilgrim S. at Belmont at two, and he retired undefeated on dirt with career earnings of $725,700.

Eskendereya bred 137 mares in his first season at stud in 2011 and stood the 2012 season for $22,500 live foal.