Racehorse owner Joey Platts went to the Keeneland September Yearling Sale with several goals, one of which was to buy a filly by leading sire Into Mischief.

Outbid earlier in the week, Platts, who was accompanied by trainer Phil D’Amato, struck early during the Sept. 18 session to take home a daughter of the Spendthrift Farm sire for $400,000.

Cataloged as Hip 1253 as part of the consignment from Legacy Bloodstock, agent for breeder Spendthrift, the filly is out of the Australian group 3-placed mare Ameristralia. The filly’s second dam, multiple grade 3 winner Heart Ashley, is a half sister to grade 1 winner Cupid  and grade 3 winner Ashley’s Kitty.

Her price was the highest paid for a filly during the session and third highest overall.

“It seems like every time I watch TVG, there are three or four (Into Mischief foals) that are winning all over the country,” he said, noting that he has one Into Mischief horse in training who recently ran second in a race at Laurel Park. “I came here looking for an Into Mischief, and we finally got a decent one, we hope. It looks like she’s going to have some decent scope to her, and she looks like she has some athletic ability. I was (bidding) on the ones that went for over $1 million. I’m looking for fillies. If they can’t run, I want some resale (value).”

Platts is also a partner in Slam Dunk Racing, which was actively buying at the Keeneland sale and is involved in some yearling pinhooking partnerships with Becky Thomas of Sequel.

“I wish I could take more credit, but it was all her,” Legacy’s Tommy Eastham said of the filly. “She’s a super filly—good-minded, good walk, never cheated me. From 8 in the morning to 5 in the afternoon, she was the same filly. All I did was not get in her way. The pedigree being Australian probably turned off some domestic buyers, but obviously a lot of buyers could see through it.”

Platts has purchased two other yearlings in his name during the opening books of the auction. He spent $210,000 for Hip 498, an Empire Maker filly out of Awesome d’Oro (by Medaglia d’Oro ). Named Awspresso, the filly was bred in Kentucky by F. Thomas Conway and is from the extended female family of Urban Sea.

Later in the day on Friday, Platts purchase Hip 1603 for $230,000. Consigned by Elm Tree Farm, agent, the filly by Claiborne Farm’s Flatter  is out of the Giant’s Causeway mare Tell Me Everything, who is a daughter of the grade 1-winning Holy Bull mare Confessional.

-edited from www.bloodhorse.com