LEXINGTON, Ky. – Since she only had a number, not yet a name, let’s just call her an extrovert. She likes people, has an easy temperament, tends to be very affectionate.

In other words, she’s a lot like her daddy.

He goes by American Pharoah.

The first offspring produced by the retired 2015 Triple Crown winner have been popular during this month’s annual showcase yearling sale at Keeneland. There were 66 of them listed to be sold during the first week, including the affable chestnut filly identified as hip number 306.

During Monday’s opening session, 12 horses sired by American Pharoah sold for a total of $6.335 million. Topping the list was a colt that went for $2.2 million to Godolphin, a stable founded by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the prime minister of the United Arab Emirates and the ruler of Dubai.

So prior to Tuesday’s sales, Tom VanMeter was understandably confident as he sat outside Keeneland’s Barn 46, awaiting the sale time of his prized No. 306 in the nearby stall.

“The filly today is going to bring $1 million-plus,” VanMeter said. “Where that is, I don’t know exactly. I know she’s on a lot of important people’s lists.”

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The owner of VanMeter-Gentry Sales has spent his life around horses. He’s a veteran in sales consignments. VanMeter was also a practicing veterinarian. He delivered American Pharoah. Yes, the eventual Triple Crown winner was born Feb. 2, 2012, at VanMeter’s Stockplace Farm on Briar Hill Road, east of Lexington.

“I’ve known American Pharoah since he was a little black embryo on the ultrasound screen,” said VanMeter, holding up his hand in an OK symbol, connecting his index finger and thumb in a small circle. The jacket he wore had “American Pharoah” written on the back, and a sign outside the stall for No. 306 showcased her famous father.

Leading up to Tuesday’s sales, there was a buzz at Keeneland about No. 306. It had to do with her father, of course, but also her mother, a 20-year-old dam named Pretty 'n Smart that has produced four stakes winners, including Cupid and Heart Ashley.

A Tapit-Pretty ‘n Smart filly brought the highest price of the 2017 Keeneland September sale for VanMeter-Gentry, being sold for $2.7 million to M.V. Magnier of Coolmore Stud one year ago Tuesday.

Pretty ‘n Smart was managed by a horseman named Olin B. Gentry, son of the late, legendary Tom Gentry.

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On June 15, Renee Dailey — who manages VanMeter-Gentry Sales — spoke on the phone with Olin Gentry, a partner in the business who was attending a horse sale in Florida.

“We hung up just before 11,” Dailey said. “And at 11:15 or 11:20, I got a call from somebody who said, ‘Did you hear what happened to Olin?’ I said, ‘What do you mean? I just got off the phone with him.’”

Gentry had collapsed. He died soon after at age 51, the result of a stroke caused by a ruptured aneurysm, according to VanMeter and Dailey.

“He had been complaining of a headache and neck pain for a few weeks,” Dailey said. “But he was 50 years old. He just thought he had a pinched nerve in his neck.”

A well-known figure in a well-known family of horsemen, Gentry’s shocking sudden death was mourned throughout the sport, but especially at the company that features his name in the title.

Though VanMeter and Dailey sold horses at Saratoga after Gentry’s death, the Keeneland sale was bound to be emotional. There was a void, and the emotions of a loss of a close friend and colleague remained tangible. Gentry, a Lexington native, remained very much on the minds and lips of his associates as sale time for No. 306 approached Tuesday.

Gentry was the nervous one, the worrier. When the time came to depart the barn for the sales area, VanMeter and Dailey shared a quick memory, remarking that they could just see Olin joining them.

“It’s been tough,” Dailey said. “And today will be the first day that we sell in September, and this has always kind of been his sale. This is his favorite sale. It’ll be tough.”

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As a consignor in the sales process, VanMeter-Gentry did own some of the yearlings it was to sell this month at Keeneland but not No. 306. She was managed by the company yet owned by a client entering Tuesday’s sale, having been raised at a nearby farm

“We have some clients. We’re not big. I mean, we’re small,” VanMeter said. “Our clients are our friends and our partners, pretty much. There are a lot bigger outfits than us. We’re selling 40 horses this week. Some people will sell 40 today and 400 for the week.”

Despite the massive sale prices that tend to make the headlines, “A lot of us horse farmers have mortgages,” VanMeter said. “We’re out there grinding.”

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After a few moments being groomed and shined for the occasion, No. 306 emerged from her stall, looking her best, a white birthmark on her right hip.

“We joke about it being her speed spot,” Dailey said.

This was something new, and she was antsy during the brisk, pastoral, winding walk from Barn 46 to the sales ring at Keeneland. There were starts, stops (twice with poop involved) and before long some company. No. 305, a colt, was walking the same path. The young horses neighed in recognition and playful conversation while walking toward the crowded show ring, where they’d be paraded before being sold on stage in the main sales pavilion.

VanMeter was greeted when he reached the ring by Bob Baffert, famed trainer of the past two Triple Crown winners, and others while the crowd got a look at No. 306. While being paraded, she settled and stopped at one point to neigh dramatically toward the sales ring, as if to announce her arrival.

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In terms of business, this all seemed basically for show. Interested buyers had been looking for days, if not longer, sending veterinarians and performing tests, anything to get an edge in the process. Therefore, when it came to a pending sale, the hay was already in the barn, so to speak.

One prospective buyer, VanMeter noticed, was present near the show ring area and watching.

“That’s always a good sign,” VanMeter said, without naming names. “It’s a bad sign if the horse is walking one way and they’re walking that way.”

The process moved quickly, the anticipation of the moment following VanMeter, Dailey and No. 306 as they prepared to discover the filly’s new owner, whoever it might be. She ultimately reached her fate alone, standing on stage. VanMeter and Dailey watched on television outside as the auction for their horse began and the price shot up quickly.

Half-a-million quickly became $700,000 and $900,000 and passed $1 million. VanMeter put his hand on Dailey’s shoulder as the bids stopped at $1.2 million.

It was done. Hugs, handshakes and interviews followed.

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The buyer for No. 306 was the same as VanMeter’s big 2017 sale of another Pretty ‘n Smart filly: Coolmore's M.V. Magnier.

“She’s a lovely filly with a great pedigree,” Magnier said. “We’ve had plenty of those in the past. It’s been lucky for us.”

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The filly’s $1.2 million price tag was not the highest of the 168 yearlings sold Tuesday at Keeneland. It was tied for sixth. Another of VanMeter’s horses — an Empire Maker-Seeinsbeliven colt — sold for $1.35 million later in the day.

VanMeter mentioned Gentry while being interviewed live by TVG. He did so again with other reporters.

And as he and Dailey walked back quickly, all business, preparing for that next sale, Magnier discussed plans for No. 306.

The Kentucky-bred filly will move to Europe to be trained by Aidan O’Brien. The famed Irish trainer will be entrusted with a potential racing star with the bloodlines of a Triple Crown winner.

There's a "massive buzz" about American Pharoah at the Keeneland sales, Magnier said.

"He was such a great racehorse and everything, and he was so sound himself. Let’s hope he passes it on, and it looks like he has every chance of doing that.”

Gentry Estes: 502-582-4205; gestes@courierjournal.com; Twitter: @Gentry_Estes. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: www.courier-journal.com/gentrye