A half-sister to the undefeated Grade 1 stakes-winning juvenile Nyquist, entered in Saturday’s FrontRunner (G1) at Santa Anita, sold to Bridlewood Farm for $330,000 to highlight Wednesday’s ninth session of the 72nd Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
The market continued to show robust commerce deep into its second week. Keeneland sold 280 yearlings on Wednesday, the second and final day of the Book 4 portion of the sale, for $10,684,100, 13.95 percent above the corresponding session in 2014 when the gross of $9,376,000 was recorded for 276 horses. The average of $38,158 was 12.33 percent higher than last year’s average of $33,971, while the median of $25,000 equaled the median in 2014.
Through the first nine sessions of the 12-day sale, 2,076 horses have been sold for $270,447,300, just above last year’s 10-day gross of $268,795,000 for 2,153 yearlings. The cumulative average of $130,273 rose 4.35 percent over last year’s $124,847. The median of $80,000 was 11.11 percent above $72,000 in 2014.
By Blame, the session-topping filly is out of the winning Forestry mare Seeking Gabrielle, a half-sister to Grade 2 winner Seeking Regina, and from the family of Grade 1 winners Sahara Sky and Bachelor Beau. She was consigned by Hinkle Farms.
With the lone purchase, Bridlewood was the session’s leading buyer.
Tim McCanna paid $270,000, the day’s second-highest price, for a filly from the first crop of Jersey Town out of the winning A.P. Indy mare Steel Buns. The filly’s third dam is two-time English Horse of the Year and multiple champion Dahlia. She was consigned by Paramount Sales, agent.
A colt from the first crop of To Honor and Serve sold to trainer Ken McPeek, agent, for $250,000. Consigned by Chilly Bleak Farm, agent, the colt is out of the Distorted Humor mare Hottie Dancer, a daughter of Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Pike Place Dancer.
Paramount Sales, agent, was the session’s leading consignor, selling 18 horses for $905,500.
The September Sale continues through Saturday. All sessions begin at 10 a.m. ET. The entire sale is streamed live at Keeneland.com.