The market continued to show strength on Tuesday when a colt from the first crop of Astrology brought a final bid of $425,000 from Stonestreet Stables and George Bolton to top the eighth session of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
Keeneland sold 292 yearlings on Tuesday, the first day of the Book 4 portion of the sale, for $14,192,700, up 5.38 percent from the corresponding session in 2014 when the gross of $13,467,500 was recorded for 289 horses. The average of $48,605 jumped 4.30 percent from $46,600 last year. The median of $35,000 remained the same as last year.
Through the first eight sessions of the 12-day sale, 1,796 horses sold for $259,763,200, nearly even with last year’s nine-day gross of $259,419,000 for 1,877 yearlings. The cumulative average of $144,634 was 4.65 percent higher than last year’s 138,209. The median of $95,000 was up 18.75 percent from $80,000 in 2014.
Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Sweezey’s Timber Town, agent, consigned the day’s two highest-priced yearlings.
The session-topping Astrology colt is out of the More Than Ready mare Priceless Design, and from the family of multiple Grade 1 stakes winner General Challenge.
Stonestreet Stables and George Bolton’s purchase made them the leading buyer for the session.
J. J. Crupi, as agent for Repole Stable, paid $260,000 for a colt by Medaglia d’Oro out of multiple Grade 2 winner Indian Vale, by A.P. Indy. The colt’s second dam is the Grade 1 winner Marley Vale.
A daughter of Warrior’s Reward was the day’s top-priced filly, selling for $195,000 to Key Palm Racing. Out of the stakes-placed Carson City mare Look Upon, the filly is a half-sister to stakes winner Shine Upon and graded stakes-placed Keep the Peace. She was consigned by Geenfield Farm, agent.
Lane’s End Farm was the session’s leading consignor, selling 26 yearlings for $1,451,500.
The September Sale continues through Saturday. All sessions begin at 10 a.m. ET. The entire sale is streamed live at Keeneland.com.