Business continued at a brisk pace on Saturday at Keeneland’s September Yearling Sale, which registered across-the-board increases for the final day of Book 2 and was led by the sale of a Mineshaft colt for $485,000.
A total of 267 yearlings sold on Saturday for $32,095,000, up 12.89 percent from the corresponding session in 2014 when 250 horses grossed $28,430,000. The average of $120,206 was 5.7 percent above the $113,720 last year, while the median of $100,000 rose 11.11 percent from $90,000 last year.
“Book 2 was exactly where we thought it should be,” Keeneland Director of Sales Geoffrey Russell said. “It picked up from the momentum of Book 1 and continued on very well all the way to the final two horses sold today. The median was up 11 percent; that actually shows there was plenty of money all the way around and in that middle market.”
Through the first five days of the 12-day auction, Keeneland has sold 968 horses for $204,918,000, just below last year’s six-day gross of $206,217,500 for 1,017 horses. The cumulative average of $211,692 was 4.4 percent higher than the $202,770 in 2014. The median of $150,000 remained the same from last year.
The session-topping Mineshaft colt, out of Grade 2 winner Letgomyecho, by Menifee, sold to Kempton Bloodstock, agent for Iowa-based Albaugh Family Stable. Consigned by Betz Thoroughbreds, agent, he is a half-brother to Unbridled Outlaw, third in the Iroquois (G3) a week ago at Churchill Downs, and from the family of Grade 3 winner Western Smoke.
“(He had) a tremendous walk, huge shoulder, great balance, terrific mind,” Kempton’s Steve Castagnola said about the yearling. “He was hard to pass up for us. He was a horse we really wanted and sometimes you have to stretch on the ones you really want. Thankfully, we were able to get him.”
Albaugh Family Stable races Unbridled Outlaw, purchased at last year’s September Sale for $330,000.
“We think the world of him and are hoping to run in the Breeders’ Cup if he gets in,” Castagnola said of the son of Unbridled’s Song. “He’s a special horse. This horse reminded us a lot (of him).”
A filly by Divine Park brought the session’s second-highest price, selling for $475,000 to Solis/Litt. Consigned by Brereton C. Jones/Airdrie Stud, agent, the filly is out of the winning Include mare Kittery Point and a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Sam’s Sister. She is also from the family of Grade 1 winner Sweet Talker and Grade 3 winner Silver Medallion.
“First time I saw her she seemed like a star from the beginning,” Alex Solis II said. “We’d been waiting for one more for LNJ (Foxwoods) and that was the one. I think this is a family you want to be in. Gorgeous. When I walked back (to the barn) and saw the players that were there, (I) said, ‘OK, this is real money.’ She’s worth it though.”
Two colts brought the day’s third-highest price of $425,000 each.
Ben Glass, agent, paid $425,000 for a son of Flatter out of champion Caressing, consigned by Hermitage Farm, agent.
“Flatter has gotten (popular) all of a sudden and everybody is trying to buy them,” said Glass, racing manager and bloodstock agent for owners Gary and Mary West. “This horse comes from a good family and the one (Bob) Baffert outbid me on last night (and sold for $550,000) came from a good family. Everybody wants a Flatter so Mr. West wants a Flatter. It’s tough to buy them.”
By Honour and Glory, Caressing was the champion 2-year-old filly of 2000, the year she won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1). The colt is a half-brother to Grade 3-placed Gold Hawk and Juan and Bina and is from the family of Danon Legend, a Group 3 stakes winner in Japan.
Glass was the session’s leading buyer, purchasing five yearlings for $1,275,000.
A colt by Candy Ride (ARG) out of the winning Old Trieste mare Steady Course sold for $425,000 to Cromwell Bloodstock, agent. Consigned by Stone Farm, the colt is a half-brother to stakes winner Clear Sailing.
The day’s leading consignor was Taylor Made Sales Agency, which sold 29 horses for $3,665,000.
The September Sale continues today with the first session of the two-day Book 3. Russell said the revised format for this year’s sale has given more prospective buyers the opportunity to review the Book 3 horses.
“Several people we normally see leave before Book 3 starts were still here today, so we hope they had the opportunity to look at these horses,” Russell said. “There are still a lot of people who said they haven’t bought yet and have found it difficult to buy, so we hope the momentum carries on to Book 3.”
The September Sale runs through Saturday, Sept. 26, with all sessions beginning at 10 a.m. The entire sale is streamed live at Keeneland.com.