LEXINGTON, Ky. — A colt by Quality Road sold for $1.7 million and a son of Gun Runner brought $1.2 million during Thursday’s Keeneland September Yearling Sale session, which recorded a fourth consecutive day of spirited trade and strong results. Today’s session marked the final day of a vibrant Week 1 of the auction, which produced gross sales of nearly $237 million and the sale of 30 horses for $1 million and more.
For the second consecutive year, Week 1 featured Books 1 and 2 during the first four days, when more than 1,100 horses, among the sale’s finest individuals based on pedigree and conformation, were cataloged. The format was designed to offer the largest number of exceptional horses possible to major domestic and foreign buyers before the sale takes a one-day break on Friday, Sept. 16.
On Thursday, Keeneland sold 230 yearlings through the ring for $56,635,000, for an average of $246,239 and a median of $202,500. The gross was 16.05 percent above the $48,801,000 for the corresponding session of 2021, when 201 horses sold through the ring. The average was 1.42 percent above the $242,791 from the same session last year, and the median rose 1.25 percent from $200,000.
“Today was competitive and energetic,” Keeneland Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy said. “This session last year was extremely strong so the fact that we ticked up a slight bit is very encouraging. The RNA rate (28 percent) was a little higher than we’d like. In some cases, buyers might have rushed on to Book 3 and overlooked a few quality individuals. But I know a lot of sellers were very, very happy today.”
Cumulatively this year, 669 horses sold through the ring brought a total of $236,990,000, for an average of $354,245 and a median of $275,000. Compared to Week 1 of 2021, the gross is up 18.25 percent from $200,419,000, while the average is 9.59 percent above $323,256, and the median increased 10 percent from $250,000.
Donato Lanni, agent, signed the ticket for the session’s $1.7 million high seller, a colt by Quality Road from the family of Grade 1 winner Joking and Grade 2 winners and sires Tale of the Cat and Fed Biz. Consigned by Nardelli Sales, agent, he is out of the winning Street Sense mare Act Now.
The price equals the third highest price of Week 1. Lanni said the colt will go to trainer Bob Baffert.
A filly by Gun Runner out of Grade 2 winner Stonetastic, by Mizzen Mast, sold to Mayberry Farm for $925,000. Consigned by Paramount Sales, agent, she is from the family of Grade/Group 1 winners Gift Box and Our New Recruit.
Donato Lanni, agent for SF/Starlight/Madaket, paid $700,000 for a son of Uncle Mo out of Grade 1-placed winner Still There by Union Rags. Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent, consigned the colt from the Grade 3 winner Raging Daoust family.
Two horses were purchased for $625,000 apiece.
A colt by Liam’s Map consigned by Hinkle Farms sold for the amount to Michael Wallace, agent for St. Elias Stables. Out of the winning Speightstown mare Giulio’s Jewel, he is from the family of Group 2 winner Rabbit Run and Grade/Group 3 winners Bertolini, Rainha Da Bateria, Assateague and Kindergarten Kid.
Tomoyasu Sakaguchi paid $625,000 for a colt by City of Light, a half-brother, to Grade 2 winner Spielberg. From the family of Grade 1 winners Dream Deal, Clear Mandate, Strong Mandate and Romantic Vision, he was consigned by Warrendale Sales, an agent. His dam is Miss Squeal, a winning daughter of Smart Strike.
Four yearlings sold for $600,000 each.
A colt by Uncle Mo, who is a half-brother to stakes winner Bet She Wins was purchased for the amount by West Bloodstock. St George Sales, agent, consigned the colt, who is out of Spring Eclipse, by Unbridled’s Song, and from the family of Grade 2 winners Softly and Conquest Big E.
Also selling for $600,000 was a Medaglia d’Oro colt out of Grade 3 winner Valadorna, by Curlin, acquired by Jupiter Farm. Consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent, he is from the family of Grade 1 winner Complexity and Grade 2 winners Springside and Real Cash.
Repole Stable and St. Elias Stables paid the same amount for a colt by Constitution out of the stakes-winning Street Sense mare Walk of Stars. Betz Thoroughbreds, agent, consigned the colt from the family of stakes winners Strike the Moon and Never Enough Time.
The partnership of Repole Stable and St. Elias Stables led all buyers Thursday by spending $3,875,000 for 12 horses. During Week 1, this partnership spent $12,540,000 for 30 yearlings.
Additionally, major entities such as SF/Starlight/Madaket, Courtlandt Farm and Richard Knight Bloodstock topped the Week 1 leading buyer list.
The fourth $600,000 yearling was a son of Munnings who sold to West Bloodstock, agent for Robert and Lawana Low. Ashview Farm (Bryan Lyster and Gray Lyster) agent, consigned the colt, who is out of West Riding, by Tapit, and from the family of Grade 1 winner A. P. Indian.
Taylor Made sold 25 yearlings for $5,915,000 to top the session’s consignors.
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