LEXINGTON, Ky. — Keeneland concluded Week 1 of its 80th September Yearling Sale on Thursday with a session highlighted by steady trade among several major buyers and the sale of colts by Curlin for $1.1 million and by Not This Time for $1.05 million. Cumulative gross sales for the first four days of the auction, when 30 yearlings sold for seven figures, reached $234 million, down slightly from last year, while the average and median prices posted increases.
Week 1 featured Books 1 and 2, with more than 1,100 horses, among the sale’s finest individuals based on pedigree and conformation, in the catalog. 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 hiatus on Friday, Sept. 15.
During that span, Keeneland sold 637 horses through the ring for a total of $234,300,000, for an average of $367,818 and a median of $300,000. Compared to Week 1 of 2022, the gross dipped 1.14 percent, while the average was up 3.83 percent from $354,245 and the median climbed 9.09 percent from $275,000.
The 30 million-dollar horses equals the number sold last year and is the highest for the September Sale since 2007.
On Thursday, Keeneland sold 207 yearlings for $53,351,000, down 5.8 percent from $56,635,000 for the corresponding session of 2022 when 230 horses sold. Average price climbed 4.67 percent from $246,239 to $257,734. The median of $200,000 was nearly equal to last year’s $202,500.
For an undisclosed buyer, Lauren Carlisle, agent, paid $1.1 million for a colt by Curlin out of Grade 2 winner Miss Sunset, by Into Mischief. Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent, consigned the colt from the family of Grade 2 winner Prayer for Relief.
West Point Thoroughbreds and Talla, LEB, agent, spent $1.05 million for a colt by Not This Time from the family of Grade 2 winner Cowtown Cat and Grade/Group 3 winners Crafty But Sweet and So Perfect. St George Sales, agent, consigned the colt, who is out of winner Foreign Affair, by Exchange Rate.
Finley said John Sadler would train the colt on the West Coast.
A son of Omaha Beach who is from the family of champion Nest, winner of the 2023 Shuvee (G2), sold to Jim and Dana Bernhard’s Pin Oak Stud for $950,000. Burleson Farms, agent, consigned the colt, who is out of the Tapit mare Infraction. His family also includes Grade 1 winner Idol and Grade 2 winner Andujar.
Pin Oak Stud was the session’s leading buyer by purchasing five yearlings for $2.45 million.
CHC Inc./Qatar Racing spent $875,000 to acquire a colt from the first crop of Authentic who is a half-sister to Grade 2 winner Royal Charlotte. Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent for Stonestreet Bred & Raised, consigned the colt, who is out of the winning Harlan’s Holiday mare Sass and Class. He is from the family of Grade 2 winner Buy the Barrel and Grade 3 winner Mauk Four.
Mayberry Farm spent $850,000 on a colt by Candy Ride (ARG) who is from the family of Grade 1 winners Dunbar Road, Secret Status and Fair Maiden. Out of the Giant’s Causeway mare Una Mac Cool, he was consigned by Mt. Brilliant Farm, agent.
Spendthrift Farm paid $800,000 for a filly from the first crop of Authentic who is a half-sister to Grade 2 winner General Jim. Consigned by Indian Creek, agent, she is out of the winning Curlin mare Inspired by Grace and from the family of Grade 1 winner Off the Tracks, Grade 2 winner Concord Point and Grade 3 winner Tasha’s Miracle.
Four yearlings sold for $700,000 each.
Mayberry Farm paid the amount for a colt by Authentic, a half-brother, to Japan Group 3 winner Shivaji and stakes winner and Grade 1-placed Tarabi. Hinkle Farms consigned the colt, who is out of Indian Bay, by Indian Charlie, and from the family of Grade 2 winner Buy the Barrel.
Green Lantern Stables/Patrick Masson purchased a filly by Curlin from the family of Grade 1 winner A. P. Indian, Grade 2 winner Tiz Shea D and Grade 3 winner Doctor Mounty for $700,000. She is consigned by Hidden Brook, an agent for Woodslane Farm, and she is out of the winning Malibu Moon mare Prospector’s Moon.
A filly by Munnings who is a half-sister to recent Runhappy Del Mar Futurity (G1) winner and undefeated Prince of Monaco sold for $700,000 to West Bloodstock, agent for Robert and Lawana Low. Consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent for Stonestreet Bred & Raised, she is out of Rainier, by Medaglia d’Oro, and from the family of Grade 1 winner Adieu, Grade 3 winners Direct Line and Rapport along with stakes winners Laurie’s Rocket, Greeley’s Rocket and Necker Island.
The fourth yearling to sell for $700,000 was a colt by Nyquist out of Grade 1 winner Romantic Vision, by Lemon Drop Kid, purchased by The Three Amigos. Warrendale Sales, agent, consigned the colt from the family of Grade 1 winner Clear Mandate and Grade 2 winner Dream Scheme.
With sales of $6.7 million for 30 horses, Paramount Sales was the leading consignor.
