The Keeneland November Sale will feature major dispersals from several top breeding operations.
With two sessions remaining in the six-day auction, the Keeneland January horses of all ages sale Thursday soared past the gross for the entire 2004 auction.At the end of Thursday's session, Keeneland had sold 1,009 horses for a total of $50,730,800. The cumulative average price was $50,278 and the median price was $20,000. During last year's entire five-day auction, 1,258 horses and two stallion seasons were sold for a total of $49,362,600. Already, the gross for this year's sale is the fourth-highest in the history of the sale that was first held in 1956. "Last year's sale was very strong sale, so to surpass it this early is a little surprising," said Geoffrey Russell, Keeneland's director of sales.Thursday's session was indicative of the resiliency in the marketplace as 259 horses averaged $22,725 from a gross of $5,885,900. The session median was $12,000. During the comparable session one year ago, 263 horses averaged $18,316 from gross receipts of $4,817,000, with a median of $9,500. The buyback rate was 19.6%, compared with 18.5% for the same session one year ago.Thursday's top price of $290,000 was paid by Briggs and Cromartie Bloodstock Agency for Andrea Gail, an unraced 8-year-old daughter of Storm Bird in foal to Roar. The dam of graded stakes winner Areyoutalkintome, Andrea Gail was consigned by Eaton Sales.Second-highest price of $200,000 was paid by Stonerside Stables for Lost Expectations, a 6-year-old grade II-placed daughter of Valid Expectations consigned by Gainesway Farm. The mare believed in foal to Sunday Break was produced from the winning Lost Code mare Lost Leaf, also the dam of Lost Appeal. Both Valid Expectations, the sire Lost Expectations, and Lost Appeal were sired by Valid Appeal.Results From Keeneland's Fourth Session
