The momentum that produced strong selling at Keeneland September's opening week carried over into the sixth session Sept. 15, where competition for many yearlings remained strong even though upper-level prices generally were lower than a day earlier.
A $385,000 Medaglia d'Oro colt that Lael Stables bought was Sunday's session-topper.
Sunday's session, the second and final to offer Book Two open yearlings, grossed $28,229,000 for 290 yearlings sold. The average price was $97,341 and the median $80,000. In 2012, the sixth session sold 281 yearlings for $21,625,000 in total, with a $76,957 average and $60,000 median.
The buyback rate was 23.2%, as compared to 23.4% a year ago.
Keeneland reformatted the September sale this year, extending the select portion of the sale from one day to four, which makes year-to-year comparisons of individual sessions difficult. The cumulative session figures provide a better guide, and, by that calculation, it appears the 2013 sale is on pace to rise from last season's performance.
Through Sunday, the 2013 cumulative gross was $216,922,000 for 1,116 yearlings, and that was 20.3% ahead of last year's aggregate, partly due to an 8% larger catalog. But the six-day average and median also soared by 32.8% and 45%. The cumulative average was $194,375, up from $146,322, and the median climbed from last year's $100,000 to $145,000.
Cumulative buybacks edged up to 26.2% from last season's 25.8%.
Roy and Gretchen Jackson's Lael Stables bought Sunday's session-topper, the Anderson Farms agency's Ontario-bred Medaglia d'Oro colt. The March 29 colt is out of Loving Vindication, a winning daughter of the late 2002 juvenile champion Vindication and graded winner Chimichurri.
Buyers were unwilling to push to the $400,000 point on Sunday, but seven yearlings sold for $300,000 or more. Of those, only one was a filly: a $310,000 daughter of recently deceased Unbridled's Song and the unraced Storm Cat mare Go Go Burns.
Stepaside Farm bought the Feb. 24 filly. Her dam is a half sister to graded winner Runway Model and graded-placed stakes-winner Mambo Train. The pedigree also got a recent update when Go Go Burns's juvenile half sister Elena Strikes, by Smart Strike, finished third in the Schuylerville (gr. III) July 19.
The Warrendale Sales agency sold the Unbridled's Song-Go Go Burns filly on Stonestreet's behalf.
The Keeneland September sale will continue through Sept. 21, with sessions beginning daily at 10 a.m. in Keeneland's sale pavilion.
Keeneland September Sale.
Anne M. Eberhardt