A Tapit colt produced from the stakes-winning mare Victory Road was purchased by Ron Winchell for $450,000 to top the Sept. 20 session of the Keeneland September yearling sale. The colt, a full brother to grade III winner Touching Beauty, was consigned by Brookdale Sales, as agent for Copper Penny Stables.
Victory Road, a daughter of Ikari, was purchased by Davant Lathem, agent for Copper Penny Stables, for $75,000 from the Gainesway Farm consignment to the 2008 Keeneland November breeding stock sale. The mare was in foal to Tapit and carrying the $450,000 yearling at the time.
Keeneland reported 296 horses were sold for a gross of $15,130,700, an average of $51,117, and a median of $39,500. The 83 horses that did not sell represented a buyback rate of 21.9%. There are no comparable figures for the same session one year ago due to a change in the sale's format this year. Cumulatively, 1,521 horses have sold for $173,754,700, for an average of $114,237 and a median of $70,000.
Geoffrey Russell, Keeneland’s director of sales, said there was solid trade during the Sept. 20 session, noting the RNA (reserve not attained) rate for both sessions that included horses cataloged as Book 3 was the best of the entire sale. The not-sold rate for Sept. 19 was 23.6%.
"There was good, spirited bidding all day," Russell said. "These horses are trading very well. We are pleased we have a great pool of buyers."
A filly by Arch out of Board Battle, by Seeking the Gold, brought the day’s second-highest price of $285,000 from Carolyn Vogel. Consigned by William B. Harrigan (Miacomet Farm), the filly is from the family of multiple graded stakes winners Carriage Trail and Criminologist.
Hardin Farms bid $275,000 for a colt by Harlan's Holiday out of the unraced Dixie Union mare Tamina. The colt was consigned by Brookdale Sales, agent for Audley Farm.
The sale continues through Sunday, September 26; sessions begin daily at 10 a.m. ET.