An Unbridled's Song colt brought $185,000 to top the ninth session of the struggling Keeneland September yearling sale. While the number of horses sold Sept. 23 in Lexington rose 5.6% from a year ago, the gross revenue declined 26.2%. The average price dropped 30.1%, and the median price plunged 40%. The buy-back rate fell from 24.6% in 2008 to 19.3% this year.
Baccari Bloodstock, agent for Besilu, purchased the day’s most expensive yearling from Eaton Sales, agent for the Overbrook Farm dispersal. The dark bay or brown colt is out of the 12-year-old Storm Cat mare Katz Me If You Can, who scored in the 2001 Genuine Risk Handicap (gr. II) at Belmont Park and the 2000 Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes (gr. III) at Keeneland. Her other offspring include the winners Unkatzable (by A.P. Indy) and This Cat Can Dance (by Vindication).
A Dehere–Miner’s Blessing colt and a Dixie Union--Nicarola Catrola filly each commanded the session’s second-highest price of $170,000. Marette Farrell bought the colt from Suzi Shoemaker’s Lantern Hill Farm, agent. Mike Shannon purchased the filly from Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent.
In all, 281 yearlings were sold for a gross of $7,564,100 and an average of $26,919. The median was $18,000. Last year, during the same session, when 266 horses were sold, the gross was $10,244,800. The average was $38,514, and the median was $30,000.
The cumulative figures through the September sale’s first nine sessions included a gross $179,342,600 for the 2,028 yearlings that sold. The average was $88,433, and the median was $47,500. Compared to the figures at the same point of the auction in 2008, the number sold was down 9.2% from 2,233 and the gross was down 41.3% from $305,698,100. The average was down 35.4% from $136,900, and the median was down 40.6% from $80,000.
The buy-back rate rose from 25.1% last year to 29.5% this year.
The auction continues through Sept. 28, with each session beginning at 10 a.m. (EDT).
