Fillies commanded the top two prices of the Sept. 20 session as Keeneland’s 14-day September yearling sale approached the halfway point.
John C. Oxley, who raced 2001 Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winner Monarchos, paid the top price, bidding $370,000 for a dark bay or brown filly by Street Cry out of Manda Island.
Paramount Sales, as agent, sold the filly, which is the second foal of Manda Island, by Dynaformer. Street Cry is the sire of undefeated Zenyatta and 2007 Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense .
Oxley bought Saturday’s fourth-highest priced yearling, a Tapit filly, for $330,000.
Stockplace paid $270,000, second-highest price of the day, for a dark bay or brown filly by Forest Wildcat out of Feature Article, by Seattle Slew. She is a half-sister to stakes winner Plagiarist from the family of Belmont Stakes (gr. I) winner Bet Twice.
William B. Harrigan Sales Agency, as agent, sold the filly.
During Sunday’s session, 255 horses sold for $14,843,000, compared to $27,096,500 for 296 horses sold during the comparable 2008 session. The drop in average from $91,542 in 2008 to $58,208 this year is 36.4%. The drop in the median price from $70,000 to $45,000 is 35.7%.
A half-brother to millionaire West Virginia brought $240,000, highest price paid for a colt on Sept. 20. John Ferguson bought the chestnut colt by Henny Hughes out of Wild and Wonderful, by Kennedy Road.
Jody Huckabay’s Elm Tree Farm sold the colt, which also is a half-brother to stakes winner Platinum Girl.
William S. Farish’s Lane’s End Farm was the Sunday session’s leading consignor by gross, with $2,007,000 in sales from 36 head sold. Taylor Made ranked second with $1,940,00.
Ben Glass, agent, was the leading buyer, with total purchases of $560,000.
Through six days of the 14-day auction Keeneland has sold 1,196 horses for $150,942,000. At this point in the sale a year ago, 1,413 horses had been sold for $262,472,200. This year’s average of $126,206 is down 32% from last year’s average of $185,755. This year’s median of $80,000 is down 36% from last year’s figure of $125,000. The buy-back rate for the sixth session was 30.1%.
The sale continues daily through Sept. 28.