Saturday’s session of the Keeneland September yearling sale was quite similar to the previous day’s trading, as key indicators remained dramatically down from last year’s figures.
A total of 248 yearlings were sold Sept. 20 at Keeneland in Lexington for $3,412,900. The number sold was off 13% from the 285 sold a year ago, but the gross plunged 35.4% from the similar session in 2007 ($5,285,300). The day’s average, $13,762, was down 25.8% from last year’s $18,545, and the median fell 25% to $9,000 from $12,000 a year ago.
A filly from the first crop of Closing Argument brought the day’s highest price of $70,000. Consigned by Claiborne Farm, agent, the filly is the first foal of the Archmare Arch Enemy, who is a half-sister to Thoroughbred Club of America (gr. III) winner Tenacious Tiffany. Closing Argument, a son of Successful Appeal who stands at John Sikura’s Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm near Lexington, ran second to Giacomo in the 2005 Kentucky Derby (gr. I).
The top-priced filly on the day was a daughter of Broken Vow , out of Well At the Top, who sold to Palides Investments for $55,000 from the consignment of Lane’s End, agent.
The day’s top consignor was Lane’s End, agent, who sold 25 horses for $417,400. Warrendale Sales sold 12 for $238,700. The day’s leading buyer was Mike Repole’s Repole Stables, who purchased five yearlings for $115,000. He went to $50,000 for a son of Grand Slam out of Madame Ivette, who was consigned by Brookdale Sales, agent for International Equities Holding.
In the 12 days of selling, 3,016 yearlings have been sold for $322,700,800. That is 14.4% and $54.4 million less than last year’s total of $377,172,400 at the same point in the sale. The running average, $106,996, is down 11.1% from last year’s $120,310, and the median, $50,000, is off 16.7% from last year’s $60,000.
Three more sessions remain of the world’s largest yearling sale. The second half of Book 7 gets underway Sunday at 10 a.m.
For detailed analysis of the results of Day 12 and a preview of Day 13, Download the Data Digest.