Action Remains Brisk at Keeneland Friday

(from Keeneland release)
Business continued at a brisk pace during Friday's bidding at the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale, far surpassing last year's totals for the corresponding session.

Keeneland sold 226 horses for $2,974,100, an 86.9% increase from a year ago when 197 horses brought $1,591,400. Average price for the day of $13,160 jumped 62.9% over last year's comparable session average of $8,078. The median price of $8,000 was up 90.5% over the $4,200 posted in 2005.

Agent Mill Ridge Sales consigned two of the day's top-priced horses, selling the 3-year-old filly Nesselrode for $185,000 to Machmer Hall TBS. Sold as a broodmare prospect, the filly, by Lemon Drop Kid  , is a half sister to stakes winner Desert Gold. Mill Ridge also consigned the Seattle Slew colt Hurricane Force, sold as a stallion prospect to agent Ruel Cowls for $110,000. The 4-year-old colt, out of the Northern Dancer mare Dokki, is a half-brother to graded stakes winners Aptitude and Sleep Easy.

Stravinsky's Gal, a 4-year-old filly sold as a racing or broodmare prospect, brought a final bid of $150,000 from Limerick Road Bloodstock. Consigned by agent Karrington Stables, the stakes-placed Stravinsky filly is from the family of grade I winner Quiet American.

With two days left, Keeneland has sold a total of 2,861 horses for $311,554,100 (+7.6%), for an average of $108,897 (+6%) and a median of $42,000 (+20%). During the corresponding point last year, 2,819 horses had been sold for $289,606,400, for an average of $102,734 and a median of $35,000.

The not-sold rate for the session was under 20%, while the total rate of horses not sold continues to be down from 2005.

Keeneland's November Breeding Stock Sale runs through Nov. 19.