Spring At Last Tops Keeneland's Tuesday Session

Edited Keeneland press release
The 3-year-old colt Spring At Last, sold as a racing prospect, brought a final bid of $675,000 from J. Paul Reddam to top Tuesday's session at Keeneland's November Breeding Stock Sale.

By Silver Deputy out of the Dynaformer mare Winter's Gone, Spring At Last is a half brother to grade I stakes winner Sharp Lisa, also campaigned by Reddam. The colt has recorded two wins in five starts at three, including a 7 ½-length romp in an allowance race at Aqueduct last Saturday, November 11. He was consigned by WinStar Racing, agent.

"WinStar has developed a unique marketing concept whereby they offer quality horses in training at the Keeneland sale rather than sell them privately," said Keeneland director of sales Geoffrey Russell. "This is the second November Sale in which they've sold racing prospects, and it's proved to be a very successful marketing exercise. This concept was developed in conjunction with (WinStar racing manager) Elliott Walden, who suggested that the horses be cataloged on a dark day so trainers could see them."

On Tuesday, Keeneland sold 248 horses for $7,615,000, an increase of 14.4% over 2005 when 242 horses brought $6,657,200. Average price for the day of $30,706 rose 11.6% over last year's comparable session average of $27,509. The median price of $22,000 was up 22.2% over the $18,000 posted in 2005.

"The sale continues to be very strong," Russell said. "There are positive indicators across the board."

Through nine sessions, Keeneland has sold a total of 2,169 horses for gross receipts of $298,422,400, up 6.2% over the corresponding period in 2005 when 2,150 horses were sold for $281,049,600. The average of $137,585 increased 5.3% over the $130,721 recorded in 2005, while the median of $65,000 rose 30% over last year's $50,000.

B.B.A. Ireland Ltd. purchased the session-topping broodmare, bidding $225,000 for the 15-year-old Aljawza, in foal to Sahm. Consigned by Shadwell Farm LLC, the Riverman mare is from the family of champion Gay Mecene, and is the dam of stakes winners Al Jadeed and Areek.

Keeneland's November Breeding Stock Sale runs through Sunday, November 19. Sessions begin at 10:00 a.m. each day.