Keeneland Sale Slows Down in Second Half

A $230,000 session topper wasn't enough to keep soaring figures afloat Sunday as Keeneland reported a decline in gross, average, and median prices compared to the same session last year, heading into the second half of its November Breeding Stock Sale in Lexington, Ky.

Lobo Farm paid the session's top-price for a son of Tiznow   out of the stakes winning Distinctive Pro mare Financial Lady, a full sister to stakes winner Image Maker and a half-sister to stakes winner Dixie Country (by Dixie Brass). Eaton Sales, agent, consigned the colt to the sale.

Foaled March 26, the dark bay or brown colt was bred by Hindman Limited Partnership in Kentucky.

The numbers for Sunday were:

--Gross receipts of $8,371,800 for the 243 horses sold represented a 15.2% decrease over the $9,875,000 gross when 256 horses were sold during the corresponding session in 2004.
--The average price of $34,452 was down 10.7% over the 2004 session average of $38,574.
--The median decreased 16.7% to $25,000, compared with $30,000 in 2004
--The 74 horses which did not sell represented an RNA rate of 23.3%, compared with a rate of 25.15% when 86 went unsold last year, down 7.3 %.

The cumulative figures for the sale were:

--The gross of $266,211,700 for 1,632 sold is up 3.5% over the $257,217,900 figure for 1,692 sold through the same period one year ago.
--The average price of $163,120 represents a 7.3% increase over the 2004 figure of $152,020.
--The median price of $75,000 is up 21% over the 2004 median of $62,000.

Keeneland Sales Director Geoffrey Russell said he was a little disappointed in figures for the seventh session, but said he was pleased the buy-back rate was also down for the day.

"I was a little disappointed, but we're talking about $4,000 here and there, so I think it's still pretty solid all the way through," Russell said Sunday.

A 5-year-old son of Storm Cat fetched the session's second-highest price of $210,000. International Thoroughbred Consultants purchased Ozzie Cat, who was consigned to the sale as a stallion prospect by Eaton Sales, agent for breeder Overbrook Farms.

Ozzie Cat placed second in the 2003 Golden Gate Derby (gr. III) and earned $127,695 in his three-year race career for Overbrook Farms and Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas.

Out of the Mr. Prospector mare Hopespringsforever, Ozzie Cat is a full brother to stakes winner Apollo Cat and grade II stakes-placed winner Steady Cat. He is also a half-brother to grade I stakes-placed Union City.

The highest price paid for a mare Sunday was $150,000 for 5-year-old stakes winner You Glitter Girl, by Glitterman. Bluewater Sales, agent, consigned the mare as a racing or broodmare prospect.

Bred by E.H. Beau Lane III and Perry Greer in Kentucky, You Glitter Girl won the Sara's Success Stakes on turf this year at Calder Race Course. She also placed in three other stakes in her four years of racing.

You Glitter Girl is out of the Great Gladiator mare Shy Beauty and is a half-sister to stakes winner Timely Ruckus (by Bold Ruckus) and stakes-placed winner Candid Beauty (by Candid Cameron).

The sale continues at 10 a.m. daily through Friday, Nov. 18.

Hip-By-Hip Results from Keeneland