By comparison, averages for leading first-crop sires of recent years were: Pulpit, $550,833 in 2000; Hennessy, $559,444 in 1999; Thunder Gulch, $531,250 in 1998; Dehere, $275,000 in 1997; Kingmambo, $388,889 in 1996; and A.P. Indy, $400,000 in 1995. Grand Slam is the fourth first-crop leader of the last five years to hail from Coolmore's Ashford Stud.Second to Grand Slam was Gentlemen, three sold for $273,333. Skip Away had one sell for $550,000, and Touch Gold had one sell for $220,000 among other first-crop sires.Leading Keeneland Sires
While only two of the six yearlings from the late Mr. Prospector's final crop of foals exceeded their reserve price, the two that did sell on Tuesday night in the final session of the Keeneland July select yearling sale pushed the legendary sire over the $200-million mark in career revenue for yearlings sold at public auction. With $5,500,000 in receipts at this year's July sale, the son of Raise a Native now has $202,884,728 in lifetime yearling sale revenue.Mr. Prospector, the leader by average price (three or more sold) in six previous Keeneland July sales, was the leader again in 2001 among sires with two or more sold. His two yearlings sold on Tuesday averaged $2,750,000 and included the $3,600,000 top-priced colt of the evening out of the Nureyev mare, Nuryette. The colt was purchased by John Ferguson Bloodstock from the Three Chimneys consignment, agent for Warner L. Jones Farm. Mr. Prospector led all Keeneland July sires last year with an average price of $1,477,143 from seven sold.Storm Cat was the leading sire this year with three or more sold. The Keeneland July average for the son of Storm Bird rose from $1,067,857 for seven sold in 2000 to $1,770,000 for five sold this year. His top price was a $3,000,000 filly out of Inca Legacy, by Saratoga Six, sold on Tuesday night. Ferguson also bought that filly, consigned by Gainesway, agent for Marylou Whitney Stables.Tuesday's session topper was a Seeking the Gold filly out of Escena that sold for $3,700,000. Reynolds Bell, agent, purchased her from Denali Stud, agent for Falls Creek Farm. The sale pushed Seeking the Gold's overall average up to $1,677,500 from four yearlings sold. His 2000 average was $1,193,750 from four sold.Next by average price was Unbridled's Song, with two selling for an average of $1,262,500, up from an average in 2000 of $840,000, from four sold.Saint Ballado, with the $4-million sale-topper sold on Monday night, had a total of eight yearlings sell for an average price of $1,231,250. He had just two sell last year for an average price of $987,500. The sale topper was sold by Taylor Made Sales Agency and purchased by Demi O'Byrne.The final sire to top $1 million by average was Seattle Slew, who sold four for an average price of $1,200,000, up from $341,250 in 2000 when four sold. His top price was on Monday when O'Byrne paid $2,500,000 for a colt out of Statuette, by Pancho Villa, consigned by Dromoland Farm.Leader among first-crop sires with two or more sold was Grand Slam, with a total of seven selling for an average price of $349,286. His top price was a $775,000 colt out of Pas Who, by Pas Seul, sold on Tuesday to Robert and Beverly Lewis by Taylor Made.