As expected, the robust results of the Keeneland September yearling sale were felt most keenly at the top of the market.
The top five sires by average price (with a minimum of three sold) all experienced double-digit percentage increases in average between 21.5% and 48.5% when compared with their 2016 sale results.
Gainesway's Tapit leads the September sire ranks with a $950,000 average for 17 sold. Tapit's average was 48.5% higher than his 2016 Keeneland September average of $639,639. Tapit yearlings grossed $16,150,000 this year, putting him second to Scat Daddy's leading gross of $17,045,000, but it took 51 Scat Daddy yearlings to generate his total. All the Tapit yearlings sold brought more than $100,000 and 13 sold for $500,000 or more.
Tapit's hefty average was driven by four yearlings selling for $1 million or more, and three that went for more than $2 million. The son of Pulpit was the only sire to be represented by a yearling worth more than $2 million. VanMeter-Gentry Sales consigned the sale-topper, a $2.7 million filly out of the graded stakes producer Pretty 'n Smart and bought by M.V. Magnier.
Claiborne Farm's War Front ranked second by average price with 15 yearlings generating $770,000, up 21.5% compared with 2016. All of War Front's yearlings brought $100,000 or more and 11 sold for $500,000 or more. The son of Danzig also was represented by four yearlings that brought $1 million or more. War Front's top seller was a $1.9 million colt out of multiple grade 1 winner Iotapa that agent Donato Lanni bought out of the Taylor Made Sales Agency consignment.
Rounding out the top five sires by average price are Darley's Medaglia d'Oro ($391,719), WinStar Farm's Pioneerof the Nile ($337,050), and Ashford Stud's late sire Scat Daddy ($334,216).
Medaglia d'Oro was represented by 32 sold at this year' sale, just two shy of the number sold at this sale a year ago. His average, however, increased 31.7%. The son of El Prado (IRE) had 30 of his yearlings sell for $100,000 or more and nine sold for $500,000 or more. His top seller was a $1.25 million filly out of graded stakes winner and graded producer Sealy Hill that Lawrence Best's Oxo Equine bought from Gainesway's consignment.
Pioneerof the Nile's average was 27.1% higher than his September average of 2016. Of his 40 yearlings sold, 35 brought $100,000 or more and 10 brought $500,000 or more.
Scat Daddy's 51 yearlings sold represented 28% of his last crop. The son of Johannesburg, who died unexpectedly at age 11 in mid-December 2015, had his average price rise 34.9% compared with his 2016 Keeneland September average. Of the 51 sold, 49 brought $100,000 or more and 13 brought $500,000 or more.
A year ago, Scat Daddy's top seller was a $3 million colt out of Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Leslie's Lady and his only seven-figure yearling. At the 2017 sale, Scat Daddy had two yearlings sell for $1 million or more. His top price was a $1.1 million colt out of Orchard Beach that Anderson Farms sold to Magnier.
