Keeneland's September yearling sale ended Saturday with strong gains over last year that justified pre-sale optimism and signaled that commercial Thoroughbred breeding has regained solid financial footing.
Keeneland's September yearling sale in Lexington continued its remarkable roll Sept. 19 as its 10th session posted more strong numbers.
Keeneland's parking lot was still crowded Sept. 18 as the auction house's 12-day September yearling sale rolled into its ninth session, and the buyers on hand were keeping the auction's figures ahead of last year.
Propelled by continuing demand for yearlings, the 2013 Keeneland September yearling sale ended its seventh session Sept. 16 with more gross sales than the entire sale achieved in 11 days last year.
It did not take long during the Sept. 16 seventh session for the Keeneland September yearling sale to surpass the $219.7 million in gross receipts for the entire 11-day sale in 2012.
The momentum that produced strong selling at Keeneland September's opening week carried over into the sixth session Sept. 15, where competition for many yearlings remained strong. Eight sold for at least $300,000.
Keeneland's September yearling auction in Lexington, Ky., continued to produce strong numbers Sept. 14 as selling moved into Book Two and the open portion of the sale.
While Book One of the 2013 Keeneland September sale concluded Sept. 12, the world's largest yearling sale will continue to offer youngsters from mares who have excelled on the track and as broodmares.
Coolmore's M.V. Magnier signed a $2.5 million ticket at Keeneland's September sale Sept. 12, closing out the auction's first week with a sale-leading War Front colt, one of 18 million-dollar yearlings so far.
A War Front colt from the female family of Will's Way and Willa On the Move was bought by Coolmore Stud interests Sept. 12 for $2.5 million to become the new sale topper at the Keeneland September yearling sale.
A striking son of Tapit and a half brother to grade I winner Justin Phillip was sold for $1.2 million as the first seven-figure offering during the Sept. 12 fourth session of the Keeneland September yearling sale.
Mandy Pope collected another high-class filly Sept. 11 at the Keeneland yearling sale, scooping the $2.2 million session-topper and sale leader, a half sister to grade I winners Will Take Charge and Take Charge Indy.
A half brother to Super Saver lived up to expectations Sept. 11 when the son of Medaglia d'Oro was purchased by B. Wayne Hughes for $1.7 million at the Keeneland September yearling sale.
A son of Galileo who is a half brother to an Irish champion sold for $1.4 million as the second-highest priced yearling during the first half of the third session of the Keeneland September yearling sale Sept. 11.
A half sister to champion and top sire Speightstown was purchased by Torrealba Holdings for $1,750,000 to light up the Keeneland sales ring early during the September yearling sale's third session Sept. 11.
The Keeneland September sale's second Book 1 session Sept. 10 proved as bullish as the previous day's opener as far as $1 million horses were concerned, with four seven-figure horses exiting the ring again.
A Tapit colt became the second seven-figure purchase during the second session of the Keeneland September yearling sale when Coolmore Stud went to $1 million for him.
A Malibu Moon--Hollywood Story filly brought a price of $1,350,000 to become the second-highest-priced offering at the midway point of the first session of the Keeneland September yearling sale Sept. 9 in Lexington.
A colt by War Front out of a full sister to the dam of Departing was sold for $1 million as the second seven-figure horse at the first session of the Keeneland September yearling sale.
A Medaglia d'Oro filly brought a top bid of $1.5 million from Alan Cooper to top the early portion of the Keeneland September yearling sale Sept. 9 in Lexington.
The appeal of first-year sires for buyers at the Keeneland September yearling sale, which waned during the Great Recession, seems to be making a comeback in 2013.
As the largest yearling sale on the planet, Keeneland September tries to provide something for everyone and this year that will include 24 first-book yearlings by European-based sires.
With Russian President Vladimir Putin and other dignitaries from the Gas Exporting Countries' Forum in attendance July 1, American-bred horses ran first and second in the President's Cup at the Central Moscow Hippodrome.
For the overall Keeneland September yearling sale a little bit more than a quarter of the horses offered, 28%, made money. read blog
Prince Khalid Abdullah's Juddmonte Farms is reviving its West Coast racing division. Juddmonte purchased three yearlings for $1,105,000 at the Keeneland September yearling sale that will be sent to Bob Baffert.
A Yes It's True colt purchased by California trainer James Kasparoff for $220,000 topped the Sept. 19 ninth session of the Keeneland September yearling sale that continued to show strength entering the home stretch.
While the eighth session of the Keeneland September yearling sale may have not had as many six-figure fireworks as last week's sessions, there were still plenty of buyers for quality horses.
Heavy action by lookers at the barns is followed by brisk bidding in the ring during Day Six of the Keeneland September yearling sale. All key indices are up over last year's figures.
Images of some of the last offspring sired by the great A. P. Indy. View Slideshow
A chestnut son of Smart Strike lit up the sales ring late in the day of the fourth session of the Keeneland September yearling sale, bringing $900,000 from John Moynihan, agent, who bought the horse for Stonestreet Farm.
Shigeyuki Okada's Big Red Farm went to $1.1 million for a son of Empire Maker, during the fourth session of the Keeneland September yearling sale Sept. 13.
Trainer Todd Pletcher went to $750,000 Sept. 13 to acquire an attractive son of Giant's Causeway as the top-priced offering during the early portion of the Keeneland September yearling sale's fourth session.
Irish agent Demi O'Byrne outlasted all other bidders to acquire a Bernardini colt for $1,550,000 at the Sept. 12 third session of the Keeneland September yearling sale in Lexington.
A colt by 2008 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner Big Brown commanded $825,000 from Demi O'Byrne during the third session of the Keeneland September sale. He was consigned by Warrendale Sales, agent.
Case Clay of Three Chimneys Farm discusses the 2012 Keeneland September yearling sale. watch video
Denali Stud's Craig Bandoroff discusses the 2012 Keeneland September yearling sale. watch video
A strapping gray or roan colt by Tapit was bought for $700,000 by Stonestreet Thoroughbreds to top the second session of the Keeneland September yearling sale Sept. 11.
Maverick Racing went to $550,000 to acquire a Giant's Causeway colt from the Gainesway consignment, the highest price early during the Sept. 11 second session of the Keeneland September yearling sale in Lexington.
Gainesway Farm's Michael Hernon discusses the horses they sold from the select session and feedback from customers about the Keeneland September Yearling Sale. watch video
Esther Marr talks about 5 horses who sold for over a million dollars and recaps the select session of the Keeneland September Sale. watch video
A half brother to multiple grade I winner Contested was sold for $1,050,000 during the Sept. 10 Keeneland September yearling sale. He is the third horse to bring a bid of seven figures during the opening session.
About 90 minutes into the Sept. 10 first session of the Keeneland September yearling sale, the action really picked up with two seven-figure horses selling in short succession.
Esther Marr speaks with Frank Taylor of Taylor Made Sales Agency to preview their horses in the Keeneland September Yearling Sale. watch video
Castaway, who won a division of the Feb. 20 Southwest Stakes (gr. III), kept getting better and better as a yearling, according to Mark Taylor of Kentucky-based Taylor Made Sales Agency.
Drill, who defeated American Act by a nose in the Feb. 19 San Vincente Stakes (gr. II), was a high-energy horse with a lot of potential even as a yearling.
Gross sales ended up 12.7% higher than a year ago, the average rose 18% to $76,511, and the median was up 20% to $30,000.
Frank Stronach's Adena Springs Farm is buying yearlings to replenish bloodstock holdings that have been diminished due to a selloff by the farm, acquiring yearlings priced between $8,000 and $1.34 million at Keeneland.
A day after the Keeneland September yearling sale topped its 2010 gross with five days to go, the ninth day of selling was up over last year. And the importance of that development goes far beyond the numbers.
Valkyre Stud owner co-breeds, then sells filly by Bernardini for $1.2 million. read blog
Any questions about whether the Keeneland September yearling sale would have staying power beyond the first week were answered Sept. 19 when the auction's receipts went beyond the entire 2010 sale gross.
