The tenth session of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale on Thursday continued the trend of rising prices for the fourth day in a row, highlighted by a Vekoma colt purchased by Pin Oak Stud for $260,000. This colt, offered by VanMeter Sales, is out of the winning mare Don’t Charge It (by Take Charge Indy) and hails from a lineage that includes notable stakes winners such as Shop Till You Drop, Competitive Speed, and Gotham Gala.
During Thursday’s session, Keeneland sold 311 yearlings for a total of $14,219,000, representing a 13.16% increase in gross sales compared to the $12,565,000 earned from 298 horses last year. The average price per yearling rose by 8.43% to $45,720 from last year’s $42,164, while the median price increased by 6.67%, going from $30,000 to $32,000.
To date, the auction has sold 2,338 yearlings for a combined $525,899,500, with an average price of $224,936 and a median of $125,000. These figures show gains over last year’s first ten sessions, with gross sales up 5.14% from $500,189,500, the average price rising by 6.67% from $210,872, and the median increasing 4.17% from $120,000. Notably, 70 yearlings have sold for $1 million or more this year, compared to 56 last year.
On Thursday, Kenneth McPeek was the top buyer, spending $715,000 on five yearlings, including two priced at $210,000 each. One of these was a Maclean’s Music colt from Ashview Farm, related to the esteemed Tapit and a family boasting multiple graded stakes winners. The other $210,000 purchase was a Complexity filly consigned by Brookdale, descending from a lineage that includes Group 1 winners Gold and Ivory, Heart of Darkness, and India.
Another colt by Dialed In sold for $210,000 to the Millard R. Seldon Revocable Trust. This yearling, consigned by Ledgelands, is out of My Lil Shamrock, a stakes-winning daughter of City Zip, and comes from a family including Grade/Group 3 and stakes winners. Additionally, two yearlings fetched $200,000 each: one, a Jackie’s Warrior filly acquired by Burns Racing, and another, a Maclean’s Music filly purchased by Iconic Thoroughbreds.
Taylor Made Sales Agency led consignors for the session, selling 36 horses totaling $1,664,000. The September Sale will continue on Friday with its second-to-last day, starting at 10 a.m. ET, and will be livestreamed on Keeneland.com.
Fan Take: This surge in prices and strong demand at Keeneland underscores the growing enthusiasm and confidence in the next generation of thoroughbreds. For horse racing fans, it signals a promising future for the sport, as talented yearlings with rich pedigrees are being eagerly acquired, potentially leading to exciting competition on the track in the years ahead.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
