For a second consecutive session, Adena Springs spent a six-figure sum for a
yearling from the first crop of champion and dual classic winner Big Brown
during Wednesday’s trading at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Having
sprung $175,000 for a filly on Tuesday, Adena needed only $140,000 to secure
Wednesday’s session-topping colt, who sported Hip No. 3004.
Consigned by Blake-Albina Thoroughbred Services, agent, the May 10 chestnut
is out of the stakes-placed Cold Awakening (Dehere), making him a half-brother
to Grade 2 winner Recapturetheglory (Cherokee Run). Winner of the 2008 Illinois
Derby (G2), the six-year-old Recapturetheglory won the Louisiana H. at Fair
Grounds on January 22 and was most recently fourth in a Hoosier Park allowance
on September 2.
Cold Awakening herself is a half-sister to the Grade 3 winners Rotsaluck
(Rajab) and Chilly Rooster (Arch). This female family has also yielded Grade 3
victors It’s Freezing (T. V. Commercial) and Silverfoot (With Approval).
A colt by Macho Uno was gaveled down to Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Moss for $130,000.
Offered by Allied Bloodstock, agent for D.C. Goff, The March 12 bay toured the
ring as Hip 2832.
The Kentucky-bred was produced by the winning Ruby’s Prize (Elusive Quality),
a half-sister to multiple stakes winner Free Flying Soul (Quiet American), who
also placed in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) and Santa Monica H.
(G1). Both were reared by the Grade 2-winning Ruby Surprise (Farma Way).
This extended family has produced the U.A.E. highweight and U.S. Grade 2
winner Saratoga County (Valid Expectations), who captured the 2005 Dubai Golden
Shaheen (UAE-G1). The yearling descends from Broodmare of the Year Traffic Court
(Discovery).
The session’s top filly was Hip 3078, a daughter of Langfuhr. Offered as part
of the dispersal from the late Edward P. Evans (Spring Hill Farm) with Lane’s
End acting as agent, the April 3 Virginia-bred was purchased by Mt. Brilliant
Stable for $120,000.
Produced by the winning Gone for Christmas (Gone West), the yearling is a
half-sister to Christmas for Liam, who placed third in the May 30 Skip Away S.
at Monmouth Park in his most recent outing. The filly’s second dam is Christmas
Gift (Green Desert), who reared 2007 Ashland S. (G1) winner Christmas Kid (Lemon
Drop Kid). This is the extended family of Grade 1-winning sire Grand Slam (Gone
West).
Business continued to be very brisk at the end of trading on Wednesday, as
315 yearlings sold for $6,969,900, a dramatic 65.5 percent spike over the
corresponding session last year when $4,212,100 was grossed from the sale of 294
head. The session average jumped 54.4 percent, from $14,327 to $22,127, while
the median climbed 66.7 percent, from $9,000 to $15,000.
With three days of selling remaining, $215,187,500 has been realized from the
sale of 2,248 yearlings. This represents a rise of 11.6 percent from this point
a year ago when 2,387 horses had sold for $192,884,100. The cumulative average
is up 18.5 percent, from $80,806 to $95,724, while the median has risen 25
percent, from $40,000 to $50,000.
The 13-day sale continues Thursday and runs through Saturday, with each day’s
trade opening at 10 a.m. (EDT).
For the complete catalog, results and live video of the auction, log onto
www.keeneland.com.