A chestnut colt by Henny Hughes and a gray filly by Tiz Wonderful each
brought $35,000 from Kim Valerio, agent, to top the 13th and final session of
the 2011 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. The marathon event concluded
Saturday with increases in the cumulative gross, average and median.
A total of 2,921 yearlings were purchased for $223,487,900, a jump of 12.7
percent when compared to 3,059 bringing $198,257,900 by the end of last year’s
sale. The average rose 18.1 percent, from $64,811 in 2010 to $76,511, while the
$25,000 median increased 20 percent to $30,000.
Saturday’s final session saw two yearlings tie for the highest price. First
up, the Tiz Wonderful filly entered the sales ring as Hip No. 4045 from the
consignment of Shawhan Place, agent for Spendthrift Farm. The April 1-foaled
Kentucky-bred is out of stakes victress Summer Star (Siberian Summer), who is a
daughter of the winning Candi’s Star (Candi’s Gold) and a full sister to stakes
victor Summer Sensation.
Candi’s Star is herself a half-sibling to multiple Grade 3-placed stakes
winner Champ’s Star (Fabulous Champ) and Grade 2 heroine Starry Ice (Ice Age),
who would go on in the breeding shed to produce 2005 Carter H. (G1) scorer
Forest Danger (Forestry) and stakes-placed Skipping Stars (Skip Away).
Not long after, Valerio had the winning bid on Hip 4064, a New York-bred colt
by Henny Hughes. Born March 20, 2010, to stakes-placed Totally Crafty (Crafty
Prospector), the yearling came from the consignment of Blake-Albina Thoroughbred
Services, agent. Totally Crafty is half-sister to Nevermore (Unbridled), third
in the 2004 Personal Ensign H. (G1), and fellow stakes-placed Four Sevens
(Unbridled’s Song).
The trio are all out of Grade 2-placed stakes star Teewinot (Vice Regent) and
come from the same female family of Canadian champion Magic Code (Lost Code) and
English champion sprinters *Royal Serenade (*Royal Charger) and Royal Palm
(*Royal Charger).
The final session saw 185 yearlings sell for a gross $1,308,400, a $7,072
average and a $4,500 median. Those numbers improved 36.7 percent, 45.5 percent
and 50 percent, respectively, over last year’s finale when 197 horses were
bought for a total $957,200, a $4,859 average and a $3,000 median.
For the complete catalog and results, log onto
keeneland.com. Next up at
Keeneland will be the November Breeding Stock Sale, scheduled for November 6-19.