Keeneland September posts highest gross since 2008

The sale has already exceeded $236 million in gross, with five more sessions on tap (Keeneland Photo) During Monday’s seventh session, the Keeneland September Yearling Sale surpassed a gross of $236.8 million, the highest since the 2008 sale, with five days still to come at the marathon auction. Last year’s final gross was $219,781,500, while the 2011 sale witnessed total receipts of $223,487,800. The previous two years were hit hardest by the economic collapse, with grosses of $191,859,200 and $198,257,900, respectively, in 2009 and 2010. In contrast, the 2008 sale grossed $327,999,100. Keeneland reported that through Monday, 1,408 yearlings have brought a grand total of $236,874,000, an increase of 22 percent compared to the $194,162,500 realized by 1,541 horses at this point in 2012. The cumulative average has spiked 33.5 percent, from $125,998 to $168,234, while the $115,000 median represents a 43.8 percent jump from $80,000. For the session, 292 horses sold for $19,952,000, resulting in a $68,329 average and a $57,000 median. The gross for day seven is up 43.6 percent from the $13,893,500 commanded by 309 yearlings at the comparable session last year. The average has climbed 52 percent from $44,963, and the median has risen 54.1 percent from $37,000.

Conquest Stables snapped up an Ontario-bred son of Stormy Atlantic for
Monday’s top price of $330,000. Sporting Hip No. 1949, the March 16 foal was
offered by Hill ‘n’ Dale Sales Agency, agent.

The bay colt is out of the winning Ascot Knight mare Swanky Bubbles, who is
also responsible for the multiple Canadian stakes-placed Bubbles to the Top
(Bold Executive). The yearling’s second dam, Bye the Victory (Cool Victor), is
an unraced full sister to multiple stakes scorer San Romano. This is the family
of multiple Grade 1 hero Schossberg (Broad Brush) and current multiple stakes
heroine Walkwithapurpose (Candy Ride), last seen finishing third in the April 6
Gazelle (G2).

Earlier, an Afleet Alex half-sister to Broken Spell (Broken Vow) brought
$320,000 from Gainesway, which stands her sire. The Kentucky-bred dark bay was
consigned by Upson Downs Farm, agent, as Hip 1886.

The March 31 filly was produced by the stakes-winning Rich Find (Exploit),
successful in the 2004 Oliver at Indiana Downs. All three of her racing-age
foals are winners, led by $219,882-earner Broken Spell, who has placed in stakes
on dirt, turf and synthetic. Runner-up in last season’s Alcibiades (G1) and P.G.
Johnson, the sophomore missed by a nose in the July 20 My Princess Jess at
Saratoga and has also finished third in both the Martha Washington and the
Edgewood.

Rich Find is herself a half-sister to multiple Grade 3-placed stakes queen
Away (Dixieland Band), the dam of Grade 2 star and ill-fated Kentucky Derby (G1)
runner-up Eight Belles (Unbridled’s Song). They all descend from Straight Deal
(Hail to Reason), the champion handicap mare of 1967 who is also the ancestress
of multiple Grade 3-winning sire Belong to Me (Danzig).

The sale runs through Saturday, and sessions begin daily at 10 a.m. (EDT).

For the complete catalog, latest updates and live video of the sale, please
visit keeneland.com.