A Stay Thirsty colt and a Warrior’s Reward filly jointly topped the eighth session of the 2017 Keeneland September Yearling Sale on Tuesday, each bringing $325,000.
Trainer Bob Hess was the winning bidder on the Stay Thirsty colt. Offered by Betz Thoroughbreds, agent, Hip No. 2779 is out Candy Trophy, by Candy Ride. Also hailing from the family of the March 29 Kentucky-bred is Grade 1 winner Twirling Candy and, farther back, Hall of Fame member and Triple Crown winner Affirmed.
Warrendale Sales, agent for Hargus and Sandra Sexton and Silver Fern Farm, consigned the top two fillies. Hip 2702, the Warrior’s Reward, was gaveled down to Live Oak Plantation. Out of Unbridled Appeal, by Unbridled, the April 7 Kentucky-bred is a full sister to the stakes-placed Unbridled Reward and a half-sister to the stakes-placed Southern Parkway and Belleofthebridle.
This extended family includes champion sprinter and noted sire Speightstown, Grade 1 winners Star Dabbler and Mani Bhavan, and current Grade 2-winning three-year-old performer Irap.
Glen Hill Farm obtained, for $260,000, a Bodemeister filly sporting Hip 2442. The February 5 Kentucky-bred is out of Five Mach Speed, an E Dubai full sister to multiple Grade 3 scorer and Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint hero Desert Code.
On Tuesday, 285 horses sold for $15,571,000, an increase of 3.6 percent over last year’s eighth session when 275 yearlings grossed $15,036,900. The session average was virtually flat, dipping slightly from $54,680 to $54,635, while the median was up 8.1 percent, from $37,000 to $40,000.
Having surpassed the entire 2016 sale gross on Monday, receipts will continue to show gains the remainder of the week. With four days remaining, 1,740 horses have changed hands for $288,869,000, an increase of 16.1 percent over this point a year ago when 1,642 had grossed $248,721,400. The average is up 9.6 percent, from $151,475 to $166,017, while the median has increased 11.1 percent, from $90,000 to $100,000.
The sale continues daily through Saturday with sessions beginning at 10 a.m. (EDT). Full results can be found at keeneland.com.
