Across-the-board increases posted during Keeneland’s fourth session

Californians Jon and Sarah Kelly made the winning bid on Wednesday’s topper (Keeneland/Coady Photography)

Hip No. 730 brought a final bid of $650,000 from Jon and Sarah Kelly
to top Wednesday’s fourth session of the Keeneland September Yearling
Sale. The chestnut colt, a son of Tapit out of the Regal Classic mare
Don’tellmichelle, came from the consignment of Gaineseway, agent, and
helped boost numbers for both the session and sale at the end of
trading.

A total 215 yearlings were bought for $32,819,500 on Wednesday, a jump of 37.6
percent over last year when 196 horses exchanged hands for $23,859,000.
The average rose 25.4 percent, from $121,730 to $152,649, while the
$130,000 median shot up 52.9 percent as compared to the 2010 median of
$85,000.

“This was another strong session,” Keeneland Vice President of Sales
Walt Robertson said. “All indicators were favorable, with the gross,
average and median up, as was the percentage of horses sold. We’re
seeing all the things you want to see at this point, and are hopeful
that the momentum continues.”

Through four sessions, Keeneland has sold 544 yearlings for a total
$111,176,000, a $204,368 average and a $170,000 median. Those numbers reflect
respective increases of 16.5 percent, 12.8 percent and 41.7 percent when
compared with last year’s cumulative through four days of 527 horses bringing a
gross $95,456,000, a $181,131 average and a $120,000 median.

John Ferguson’s purchase of Hip 565 helped him become the session’s leading buyer (Keeneland/Coady Photography)

John Ferguson was busy Wednesday on behalf of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum,
leading all buyers with 12 purchases worth more than $3.1 million. That included the second highest-priced yearling of the session
as well as the top-priced
filly.

Ferguson paid $625,000 for Hip 565 from the consignment of Valkyre Stud,
agent for Oakbrook Farm, to secure the second-highest price on the day. The
Kentucky-bred dark bay is a Bernardini half-brother to this year’s Woody
Stephens S. (G2) victor Justin Phillips (First Samurai), who just finished third
in the King’s Bishop S. (G1); Successful Mission (Successful Appeal), hero of
the April 30 Miami Mile H. (G3) as well as a 7 1/4-length conqueror of the May
21 Elkwood S.; Grade 2 winner Keyed Entry (Honour and Glory); and stakes vixen
Alex’s Allure (Sky Classic).

The siblings are all out of 1997 Senorita S. (G3) third Ava Knowsthecode (Cryptoclearance),
who also produced a full brother to Wednesday’s May 8-born yearling named
Algorithms. That juvenile captured his career debut at Belmont Park by 5 1/4
lengths on June 3.

“It’s as solid as a rock; the mare’s done it every time” Ferguson said,
referring to the colt’s female family. “I am delighted to have him.”

Ferguson said that given his pedigree, he anticipated the colt would stay in
the United States, though the decision would be up to Sheikh Mohammed.

Ferguson struck again nearing the end of the day when Hip 824, a bay filly
also by Bernardini, entered the ring. The gavel fell at $500,000 for the
Kentucky-bred lass out of the winning Getaway Girl (Silver Deputy) and from the
Indian Creek (Dave C. Parrish Jr.), agent, consignment. The January 30-foaled
miss counts as a half-brother Northern Causeway (Giant’s Causeway), who captured
Sunday’s British Columbia Derby (G3) and the August 14 Richmond Derby Trial H.