Keeneland September holds on to double-digit gains as Book 5 begins

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- A $220,000 colt by Violence led the Book 5 opener on Wednesday as the Keeneland September yearling sale continues to hold on to double-digit gains in key cumulative figures as it moves into its final days.

Nine of the 12 sessions of this Keeneland September sale are now complete, with Keeneland reporting 2,180 horses sold through the ring for gross receipts of $389,605,000. Through nine sessions of the 2021 sale, 2,125 horses had sold for $339,691,500. This year's sale had already, on Monday, eclipsed the final gross for the 11-session sale in 2021.

True session-to-session comparisons are difficult in the final days of this sale. While this year's renewal will finish with a two-session Book 5 and two-session Book 6, last year's sale concluded with a three-session Book 5 - which had slightly more horses cataloged in its individual sessions than this year's corresponding book, although the sale will offer more horses overall.

The cumulative average price for Keeneland September currently sits at $178,718, trending upward 12 percent from $159,855 through nine sessions last year. The median is up 11 percent, at $100,000 from $90,000.

The 2021 sale ultimately finished with a record average of $130,698, and record median of $65,000.

The current cumulative buyback rate for the September sale is 20 percent, compared to 21 percent at this point last year.

The session-topping Violence colt was purchased by James Zahler from the consignment of Woods Edge Farm, as agent.

The colt is out of the unraced Sharp Humor mare One Hot Senorita, who has produced one winner from a pair of starters. One Hot Senorita is a half-sister to Grade 2 winner Nicole H and stakes-placed Tap Attack, and graded stakes winners Island Commish and Something Extra also appear on this catalog page.

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