Keeneland September reports big gains across the board in first Book 3 session

An $800,000 filly by Curlin led the way as the Keeneland September yearling sale resumed action with its Book 3 portion on Saturday. After the upper-market Book 1 and Book 2 portions kicked the sale off with gains earlier this week, Book 3 posted staggering gains in its opener to continue the momentum.

Keeneland reported 269 horses sold through the ring Saturday, the first of two Book 3 sessions, and the fifth of 11 sessions overall, for gross receipts of $45,003,000, more than double the gross from the corresponding session last year. In the 2020 Book 3 opener, 200 horses sold for $21,803,500, before any private sales were factored in.

The Saturday session's average price was $167,297, soaring 53 percent from $109,018 during the 2020 Book 3 opener. The median spiked 59 percent, to $135,000 from $85,000.

The session's buyback rate also improved, finishing at 25 percent compared to 40 percent in this session last year.

“The demand for quality stock from domestic end users has continued to drive the market, and it is unrelenting,” said Tony Lacy, Keeneland’s vice president of sales. “There is a lot of positivity around the grounds with an influx of new buyers arriving daily. The sales pavilion has been busy every day, and we look forward to tomorrow when we have another exciting group on offer.”

Bloodstock agent Donati Lanni signed the ticket for the session-topping Curlin filly. The filly, who was consigned by Eaton Sales, as agent for breeder Breeze Easy LLC, is the second foal out of the Grade 3-placed Uncle Mo mare Divine Elegance. The mare is out of Grade 2 winner Classic Elegance, making her a half-sister to stakes-placed Unbridled Endeavor, as well as to False Impression, the dam of Grade 1-placed stakes winner Standard Deviation. This is the family of Kentucky Oaks winner Believe You Can.

Behind the session-leading filly by Curlin, a proven classic sire, the rest of the top five prices Saturday belonged to young stallions. Horse of the Year and leading freshman sire Gun Runner recorded three of those top five prices, led by a $775,000 colt purchased by John Williams. The colt, consigned by Denali Stud, as agent, is out of the unraced Indian Charlie mare Sapucai, a half-sister to Canadian champion Moonlit Promise. It is the family of classic winners and classic sires A.P. Indy and Summer Squall, among other Grade 1 winners.

Lanni struck for the third-highest price of the session, going to $760,000 for a colt from the first crop of City of Light on behalf of SF Bloodstock, Madaket Stables, and Starlight Racing.

Rounding out the top five were a colt by Gun Runner purchased for $675,000 by Jacob West, as agent for Repole Stables and St. Elias; and a $675,000 filly by Gun Runner, purchased for $675,000 by David Lanigan, as agent for Heider Family Racing.

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