Keeneland September yearling sale figures show solid gains at midpoint

The Keeneland September yearling sale hit its midway point on Sunday evening with gains in major economic categories compared to the same point of last year’s sale, which finished with some of the bellwether auction’s best numbers all-time.

Sunday's day of trade at Keeneland was the sixth of 12 overall, and concluded the third of six books at the auction, with yearlings assigned to various sections based on pedigree and physical factors. To this point of the sale, Keeneland reports 1,166 horses have sold through the ring for gross receipts of $336,408,000. At the same point of last year's sale, 1,199 horses had grossed $319,865,000. Both sets of figures represent only horses sold through the ring, and does not factor in private sales that Keeneland will later include in its published results.

The 2023 Keeneland September sale finished with 2,754 horses sold through the ring for a gross of $394,127,900; the 2022 edition of the sale is the only one to top $400 million.

Keeneland September's cumulative average price currently sits at $288,515, up 8 percent from $266,776 at this point of the 2023 sale. Last year's sale averaged a record $143,111 from horses sold through the ring.

The median is currently up 5 percent, at $210,000 compared to $200,000 at this point last year. The 2023 sale finished at $67,000, second-best all-time.

The cumulative buyback rate is currently 29 percent, compared to 26 percent midway last year.

Sunday's Book 3 final session was topped by a $575,000 colt from the first crop of Maxfield as he continues a breakout Keeneland September sale. The colt was purchased by Three Amigos, the buying moniker of Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman, prominent clients of trainer Bob Baffert.

The colt, who was consigned by Indian Creek, as agent, is out of the winning Pulpit mare Bible Belt. She is the dam of five winners from six starters, including Grade 3-placed Hardworkcleanlivin and stakes-placed Gospel Way and Happy Boy Rocket.

Multiple Grade 1 winner Maxfield, who stands at Darley, sired two $1 million yearlings at the top of the sale to get off to a flying start. He was represented by two of the top three lots in the Sunday session; behind a $550,000 colt by fellow Darley sire Nyquist purchased by Case Clay Thoroughbred Management came a $525,000 Maxfield colt, purchased by trainer Ken McPeek, as agent. Overall, Maxfield is averaging $275,366 from 41 yearlings sold at the midway point of his first Keeneland September, ranking second in his class, and in the top 10 overall at this sale.

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