LEXINGTON, Ky. -- A $600,000 Candy Ride colt led the way at Monday's session of the Keeneland September yearling sale, which with five sessions remaining has already surpassed the total gross sales from last year's edition. Through Monday's session, the Book 4 opener and seventh of 12 sessions overall, the September sale has grossed $355,453,500. Last year's 11-session sale grossed a total of $352,823,000. :: DRF BREEDING LIVE: Real-time coverage of breeding and sales Keeneland reported 314 horses sold through the ring during Monday's session for gross receipts of $27,544,000. In last year's corresponding seventh session, 319 horses sold for $27,330,000. Monday's average price was $87,720, ticking up 2 percent from $85,674. The median jumped 13 percent, to $67,500 from $60,000. The buyback rate ticked up to 16 percent, compared to 14 percent last year. This was the first session where the buyback rate did not improve compared to the 2021 session. The session-topping Candy Ride colt was purchased by Mike Talla's Talla Racing, still in action in the second week of the sale after making a number of high-ticket purchases in partnership early on. The colt was consigned by Elm Tree Farm as agent for his breeder, Stonestreet Farm. The colt is out of the Maclean's Music mare Essentially, who is a half-sister to Grade 2 winner Runway Model, stakes winner Mambo Train, Grade 3-placed Elena Strikes, and stakes-placed Texas Kitty. A number of her half-siblings are also prominent producers, led by Runway Model, dam of multiple Grade 1 winner McKinzie. Texas Kitty is the dam of Grade 3 winner Saham, while another half-sister, Janetstickettocats, produced Grade 3 winner Lucky Player, and Mama Tia producer Grade 3 winner Southern Honey and stakes winner Cali Thirty Seven.