Keeneland still bullish

Day 7 of Keeneland's 12-day September yearling sale continued the strong selling seen last week at the auction, even as prices took their usual second-week drop. With the select portion of the sale well past, the Keeneland September sale still was ringing up six-figure horses.

As of 5 p.m., the Monday session leader was a $230,000 Way West colt out of Conchita Villa, an unraced Pancho Villa mare. Gainesway, agent, sold the colt, who is from the family of Grade 2 winner Clever Secret, to Jay Em Ess Stable.

On Sunday, a spate of six-figure horses helped boost the sixth session's receipts to $16,547,500 for 275 yearlings, a jump of 26 percent from last year's gross for 279 horses. Sunday's average price of $60,173 was up 28 percent from the equivalent session in 2002, and the median increased 22 percent from last year to $45,000.

Providing fuel for the rises were a number of high-priced lots, including the $400,000 session-topping Siphon colt. Bruce Headley, agent, bought the colt from the Airdrie Stud agency.

Through Sunday, the sale had grossed $235,465,500 for 1,405 yearlings, a 32 percent increase over last year's total for 1,434 horses. The average price stood at $167,591, up 35 percent, and the median was $85,000, up 21 percent.

The sale was to continue through Sept. 20.