Liam's Map colt tops next-to-last Keeneland September session

LEXINGTON, Ky. - A $67,000 colt by current freshman sire Liam's Map led the penultimate session of the Keeneland September yearling sale Saturday as the auction moved toward the finish line of its 13-session run with solid figures.

Keeneland reported 215 yearlings sold for gross revenues of $2,298 during Saturday's session, the first of two that make up the auction's closing Book 6 portion. Last year's Book 6 opener featured 187 yearlings sold for $2,228,600.

The session's average price was $10,961, a drop of 8 percent compared to $11,918 in the corresponding session last year. The median was $6,500, down 7 percent from $7,000. The buyback rate for the session checked in at 12 percent, compared to 19 percent in the 2018 Book 6 opener.

To this point of the sale, through 12 sessions and with one remaining, a total of 2,648 yearlings have sold for revenues of $358,696,600, compared to 2,733 for $375,796,200 at this point in 2018. With one day remaining in the sale, the cumulative average price sits at $135,459, tracking slightly downward, just 1 percent percent, from $137,503 at this point last year. The median sits at $52,000, down 12 percent from $60,000. The overall buyback rate tracks at 25 percent, compared to 23 percent.

The 2018 edition of the Keeneland September yearling sale finished with 2,916 yearlings sold for gross receipts of $377,140,400, ranking as the fourth-best gross in the auction's history. This year's sale is a certainty to finish down in gross, but is well within reach of last year's record average and strong median figures. Last year's average price finished at a high-water mark of $129,335. The median checked in at $50,000, missing the 2017 record median of $57,000 but tying for the second highest all time with the 2013, 2014, and 2015 editions of the sale.

The session-topping Liam's Map colt was purchased by Grassroots Training and Sales from the consignment of Gainesway, as agent.

The colt is the second foal out of the winning Indian Charlie mare Pelipa. The colt's granddam is a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Albert the Great, stakes winners Sheer Bliss and Watch the Bird, Grade 2-placed Crimson Hero, and stakes-placed Antrim County. Grade 1 winner Trumpet's Blare also appears on the catalog page.

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