Practical Joke colt tops Book 5 of Keeneland September yearling sale

A $250,000 Practical Joke colt led Book 5 overall as the bellwether Keeneland September yearling sale is headed toward its finish line with promising figures on par with last year’s record renewal.

The Wednesday and Thursday sessions at Keeneland made up Book 5, the penultimate book of this sale, keeping the same format that has been in place at this massive auction the previous two years. Through 10 of 12 sessions overall, Keeneland has reported a total of 2,392 horses sold for gross receipts of $388,649,700. Through 10 sessions in 2022, 2,488 yearlings had grossed $399,940,000.

The cumulative average price currently sits at $162,479, ticking up 1 percent from $160,748 at this point last year. The current median is unchanged, at $85,000. Last year's sale ultimately finished with record gross, average, and median figures.

:: Bet with the Best! Get Free DRF PPs and Cashback when you wager. Join DRF Bets.

The buyback rate is 22 percent, compared to an outstanding 19 percent at this point last year.

The book-topping Practical Joke colt was purchased in Wednesday's opening session of this section by CJ Thoroughbreds. The colt, consigned by Bluewater Sales, as agent, was one of four horses sold for $200,000 in Book 5, demonstrating continued demand at the top of this market. Last year, three horses reached that mark.

The colt, a May foal, is out of the winning Wildcat Heir mare Jetbird, dam of one winner from two starters. Jetbird is a half-sister to Group 1 winner X Y Jet, and to stakes-placed Woman Soldier.

The Keeneland September sale is set to conclude with Book 6, on Friday and Saturday.

For hip-by-hip results, click here.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.