Record sale keeps going

Two days after setting a world record for gross Thoroughbred sales at a single auction, Keeneland's Sept-ember yearling sale neared the end of its 12th session Saturday with upper-market prices still reaching six figures.

Saturday's session-leader at 4 p.m. was a $105,000 Zavata colt that Gracefield sold. Sam Semkin, agent, purchased the son of Tiwa Wolf E F, by Wolf Power, for Jon Kelly. At that hour, it was the session's only six-figure lot. But upper-market prices were still strong, covering a range from about $50,000 to $105,000. Dapple Bloodstock accounted for two expensive lots, buying an $82,000 Whywhywhy-Red Locket colt from the Four Star Sales agency and an $80,000 Indian Charlie-Misty Weave colt from Brereton C. Jones Jr.'s Airdrie Stud agency.

On Thursday, the auction - which cataloged a record 5,161 yearlings this year - set a mark for gross Thoroughbred sales at $385,707,000 for 2,601 yearlings. That topped last year's entire sale total and its world-record gross of $384,349,900 at that time for 2,640 head.

Thursday's mark was obsolete by the close of business on Friday, when the record figure officially stood at $391,359,000 for 2,867 horses; that gross showed a 4 percent increase from last year. On Friday, the 11-day cumulative average of $136,505 was up 6 percent from last year, and median was 15 percent up at $60,000.

Friday's session-topping horse was a $150,000 Our Emblem-Restless Cat filly that agent Stanley Petter Jr. bought from Overbrook Farm (Eaton Sales, agent).