Keeneland aimed to start its September yearling sale with a bang and carry the momentum through the first week when it changed the look of the auction’s front end. At the close of Thursday’s trade, it was apparent that goal had been achieved, with all measurables up and the most seven-figure transactions at the sale since 2014.
A run of commercial success for broodmare Ithinkisawapudycat continued Tuesday at the Keeneland September sale when the mare's final Ashview-bred yearling, a Street Sense filly, sold for $750,000.
California-based owner Gary Broad needed to go to just $90,000 to acquire a yearling colt by Smart Strike, one of only four offspring from the leading sire's final crop.
Deep Impact's first yearling ever offered in the U.S. got an underwhelming reception, failing to meet her reserve with a high bid of $285,000 at Keeneland September.
In pursuit of a Kentucky Derby win, Winchell Thoroughbreds went to $625,000 at Keeneland September to acquire a Medaglia d'Oro colt who is, appropriately, a half brother to a Kentucky Derby winner.
Cairo Prince's whirlwind season with his first yearling crop continued Tuesday when Shadwell bought a $900,000 colt at the Keeneland September yearling sale.
The level of competition among buyers at Book 2 of the Keeneland September yearling sale jumped to the next level on Wednesday, featuring a trio of seven-figure transactions.
Healthy trade continued as the revamped Keeneland September yearling sale moved into its Book 2 catalog on Tuesday. The segment’s first session, topped by a $950,000 Scat Daddy colt, posted favorable returns compared with last year’s second book.
A revamped, super-select first book of the Keeneland September yearling sale yielded the intended result on Monday, with average and median sale prices far exceeding last year’s Book 1, and a $2.7-million daughter of Tapit becoming the most expensive filly traded at the sale since 2008.
Three-time reigning leading sire Tapit continued to powerhouse through the elite Book 1 portion of the Keeneland September yearling sale on Monday evening in Lexington. A yearling filly sold from his group of representatives now ranks among the top prices at an auction he has led by gross sales each year since 2012.
