by Sarah Mace
Through the first two books of the Keeneland September yearling sale, New York-breds have posted impressive numbers, outperforming the general population of the sale in cumulative average and median, and only giving up some slight ground in the RNA department.
Upon the completion of the three sessions that comprised Book 1 this year (Monday through Wednesday), and a dark day (Thursday) to allow prospective buyers more time to examine offerings from upcoming sessions, the two sessions of Book 2 took place on Friday and Saturday.
Through these first five sessions of trading, 16 New York-bred yearlings of 25 offered found new homes, selling for an average price of $222,500 and median of $200,000. The sale overall has posted a cumulative average of $211,692 (up 4.4% from $202,770 in 2014) and 150,000 median (the same as last year).
The 36% buy-back rate for New York-breds is somewhat higher than the 29.29% buy-back percentage for the general population of the sale (which is up from 27.15% last year), but may indicate that sellers feel confident that they have better options down the road. In all, 13 of the 16 New York-bred yearlings sold in Books 1-2 commanded six figures, and nine sold for $200,000 or more.
The top four Empire-breds, three colts and a filly, changed hands in Book 1, led by a pair of $500,000 yearlings, one a half-sister to I Want Revenge and the other a half-brother to Mr. Z, both bred by Newtown Anner Stud and both selling in Tuesday’s second session. The New York-bred standouts of Book 2 were Hip 799 and Hip 753.
Hip 799, a chestnut filly by Union Rags bred by Saratoga Glen Farm, LLC in Schuylerville, was purchased by Garland Williamson from Peter O’Callaghan’s Woods Edge Farm consignment for $290,000. Out of Bit of the Bubbly, an unraced daughter of A.P. Indy, the sale filly has six winning siblings of six to start, including Grade 1 stakes-placed Past the Point and stakes performers A Bit of Pressure and Cat Five. Her second dam is multiple stakes winner Bedroom Blues, an earner of nearly $600,000.
Hip 753, bred by SF Racing and consigned by Gerry Dilger’s Dromoland Farm Inc. went to Jay Em Ess Stable for $285,000. A chestnut colt by Sidney’s Candy out of placed runner Abbey’s Missy by Slewacide, the sale colt is a half-brother to Caleb’s Posse, by Posse, $1.4 million-earner and winner of the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile during a stellar 2011 campaign.
The Keeneland September Sale continues Sunday, September 20, with the first session of the two-day Book 3 and the auction runs through Saturday, September 26, with all sessions beginning at 10 a.m. ET. The entire sale is streamed live at Keeneland.com.
