Hip 3492, a daughter of former New York stallion Leofric foaled in the Empire State, sold for $70,000 Thursday at Keeneland. Photo courtesy of KatieRich Farms.
By Tom Law
Yearlings by New York’s 2021 leading general sire Central Banker, from the first crop of New York stallion Solomini and former New York-based stallion Leofric were among the leading sellers during Book 5 of the Keeneland September yearling sale.
Each of those yearlings sold during Thursday’s session, which marked the close of Book 5.
Hip 3492, a filly by Leofric, bred and sold by KatieRich Farms, sold for $70,000 to top all New York-breds in Book 5. Gatsas Stables purchased the gray or roan filly, who is out of the winning Harlan’s Holiday mare Holiday Apple.
The filly is from the first crop of the Candy Ride stallion Leofric, who started his career at Rockridge Stud in Hudson before relocating to Darby Dan Farm in Lexington.
Hip 3285, a colt from the first crop of New York stallion Solomini, sold for $50,000 Thursday to highlight Book 5 of the Keeneland September yearling sale. Photo courtesy of Hidden Brook.
Hip 3285, a colt by McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds’ stallion Solomini, sold for $50,000 to Gerardo Barragan. Bred by Empire Equines LLC and consigned by Hidden Brook, agent, the chestnut colt is out of Timberlea, daughter of Flatter who is half-sister to graded stakes winner and $857,005-earner Untrapped.
Solomini, a Grade 1-placed son of Curlin, stands for $6,500 at McMahon of Saratoga.
Hip 3219, a daughter of fellow McMahon of Saratoga stallion Central Banker, sold for $45,000 to Final Furlon Racing, RiceHorse, agent. Bred by Spruce Lane Farm, America’s Pastime Stables, Mashnee Stables and partners, the chestnut filly is out of the winning More Than Ready mare Sandy Belle.
Sandy Belle, a half-sister to multiple New York-bred stakes winner Wudda U Think Now, is the dam of the unraced 2-year-old New York-bred gelding El Tolu. Central Banker, a 12-year-old son of Speightstown, stands for $7,500 at McMahon of Saratoga in Saratoga Springs.
The sale of those New York-breds and others continued to push the September sale toward significant gains in 2022. Keeneland has reported sales on 41 of the 55 New York-breds offered through 10 of the 12 sessions for a total of $3,379,500, an average price of $82,427 and median of $50,000.
The 2022 September sale is already the highest-grossing auction in Keeneland’s history, with total sales of $399,940,000 heading into Friday. The previous record of $399,791,800 was set during the 2006 September sale.
The September sale continues with the first of two Book 6 sessions at 10 a.m. Friday.
