The Book 3 opening session of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, Sept. 16, got off to steady results and concluded with an Authentic colt taking top billing after realizing $875,000 from the powerhouse partnership of Donato Lanni, agent for SF/Starlight/Madaket. Eaton Sales consigned the striking colt as Hip 1511.
The colt was bred in Kentucky by Seclusive Farm, Brad Stephens, and Breeze Easy out of the grade 2-placed Street Sense mare Sweetgrass . The Ian Wilkes trainee hit the board at 2 in the Iowa Oaks (G3) and Indiana Oaks (G2). The next year, she followed up by placing third in the Shuvee Handicap (G3) and Chilukki Stakes (G2). In her final year at 5, she ran third-best in the Winning Colors Stakes (G3).
“He was one of those beautiful horses that come along now and then,” Reiley McDonald, managing partner for Eaton Sales, commented. “He was almost black, medium-sized, with a beautiful shoulder and great length. He had a great hip, was very correct, and had an outstanding athletic walk. A very intelligent horse, he handled the pressure greatly and was shown over 200 times, which is a lot of pressure on any of these young horses coming out here for two days. That’s quite a lot of stress on a horse; he took it like a pro, and they bought themselves one hell of a horse.”
Sweetgrass’s three foals to race are all winners, including the Justify juvenile named Umeboshi , who broke her maiden Sept. 16 in the fifth race at Churchill Downs for trainer Rudy Brisset and owner Storyteller Racing. The filly romped home in the 1 1/16 mile maiden special weight dirt test in 1:47.48. She sold during the September Sale last year for $160,000 to her campaigning connections.
The colt’s hefty price tag on Day 5 of the sale didn’t surprise McDonald, who stated, “I think in this sale, anytime you break $500,000, you don’t know where you’re going. I did know that a lot of people were on him and a couple of big hitters, and that is who ended up bidding against each other.”
Lanni, agent for SF/Starlight/Madaket, picked up two other yearlings Saturday for gross receipts of $1,735,000, at an average price of $578,333, to be the session leading buyer. His other purchases included a $435,000 Practical Joke colt from Scott Mallory, agent for Buena Madera, and a $425,000 Not This Time colt from Runnymede Farm.
The session topping Authentic colt consigned as Hip 1511 in the Keeneland September Sale
Keeneland reports 301 horses of the 371 on offer Saturday sold for gross receipts of $48,032,000, a 9.4% decrease over the previous year. Suitable for an average price of $159,555, down 7.9% and a median of $125,000, a 7.4% decrease year-on-year. An RNA rate of 18.9% represents the 70 horses that failed to sell.
During last year’s fifth session, 306 yearlings of the 371 through the ring sold for a gross of $53,021,500. An average price of $173,273 and a median of $135,000 was recorded. An RNA rate of 17.5% accounts for the 65 horses who failed to attain their reserve.
“I feel like the middle market is already starting to tail off,” McDonald commented. “I’m worried that is a trend we will continue to see, simply because the people in the middle end of this economy in this country are the ones that have been hurt. The heavy money is out there; they will spend whatever it takes to buy a horse. We will see the market slip once you get into the middle market, the everyday players, and lower.”
The fifth session saw eight yearlings sell for $500,000 or more. The top 10 prices were by sires Authentic (Hip 1511—$875,000), Vekoma (Hip 1498—$775,000), Army Mule (Hip 1455—$600,000), Kitten’s Joy (Hip 1285—$585,000), Practical Joke (Hip 1492—$575,000 and Hip 1376—$435,000), Tapit (Hip 1137—$550,000), Into Mischief (Hip 1145—$525,000), Candy Ride (Hip 1329—$500,000), and Not This Time (Hip 1187—$425,000).
Gainesway sold 28 yearlings during Day 5 for gross receipts of $6,067,000, at an average of $216,679 to be the leading consignor; they are also the leading cumulative consignor with gross receipts of $38,542,000 with 85 head sold, at an average of $453,435.
“We brought an Uncle Mo filly up, and she sold well (Hip 1438—$385,000). The ones that stand out from the crowd, it seems they have a following,” Fergus Galvin of Hunter Valley Farm said. “As long as the buyers follow them to the ring, they make the money. It’s solid and competitive. Books 1 and 2 were good, not without a few bumpy patches, but that’s every sale. It looks like fresh faces in the pavilion; many people haven’t filled their orders yet. They are probably starting to feel a sense of urgency to get the better horses.”
Over the past five selling sessions, 985 yearlings of the 1,260 to go under the hammer have sold for a gross of $291,797,000, setting an average price of $296,241 and a median of $220,000. There have been 275 horses that failed to sell, posting a 21.8% RNA rate.
At this point last year, 1,024 yearlings changed hands of the 1,269 on offer for gross receipts of $298,326,000, posting a $291,334 average price and a median of $210,000. The 245 yearlings that remained unsold represented a 19.3% RNA rate.
Scenics, 2023 Keeneland September Yearling Sale
West Bloodstock, agent for Repole Stables, has continued to hold top honors after purchasing 35 yearlings over the past five selling sessions for gross receipts of $11,835,000. Donato Lanni, agent for SF/Starlight/Madaket, follows closely with gross receipts of $10,070,000 for 15 head purchased, at an average of $671,333.
The second day of selling from Book 3 continues Sept. 17, with Hips 1549-1965 scheduled to head through the sales ring beginning at 10 a.m. ET. As of Saturday evening, 41 yearlings had been withdrawn from the sixth session.
