Keeneland January Sale Gross & Average Up

Keeneland realized increases in total gross and average after four days of the seven-day January Horses of All Ages Sale.

Keeneland has sold 906 horses for gross receipts of $62,912,300, up 3.1 percent over last year when 980 horses had been sold for $60,995,500. Average price for the sale is up 11.6 percent to $69,440 as compared to $62,240 reported last year. The median price of $30,000 remained unchanged from 2007.

On Thursday, 239 horses sold for gross receipts of $6,725,800, down 26.9 percent from 2007 when 247 horses brought $9,203,500. The average of $28,141 dipped 24.5 percent from last year’s figure of $37,261. The median rose 25 percent to $20,000 compared to $16,000 in 2007.

“The difference between this session and last year is that on this day in 2007 we sold a horse for $1.5 million (Downthedustyroad) and another for $500,000 (A P Easy),” said Geoffrey Russell, Keeneland’s Director of Sales. “I thought horse for horse, they sold very well today. Quality yearlings were well received with spirited bidding for them.”

Yes She Is, an unraced three-year-old filly by Seeking the Gold, brought the day’s top bid of $260,000 from Jim Stone of Stoneway Farm. Out of 1998 Ashland Stakes (G1) winner Well Chosen, by Deputy Minister, Yes She Is was sold as a broodmare prospect. She was consigned by Brookdale Sales, agent.

“We really loved her,” said Stone, whose Stoneway Farm is based in La Grange, Kentucky. “She had the body, the confirmation and the family. There wasn’t much we didn’t like.”

Second-highest price of $165,000 was paid by Green Garden Stable for the broodmare prospect Vague Notion (Ire). Consigned by James B. Keogh/Grovendale, agent, Vague Notion is a four-year-old daughter of Grand Lodge out of Irish stakes winner Epicure’s Garden, by Affirmed.

A colt by Tapit out of the Broad Brush mare Ryvnine brought the day’s top price for a yearling of $145,000 from Stepping Stone Bloodstock. Consigned by Lane’s End, agent, the colt is from the family of Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) winner Concern and graded stakes winners Fara’s Team and Tennis Lady.

The January Sale continues through Sunday. Sessions begin at 10:00 a.m. daily. 

Source: www.horseraceinsider.com