The Keeneland September Yearling Sale concluded the sixth of 11 sessions Sept. 19, showing cumulative sales of $287,455,500 to surpass last year's total sales of $248,978,700 for the entire 12-day auction.
During session six, 280 horses sold for total receipts of $33,461,000, an average price of $119,504, and a median price of $87,500 for the 364 horses through the ring. With 84 horses not meeting their reserve, the RNA rate was 23.1%.
In comparison to 2020, Keeneland reported 260 horses, including post sales, sold from last year's sixth session for gross receipts of $19,399,200, an average price of $74,612, and a median of $50,000 for the 349 horses under the hammer. From this session a year ago, 89 horses failed to meet their reserve, representing an RNA rate of 25.5%
Cumulative figures at the conclusion of Book 3 Sunday, including current post sales, show 1,232 horses sold of the 1,613 offered so far this year, grossing $287,455,500, averaging $233,324, and carrying a median of $175,000. The cumulative RNA rate is 23.6% for the 381 horses not sold.
The 2020 cumulative figures through session six show 1,126 horses sold of the 1,658 offered, gross receipts of $210,399,700, an average price of $186,856, with a median of $120,000. Keeneland reports 532 horses failed to attain their reserve at this point, representing an RNA rate of 32.1%.
Keeneland continues to update its statistics with post-sale purchases, which can cause later changes in overall numbers.
The session topper came at the end of the evening in Hip 1913 with the Farfellow Farms draft, a City of Light colt from the female family of this year's TVG Del Mar Debutante (G1) winner Grace Adler, 2009 Whitney Handicap (G1) winner Bullsbay, and 2010 Turnback the Alarm Handicap (G3) winner Our Khrysty (dam of Grace Adler). Jacob West of West Bloodstock, agent for Repole Stable and St Elias Stable, purchased the colt out of the Giant's Causeway mare Hessie's Girl for $700,000.
The second-highest offering of Sunday's session, a filly by City of Light, was purchased for $525,000 by Tom McGreevy, agent for Breeze Easy. The filly, consigned as Hip 1860 by Warrendale Sales, agent, is a half sister to stakes winner Mizzen Beau and out of the stakes-placed Donna Getyourgun (by Stormy Atlantic), a half sister to multiple grade 3 winner Clearly a Queen.
Warrendale's Kitty Taylor said, "Today is extremely strong. It's a good market today. We have only had four RNAs out of the 23 horses (cataloged for Sunday)."
Taylor Made Sales Agency achieved leading consignor of the day at the close of session six by gross sales, with 29 horses sold for total receipts of $3,557,000 and an average price of $122,655. Cumulatively Taylor Made Sales Agency is the leading consignor by gross with receipts of $29,276,000 for 139 horses sold for an average price of $210,619.
Mark Taylor of Taylor Made Sales credit's the success of the sales company to their returning clients.
"We may not have in some years as many million-dollar horses, that ebbs and flows. But every year we have so many good customers who give us their horses, giving us quality and quantity," he said. "We don't run out as fast as maybe some other consignors do. We have horses from now to Book 5 that are legitimate horses that could even maybe bring six figures. We keep coming with waves of quality, which is a reflection of how deep our selling bench is."
The partnership of Repole Stable and St. Elias Stables, with Jacob West of West Bloodstock as agent, was the leading buyer Sunday, with a total of $1,325,000 spent on five yearlings purchased Sunday. Repole and St. Elias are also the leading buyers cumulatively, having partnered on 37 horses throughout the sale for $15,100,000.
Book 4 begins Sept. 20, at 10:00 a.m. ET, with Hips 1925-2339 set to head through the ring.
