Average and Median Increase at Keeneland January Sale

A week of subfreezing temperatures did not seem to have any effect on the results of the Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale, which showed increases in both average and median at the end of the sale Jan. 15. The three-day sale saw 723 horses sell for a total of $35,125,900 including post-ring sales. The average was up 3% to $48,584, with a median of $22,000. There were 207 horses that failed to meet their reserve, resulting in a 22% RNA rate. Last year's four-day sale produced a gross of $40,619,300, from 864 horses to change hands. The average was $47,013, with a median of $15,000. The RNA rate was 19.8%, representing the 213 horses who failed to meet their reserve. "It was a good sale," said Keeneland director of sales Cormac Breathnach. "We have to look at it in the context of the different format. We had a much higher median. It was up 47%, not just from $15,000 to $22,000, but significant showing that that sort of lower end of the market has some substance to it. We offered about 14% fewer horses, and horses were down 13% gross, so things were really in step with last year." "Increases are great, but consistency is very important," echoed Tony Lacy, vice president of sales at Keeneland. "I think what's encouraging is that there's nothing overheated, there's nothing compressed. It's very steady, and consistent." The yearling market proved strong, with 49 six-figure yearlings compared to last year's 43. Day 1 saw Hip 293, a colt by Tapit, sell for $400,000 to JPM Bloodstock, agent, from the Gainesway consignment. A pair of fillies sold for $300,000 on Day 2—a filly by Justify consigned as Hip 579 by Stoneriggs Farm, and Hip 641, a filly by Golden Pal, consigned by Clarkland Farm. McKinzie was the leading sire of yearlings by total sales with 10 horses sold for $1,075,000. His top seller was a $260,000 colt consigned by Warrendale Sales, agent, and purchased by Rag's Bloodstock. "I think maybe the biggest positive, is the yearling market was really tough to buy in," added Breathnach. "Plenty of strength and depth in the market, and to look forward to the year, we're off to the right start. There are a lot of good reasons to feel good about the yearling market for next year based on what we saw here." Day 1 was highlighted by graded stakes winners Pretty Birdie and Delahaye, each bringing $700,000. Avenue Bloodstock, on behalf of David Nagle of Barronstown Stud in Ireland, purchased Pretty Birdie in foal to Candy Ride (ARG) from Gainesway, agent for the Estate of John Hendrickson. Three Chimneys Farm purchased broodmare prospect Delahaye from the Four Star Sales consignment. Love to Shop stood out on Day 2 of the sale, also realizing $700,000 to become the co-sale topper, selling to Pin Oak Stud. Consigned by Claiborne Farm, the daughter of Violence was offered as a racing or broodmare prospect. The 16 highest-priced horses sold to 16 different buying interests and were offered by 12 different consignors. The leading buyer of the sale was Pin Oak Stud, spending $730,000 on two purchases. Taylor Made Sales Agency reigned supreme for the 22nd time since 2001, finishing the sale with 100 head sold for $4,260,200. "I want to thank our crew here at Keeneland and all the consignors and agents who went out there and worked the sale because the winter weather made it a little challenging," said Lacy. "I'm really proud of our crew and the consignors who got the sales grounds ready so we were able to present the sale in a good environment." "This is the end of our sales cycle," Breathnach said. "We effectively run from summer all the way through the September Sale until now. We want to thank everyone for what's been a terrific year. Now, it gets really busy for a lot of our clients because they're foaling mares and the weather's not great for that either. We wish them well and hope to see them at the races in the spring and through the sales here later this year." Day 3 Statistics Near the conclusion of the sale, Lil Drummer Girl, consigned as Hip 1301 by Denali Stud, agent for River Bend Farm, commanded a price of $200,000 from Iapetus Racing. David Ingordo signed the ticket. The 3-year-old Street Sense filly was bred in Kentucky by River Bend Farm, and is out of the mare Beat the Drums, making her a half sister to grade 2 winner Dynamic One (Union Rags). Lil Drummer Girl's second dam is grade 1 winner and 2002 champion 2-year-old filly Storm Flag Flying. The highest-priced yearling colt and filly of the third session were sired by Tiz the Law. Hip 912, a colt out of the mare Wahgah, sold to NAJD Stud for $160,000 from the Hunter Valley Farm consignment. He was bred in Kentucky by Newstead. The highest-priced filly was Hip 951, a filly out of the stakes-producing mare Assured. Dixiana Farm signed the ticket for $110,000, from the consignment of Mulholland Springs. She was bred in New York by 3C Stables. A total of 251 horses changed hands Wednesday, producing a gross of $4,629,600, including post-ring sales. The average was $18,445, with a median of $10,000. The leading buyer was NAJD Stud with gross receipts totaling $202,000 from four purchases. Denali Stud topped the consignors with 12 sold for $406,500.