Fillies Star, Numbers Dip at KEESEP

Despite the sale of a pair of well-pedigreed fillies for seven figures, yesterday’s third day of action at Keeneland September saw declines in average and median. A total of 104 horses sold yesterday for $29,615,000, good for an average of $284,760. While stronger than Monday’s opening-day average ($276,375), Wednesday’s average was down from Tuesday’s session-two average ($312,298). It was also down–8.2%–from last year’s corresponding session three, when 135 horses sold for an average of $310,296. The session median of $200,000 took a bigger hit. It was down 16.7% from a year ago, when the session three average was $240,000. 

The session RNA rate came in high at 32%, with some 49 horses failing to sell. During the first three days, a total of 140 horses were listed as not sold, a rate of 28.9%. Keeneland Director of Sales Geoffrey Russell wasn’t overly concerned, however, noting that it’s typical to find Book 1 breeders being aggressive with their reserves. 

“These people can afford to race,” he said. “They’re not the typical commercial breeders. If they don’t get what they want, they’re happy to race. The first week tends to have more RNAs than the weekend and second week, where the commercial breeders have to sell. At the top end, there’s a second use for these horses for the breeders.” 

Topping Wednesday’s session was a Lane’s End-consigned Dubawi (Ire) filly from the G1 Epsom Oaks winner Casual Look (Red Ransom) who sold for $1.45 million. Representatives of the Niarchos family’s Flaxman Stables Ireland signed the winning slip for Hip 508. 

For the second day in a row, meanwhile, a filly bred by Bobby Flay and offered through Stone Farm brought seven figures. That after a Tiznow filly from Flay’s GSP Countess Lemonade (Storm Cat) was hammered down to the Berglar family’s Stonereath Stud for $1.1 million. Arthur Hancock’s Stone Farm consigned the filly as Hip 549. On Tuesday, Flay’s Tapit–Super Espresso filly sold to Chiefswood Stable for $1 million. 

“It’s good to be Bobby Flay,” said Russell. “Two million-dollar yearlings; pretty good going. Arthur Hancock did a wonderful job and presented them well, obviously, and they sold very, very well. Yesterday’s filly was very nice, and today’s filly was spectacular.” 

The fourth and final session of Book 1 begins today at noon. After a dark day Friday, the sale resumes Saturday at 10:00 a.m. For more, visit www.keeneland.com.