The Factor Colt Leads the Way at KEESEP

An Elm Tree Farm-consigned son of popular freshman sire The Factor (War Front) was hammered down for $170,000 to top the 11th and penultimate session of the Keeneland September yearling sale Friday afternoon in Lexington. The Mar. 21 foal, from the hugely successful Stick to Beauty family of champion Gold Beauty, Storm Beauty, Renaissance Lady and The Prime Minster, among others (hip 3636), was purchased by George Bolton, who campaigned the sire to victories in the GI Pat O’Brien S. and GI Malibu S. in partnership with Fog City Stable. Through Friday’s round of bidding, The Factor is the second-leading North American-based freshman sire of yearlings with an average of $150,149. It was the third purchase of the September sale for the California businessman, who also teamed with Stonestreet Stables for the Astrology colt (hip 2625) which topped Session 8 on a bid of $425,000.

California-based owners David and Holly Wilson gave $100,000 for hip 3749, the top price for a filly on the afternoon. Consigned by Bernard McCormack’s Cara Bloodstock, the gray is a daughter of Cowboy Cal out of the stakes-winning Wolf Power (SAf) mare Pandora’s Secret.

Friday’s session saw a total of 216 horses change hands (87% clearance rate) for $3,017,000. The average of $13,968 was fractionally higher than the corresponding session last year. Friday’s median price of $9,000 represented a 12.5% increase over last year. With one day of selling remaining, the cumulative average og $108,729 is 3.3% ahead of 2014, while the median of $57,000 is up by 9.6%.

The final session of Keeneland September begins Saturday morning at 10 a.m. For full results, visit www.keeneland.com.