Strong trade continues at Keeneland with Quality Road yearling

The buoyant pace showed no sign of slowing down on Tuesday, the eighth session of Keeneland’s September Yearling Sale, powered by a Quality Road filly sold for $420,000 to Jamie McCalmont, agent for Sarah Kelley.

Consigned by Stone Farm, the filly is out of the Pulpit mare Chapel, a full sister to Senada, winner of the 2011 Rood & Riddle Dowager at Keeneland. 

On Tuesday, the second day of Book 3, Keeneland sold 271 yearlings for $19,603,400, up 25.90 percent compared to the eighth session last year when 285 horses brought $15,571,000. The average of $72,337 was 32.40 percent above last year’s $54,635. The median of $50,000 rose 25 percent from $40,000 in 2017.

With five sessions to go, Keeneland has sold 1,704 horses for $345,890,600, a 19.74 percent increase from $288,869,000 in 2017. Average rose 22.27 percent from $166,017 to $202,987, while the median was up 30 percent from $100,000 last year to $130,000.

Bridie Harrison, agent for Peter E. Blum Thoroughbreds, consigned the day’s second- and third-highest-priced yearlings.

SF Bloodstock and Starlight West teamed to buy Authentic, a colt by Into Mischief, for $350,000.  Out of the winning Mr. Greeley mare Flawless, the colt is from the family of Group 1 winner Reynaldothewizard and Grade 1 winners American Gal and Seventh Street.

Crystal Ball, a filly by Malibu Moon, brought a final bid of $335,000 from Spartan Bloodstock. The filly is out of the Giant’s Causeway mare Déjà Vu, a half-sister to Grade 1 winners Madcap Escapade and Dubai Escapade.

West Point Thoroughbreds & Vosburgh was the day’s leading buyer, purchasing four yearlings for $595,000.

Paramount Sales led all consignors, selling 22 horses for $1,783,000.

The September Sale continues through Sunday with all sessions beginning at 10 a.m. ET.