[Kasept]

Mixed Results for Keeneland Book 2 Opener
by Glenye Cain Oakford

The Keeneland September sale's Book 2 portion began Sept. 13 with mixed results, but the sale's overall median remained 2.8% ahead of last year's at the same point, reflecting some of the strength seen in the 13-day auction's Book 1 portion.

Led by Juddmonte Farm's $600,000 purchase of a colt by first-crop sire Trappe Shot , the fifth of 13 sessions sold more horses and posted a very slight increase in gross over last year's equivalent session, accruing $35,634,500 for 294 horses. In 2013, the fifth session sold 280 yearlings for $35,308,000. But Saturday's average price of $121,206 was 3.9% down from last year's at the same stage, and the $100,000 median also lost some ground, dipping 11.1% from last season's $112,500.

But the buyback rate did go down, dropping from last year's 27.5% to 22.6% Saturday.

Cumulatively, the first five sessions have sold 767 yearlings, down from 826 a year ago, for 5.8% less total income: the aggregate fell from last year's $188,693,000 to $177,787,500. The five-day average also retreated by 19.6%, falling from last season's $288,442 to $231,796, a figure that undoubtedly suffered from the smaller number of million-dollar lots so far. In 2013, there were 18 millionaires in Book 1, as compared to 13 this year. The five-day median rose above last year's, increasing from $175,000 to $180,000.

And, as during Saturday's session, the total buyback rate was lower, too. Through the fifth session last year, it stood at 27.2%, and this year's first five days improved on that figure at 25.6%.

Two yearlings brought more than $500,000 at the Saturday session, which saw major buyers from the four-day Book 1 portion stay to bid on their top selections. Garrett O'Rourke, manager of Prince Khaled Abdullah's Juddmonte Farms in Kentucky, signed for the sale-topping Trappe Shot colt who is a three-quarters brother to 2012 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (gr. I) winner Tapizar .