by Pete Denk and Jeff Apel

Jess Jackson’s Stonestreet Stable purchased a Langfuhr colt for $700,000 to top the opening session of the Keeneland April sale of selected two-year-olds in training on Tuesday in Lexington.

Out of the winning Rubiano mare Coral Sea, the gray or roan colt is a half brother to 2008 Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) winner Cool Coal Man.

Neither pedigree nor physical type was the horse’s biggest attraction, however, as he worked one furlong in :09.60 at Monday’s under-tack show. The drill tied for the fastest time in the history of two-year-olds in training sales.

Keeneland reported 34 horses from 64 offered as sold for total sales of $7,127,000. Average price was $209,618, and the median was $165,000.

With only 64 horses going through the ring on opening night of the two-session sale, the session took a little more than two hours to complete. The buy-back rate was 46.9%, compared with 47.1% at last year’s one-day sale.

Last year’s sale produced an average price of $202,890 and a median of $155,000.

Tuesday’s session topper was consigned by Niall Brennan Stables, agent. Brennan said he did not expect the colt to work as fast as he did—he expects him to be a two-turn horse—but always had confidence in the colt, who was a $135,000 purchase at the 2007 Keeneland September yearling sale.

“He’s a wonderfully talented colt, deceptive on the racetrack because he doesn’t look like he’s going that fast,” Brennan said. “I’m glad Jess Jackson and John Moynihan got him. I think he’s going to a great home, and I think time will show they were very smart buying him.”

Jackson said he was impressed with the speed and precocity the horse showed but was more interested in long-term potential. Jackson said the colt will go to trainer Steve Asmussen.

“It’s been a great year for us, so we're celebrating by buying another one with some potential,” said Jackson, majority owner of Horse of the Year Curlin, who recently won the $6-million Emirates Airline Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1). “I’m looking for long distance. He's a very special horse with speed.”

A Maria’s Mon filly brought $325,000, the top price for a filly during the session. Bear Stables purchased the filly out of Cloud’s Ambre, by Two Punch, from the consignment of Scanlon Training Center, agent.

The sale continues Wednesday at 7 p.m. EDT.

For hip-by-hip results, click here.

Pete Denk is sales editor of Thoroughbred Times

Jeff Apel is Thoroughbred Times assistant daily news editor