NEWS
Saturday Keeneland session posts modest total gains
Posted: Saturday, November 15, 2008 7:37 PM
The Keeneland November breeding stock sale posted a slight increase in total receipts during the 13th session on Saturday.
The previous 12 sessions of the 15-day sale concluded with double-digit declines in total receipts, average price, and median, compared with the corresponding 2007 sessions. Keeneland posted double-digit declines in average and median on Saturday, but total receipts increased 5.3%.
Keeneland reported 242 of 294 horses offered as sold for $2,257,800 on Saturday. During last year’s comparable session, 202 horses sold for $2,143,900.
The average price on Saturday was $9,330, a 12.1% decline from $10,613 last year. Median declined 23.4% to $5,250.
The buy-back rate decreased from 27.1% on day 13 last year to 17.7%.
The session topper on Saturday was Canadian multiple stakes winner Legal Move, a four-year-old Bold Executive colt purchased for $245,000 by Bruno Schickedanz. Consigned by Lane’s End, agent, Legal Move was offered as racing or stallion prospect.
An earner of $782,181 in three seasons, Legal Move has won ten of 23 starts for previous owner Woodford Racing and trainer Mark Casse. The Ontario-bred colt has earned all six of his stakes wins at Woodbine, including victories in the Jacques Cartier Stakes on April 26 and the Kenora Stakes on September 1.
Legal Move also set track records this year on Woodbine’s synthetic Polytrack surface by completing 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:02.70 and six furlongs in 1:08.31.
A weanling filly by Tapit was purchased by Moon Bloodstock for $75,000, the second-highest price on Saturday. Consigned by Shawhan Place, agent for Sagamore Overlook, the chestnut filly is out of the multiple stakes-winning Silver Deputy mare Princess Willow, a half sister to multiple stakes-placed winner Miracle Man.
The Tapit filly is from the family of Grade 2 winner Highest Glory and Grade 1-placed winner and sire Video Ranger.
Through 13 sessions, Keeneland reported 2,680 horses as sold for total receipts of $183,643,800, a 45.8% decrease compared with last year, when 3,098 horses brought $338,771,400 through 13 sessions. The average price of $68,524 is down 37.3%. Median has declined 37.5% to $25,000.
The sale continues through Monday with sessions starting daily at 10 a.m. EST.
For hip-by-hip results, click here.
