Curlin filly goes for $975,000 at Keeneland

"We've been buying all year -- California, Washington, three or four places,"

said Vern Dickman, a successful businessman from Heber City, Utah, who said he

entered the Thoroughbred business less than a year ago and was attending his

first Keeneland sale. "We're just going around trying to find the best horses.

This is the best one we've seen, so I wanted to have her."

"She was just an exceptional horse," said Brocklebank, also from Utah. "When

we first saw her, we fell in love with her. It's kind of fun to buy those kind."

With its lone purchase, Dickman's Legacy Ranch was the session's leading

buyer.

"That was quite a sale," Bill Farish of Lane's End said. "She was a very,

very nice filly. I think she broke the record for most scopes. She was very

popular. It's amazing how much depth the sale has this late."

Lane's End, agent, was the session's leading consignor, selling 30 yearlings

for $3,711,000.

On Monday, the final day of the Book 3 portion of the sale, 270 yearlings

sold for $21,034,500, up 13.3 percent from the corresponding session last year

when 298 horses brought $18,562,000. The average of $77,906 rose 25.1 percent

from $62,289 in 2014. The median of $55,000 was 10 percent above last year's

$50,000.

"It was a very good day," Keeneland Director of Sales Geoffrey Russell said.

"The breakout horse was very exciting, a little unexpected, again proving there

is plenty of money here for the right horse. Today had a great vibe. Consignors

who brought a nice horse were very well-rewarded."

Through seven sessions, Keeneland has sold 1,504 horses for $245,570,500,

down slightly from last year's eight-day gross of $245,951,500 for 1,588

yearlings. The cumulative average of $163,278 increased 5.4 percent from

$154,881 in 2014. The median of $105,000 rose 5 percent from last year's

$100,000.

Zayat Stables, in partnership with W.C. Racing/Dennis O'Neill, agent, paid

the day's second-highest price of $450,000 for a colt by Into Mischief. Out of

the winning Distorted Humor mare Amusingly, the colt is from the family of

stakes winners Maniches, Herve and Lawrence the Roman. He was consigned by St.

George Sales, agent.

The September Sale continues through Saturday. All sessions begin at 10 a.m.

(EDT). The entire sale is streamed live at keeneland.com.