Dixie Union colt brings $210,000 at Keeneland

A Dixie Union colt, who counts as a second dam the Canadian broodmare of the

year Annasan (Corporate Report), brought a final bid of $210,000 from Ben Glass,

agent, at Tuesday's ninth session of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

Offered by Hill 'n' Dale Sales Agency, agent, the March 20 foal toured the ring

as Hip No. 2706.

The session-topper is the first foal from the unraced Sky Select (Sky Mesa),

a half-sister to 2005 Canadian Horse of the Year A Bit O' Gold, stakes winner

and Canadian classic-placed Arco's Gold, and the stakes-placed Adjalah, all sons

of Gold Fever. A Bit O' Gold, who also won three divisional titles in the

Dominion, captured the classic Prince of Wales S. and Breeders' S. in 2004, was a

two-time winner at the Grade 2 level, and earned nearly $1.8 million.

The Ontario-bred is from the extended family of three-time Gallant Fox H.

(G3) winner Coyote Lakes (Society Max) and Grade 3 victor Goldseeker Bud

(Smile).

Two colts sold for $160,000 earlier in the session. The first, Hip 2379, is a

son of More Than Ready out of the stakes-placed Airizon (Boston Harbor). Offered

by Woods Edge Farm (Peter O'Callaghan), agent, the April 9 Kentucky-bred was

purchased by Greathouse Bloodstock.

Airizon was produced by eight-time stakes queen Airistar (Prospective Star),

who placed in nine other stakes and earned $572,898. Another prolific black-type

earner from this female line was Nebraska icon Ogataul (Navan), a nine-time

stakes hero.

The yearling was previously a $62,000 Keeneland November weanling.

The second to bring $160,000 was Hip 2470, a son of Macho Uno out of the

winning Dazzling Contrast (General Meeting). Offered by Gainesway, agent, the

Kentucky-bred was snatched up by Michael Westen.

A half-brother to the stakes-placed Hug It Out (Medaglia d'Oro), the March 25

yearling counts as his second dam the 1989 Fantasy S. (G1) winner Fantastic Look

(Green Dancer), the dam of Grade 1-winning turf miler Designed for Luck (Rahy)

and the stakes winners Classy Prospector (Mr. Prospector) and Absolute Harmony

(Seeking the Gold). This extended family is responsible for current Grade 2

heroine Acoma (Empire Maker) and past Grade 3 winners Miss Fortunate (Deputy

Minister), Worldly Ways (GB) (Generous) and Trial by Jury (Deputy Minister).

On Tuesday, 297 horses sold for $7,995,400, an increase of 5.7 percent from

the corresponding session a year ago when 281 head grossed $7,564,100. The

session average was virtually flat, rising from $26,919 to $26,921, while the

median remained unchanged at $18,000.

After nine days of selling, 1,818 yearlings have sold for $181,750,100, a

rise of 1.3 percent from a year ago at this time when $179,342,600 had been

grossed from the sale of 2,028 head. The average has risen 24.3 percent, from

$80,433 to $99,973, while the median is up 26.3 percent, from $47,500 to

$60,000.

The sale continues Wednesday and runs through Sunday, with sessions starting

at 10 a.m. (EDT) daily.

For complete results, as well as live video of the sale, log onto

keeneland.com.