Keeneland September surpasses $300 million in gross sales for first time since 2008

Receipts from Thursday’s 10th session of the 2017 Keeneland September Yearling Sale bumped the cumulative gross for the auction past $300 million for the first time since 2008.

With only two days left, 2,261 yearlings have been purchased for $304,265,700, an increase of 14.1 percent over this point last year when 2,215 youngsters had been sold for $266,614,200.

The $134,571 average has risen 11.8 percent on the $120,368 average through 10 days in 2016, while the $75,000 median has jumped 15.4 percent over last year’s $65,000 median.

Hip No. 3499, a chestnut colt from the second crop of Violence, brought the highest price on Thursday when selling to Wave’s Bloodstock for $180,000. Consigned by Valley View Farm, agent, the Kentucky-bred colt is out of the winning City Zip mare All About Allison, is a half-brother to stakes-placed Ali Blue and comes from the same female family as Grade 1 winner C. S. Silk.

Thursday’s session saw 255 yearlings sell for $6,557,100, a slight decline of 3.2 percent over last year’s corresponding session where 299 were purchased for $6,772,700. The average has risen 13.5 percent, from $22,651 to $25,714, while the median increased 15.4 percent, from $13,000 to $15,000.

The sale continues daily through Saturday with sessions beginning at 10 a.m. (EDT). Full results can be found at keeneland.com.