California Chrome Colt Tops Keeneland Session 11

Trade during the Sept. 20 session of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale was at a lesser price point than any of the 10 preceding days of the sale, but it was nonetheless a continuation of the vibrant and competitive marketplace seen since the Sept. 9 start.

With the six-figure glass ceiling elusive, the top price Friday for the second day of Book 5 was the $85,000 paid by Novogratz Racing Stable for a colt consigned as Hip 3670 from the first crop of two-time Horse of the Year California Chrome . Novogratz, the day's leading buyer with three purchases for $155,000, also acquired fillies by Artie Schiller and Competitive Edge .

Consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent, the session topper is out of the stakes-placed Wild Rush mare Dirty Rush and is a half brother to multiple stakes winner Rush Now. Bred in Kentucky by Taylor Brothers Properties, Pollock Farms, and Louis Brooks Ranch, he is from the family of stakes winners Promise of War, Baldwin County, Britt's Jules, and Probation Ready and grade 1-placed Social Probation.

"He looks like he'll fit our program," said trainer Mac Robertson, who signed on behalf of Joe Novogratz. "He's not really big right now, but it looks like he'll improve and be a terrific-looking horse. This one looks fast. He is average size now and was a late foal. And I love Wild Rush mares, like a lot of people, and have had good luck with them. Usually, when you have success with a line, it is practical to stay with it. We try to be practical in the Midwest."

Robertson said the price was within the stable's estimated value of the colt.

"We didn't want to give over $100,000," he said. "We have been here through most of the sale. Now you don't have the big, strong families, so things are more reasonable." 

Keeneland sold 256 yearlings for a total of $4,396,800 Friday, for an average of $17,175 and a median of $11,000. The 80 head that went unsold represented an RNA rate of 23.8%. For the comparable session a year ago, 187 horses changed hands for gross receipts of $2,228,600, an $11,918 average, and $7,000 median.

With two sessions remaining in the September sale, from 3,826 horses cataloged, Keeneland has sold 2,433 yearlings for $356,398,100, for an average of $146,485 and a median of $65,000.

The sale continues Saturday at 10 a.m. with the first day of Book 6 and concludes Sunday.

At this stage of the auction, consignors have either already made their profits or taken their losses, with trade on the final three days not going to define their sale's success. As a result, many have minimal or no reserves on their horses in order to get them into new homes.

"There is still money around if you have the right horse," said John Greathouse III of consignor Four Star Sales. "There are still buyers telling me they can't buy a horse. It's the age-old thing: If you have the right horse, you will be rewarded. It's encouraging to see this many people in the back ring (buying). I'm encouraged by it."