American Pharoah's September Sale draft wraps with big average price

When Victory Racing Stables paid $220,000 for Hip 2,347 from Bridie Harrison, agent for Peter E Blum Thoroughbreds, on Tuesday, the transaction closed the book on the remarkable demand for yearlings by 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah at this year's Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

Through Book 3, American Pharoah had 47 yearlings sell for $19,585,000, good for an average of $416,702.

That figure ranks fifth of all sires with three or more sold at the 2018 sale, behind stalwarts War Front , Tapit , Medaglia D'Oro , and Curlin.

To put the demand for American Pharoah yearlings in perspective, the leading first-year sire in 2017 was Will Take Charge, with an average of $158,4535 for his 43 yearlings.

In 2016 Orb was the leading first-crop sire with an average of $141,686 (43 sold), and in 2015 Bodemeister was the top young gun with an average of $178,583 (48 sold).

Three from American Pharoah's first crop sold for seven figures during the September sale, led by the $2.2 million Godolphin paid for a colt out of the Indian Charlie mare Kindle during the opening session.

"He was a phenomenal racehorse and he has brought an additional energy to the sale," said Keeneland president Bill Thomason.

"I've never seen anything like this and I've been in the business 38 years. I kind of hated to see the last one go through the ring.

"The anticipation for his yearlings was great, and personally I can't wait to see them run next year."

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