Wallace lands Keeneland Book 6 opening session topper

Agent Michael Wallace landed the top-selling horse of the first session of Book 6 of Friday's Keeneland September Yearling Sale when he signed the ticket on a daughter of the late Lord Nelson for $125,000 on behalf of St. Elias Stables.

The filly was consigned as hip 3709 by Legacy Bloodstock as agent for her breeder, Spendthrift Farm. She hails from the immediate family of Grade 1-winning race mares Carina Mia (Malibu Moon) and Miss Match (Indygo Shiner).

Produced from the Warrior's Reward mare Bonita Mia, the Kentucky-bred filly is a full sibling to the Graded stakes-placed two-year-old Super Chow, who captured his debut at Gulfstream Park in July followed by a third-place effort in the Saratoga Special Stakes this summer. Super Chow most recently romped by 6 1/4 lengths in an allowance optional claiming race at Pimlico Race Course on September 10 for Lea Farms and trainer Jorge Delgado.

Three-time Grade 1 winner Lord Nelson stood at Spendthrift Farm before his untimely death last October due to laminitis. The son of Pulpit is the sire of one black-type stakes winner from two crops to race.

Earlier in the sale, a Lord Nelson colt consigned by Scott Mallory on behalf of Spendthrift Farm went for $155,000 to Lincoln Racing during the first session of Book 5.

With his sole purchase, Wallace was the leading buyer from Friday's session.

With one day remaining in the September Sale, a total of 2,776 yearlings have sold through the ring for $415,693,200, for an average of $149,745 and a median of $80,000. The gross is 14 per cent higher than the total from last year's 11-day sale when 2,789 horses sold through the ring for $364,516,500.

The average price is up 14.6% from $130,698 in 2021, while the median is 23.1 per cent above $65,000 last year.

The gross of this year's sale stands as a record for a Keeneland auction.

On Friday, Keeneland recorded sales of $3,037,700 for 175 yearlings, for an average of $17,358 and a median of $15,000. The total is below the corresponding session in 2021 when 244 horses sold for $3,937,500. This year's average price increased 7.6 per cent from $16,173 in 2021, while the median was 25% higher than $12,000 last year.

Canuck Racing Club paid $70,000 for the session's second-highest seller, an Exaggerator colt named Curlquest from the family of champion Blind Luck. Consigned by Castle Park Farm (Noel Murphy), agent, the colt was bred in Ontario by Langcrest Farm. He is the third foal out of the Bernardini mare I'm the Reason, a half sister to Blind Luck and to Group stakes-placed Kafoo.

The session's leading consignor was Taylor Made Sales Agency, which sold 20 horses for $413,500 for an average of $20,675. Selling concludes on Saturday.

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