quotes by James Platz / story by Dave Briggs

The Lexington Selected Yearling Sale is still on a record-breaking pace, but Wednesday’s fourth session was relatively soft. The average of $23,913 was down nearly 21 per cent from last year’s fourth session average of $30,159. The session gross of $4,973,800 was up marginally (0.6 per cent) from 2022, but that’s because 44 more horses were sold during this session this year compared the fourth day a year ago.

That said, through four days the total gross of $63,458,800 is still an all-time record for this point in the sale. If tonight’s final session grosses a little more than $1.8 million, it will break last year’s total sales of $65,289,000. Last year’s final session grossed over $4.8 million. So, a new total sales record is likely.

David Reid, the sale’s co-manager, was philosophical about the soft Thursday session.

“I’m a believer that whenever you add horses to a market, it’s tough to absorb and today was the brunt of it,” Reid said. “We sold 20 per cent more horses over last year’s session and the average was down 20 and the median was down 20, but gross, obviously, is up because of the number of horses.

“You don’t know how to equate it, but maybe the additional horses… Not that I’m disappointed in it today, but it was definitely a little more challenging than it has been all week. The numbers don’t lie.

Reid suggested Thursday’s session was more of a buyer’s market.

“To my point earlier in the week, if you do your homework, I believe people got some diamonds in the rough here today that were bought for fair value, maybe less than fair value, and we just wish them all the best and we really appreciate them shopping today,” Reid said.

A PAIR OF $85,000 YEARLINGS TOPPED THE SESSION

Two $85,000 yearlings shared the bill as the fourth-session toppers.

Hip #661 Michelle, a Papi Rob Hanover filly out of American Allure was purchased by Joe Holloway from the Brittany Farms consignment.

Hip #836 Century Love, a Love You colt out of Century Empress, was bought by Andy Miller from the Peninsula Farm consignment.

ALAGNA STILL THE TOP BUYER

Tony Alagna increased his lead in the buyer rankings by purchasing three more yearlings on Thursday.

In all, he has spent $4,509,000 to take home 32 yearlings.

The Andrew Harris / Bill Pollock tandem are still in the second spot with $3,550,000 spent, total, on 10 yearlings.

Miller is third with $2,315,000 spent, in all, on 14 yearlings.

PREFERRED EDGES AHEAD OF HUNTERTON

The see-saw battle atop the consignor leaderboard saw Reid’s Preferred Equine take a slim lead over Hunterton through four days.

On Thursday, Preferred sold 32 horses for a total of $683,500.

Hunterton sold 14 horses for $407,000 during the fourth session.

Preferred now has $10,263,500 in sales for the entire sale. Hunterton is at $10,086,000. Though, Preferred has some 43 more horses.

Kentuckiana remains in third spot with gross sales of $8,826,500 for 108 sold.

By average, the consignor leaderboard remained unchanged. It is: All American Harnessbreds ($146,000), Hanover Shoe Farms ($135,720) and Hunterton ($112,067).

SPRING STATION COMPLETES FIRST SALE

First-year consignor Spring Station sold its last five yearlings on Thursday.

The Eric Good-owned Kentucky breeding farm sold 12 yearlings and grossed $898,500 for an average of $74,875.

Farm manager Josh Green said, “We were very pleased, as a whole, with the sale. It went better than even what we were expecting. We learned a lot, just making a lot of contacts with different people. The sales company has been great, the farms have been great. It’s definitely been a positive experience. I think we ended up about right at $75,000 for an average for the sale and we’re very pleased with that. We thought we had just a good little group to start with and now we’ll look to build off of that.

“We just want slow and steady. We have 38 foals on the ground right now. We have roughly 60 mares that are in foal at the farm and we want to just continue to build our broodmare band with quality. Eric has some race fillies on the track that will be coming off the track when they are done this year, so we look forward to breeding them this coming season.

“So, it’s just steadily building good-quality product. We love the farm. It’s a beautiful area and there’s just so many great aspects to it. There’s a great staff and we’ve got a lot of support, so it’s just truly exciting to build on the foundation that we’ve started.”

CHAPTER SEVEN STILL AHEAD OF WALNER

Chapter Seven continued to lead all sires with gross sales of $7,578,000 despite selling just one yearling on Thursday.

There were no Walners sold on Thursday. His offspring have grossed $6,191,000 so far.

On the pacer front, Tall Dark Stranger ($5,549,000) is still ahead of Captaintreacherous ($5,513,000).

By average, for three or more sold, first-crop sire Gimpanzee is still tops ($168,238), followed by Chapter Seven ($135,321), Walner ($128,979), Muscle Hill ($122,523) and Captaintreacherous ($114,854).

SALE CONCLUDES TONIGHT

Despite a lukewarm fourth session, better results are expected for tonight’s final session focusing mostly on midwestern talent.

Reid said in past years, focusing on more regional horses has, “been great and great for the Ohio program. It’s great to single it out without singling it out. Having it here has worked great every year. The breeders have picked up their game to go along with the program and… it’s not just Ohio, it’s Indiana and all the regional places. I think it’s a great night for that, a lot of energy and it’s a credit to the program.”

And, while Thursday certainly could have been better, Reid said it’s still, “been a great week. Collectively, most of our customers have had a good week, like a lot of consignors. I think we’re at $63 million right now heading into [tonight], so that’s a lot of capital and money spent. I think the money always finds its way to the horses, whatever is out there.”

Tonight’s session starts at 7 p.m. after the races at Red Mile.