A filly by champion Gio Ponti topped the penultimate session and first of two Book 6 sessions of the marathon Keeneland September Yearling Sale Friday. A total of 159 head changed hands for a combined $2,111,900. Th average was $13,282 and median was $7,500. Perhaps in part due to a large number of outs as well as readjusted seller expectations at this point in the sale, the buyback rate was just 10.1%. Last year's sale featured one more session and a larger catalog, so year-over-year comparisons are somewhat inexact, but 2016's first Book 6 session saw an average of $8,871; median of $3,759; and RNA rate of 28.51%.
Acting on behalf of R 3 Stable, trainer John Brocklebank went to $115,000 to acquire the session-topping hip 3667. Bred in Kentucky by Frank Penn and offered by Penn and his brother John's Penn Sales, the Gio Ponti filly is a half to GSP The Accuser (Flower Alley) from the immediate family of Grade I-winning juveniles Success Express (Hold Your Peace) and Greenwood Lake (Meadowlake).
Brocklebank was the leading buyer for the day with two purchased for $136,000. Lane's End led all consignors, grossing $276,500 from 15 sold. The final KEESEP session begins Saturday at 10:00 a.m. For more information, visit www.keeneland.com.
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