‘Vibrant From the Very Get-Go’ – Led by $675k Alyeska, Juveniles from the Estate of John Hendrickson in High Demand at Keeneland

[Wandering Eyes]

The 2-year-old filly Alyeska (Vekoma), an eye-catching, come-from-behind debut winner carrying the famed Marylou Whitney silks at Churchill Downs Sept. 20, brought a sale-topping $675,000 from bloodstock agent Steve Young at Keeneland's single session November Horses of Racing Age sale Thursday.

Fellow Marylou Whitney homebred and the once-raced 2-year-old colt Captain Cook (Practical Joke), a troubled sixth on debut beneath the Twin Spires Oct. 27, was also purchased by Young for $410,000, the second most expensive lot of the day.

The duo were both previously trained by Norm Casse and consigned by Gainesway, agent for the Estate of John Hendrickson. Hendrickson, a philanthropist who was the husband of the late Marylou Whitney, died suddenly over the summer in Saratoga.

Keeneland sold 105 horses through the ring for $8,613,000, an increase of 9.52% from last year's total of $7,864,000 for 155 horses sold through the ring. The average of $82,029 rose 61.68% from $50,735 in 2023, while the median was up 66.67% from $30,000 to $50,000. The clearance rate was 88%.

“The sale today was vibrant from the very get-go,” Keeneland Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy said. “Every year has a little bit of a different dynamic, but there was very little weakness in that market. We had almost a 90% clearance rate, median jumped 66% and average is up 61%. That's seriously strong. We were $800,000 over last year's gross with a third less horses. It shows the demand for quality stock. I really appreciate the people that supported us because it goes to prove that when you get the right environment, this is the right place to do it. The sellers were extremely happy, and the buyers were delighted to get the horses they got.”

“Just to echo what Tony said, there was great excitement in the building and we ran out of horses. That's the best kind of description of the sale,” Keeneland Senior Director of Sales Operations Cormac Breathnach said. “When something goes that well you wish there were two more barns full to lead through because everybody was here right to the end trying to scrap and get quality bloodstock. That's rewarding for us as an entire sales team to see that environment come to life.”

This story will be updated.

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