by David Carr, the U.S. Trotting Association

Lexington, KY — The Lexington Selected Yearling Sale continued with a third session that was highly successful, both financially and artistically. The ledger showed that the 163 yearlings sold for an average price of $29,656, a gain of more than 6.4 percent over the comparable session in 2010. This enabled the sale to establish a healthy increase of 4 percent over the course of three sessions. The sale also had plenty of life to it, with the buyers jumping into the bidding more rapidly, and the sale maintained a snappy pace all night.

Pacing colts were the dominant force in the two previous sale sessions, and they stayed true to form on Wednesday, posting an average price of $43,194. This was more than $10,000 greater than the average for trotting colts and about double what the fillies were able to bring. The top three prices belonged to pacing colts, while three trotting colts elicited the remaining $100,000 bids for the night.

The sale topper was Eagle Nest from Somebeachsomewhere’s first crop, out of Armbro Nest, a stakes winner of more than $670,000. Jeff Gillis signed the slip for $180,000 to acquire this pacing colt consigned and raised by Diamond Creek Farm.

Runner-up honors went to Major Chill, by Art Major out of Jus’ Chillin Out, a winner of more than $300,000. Trainer Tony Alagna has now signed for a six-figure youngster in each session, this one costing $120,000 and coming from the Preferred Equine Marketing consignment as agent for breeder White Birch Farm.

Carl Jamieson was stymied, but not traumatized, in his earlier efforts to win the bidding on some high priced yearlings, and proved to be successful near the close of the session. He paid $107,000 for Traumatized, by Western Terror out of Numberone Treasure, making this colt a full brother to the $400,000 winner Code Word. Kentuckiana Farms bred, raised and consigned Traumatized.

Here are the top priced horses and averages.

Yearling-Sire-Dam-Sex-Gait-Price-Buyer
Eagle Nest-Somebeachsomewhere-Armbro Nest-H-P-$180,000-Jeff Gillis
Major Chill-Art Major-Jus’ Chilln Out-H-P-$120,000-Tony Alagna, Agent
Traumatized-Western Terror-Numberone Treasure-H-P-$107,000-Carl Jamieson
Sam Squared-Credit Winner-Sister Sammy-H -T-$100,000-Fashion Farms
Finally Famous-Andover Hall-Celebrity Angel-H-T-$100,000-Continental Farm
Jewel Thief-Credit Winner-Jewels Galore-H-T-$100,000-Ray Schnittker, Agent
Roar-Mach Three-Southern Magnolia-H-P-$82,000-Enviro Stables
Denver Boko-Andover Hall-Bahama It-H-T-$80,000-Acl Stuteri Ab
Iwannabejustlikeu-Christian Cullen-Cate The Great-M-P-$77,000-Mystical Marker Farm & Peggy Hood
Real Rocker-Rocknroll Hanover-Real Successful-H-P-$75,000-Bruce Riegle, Agent

Session 3
Group-Number Sold-Total Price-Average Price-Top Price-Median-$100,000+
Pacing Colts-36-$1,555,000-$43,194-$180,000-$40,000-3
Pacing Fillies-35-$793,000-$22,657-$77,000-$20,000-0
Trotting Colts-52-$1,629,000-$31,327-$100,000-$20,000-3
Trotting Fillies-40-$857,000-$21,425-$70,000-$20,000-0
Total-163-$4,834,000-$29,656-$180,000-$22,000-6

Total sale
Group-Number Sold-Total Price-Average Price-Top Price-Median-$100,000+
Pacing Colts-107-$6,626,000-$61,925-$450,000-$50,000-18
Pacing Fillies-94-$4,009,000-$42,649-$170,000-$28,500-7
Trotting Colts-129-$5,998,000-$46,496-$210,000-$37,000-14
Trotting Fillies-103-$4,167,000-$40,456-$170,000-$27,000-10
Total-433-$20,800,000-$48,037-$450,000-$35,000-49

With racing resuming in Lexington at The Red Mile on Thursday, the sale shifts to a daytime schedule for Thursday and Friday, starting at 11:30 a.m. at the Fasig-Tipton sale arena.