The median stayed the same and the buyback rate improved.

The key statistics for the thirteenth session were:

--223 horses sold for a gross of $2,223,600, down 11.7% over the same session last year when 200 head grossed $2,519,000.
--The average price of $9,971 represented a 20.8% drop from the $12,595 in 2004.
--The median figure of $7,000 median remained the same.
--The 43 yearlings not sold represented an RNA (reserve not attained) rate of 12.5%, down 29.4% from the 32 (17.7%) bought back a year ago.

"There's really not much to say," said Geoffrey Russell, director of sales. "We're just closing out the sale. There are 94 outs Monday so we should be done early."

The session's topper, a chestnut colt by Stormy Atlantic out of the Cure the Blues mare South Sea Blues, brought $62,000 from Knob Hill Stable and was consigned by Denali Stud, Craig and Holly Bandoroff, agent.

The mare is a full sister to French stakes winner Fast Cure, and the daughter of the French-bred stakes winner, Alloy. South Sea Blues is the dam of two registered foals of racing age: Adriatic Sea, by Polish Numbers, is a winning filly this season at age four with career earnings of $79,015; and Pirate's Booty, a filly by Cat Thief, placed this year at three and has earnings of $5,420.

Pirate's Booty was an $80,000 purchase at the 2003 Keeneland September yearling sale. Consigned to that auction by Denali Stud, agent, G. Watts Humphrey signed the ticket and races her in his colors.

South Sea Blues produced a filly by Silver Deputy April 2.

With 4,812 of the 5,110 total head catalogued now accounted for, the cumulative figures through eight sessions are:

--3,391 horses have sold, up 4.9% from last year when 3,234 head were purchased.
--The gross of $383,024,600 is up 18% over the $323,743,800 at the same point one year ago.
--The average price of $112,953 represents a gain of 12.8% over the $100,106 average in 2004.
--The median price of $42,000 is up 5% from $40,000 last year.
--The cumulative RNA rate is 21.3% for the 916 horses not sold, down 6.2% from last year's rate of 22.2 % representing the 951 not sold to this point in 2004.

The sale will pick up again Monday, Sept. 26 at 10 a.m., and conclude with Hip No. 5110.

Hip-by-hip results from Keeneland