Keeneland’s April 2YO Sale on Monday proved the North American market is stabilizing after one of its worst ever downturns.

Turnover for the last major 2YO auction of the selling season was $11.56 million.  That was down 3.7% and the average also  declined 2.4% to $165,2000 but those figures were satisfactory according to Keeneland vice president Walt Robertson.

“With the economy the way it is, being that close to last year was pretty good,” Robertson said.  “The declines generally weren’t as steep as they have been in the past twelve months.”

A strapping Indian Charlie colt topped the one-day auction at $625,000.  He was purchased by Jess Jackson and Barbara Banke of Stonestreet Stables and is from the winning A.P. Indy mare Teenage Temper.

“He’s a real pretty horse, big and strong, so hopefully he’ll go on and do some great things by this time next year,” Stonestreet adviser John Moynihan said.  “I was thinking he would around $400,000 but we liked him and took a shot.”

The sale-topper was originally sold for $150,000 at the 2010 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling auction.

Stonestreet also purchased a $485,000 War Front colt from the winning El Prado mare La Prada.  He had been a $60,000 buy at the 2010 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October yearling auction.

Danny Dion’s Canada-based Bear Stables was the leading buyer with 6 acquisitions for $1.20 million.  Stonestreet ranked second spending $1.11 million.

Lake Villa Farm was next best with expenditure of $935,000.  Information on the sale tickets for its two juveniles indicated Lake Villa was acting for Northern Farm owner Katsumi Yoshida.