One of the last foals sired by racing giant Seattle Slew did Bowling Green proud Monday by bringing $900,000 during the first day of the Keeneland Yearling Sale in Lexington. The foal owned by Ironwood Farms and Bowling Green businessman David Garvin sold to Canadian businessman Eugene Melnyk. It was one of the top horses to go Monday. We knew we had a good filly, but we are thrilled at what she went for, Garvin said of his horse, a dark bay-brown filly sired by 1977 Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew out of Mama Dean. We expected a good sale due to the fillys pedigree, but this was above our expectations. Garvin bought Mama Dean in California. She has seven wins to her credit, including the Bed of Roses Breeders Cup Handicap in California. When they come to the sale, buyers are looking for a good pedigree and good conformation (development), Garvin said. The thing they cant judge is the heart of the horse. But depending on the pedigree, they gamble that certain ones will be a winner. Sheikh Mohammed al Maktoum paid $2.3 million Monday for a dark brown colt by the popular young stallion Pulpit to top the first day of the sale. Keeneland sold 218 yearlings on the first day of the 13-day auction for a total of $67.552 million. Mondays average price was $309,872, with a median price of $200,000. A year ago, Keeneland sold 217 horses on the sales opening day for a total of $51.162 million. It was a great way to start the sale, said W.B. Rogers Beasley, Keenelands sales director. We expected for the sale to be up, but I dont think anybody expected for us to be up this much. It was a good day. Bloodstock agent John Ferguson, who advises Sheikh Mohammed on his thoroughbred acquisitions, called the high-priced colt exceptional. He is by an exciting young stallion and hes out of a Breeders Cup winner (Epitome), who has already proven that she is a good broodmare, Ferguson said. We thought that he would make a good price. He is an outstanding individual and in this market you have to pay for an outstanding individual. The sale continues today.