LEXINGTON, KY – The Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale continued into its second half Wednesday in Lexington with a session which, while significantly smaller, produced results largely in line with its 2023 counterpart.

For the session, 196 horses sold for a gross of $4,352,900. The average of $22,209 was down 2.54% from last year's corresponding session, while the median of $10,000 was up 25%. From 316 catalogued horses, 242 horses were offered and 46 failed to meet their reserves for a buy-back rate of 19.01%.

During the third session of the 2023 auction, 246 horses sold for $5,605,700. The session average was $22,787 and the median was $8,000. The buy-back rate was 17.45%.

Marvelous Time (Distorted Humor), who sold just minutes into Wednesday's session, brought the day's top price when selling for $220,000 to Centofanti Thoroughbreds, as agent for Brittlyn Stables.

The session topper was one of 17 sold for $1,103,000 during what has become an annual offering of mares from Godolphin, making Sheikh Mohammed's operation the day's leading consignor.

A filly from the first crop of Yaupon brought the top price for a short yearling Wednesday when selling for $150,000 to Crestwood Farm.

Through three of four sessions, 626 horses have grossed $35,949,600 and the average of $57,427 is just 0.79% off the 2023 figure. The median of $22,000 is down 18.52%.

“I'm more than happy with the market,” said Hunter Valley's Adrian Regan. “I think there was a bit of doom and gloom from some people coming in that it was going to be tough going, but in fairness, it was pretty good. If you had the right foal and it vetted clean and everything, you got a lot of money for it. They sold very well. Overall, it was better than expected, I would say.”

A horse awaits a turn in the ring | Keeneland

Consignors agreed quality offerings continued to be in demand at Keeneland this week.

“Horses with quality are still fairly easy to sell,” said Brian Graves of Gainesway, which consigned the $1.6-million sale-topping Prank (Into Mischief) during Monday's first session of the auction. “And then anything that even hints at not being every bit of that is correcting. Anything that is not 100% quality or top shelf, it looks like it's correcting.”

Graves said he has also observed less activity than normal in the back ring.

“It seems like there is not a lot of back ring participants, so if you didn't have it done at the barn, you weren't going to get any help,” he said. “There weren't a ton of people standing around here just buying horses out of the back ring for anything significant.”

On the other side of the ledger, Graves has been active as a buyer in the pinhooking sphere where he admitted he was vying for that very quality, while also casting a wary eye on potential market conditions next fall.

“We focus on quality [when we buy],” Graves said. “That's what we focus on. It's a battle to get your hands on that and once you've gotten your hands on that, you have to worry a little bit wondering if these other signs that we are seeing are a hint of what is coming down the road.”

Meg Levy, whose Bluewater Sales sold the $650,000 Kaling (Practical Joke) Monday, said demand for quality lots significantly helped to drive up prices for those offerings.

“I feel like quality will out,” Levy said. “The buyers are willing to pay more for the perceived commercial quality, particularly in the yearlings, I have noticed. We had Kaling sell very well here, which we were pleased about. But it just seems like everybody is willing to pay up to a third more for what they perceive to be the right stuff. And the middle market is still suffering. It's very difficult.”

Levy speculated that some of the weakening in the foal market might be traced back to the vet reports.

“There is kind of a gap selling some of these yearlings where we are using the vet reports as a marketing tool to help the buyers,” she said. “But honestly, so many of them don't understand reports and they don't use a veterinarian, so that ends up hurting things.”

The Keeneland January sale concludes Thursday with a session beginning at 10 a.m.

Sikura, Dorman Team Up for Star Act

The Keeneland January sale got its third seven-figure horse when Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa's John Sikura and Determined Stud's Matt Dorman partnered up to purchase Star Act (Street Cry {Ire}) (hip 144) for $1.2 million. The 13-year-old mare, dam of GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies winner Just F Y I (Justify), was originally led out unsold at $950,000 during the auction's first session Monday.

Star Act | Keeneland

“She is a class mare,” Dorman said Wednesday. “She's a Grade I producer. She has a phenomenal horse who is three-for-three and primed for next year. John Sikura has always been a great business partner. It just worked out as a good opportunity.”

Dorman said the mare, who is in foal to Life Is Good and was consigned by Hill 'n' Dale on behalf of George Krikorian, was on his radar Monday, but after Prank (Into Mischief) sold for $1.6 million earlier in the session, he assumed Star Act would be out of his price range.

“When I saw the horse go for $1.6 million, I thought she would be too much,” Dorman said. “I work with David Ingordo now. So Dave and I had a long conversation about the broodmare band and what we are doing. And after [Star Act] RNA'd, we decided that the horse made sense at this number. So we reached out to John and Donato [Lanni]. And we called back and forth and it evolved into John and I buying the horse. Donato and the owner have a long-standing relationship with John and respect John, so it worked out well.” @JessMartiniTDN

Marvelous Time Makes Trip Worthwhile for Centofanti

Bloodstock agent Raffaele Centofanti made the trip up from Ocala to find a specific mare for Evelyn Benoit's Brittlyn Stable and, mission accomplished, he was heading back south having purchased Marvelous Time (Distorted Humor) (hip 845) for $220,000 early in Wednesday's third session of the Keeneland January sale. Bred and consigned by Godolphin, the 4-year-old is a daughter of Grade I-placed Folk (Quiet American).

“We were looking for that Quiet American line,” Centofanti said of the mare's appeal. “They are hard to find. You can't find them usually that young–she's only four. It's such a great female line. To get her that young and with that broodmare sire, she checked all the boxes basically. She had everything physically, as well. She is 16.2, with a classy look and a great walk. She looks like a Distorted Humor, but she had the size. She had everything I liked physically.”

Marvelous Time | Keeneland

Marvelous Time made just one racetrack appearance, winning her debut at Presque Isle Downs in 2022 for trainer Mike Stidham. The bay mare is a half-sister to graded-placed Captivating Lass (A.P. Indy), who produced Grade I winner Atone (Into Mischief). She sold Wednesday in foal to Mystic Guide.

“I probably appraised her at a little less than that, but when I came and saw her, I thought we needed around $200,000 to buy her,” Centofanti said. “I think she was worth that.”

Marvelous Time will remain in Kentucky to foal and then will head south to Brittlyn Stable's Louisiana base to visit either Star Guitar or Clearly Now.

“We are debating where we will go with her,” Centofanti said. “We are trying to bring some quality back to Star and Clearly Now. We've been doing it the last two years and we've got some nice babies coming up.”

Centofanti said the plan has been to upgrade the Brittlyn broodmare band as mares get older and are rotated out. The results are showing up on the race track and in the sales ring.

“We've been selling the last three years,” he said. “We sold a couple of Star Guitars for six figures at Keeneland that went on to win big races–one won in Dubai a couple of weeks ago out of Charged Cotton (Dehere). And we have a Not This Time we will sell in September and she is beautiful.”

The Brittlyn-bred Manama Gold (Star Guitar), a Louisiana-bred out of Charged Cotton, sold for $100,000 at the 2022 Keeneland September sale and resold for $200,000 at the 2023 OBS April sale. The filly broke her maiden stylishly at Meydan Dec. 22 for Fawzi Abdulla Nass.

“We've been rotating between Kentucky and Louisiana sires,” Centofanti said. “[Benoit] loves racing and she loves Louisiana. And this way we can continue and we've had success doing that. Our horses are running and doing well.”

Marvelous Time was the only horse Centofanti bid on at Keeneland and he was ready to head back south.

“I have to go to Ocala,” he said. “I have a bunch of horses for her that we are breaking. So I've got to get back there.” @JessMartiniTDN

Yaupon Yearling to Crestwood Farm

Not long into the third session of the Keeneland January sale, Crestwood Farm and Robert Keck went to $150,000 for hip 926, a filly from the first crop of Yaupon.

“She had an amazing body, great bones and a standout pedigree for this session,” said Keck. “She'll be resold in September.”

Hip 926 | Keeneland

Spendthrift Farm's Yaupon has seen his yearlings sell well this week, all five sold going for over six figures, led by a $190,000 colt (hip 82) who sold Monday to Clarmont Bloodstock Club.

“Hopefully that sire is as hot as people are predicting,” Keck continued. “I knew that [Yaupons were selling well], but looked at her as an objective buyer. People don't pay enough attention sometimes to where a horse comes from and I liked that she was raised by Clarkland Farm, they raise a great horse.”

Bred and consigned by Clarkland Farm, the filly is a daughter of MSW Tiz Imaginary (Tizway), who was purchased by the farm for $180,000 out of the 2019 Keeneland November sale. This is the family of champion 2-year-old filly Flanders (Seeking the Gold) and her champion daughter Surfside (Seattle Slew). @SGrimmTDN

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“The traffic has been outstanding,” consignor Dave Anderson outside his Barn 3. “Coming in with the economy being a little suspect, it was hard to know whether we would attract the usual suspects, but they are all here. Everybody is in good spirits, so I am expecting a good sale.”

Adrian Regan of Hunter Valley echoed Anderson's comments.

“We are delighted with the activity at the barn,” Regan said. “There's been a lot of showing. People look to be working it hard and from what we are hearing so far, people are saying that there are a good group of horses here.”

The boutique Saratoga catalogue attracted its usual array of sire power and glitzy pedigrees. Gun Runner who had two million-dollar yearlings, including the $2.3-million sale topper at last year's auction, has 12 yearlings in the auction this year. Curlin, who had three seven-figure yearlings in 2022, has seven in the catalogue in 2023, including a son of champion Beholder (Henny Hughes). That mare's half-brother, super-sire Into Mischief, who was represented by four million-dollar sales a year ago, has 12 to be offered in this year's catalogue.

The Saratoga sale is held just across the street from the historic racecourse, giving the power-packed catalogue that extra bit of bling.

“I think with the racing, it is as good as it gets,” Anderson said. “It gets people excited. And the wives and the husbands and the families come and they turn it into a mini-vacation. And when the weather cooperates, Fasig-Tipton knows how to put on a great party and a great show. People bring the product and it's really a special place.”

The atmosphere encourages buyers to attend the sale in person, rather than simply having agents acting on their behalf. That, too, adds to the success of the auction, according to Doug Arnold of Buck Pond Farm.

“This is what's great about coming up here,” said Arnold. “When you can put your hands on things, it kind of changes your mind on what you will and won't do.”

Buck Pond's consignment at Saratoga this year includes just one horse, a filly by Not This Time, and Arnold said horses at the boutique auction face plenty of scrutiny in the days leading up to sale time.

“The buyers have a long time to look at these horses, so they can talk themselves out of things,” Arnold said. “If you have something that is sticking out that they don't like, they will find a way not to buy. We would normally bring more than one up here and it was one of those years that we had a lot of May foals and I kept looking at them and thinking maybe this horse will work for Saratoga, but I am really happy I didn't. Everyone seems to love this filly.”

Tim and Nancy Hamlin's Wynnstay Sales is making its first appearance at the Saratoga sale with a four-horse consignment.

“We've sold horses up here, but we've never brought our own consignment,” Tim Hamlin explained. “One of our customers wanted to do it and Fasig wanted us to do it and we decided to do it.”

Hamlin continued, “I am hoping it's going to be a good sale. You have to have one that has the pedigree and by a hot sire and vets, you've got to jump through all of the hoops. But these are some of the best horses in Lexington, so I think the best ones will have a home.”

After a series of out-of-the-park results last year, the yearling sales season got off to a quieter start at last month's Fasig-Tipton July Selected Yearlings Sale.

“I am a glass is half-full kind of guy, but I think we've got to realize what is going on with interest rates and the economy in general,” Anderson said of a possible correction in the market. “The yearling market has to soften at some point here and that's a good thing, it probably needs to happen.”

While economic conditions might deter many buyers in the middle market, the top-end of the market targetted by Saratoga sellers seems to remain competitive.

“I don't think [the economy] is going to impact this sale,” Anderson said. “This is a boutique sale and buyers are coming here expecting to see some of the best horses in the United States and Canada. They are prepared to buy them at whatever cost it takes.”

Despite the dips and turns at yearling sales to come this fall, Regan feels confident bidding will be strong Monday and Tuesday in Saratoga.

“To be honest, I was a little bit cautious coming up here,” he said. “But we have seen the top end is where everybody wants to be at the moment. So with the group of horses that Fasig has here, I would be very positive about how the sale is going to go.”

Last year's Saratoga sale set records for gross, average and median as 14 yearlings sold for $1 million or over. A total of 135 head grossed $55,155,000 for an average of $408,556 and a median of $350,000.

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“Adrian and another partner on the farm, John Wade, they both went out,” Galvin, who enjoyed Saturday's victory from his home in Kentucky, said. “But it was great. It was fantastic. We had a couple of near-misses with Family Way (Uncle Mo), she had a great campaign with Brendan Walsh for two years, showed up in a lot of the Grade I races, but to actually have one get a head in front in our own colors is fantastic. And it was made even better with Adrian and John out there to enjoy it all. Really at the end of the day, that's what it's all about, to be able to enjoy the big days. Everybody works hard in the business and you've got to be able to enjoy the big days.”

A Mo Reay was third in the 2021 GI Frizette S., but had yet to win a stakes race when she went through the ring at Fasig-Tipton last fall. Having spent most of her career on the main track, she came into the sale off a pair of efforts over the turf, finishing third in the Aug. 25 Riskaverse S. and fifth in the Sept. 18 GIII Pebbles S.

“She is a lovely physical,” Galvin said. “Adrian and I were talking and we were saying if she could just win a listed race to go along with her Grade I-placing, it would help her broodmare value down the road.”

A Mo Reay was sent to trainer Brad Cox's Fair Grounds base and duly delivered for the team with a three-length victory in the Dec. 31 Pago Hop S.

“Not long after she went down there, Brad was starting to speak in pretty glowing terms about her,” Galvin said. “So we were getting more and more confident with her as time went on.”

The group's optimism in the filly continued to grow when a trip to Oaklawn Park resulted in a late-closing half-length victory in the Feb. 4 GIII Bayakoa S. Shipped across the country, A Mo Reay was sent off at 7-1 in the Beholder Mile. She rolled up to engage Fun to Dream (Arrogate) at the top of the stretch, only to have the even-money favorite scamper clear. Undeterred, A Mo Reay closed relentlessly to just get her head in front on the line.

Of the dramatic stretch run, Galvin said, “I can't say I was confident, but the way she has finished in her two prior races with Brad, she has done her best work in the last furlong. So I knew she would definitely finish up. It was just a matter of if she could catch Baffert's filly and it was really nail-biting as she just kind of got her at the final jump.”

Hunter Valley came close to Grade I glory a few times last year with Family Way, a filly Galvin purchased on behalf of the farm, Marc Detampel and Debra O'Connor for €150,000 at the 2020 Arqana December sale. The mare was on the board in three Grade I races last term, including a runner-up effort in the GI Rodeo Drive S. in October before selling for $1.45 million at the 2022 Fasig November sale.

Could A Mo Reay's Grade I victory mean a return to the sales ring this coming November?

“It's a bit too early to say,” Galvin said. “She has obviously become a very valuable proposition. We do know that she will definitely race this year and we haven't really discussed anything beyond that. Everything is open at this stage. We just want to enjoy her racing career this year and come up with a plan later on.”

Hunter Valley has been involved in several high-profile purchases of racing age fillies who succeed for their partners both at the track and then again in the sales ring. In addition to Family Way, the operation purchased Caravel (Mizzen Mast), who went on to win last year's GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, for $500,000 at the 2021 Fasig November sale, as well as Shedaresthedevil (Daredevil), who was purchased for $5 million at that same auction before adding another graded victory and a pair of Grade I placings to her resume before reselling for that same figure last year.

“If you do get lucky enough to stumble across the likes of an A Mo Reay or a Family Way, the prize money structure if they are good enough to compete at that level is really fantastic,” Galvin said. “Especially with fillies, you have the residual value. Whether or not she succeeded for us back at the racetrack, we knew A Mo Reay had plenty of broodmare value. It's nice to have a fallback when you buy them with black-type, or Grade I-placing, in her case. She wasn't cheap at $400,000, but at the same time, she had already X amount of broodmare value as it was. There is less risk involved with fillies, and certainly well-bred fillies.”

As for where A Mo Reay may start next, Galvin said, “She came out of [the Beholder] good and she will fly back to her Fair Grounds base the middle of the week. I haven't really had much time to chat with him, but you really don't have to get in Brad's way too much as far as race planning. He is always about two steps ahead of everybody.”

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Through three sessions, 721 horses have sold for $41,732,600. The average of $57,882 is up 5.31% from a year ago, while the median is up 8.00% to $27,000.

At this same point at the 2022 sale, 770 horses had grossed $42,320,400 for an average of $54,962 and a median of $25,000.

Mares from Godolphin occupied five of the day's six top spots, with Walmac Farm making the day's highest bid when acquiring Carella (Tapit) from Sheikh Mohammed's operation for $260,000. In all, 27 mares from Godolphin sold for $1,798,700 and an average of $66,619.

A colt by Vekoma was the day's highest-priced short yearling, selling to G1 Investments from the supplemental section of the catalogue. The youngster was consigned by Archie St. George's St. George Sales.

“I think the market overall is solid,” St. George said. “It's been a good January sale. Any quality stock sells well. It's the old saying, if you tick all the boxes, you do good.”

Hunter Valley Farm sold two of the session's eight six-figure offerings, with Juddmonte's 4-year-old Gilded Ruler (Into Mischief) selling for $130,000 to Shepherd Equine Advisors and a short yearling filly by Tiz the Law selling for $100,000 to Headley Bell's pinhooking partnership, Sycamore.

“I don't think there is too much wrong with the market today,” said Hunter Valley's Adrian Regan. “For what's on offer, I think they are selling pretty good. Anything with any little bit of upside or a weanling with any bit of scope and quality, they are selling really well.”

The Keeneland January sale concludes with a final session Thursday. Bidding begins at 10 a.m.

Godolphin Mares in Demand

As the Keeneland January sale moved into its second half, it was a group of 27 offerings from Godolphin that took center stage, occupying five of the session's top six five spots and accounting for five of its eight six-figure prices. Leading the way was Carella (Tapit) (hip 1140), who was purchased over the internet by Walmac Farm for $260,000. The 10-year-old mare is a daughter of Cara Rafaela and is a half-sister to Bernardini. She sold in foal to Kantharos. Also selling via an internet bid was Orchestrate (Tiznow) (hip 984), who sold to J.S. Company for $200,000.

“It was a fantastic sale for us,” said Godolphin's Director of Bloodstock Michael Banahan. “The response was exceptionally strong down at the barn yesterday. We ended up having as many people looking as we had in two days last year. So we were inundated with lookers. We thought the mares would sell well, but we were probably surprised how well they sold. There was a great appetite for our mares. There were a lot of nice, young mares in there that people want to have with great pedigrees. I understand why people want to get involved in mares that we are culling out of our program. People have done well with them before. They were all sold, they were all over their reserves and I think people will be very pleased with what they've got off us.”

Lynn Hancock acquired two Godolphin mares on behalf of her family's Stone Farm. She signed for the 4-year-old Omkara (Ghostzapper) (hip 980), in foal to Cairo Prince, for $160,000 and came back later to acquire the 4-year-old Brookwood Hills (More Than Ready) (hip 1127) for $52,000.

“Godolphin obviously has some really great families and they can't keep all of the fillies out of them,” Hancock said. “We thought they had some great physicals with some really good female families. It looked like a good opportunity to get in on some active families.”

Omkara is a daughter of stakes-winner Kareena (Medaglia d'Oro) and her half-sister Padma (Tapit) was second in the Cash Run S. at Gulfstream Park on New Year's Day. Her second dam is multiple graded-stakes winner India, a half-sister to the dam of To Honor and Serve and Angela Renee.

“It's a super active female family,” Hancock said of the mare. “There are so many daughters producing in that family. There are some good runners on the page and it's a great family. So we thought we would take a swing.”

Banahan admitted he had fielded some questions about why Godolphin would sell a half-sister to a recent stakes-placed runner.

“We own three more fillies out of the mare,” Banahan said. “You can't keep them all. We want to keep the quality as high as we can. So we are going to have ones that we have to offload.”

Of the popularity of the Godolphin mares at Keeneland Wednesday, Hancock said, “You can't hide a good horse from the market, no matter where they are placed or when they are selling. I think the people are keyed in and looking at those mares and some of them are selling very well.”

Godolphin has now dominated the third session of the Keeneland January sale for two years in a row. Last year, the operation sold three of the day's top four prices, including the $480,000 session topper.

“It's worked very well for us,” Banahan said of the day three placement in the January sale. “We had a group of them in November as well, but we feel we get them in here, everyone is at the sale, it's a four-day sale, everyone is going to be able to see them and we are not going to have to divide them up into two or three different books. We can group them together a lot nicer than we can in November. Maybe we are a bigger fish in a smaller pond in January. Our mares stand out here.”

The January consignment also gives students in Godolphin's Flying Start program the opportunity to participate in the auction.

“The Godolphin Flying Start group comes into town right around New Year's and they've helped us out in the last couple of years,” Banahan said. “They've enjoyed it. It's their only opportunity to work a sale. Not that we did it on purpose, but that was an offshoot of it. And they enjoyed it and we enjoyed having them helping us out as well.”

Vekoma Colt Leads Yearlings Wednesday

A colt by Vekoma was the top-priced short yearling of Wednesday's third session of the Keeneland January sale when selling for $180,000 over the internet to GI Investments. The chestnut colt is out of stakes winner and graded-placed Inconclusive (Include). Archie St. George purchased Inconclusive, with the colt in utero, for $75,000 at the 2021 Keeneland November sale and he co-bred the yearling with Lee Mauberret and Gary Joyner.

“He was a very nice colt, very straightforward,” St. George said. “We had him on the farm and he showed himself very well and he put on a good show in the back ring. We'd like to thank the buyers and everyone who was interested in him.”

The colt was originally slated to sell at the November sale.

“He was in November, but we scratched him just because I wanted to give him more time,” St. George said. “This was just the right spot for him.”

The colt became just the latest supplemented offering to the auction to be in demand this week.

“It's really nice to be able to supplement them,” St. George said. “Keeneland does a great job with promoting it. It's nice to have a horse in here. Any time you have more horses in front of buyers, it's a good opportunity.”

McKinzie Leads First-Crop Sires at Keeneland Book 1

Four-time Grade I winner McKinzie (Street Sense–Runway Model, by Petionville) was represented by four six-figure short yearlings this week in Lexington and was the leading first-crop sire during the two-session Book 1 section of the Keeneland January sale.

McKinzie won the 2018 GI Pennsylvania Derby and GI Malibu S., as well as the 2019 GI Whitney S. and the 2017 GI Los Alamitos Cash Call Futurity. He was second in the 2019 GI Breeders' Cup Classic.

On the board in 14 of 18 starts for owners Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman and trainer Bob Baffert, McKinzie earned $3,473,360 on the racetrack and retired to Gainesway where he stood his initial season in 2021 for $30,000.

During Book 1 at Keeneland this week, the 8-year-old stallion had seven yearlings sell for $910,000 for an average of $130,000.

Peter O'Callaghan and Brian Graves purchased the sale's top-priced short yearling by McKinzie, going to $250,000 to acquire a colt (hip 835) from the Four Star Sales consignment.

“Obviously, it's redundant to say it was an awfully nice horse, but we thought it would hit the market well,” said Four Star Sales' Kerry Cauthen. “We were thinking in the $150,000 to $175,000 range, but when you bring up the really good ones, and two people obviously thought he was a really good one–you get rewarded.”

Cauthen continued, “I have seen quite a few McKinzies and quite like them as a whole. I think he's been fairly consisistent in producing a good-looking animal.”

Also during the January sale, South Carolina horseman Peter Pugh purchased a filly by the sire (hip 190) for $220,000 from the Hunter Valley Farm consignment.

While Pugh said he hadn't seen many of the McKinzie foals, he was impressed by the filly he plans to pinhook later in the year.

“She was very smooth,” Pugh said. “She was a very pretty filly who looked like she was going to frame out nicely. All the stuff you want.”

Mckinzie bred 214 mares in his first season and 180 in his second.

“I am really excited about what we are seeing in the market with McKinzie,” said Graves, who serves as Gainesway's general manager. “Before the sales started, I thought that McKinzie was really stamping his offspring and now he has left no question on that matter. They are all very leggy with streamlined shape and athleticism, which is my favorite type. They have sold at the highest level, to the best judges, and it's rewarding to see. I think he's going to be a huge presence at the yearling sales later this year.”

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Hunter Valley Farm co-owner Adrian Regan remarked, “Fergus Galvin and I are really looking forward to welcoming Elle to Kentucky. Hopefully, we can do half as good a job as Gerry did, with educating his students.”

Elle, a third year student, is currently studying equine science at the University of Limerick. While working in Michael Hourigan's national hunt yard at Lisaleen stables during secondary school, she learned the basics of the thoroughbred racing industry. During college, she developed an interest in thoroughbred bloodstock and breeding and gained work and sales experience with leading county Limerick farms Rathmore Stud and Croom House Stud.

Sorenson added, “Thanks to the Gerry Dilger Equine Scholarship Foundation, I have been awarded this amazing opportunity to travel to America and further my knowledge, education, and passion for the industry at Hunter Valley Farm.”

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On behalf of our board, and the Dilger Family, we would like to extend a warm thank you to everyone who helped to make this first fundraiser happen. It was great to see so many people come out. We had wonderful support from the equine community.

A very special thank you to Ashford Stud, Eddie Woods, Fasig Tipton, Garrett O'Rourke, Hagyards Equine Medical Institute, Hunter Valley Farm, Ingordo Bloodstock, Keeneland, Kildare Stud, Mark Taylor, Spendthrift Farm, Sterling Thompson, Stonereath, Winchester Feed, and WinStar Farm, who all generously supported us as title sponsors. Thanks to all our other supporters, including our hole sponsors, food and beverage sponsors, signage sponsor, prize sponsors, and all who gave a donation on-site. We would also like to express our gratitude to everyone who donated items for our live auction; Adrian Regan, Archie St, George, the Arvin Family, Aveen Campion, Barry Clohessy, Boyd Browning, Dr.Luke Fallon, Dr. Michael Hore, Dr. Mike Spirito, Eddie Woods, Gabriel Duignan, Jeff Pumphrey, Justin Fister, Ken Donworth, Noel Murphy, Peter Kiely, Zach Phillips. Thank you for your generous donations!

Our live auction was fun and lively. We would also like to thank all the people who purchased items for your generous contribution.

Finally, our organizing committee, Padraig Campion, Ted Campion, Pat Costello, Stuart Fitzgibbon, Dermot Joyce, and Adrian Regan worked tirelessly on planning this event. It would never have happened without all their help and commitment.

Pat Costello, president, commented, “Everyone came out and had fun. It was a beautiful day. We are so happy with the results of this first tournament, and excited about being able to offer even more opportunities to help young people learn about this industry.”

– Erin, Claire, Joseph and Grace Dilger

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For Fennelly, who was born in the U.S. and grew up in Ireland, the breeding operation forms a full circle back to his childhood love of racing.

“If you want to be in the horse business, Lexington, Kentucky is the horse capital of the world,” Fennelly said of his return to the United States as a 21-year-old in 1985. “I was coming to muck out stalls like 180 other people. That's how it started. That's how I ended up in the horse capital of the world mucking out stalls at Spendthrift.”

Fennelly would spend seven years at Spendthrift before an opportunity came along that took him away from the Bluegrass.

“One of our clients was exporting coal down the river system from Kentucky, West Virginia, Illinois, and he offered me a job,” Fennelly recalled. “I thought, you know what, I am not too sure if this is a childhood dream or a real job, so I am going to try this other path.”

Fennelly moved south to New Orleans where he learned the ins and outs of exporting coal. From there, he would go on to found shipping and cargo services businesses, including Associated Terminals.

But, as an avid polo player, horses remained a part of his life and eventually, business success paved the way for his return to Kentucky.

“We started playing polo in New Orleans and then in Lexington and I thought, 'Let's get 20 acres up here and have a little spot,” Fennelly said. “We ended up with Mountmellick Farm, which is 600 acres. And then we thought, 'Let's get some mares.'

“I never thought I would own a piece of the Bluegrass and that I would breed a horse that would sell at Keeneland. I sold lots of horses with Spendthrift at Keeneland, Saratoga, Fasig-Tipton–not me personally, me the caretaker of–and so it was kind of a full circle dream. I am fortunate enough to be in a position to think, 'You know, what if we breed that mare by that stallion to that stallion?'”

Asked about his master plan when he began his breeding operation almost a decade ago, Fennelly said, “There was no plan at all. Nothing. Dudley's, a beautiful dinner, everybody who is anybody hangs out at Dudley's and I thought well, 'I can do this.' So I did it.”

Mountmellick is home to about seven broodmares in partnership with Terry Gabriel of Pelican State Thoroughbreds.

“Terry Gabriel advises me and keeps me focused,” Fennelly said, before adding with a laugh, “And he keeps me with my hands in my pockets.”

Fennelly met Regan and Galvin through trainer Andrew McKeever and made an instant connection.

“Andrew McKeever has been training horses for me for 25 years–I always had one or two,” Fennelly said. “He introduced me to the guys and they are off-the-charts fantastic horsemen. They know their business. And we just kind of hit it off. They said, 'Hey, David, look at this mare. Would you be interested in owning a piece?' And look at this one and that one. And we ended up with a few mares together.”

The team made its first seven-figure purchase with Diva Delite (Repent), the dam of champion Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute), who sold for $1.2 million while in foal to Justify at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton November sale. The mare's Justify colt sold for $775,000 at last year's Keeneland September sale and, now named Verifying, was a first-out winner on the Travers undercard at Saratoga Aug. 27.

“Look at that moment in time,” Fennelly said of that result. “We bred a winner at Saratoga on Travers Day? Come on. That was wonderful.”

Just a few hips after purchasing Diva Delite, the team came back to purchase Separationofpowers for $2.1 million.

“Good Lord, is that what she cost? Why did you have to tell me that?” Fennelly said with a chuckle when asked about the purchase.

Still, Separationofpowers, who won the 2017 GI Frizette S. and 2018 GI Test S., was a standout at the sale, according to Fennelly.

“This mare is incredible,” Fennelly said. “She was a few dollars short of winning a million dollars, you placed her and asked her and she performed every time. When she walked around Fasig-Tipton in that back arena, it was like Good Lord, look at this girl here. So we bought her. Maybe the Irish get carried away.”

Separationofpowers visited Curlin in 2020 and the resulting foal, the mare's first, sells next week at Keeneland.

“She is pretty special,” Fennelly said of the yearling. “Everybody has got a special horse. You'll go from barn to barn and there will be many. But she is absolutely a beautiful specimen; out of a champion mare by Curlin–who needs to say any more about Curlin.”

Completing the Hunter Valley/Mountmellick trio of million-dollar mares is Nereid (Rock Hard Ten), who was purchased for $1.25 million at Keeneland November.

“The business plan with Hunter Valley is we are going to produce very, very nice horses,” Fennelly said. “We are not afraid to race, but the primary goal is to produce and sell wonderful, beautiful horses.”

Even the foals bred by Mountmellick end up at Hunter Valley.

“Anything we sell, we sell with Hunter Valley,” Fennelly said. “To me, they are second to none. They are absolutely second to none. They present a beautiful horse, ready for presentation to be sold. And they have an eye for buying the best.”

Fennelly, who said he began his breeding operation with no plan, is content to continue to let the business find its own way.

“At this stage, I want to stay boutique,” he said. “We have an absolutely stunningly beautiful farm. We operate and live part of our time in the Bluegrass in the midst of some of the most famous farms in the world. I am down the road from my college degree at Spendthrift. And so, just like how I got in, I try not to over think it.”

Asked to rate his experience as a breeder so far, Fennelly said, “I would say we've done quite well. We all love the highs. And we all know that it's a difficult business to be in at times, but that photograph in the winner's circle of a horse that you bred, or the moment in time when the hammer goes down and the digital clock is saying a particular financial number, it's fantastic. You can't get a better high.”

The Keeneland September sale begins with two Book 1 sessions next Monday and Tuesday beginning at 1 p.m. Book 2 sessions on Wednesday and Thursday begin at 11 a.m. Following a dark day Friday, the auction continues through Sept. 24 with sessions beginning daily at 10 a.m.

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“We are thrilled to be back,” Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning said while overseeing action at the sales barns on a brilliantly sunny Sunday morning in upstate New York. “It's wonderful to be here and to feel the excitement and the energy on the sales grounds. And there is that same energy and excitement on the racetrack and on the backside and when you walk around town. People feel so upbeat and positive. There is a bounce in their steps. I think the year's absence has made us all appreciate Saratoga even more.”

While uncertainty kept much of the market in check in 2020, Browning said he is expecting plenty of competition this week in Saratoga.

“There are a lot of positive things happening in our business right now,” he said. “People feel good about the economy and the racing industry and there is vibrancy which I think is pervasive now.

He continued, “I think there was certainly some scale back at the top of the market last year–I think there was less competition for the really expensive horses overall. Lack of certainty in any aspect of life is tough and I think last year people didn't know how long the pandemic was going to go on and what was going to be the outcome. I think that psychologically changed some buying habits or limits. I think the top end was compressed last year and I would expect it to be more vibrant this year. To me, the top end is $500,000 and up. I don't think we are going to see the return of crazy, expensive yearlings, but I think there will be increased competition at the upper level of the market this year.”

Consignors were kept busy at the sales barns Sunday, with a strong contingent of pinhookers making the rounds alongside trainers and end-users.

“I think everybody is delighted to be back,” said Hunter Valley Farm's Adrian Regan. “There is a great buzz around the place. The action at the barn has been good. It was steady yesterday and very busy today. As usual, Fasig has done a great job creating the atmosphere and attracting the people. So we are very hopeful of a good sale.”

The Saratoga sale comes on the heels of an exciting weekend of racing at the track across the street and the energy permeates throughout the town.

“I think there are a lot of people around town and I think everybody is happy to be back here,” said Paramount Sales' Gabriel Duignan. “The racing is very good at the moment. The town seems to be hopping and it's been very busy here at the sales grounds. I am optimistic it will be a good sale–everything is pretty healthy in our business at the moment. The 2-year-old game was good, the racing is good. So I am optimistic.”

With travel between countries still difficult because of the ongoing pandemic, foreign participation will likely be lighter than in recent years, according to Browning.

“There is a reasonable representation of foreign buyers here,” Browning said. “There are still some restrictions, both getting into the United States and returning to some countries. The Japanese have a really hard time going back to Japan. And certainly there are some initial barriers for folks coming from Europe. We've been able to work with various representatives to accommodate some travel requests. But I would expect less international participation than we have had in recent years–obviously not 2020–but the North American buyer bench will be very, very strong and very enthusiastic.”

Fasig-Tipton will again be offering internet bidding for buyers unable to make it to the auction and, already positioning itself for the next 100 years, is unveiling an option to buy horses with cryptocurrency.

“It will be interesting to see what happens,” Browning said of the company's first foray into cryptocurrency. “I don't think it will dramatically change the impact of this sale or the immediate future. But we are always open to new ideas. We should be forward looking. I think if a lot of people before us hadn't been innovative and creative, this company wouldn't be here for 100 years. I think we have a responsibility to position the company moving forward to be successful. Not everything you try is going to be successful, but you certainly have to be looking for new ideas and new ways to attract new people to the business. And we think this is a possibility, so we are going to see where it goes. We are not going to measure success based solely on the activity of this one sale. That's certainly not our intent.”

Of overseeing the Saratoga sale's centenary celebration, Browning said, “It feels like an awesome responsibility. There is a lot of pride. I am proud of the way we do business. And I think we continue, as the organization has done for a long time, to provide a high level of customer service. We are going to strive to do that and do an even better job of it when possible. It's an honor, but it's also a responsibility to make sure you position the company, not only for the company's success, but there is a responsibility to the industry as well.

“I have believed for years that there is no better place in the world to introduce people to Thoroughbred racing and Thoroughbred sales than Saratoga,” Browning said. “If somebody is interested in the business and they can't come here and enjoy the experience and get an adrenaline rush, whether it be at the racetrack or the sales grounds, then this game is probably not for them. So we have a responsibility to the industry to continue to make this place–and this place is Saratoga in its totality, with the racetrack and with us and with the local community–to take this opportunity to let people see the passion and the enthusiasm that we have for what we do in our sport. And we take that seriously because we love it.”

At the 2019 sale, four horses sold for seven figures, with a pair of colts by Curlin sharing top price of $1.5 million A total of 135 yearlings sold in 2019 for $55,547,000. The average was $411,459 and the median was $350,000.

A total of 210 yearlings have been catalogued for this year's Saratoga sale, which will be held Monday and Tuesday evenings with bidding beginning each day at 6:30 p.m.

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The Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale, propelled by a pair of power-packed dispersals and held in the shadow of the ongoing global pandemic, concluded its four-day run Thursday in Lexington. The dispersal of the Estate of the late Paul Pompa, Jr., which, along with the Sam-Son broodmare dispersal dominated much of Tuesday’s action, provided the auction with one last round of fireworks late in the day Thursday with a bevy of high-priced racehorse prospects. Leading the way was Carillo (Union Rags) (hip 1566) who sold for $875,000 to bloodstock agent Lauren Carlisle, bidding on behalf of an undisclosed client. Tabbed a ‘TDN Rising Star’ just a week ago in his winning debut for trainer Chad Brown, the sophomore will be joining the barn of trainer Tom Amoss. West Point Thoroughbreds and D J Stable teamed up to purchase graded stakes winner Turned Aside (American Pharoah) (hip 1563) for $725,000. That 4-year-old colt is expected to join the barn of trainer Mark Casse.

“The January sale of 2021 went off very, very well,” said Keeneland’s Director of Sales Operations Geoffrey Russell. “We appreciate the trust given to us by the people who had dispersals. Mr. Pompa’s racehorses today sold very well, which we expected. They were well-received in the marketplace. Overall, I thought the sale went very well.”

Over the course of four days, Keeneland sold 963 horses for a total of $45,522,100. The average was $47,271 and the median was $15,000. Forty-four horses sold for $200,000 or over.

During the five-day 2020 January sale, 1,050 horses sold for $40,453,300. The average was $38,527 and the median was $13,000. Forty-two horses sold for $200,000 or over a year ago, led by the $640,000 broodmare prospect Enaya Alrabb (Uncle Mo).

“The continued stability of the market is a testament to the hard work of all our sales participants, who have adjusted their operations and their expectations to meet the challenges of this unprecedented time,” Keeneland President, CEO and Interim Head of Sales Shannon Arvin said.

Held as it was in the midst of a pandemic and the ensuing travel restrictions and economic uncertainties, consignors seemed content just to be holding an auction.

“Whether we like it or not, we are still in the middle of a pandemic,” said Hunter Valley Farm’s Adrian Regan. “And to be having a horse sale, one, is fantastic and then to have a market is even better. We wouldn’t be complaining about the state of the market considering what is going on in the world.”

Hunter Valley sold the top-priced yearling of the auction and enjoyed strong Book 1 results, but Regan acknowledged demand fell off in Book 2.

“We would be slightly biased about how it all went in Book 1 for us because it was probably our best January sale ever really,” Regan said. “We felt going over there, we had good stock for Book 1. We were surprised by the amount of people that were there and the amount of views we had at the barn on Saturday and Sunday. In saying that, the market is very polarized still. Everybody seems to be landing on the same horse. When we got to Book 2, it was tough enough going. The middle to lower market is tough.”

As consignors adjusted expectations to account for the new realities of the market, the results seemed to follow.

“All things considered, I think it was a very fair market,” said Denali Stud’s Conrad Bandoroff. “We had a near 100% clearance rate. I think if you had realistic expectations going up there, you were able to get horses moved at all levels. There seemed like there were willing buyers at every segment of the market. That is comforting and encouraging to see. If you went up there with a horse, who is maybe a lower-tier horse, you were able to get them moved. If you had a horse with veterinary issues or by an off-flavor sire, you were hoping you were going to get a bid and in most cases you did. The market for mares continued to have some strength and resiliency and surprise me. We had a few mares that either had a little age on them or had a few foals and I was pleasantly surprised that there was appetite for those kind of mares. I think about two years ago, you were struggling to recoup your stud fee with those mares, so to see people willing to buy them and to do so at the upper end of our appraisal value, was encouraging.”

Bloodstock agent Michael Slezak, buying on behalf of various New York clients, purchased seven horses for prices from $13,000 to $55,000. He said he was happy with the horses he was able to get bought at reasonable prices.

“My mindset is to always find bargain at any price range,” Slezak said after concluding his bidding at the auction Thursday afternoon. “After I buy a horse, I want to feel like there is a chance someone is going to call 9-1-1 and report a robbery.  That’s my buying philosophy. And I feel like I did that repeatedly at this sale. I did not do that in November. I had a hard time in November. I shopped exclusively for mares and in November I found that the mares that I liked were all going a little bit higher than I wanted them to, based on what I was expecting going in. I thought it was going to be a down market in November. I don’t know if a lot of people would have called it a strong market, but I didn’t want to pay that much for some of these mares.”

Slezak said that he found buyers more forgiving with less commercial covering sires than he had experienced at past sales.

“There were some mares in this sale who were in foal to sires I did not consider fashionable–maybe useful sires–and they were going to $30,000 or $40,000, sometimes higher than that,” Slezak said. “I’ve always found that people are shopping for the covering sire first and foremost. The prevailing philosophy is ‘be in foal to something sexy or you’re doomed.’ But at this particular sale, January 2021, it seemed like if you had a beautiful page or a couple of interesting things in the pipeline, people were willing to overlook an unsexy covering stallion. Which surprised me a little bit.”

Internet Bidding Continues to Grow

The January sale was the third auction at which Keeneland offered buyers the chance to bid online. The innovation, originally necessitated by the pandemic, continues to gain in popularity. A total of 1,258 bids were received over the internet during the four days, with 109 horses sold online for gross receipts of $3,106,900.

“It did prove popular once again,” Arvin said of the internet bidding. “That technology is important in 2021 and beyond.”

Russell added he was looking forward to welcoming crowds back to the normally bustling Keeneland sales pavilion.

“While we appreciate the ability to offer internet bidding for people who can’t be here, we are looking forward to the day when we can welcome everybody back to Keeneland,” he said. “We prefer them to be here. We enjoy their company and the hustle and the bustle it provides.”

Dispersals Draw a Crowd

Tuesday’s second session of the auction was dominated by the dispersals of Sam-Son Farm and the estate of the late Paul Pompa, Jr. The two dispersals shared the co-top price of the auction, with Sam-Son Farm’s Danceforthecause (Giant’s Causeway) (hip 587) selling for $925,000 to Gainesway Farm and Peter Brant’s White Birch Farm paying that same amount for Regal Glory (Animal Kingdom) (hip 587) from the Pompa dispersal. Eleven horses sold for $500,000 or over at the January sale and all were from the two dispersals.

A total of 21 Sam-Son broodmares sold for $6,733,000 and an average of $320,619.

“Mr. Samuel started Sam-Son Farm over 50 years ago and a lot of time and effort has been made by the operation in developing these strong families,” Russell said. “They very rarely get put on the public marketplace, so it was an opportunity for major breeders to get into those families. It’s a great testament to them and to the longevity of the operation.”

The Pompa dispersal, handled by Lane’s End Farm, was responsible for the top six offerings during Thursday’s final session of the sale. Overall, 38 horses from the late owner’s dispersal grossed $6,790,200 for an average of $178,689.

“The Sam-Son and Pompa dispersals are the legacies of two wonderful operations, and they infused a lot of positive energy into the January sale,” Arvin said. “Dispersals are always bittersweet, but we are honored that their families and connections entrusted Keeneland to present these dispersals and showcase their excellence.”

Lane’s End Farm was the auction’s leading consignor by gross, with 78 head sold for $8,741,200. Sam-Son Farm led consignors by average.

Quality Yearlings Remain In Demand

The demand for quality short yearlings remained strong, with a colt by Munnings bringing top price of $475,000 from Larry Best’s OXO Equine LLC during the Monday’s first session of the auction. The yearling was consigned by Hunter Valley Farm.

“We were surprised to see him get the amount he made in the end,” admitted Hunter Valley’s Adrian Regan. “It was the perfect storm. Two of the biggest players in town ended up battling for him. He was a very, very good horse.”

Ocala horseman Nick de Meric was active in the yearling market, purchasing eight horses on behalf of an undisclosed client.

“I would say there was a little bit less competition than we had in November,” de Meric said of the bidding on yearlings. “It is still never easy to buy the ones you want, but we did land a few of our top picks, which was difficult to do in November because it seemed like people were lining up for those horses.”

During the four-day January sale, 404 short yearlings sold for $14,565,600. The average was $36,053 and the median was $14,500.

In 2020, 462 short yearlings sold prior to the inclusion of post-sale transactions for $17,677,200. The average was $38,262 and the median was $13,000. A colt by Uncle Mo was the auction’s top-priced yearling at $400,000. That colt resold for $550,000 at last year’s Keeneland September sale.

Carillo a Star in the Sales Ring As Well

It was just a week ago that Carillo (Union Rags) was tabbed a  ‘TDN Rising Star’ following a gritty debut victory at Aqueduct for trainer Chad Brown. He followed that effort with a star turn in the sales ring at Keeneland Thursday, selling for a session-topping $875,000 to the bid of bloodstock agent Lauren Carlisle. Carlisle declined to name the client for whom she was buying, but said the Paul Pompa homebred will now head south to the New Orleans winter base of trainer Tom Amoss.

The agent agreed Carillo’s debut (video) was a big draw.

“He didn’t break great, got pinched at the start and took a ton of dirt during the race and made a middle move pretty impressively,” she said. “Obviously, when he got in the clear, he won pretty easily. At the beginning of the race, it didn’t look like he had a shot and he definitely surprised, I’m sure, everyone being a first-time starter. To me that showed his raw talent that he was able to overcome that.”

Pompa purchased Carillo’s unraced dam Proper Mad (Bernardini), with the future Rising Star in utero, for $185,000 at the 2017 Keeneland November sale. The yearling’s third dam is Private Status (Alydar), dam of GI Kentucky Oaks winner Secret Status.

“For just running last week and then coming on a van from New York for 12 hours, I thought he looked pretty good,” Carlisle said of her impressions of the colt at the sales barn. “He is a good-sized colt and fit. I would expect nothing less coming from Chad. He does a great job.”

Of Carillo’s session-topping price, Carlisle said, “When you are shopping for a 3-year-old colt before the Derby who broke his maiden like that, they are not going to be cheap. We knew that. You always want to buy them for less when you are at a live auction, but I wasn’t entirely surprised by the price.”

Peter Brant’s White Birch Farm purchased Proper Mad for $260,000 during Tuesday’s session of the Keeneland January sale.

Turned Aside A Hot Commodity at KEEJAN

Talented turf sprinter Turned Aside (American Pharoah) proved quite popular (as expected) at Keeneland Thursday, hammering for $725,000 after a spirited round of bidding. David Ingordo signed the ticket on Hip 1563 on behalf of a partnership between West Point Thoroughbreds and D J Stable.

“What a lovely horse,” West Point’s Terry Finley said. “We are partners with D J Stable. This is the second horse that we’ve bought together. We bought a newly turned 3-year-old right before the turn of the year. They are wonderful people.”

Finley continued, “He will go to Mark Casse. When I said to Mark that he was a beautiful horse, he said, ‘I know. I know. He beat me several times in the last year.’ We are very excited.”

Consigned by Lane’s End as part of the complete dispersal of the Estate of the late Paul Pompa, Jr., Turned Aside captured two of his five starts during his 2019 juvenile campaign and kicked off 2020 with a second in the Sir Cat S. at Belmont in June. A decisive winner of the GIII Quick Call S. next out in July, the Linda Rice trainee did not seem to take to the unconventional course at Kentucky Downs, finishing fifth in the GIII Franklin-Simpson S. in September. The Pompa homebred rebounded with another good-looking score in the Aqueduct Turf Sprint Championship S. Nov. 28. His record currently stands at 9-4-2-1 with earnings of $241,967.

“I was always a huge fan of Paul Pompa’s,” Finley said. “He was such a great guy and, year after year, he came up with runners. Like everybody else, I was heartbroken when he passed way too soon. I figured there would be a dispersal and it was in the back of my mind, the last couple of months, to try to get something to continue his legacy. So, it all just fell into place.”

He added, “It is very exciting. These are the types of horses we try to buy at the yearling and 2-year-old sales. You have to pay up. If they vet and carry themselves the right way. You aren’t going to get them at a discount.”

Turned Aside’s GSP dam Sustained (War Front) (Hip 463) sold during Tuesday’s session, bringing $320,000 from Phil Schoenthal, acting as agent for Determined Stud. She sold in foal to Pompa’s Grade I winner Connect and her 2020 Connect colt followed her into the ring, selling for $32,000 to bloodstock agent Steve Young (Hip 464).

A longtime friend of Pompa’s who purchased several horses on his behalf, Young, bought a total of four horses from the Pompa dispersal, topped by the newly minted sophomore colt Untreated (Nyquist) (Hip 1564), who hammered for $300,000. The bloodstock agent purchased the horse on behalf of an undisclosed client, but did say the colt would be trained by Todd Pletcher. A son of GSP Fully Living (Unbridled’s Song), the $550,000 KEESEP acquisition was hammered down to 4-5 favoritism for his Gulfstream unveiling Jan. 9, but failed to fire, finishing sixth.

“He was a horse that was always well liked, starting from the time he was in training with Eddie Woods,” Young said. “He trained very well for Eddie and went to Chad [Brown] and trained even better there. We are going to look past his first race and know that he is a good horse who just did not fire in his first start. American Pharoah and Secretariat didn’t either.”

Reflecting on the dispersal and loss of his friend, Young said, “It is sad on many levels, for the business and personally, for myself. He was a special friend, who the more you knew about him, the more you liked him.”

The Pompa dispersal consisted of 39 horses, a mix of racehorses, broodmares and yearlings, who sold with no reserves. One horse did not receive any bids, but the other 38 sold for a gross of $6,790,200 for an average of $178,689. Pompa horses accounted for six of the top 11 sellers in the Keeneland January Sale, including $925,000 co-topper Regal Glory (Animal Kingdom) (Hip 403) and Thursday’s $875,000 session topper Carillo (Union Rags) (Hip 1566). The other five horses in the top 11 came from the Sam-Son dispersal.

“Mr. Pompa’s program has been meticulously managed and it shows,” Lane’s End Sales Director Allaire Ryan said. “It is nice to see the top agents and buyers giving these horses the respect they deserve. Mr. Pompa would be pleased.” —@CDeBernardisTDN

De Meric Stays Busy at Keeneland

Nick de Meric was quite busy at Keeneland this week, securing a total of eight short yearlings for $905,000 total, an average of $113,125. The horseman was acting on behalf of an undisclosed client, signing for the yearlings under the name Sand Hill Stables.

“Those are largely on behalf of a client who races, but some will be pinhooked and we haven’t quite decided which is which yet,” de Meric said. “Sometimes if you buy them in the name of someone who races, people assume the ones who end up back in the sale are culls, which is not the case.”

De Meric’s purchases include a $200,000 colt by Maclean’s Music (Hip 275); a $155,000 son of Ghostzapper (Hip 186); a $130,000 filly by top freshman sire Nyquist (Hip 357); a $130,000 daughter of Horse of the Year Gun Runner (Hip 800F); a $110,000 More Than Ready filly (Hip 3); a $90,000 Mastery colt (Hip 256); a $50,000 daughter of Lord Nelson (Hip 159); and a $40,000 filly by Mastery (Hip 775).

“We are looking for yearlings that are good athletes,” de Meric said. “No matter what you are doing, that is what you’ve got to start with. We have to see what pedigrees we can afford and there are certain sires we are fond of, but, at the end of the day, we are looking for athletes.”

He continued, “You probably saw I bought a couple of Masterys, a Gun Runner. Those kind of sires don’t scare me if I am liking enough of them. In other words, second-crop sires that are consistently producing good individuals, I will take a shot with those. Very often, those are the ones who do jump up when there 2- or 3-year-olds get to the track. But the market, as we know, is not always kind to those sires, at least not initially, so that presents an opportunity in my view.” —@CDeBernardisTDN

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Hunter Valley Farm, agent, consigned the colt, who is out of stakes winner Sea Shadow, by Jump Start.

For the session, Keeneland sold ­­­­­­­207 horses for $12,155,400, for an average of $58,722 and a median of $35,000.

“The session was a continuation of the November Breeding Stock Sale and a good, steady start to the January Sale,” Keeneland director of sales operations Geoffrey Russell said. “People have adjusted to the current marketplace. The consignors are very happy because they have adjusted to the new normal.”

For the health and safety of participants, Keeneland is holding the January Sale with extensive COVID-19 protocols similar to those used at the 2020 September Yearling and November Sales. Once again, Keeneland is providing telephone and internet bidding for buyers to participate remotely while offering bidding from the outdoor Show Barn just behind the Sales Pavilion to permit greater social distancing.

“We had nearly a million dollars in sales on the internet today. It was very active,” Keeneland president, CEO and interim head of sales Shannon Arvin said. “Those who are attending the sale are doing a good job of following the COVID-19 protocols because they know that's how we keep people safe and are able to continue business.”

The sale of Monday's top-priced horse pleased Hunter Valley's Adrian Regan and Fergus Galvin, who are more known for selling weanlings at the November Sale. They said they did not consign the Munnings colt to the 2020 November Sale as a weanling because of his late foaling date (May 1).

“(We) were hoping he'd bring $150,000-$200,000 – he doubled our expectations basically,” Regan said. “He was a lovely horse. We've been breeding to Munnings all the way (since his stud fee was at its lowest). We've bred to him almost every year. But in the last 12 months, every Saturday he's had a stakes winner around the country and I think the market has really clicked to how good a sire he is. He's a fantastic sire.”

In the name of OXO Equine, Best acquired a total of three horses – all yearlings – for $980,000 to lead buyers during the session. He also paid $320,000 for a filly by Speightstown from the family of European highweight Order of St George and Grade 3 winner Angel Terrace consigned by Buck Pond Farm, agent, and spent $185,000 for a yearling colt by Nyquist from the family of Grade 1 winner Ventura consigned by South Point Sales Agency, agent.

“The market for the outstanding pedigrees and the outstanding yearlings – there are enough buyers here to appreciate them,” Best said. “The Munnings colt has the pedigree and the look, and his physical is outstanding.”

About the Speightstown filly, Best said, “The price is what I expected given the pedigree. With a major sire like Speightstown as the sire and crossed with a Medaglia d'Oro mare (Our Smile) and to have her look this good, she is well worth the investment.”

At $400,000, Monday's second high seller was multiple graded stakes winner Royal Charlotte, a 5-year-old daughter of Cairo Prince purchased by WinStar Farm. Consigned by ELiTE, agent, as a racing or broodmare prospect, Royal Charlotte is from the family of Grade 2 winner Buy the Barrel and Grade 3 winners Fishy Advice, Demarcation and Mauk Four.

Brandy, a 7-year-old daughter of Unbridled's Song in foal to Twirling Candy, sold to Machmer Hall, agent, for $350,000. Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent, consigned the mare, a half-sister to stakes winner and Grade 1 runner-up Rally Cry and from the family of Grade 1 winners Judge Angelucci, War, and Peace. She is out of Alienated, by Gone West.

Taylor Made Sales Agency was the session's leading consignor, selling 36 horses for $2,218,000.

Thomas Clark Bloodstock went to $300,000 to acquire 6-year-old Beau Belle, a Grade 2-placed, winning daughter of Giant's Causeway. Consigned by Denali Stud, agent, as a racing or broodmare prospect, she is out of Grade 3 stakes winner Binya (GER) and from the family of Grade 1 winner Sadler's Joy.

Via phone bidding, Stuart Grant's The Elkstone Group acquired two mares by Curlin for $260,000 apiece.

The first was Grade 2-placed winner Theogony, an 11-year-old mare in foal to Omaha Beach. Hunter Valley Farm, agent, consigned the mare, who is out of graded stakes-placed Upcoming Story, by Tale of the Cat.

The Elkstone Group also acquired multiple stakes winner Curlin's Fox, a 9-year-old mare in foal to Uncle Mo. Out of multiple graded stakes winner Foxysox (GB), by Foxhound, she was consigned by Denali Stud, agent.

The January Sale resumes Tuesday with the second session of the two-day Book 1, which features Sam-Son Farm's Broodmare Dispersal of 21 in-foal mares as well as 20 broodmares, yearlings and horses of racing age offered by Lane's End, agent for the Complete Dispersal of the Estate of Paul Pompa Jr.

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