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Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale Delivers Stable Marketplace

Keeneland's November Breeding Stock Sale ended today following 10 days of competitive trade for quality broodmares, broodmare and stallion prospects, weanlings and horses of racing age, including nine horses sold for $1 million or more, while recording strong participation from many prominent domestic and foreign horsemen who make up the sale company's deep buying bench.

“Keeneland ends this fall with a sense of gratitude for the hard work of everyone who participated in the success of the September Yearling and November Breeding Stock Sales, the fall race meet and Breeders' Cup,” said Keeneland President and CEO Bill Thomason, who will retire Dec. 31 after a decade of service to Keeneland. “Given the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global horse industry, the fact that we were able to conduct our fall events on the dates originally scheduled is a major accomplishment that should be celebrated by all involved.”

The November Sale is a globally important source of quality bloodstock, and this year's sale reflected welcomed stability in the marketplace.

“We owe the strength of the September and November Sales to the tremendous efforts of our consignors, buyers and their staffs, who, despite the challenges associated with the pandemic, brought quality horses to market and fully participated at every level,” Keeneland President-Elect and Interim Head of Sales Shannon Arvin said. “We have all moved mountains this fall, and during these tough times, we are pleased that so many buyers from around the world made arrangements to be here or be represented and that they took advantage of the various bidding platforms Keeneland made available to them.”

For the auction, held Nov. 9-18, Keeneland recorded gross sales of $151,019,300 for 2,198 horses, for an average of $68,708 and a median of $23,000.

The 2019 November Sale, which spanned 12 sessions, had 2,570 horses sell in the ring for $193,316,100, for an average of $75,220 and a median of $25,000.

Keeneland conducted the 2020 November Sale with extensive COVID-19 protocols similar to those in place for the September Sale for the health and safety of participants. In addition to providing online bidding, Keeneland expanded its phone bidding service to accommodate remote buyers while it offered bidding from the outdoor Show Barn just behind the Sales Pavilion to permit greater social distancing.

Online bidding, which Keeneland introduced at the September Sale, continued to gain popularity as 279 horses sold over the internet for $16,274,300. Of particular note is the fact that more horses sold each day via the internet during the second week of the auction than during the first week. Leading the online purchases was Grade 1 winner Ollie's Candy, who raced two days before the start of the sale in the Breeders' Cup Distaff at Keeneland and sold as a racing or broodmare prospect to K I Farm of Japan for $1.65 million.

“One of the silver linings of this unprecedented time has been the innovations we've successfully implemented with regard to internet bidding and enhanced phone bidding,” Arvin said. “People have found creative ways to participate in the sale and see the horses when they can't be right here in the way in which we are accustomed.”

Despite the logistical and operational challenges presented by the pandemic, including travel restrictions that affected a number of regular international attendees, the November Sale produced solid results.

“The enthusiasm for quality horses and the participation of major domestic and foreign buyers, many of whom remained active well into the second week of the sale, is a testament to the resiliency of this industry,” Keeneland Director of Sales Operations Geoffrey Russell said. “There was a healthy mix of U.S. and international interests representing Europe, Japan, Korea, Turkey and Saudi Arabia, among others, as well as several new buyers emerging on the scene. Hats off to consignors, who were very good about marketing their horses, either directly or via Keeneland's website, to remote buyers. We know this hasn't been an easy environment to navigate, and we appreciate the efforts all have made to participate either in person or through use of the available technology.”

The premier Book 1 on Nov. 9 produced nine horses who brought $1 million and more, led by two offerings purchased by the auction's leading buyer, Larry Best's OXO Equine: Concrete Rose and Indian Miss.

Grade 1 winner Concrete Rose, a 4-year-old daughter of Twirling Candy, was consigned as a racing or broodmare prospect by Lane's End, agent for Ashbrook Farm and BBN Racing. Indian Miss, an 11-year-old daughter of Indian Charlie who is the dam of champion Mitole, was consigned by Hill 'n' Dale Sales Agency, agent, in foal to Into Mischief. Three days before the sale began, her 2-year-old colt, Hot Rod Charlie, was second in the TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance at Keeneland.

Best bought 17 horses for $7,965,000. Eight of his purchases were weanlings, topped by a colt by Mastery for $450,000. He continued to purchase weanlings through the sale's fifth session.

The November Sale's second-leading buyer was Matt Dorman's Determined Stud, a new operation in Maryland that acquired 14 horses for $4.53 million with Phil Schoenthal, agent. Other prominent domestic buyers included Louisiana's Coteau Groves Farm/Cary Bloodstock, agent, who spent $3,272,000 for 13 horses as well as such successful Central Kentucky operations as Spendthrift Farm, Hunter Valley Farm, agent, and Claiborne Farm, agent.

The sale's third-leading buyer was Yeguada Centurion of Spain's Leopoldo Fernandez Pujals, who purchased 22 horses for $3,857,000 to mark his second year of sizable acquisitions at the November Sale. Shadai Farm, K I Farm, JS Company, Paca Paca Farm and Katsumi Yoshida of Japan ranked among the sale's leading buyers, as did other global entities such as Narvick International, David Redvers Bloodstock, Arthur Hoyeau, agent, and Coolmore's M.V. Magnier.

The worldwide appeal of the November Sale was evident when Narvick International paid $1.85 million for Cherokee Maiden, a 3-year-old daughter of Distorted Humor from the family of 2020 Japanese Triple Crown winner Contrail and Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Essential Quality. Bedouin Bloodstock, agent, consigned her as a racing or broodmare prospect.

Joining Ollie's Candy, a 5-year-old daughter of Candy Ride, as another November Sale offering who raced in this year's Breeders' Cup was Lady Prancealot, who was fourth in the Maker's Mark Filly and Mare Turf and sold to Shadai Farm for $1.6 million. Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent, consigned both Ollie's Candy and Lady Prancealot as racing or broodmare prospects.

Other seven-figure horses were Canadian champion Holy Helena, in foal to Quality Road ($1.5 million to Spendthrift Farm), Houtzen, in foal to Curlin ($1.5 million to Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings) and the racing or broodmare prospect Gingham ($1 million to Claiborne Farm, agent).

“The market in both September and November was a lot deeper than we, and many others, thought it would be,” Keeneland Director of Sales Development Mark Maronde said. “But horsemen are optimistic. They see the end of this pandemic coming and they wanted to continue to participate. They still bought bloodstock because of blue sky ahead.”

Keeneland demonstrated flexibility in accepting supplemental entries to the November Sale catalog until the start of the auction. Supplements produced many of the auction's highest-priced broodmares, weanlings and horses of racing age.

Topping the Book 1 supplements were Unicorn Girl, dam of Grade 1-winning juvenile Jackie's Warrior, sold to Arthur Hoyeau, agent, for $850,000; Veronique, dam of undefeated Keeneland stakes winner and recent track record setter Nashville, purchased for $800,000 by James Delahooke, agent; and a weanling half-brother to Jackie's Warrior by American Pharoah purchased by M.V. Magnier for $600,000.

Energizing later sessions was the vibrant market for horses of racing age, a number of which were supplemented to the sale.

At $525,000, the high seller during the ninth day was graded stakes performer Hidden Scroll, a winning 4-year-old Hard Spun colt, who sold to Fergus Galvin, agent for Marc Detampel. WinStar Racing, agent for Juddmonte Farms, consigned the colt. Edgemont Road, a stakes-placed son of Speightstown supplemented to the sale, sold to Eddie Kenneally, agent for William K. Werner, for $275,000.

The day before, two horses of racing age who were supplemental entries – Grade 2-placed Bob and Jackie and Churchill Downs winner Alex Joon – sold for $190,000 and $120,000, respectively.

“We've been working on the racehorse segment of our catalog for the last couple of years,” Russell said. “WinStar was the first to come to us and try to design a portion of the sale around racehorses, and it has grown exponentially since. Going forward, we'll be looking to improve on it.”

Colts by the two most recent winners of the Triple Crown – Justify and American Pharoah – sold for $600,000 apiece to tie as the most expensive weanlings. Donati Lanni, agent, purchased the son of Justify, who was consigned by Hunter Valley Farm, agent. Magnier acquired the aforementioned son of 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, who is a half-brother to Jackie's Warrior.

Represented by his first crop, Justify was the leading sire of weanlings by average with five colts averaging $427,000. They also included the top-priced weanlings of the second ($475,000) and third sessions ($435,000).

Weanlings from the first crops of other Grade 1 winners Bolt d'Oro, City of Light and Mendelssohn also were well received with total sales for each sire exceeding $1 million.

“Fewer foals were cataloged this year, and the bidding for them was more competitive,” Russell said. “The strength of the foal market surprised many consignors who didn't enter their foals in the November Sale. Several major end users are now participating in the foal market, and that has pushed the pinhookers back a little. They probably haven't fulfilled all their orders, so we hope to see them at the January Horses of All Ages Sale.”

The number of horses sold in post-sale transactions – 88 horses for $6,796,000 as of sale end Wednesday – is a reflection of the strong trade. One was Book 1 offering Con Te Partiro, the globetrotting Group 1 winner sold privately for $1.6 million to David Redvers Bloodstock. Consigned by Bedouin Bloodstock, agent, the 6-year-old daughter of Scat Daddy initially was reported as an RNA.

The leading covering sire by average was Quality Road, whose three in-foal mares averaged $911,667.

Taylor Made Sales Agency was the November Sale's leading consignor for the fourth consecutive year and the 24 time since 1987. Taylor Made sold 208 horses for $18,957,600, including the aforementioned Ollie's Candy and Lady Prancealot as well as Expo Gold, dam of the 2020 Preakness-winning filly, Swiss Skydiver, for $950,000. In foal to Catholic Boy, Expo Gold sold to Hunter Valley Farm, agent.

During Wednesday's final session, 214 horses sold for $1,309,600, for an average of $6,120 and a median of $4,000. The high seller at $40,000 was Mutakaamil, a 4-year-old son of Tapit who sold to Jeff Engler, agent for Lea Farms. Bluewater Sales, agent, consigned the colt.

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Keeneland November Sale Wraps Up

Despite the upheaval and chaos caused by COVID-19 this year, the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale proceeded during its usual spot on the calendar following the Breeders’ Cup, which was held at the Lexington oval this year. Starting on Nov. 9, the auction concluded its 10-day run Wednesday with nine million-dollar mares, topped by Grade I winner Concrete Rose (Twirling Candy), who sold to Larry Best’s OXO Equine for $1.95 million.

“If I had a takeaway from this whole fall, it’s a word we usually use this time of the year, which is ‘gratitude,'” said Keeneland’s President Elect Shannon Arvin. “This year we’re all feeling gratitude to consignors, breeders, sellers, buyers, media–our whole industry–for being so resilient through tough times. We’re all very pleased with results from our fall.”

Arvin continued, “I think with some of the innovations we’ve had, with the internet bidding and phone bidding, we’ve found creative ways to participate and see the horses when we can’t necessarily be right here in a way we are accustomed to being.”

Throughout the 10-day auction, 2,286 horses sold for a gross of $157,815,300. The average was $69,036 and the median was $25,000. In total, 521 Thoroughbreds left the ring unsold.

“Once you get into Book 3 to the end of the sale these people are more motivated to sell and to move on and to continue trade,” said Geoffrey Russell, Keeneland’s Director of Sales Operations. “We’re fortunate in that we are able to satisfy that market.”

When asked if he thought breeders were holding on to their mares and weanlings given the current economoy, Russell said, “Our numbers were down the same for mares and foals. This is the factory and you don’t have to sell the factory every year. They can hold on for the next year. A weanling you can hold, so those people decided to hold on until the yearling sale which is another viable option.”

Last year’s Keeneland November Sale took place over 12 days with 2,671 horses summoning $200,135,200, with an average of $74,929 and a median of $25,000. Overall, 682 horses failed to meet their reserves. These numbers include post-sale transactions.

The 2019 edition of this auction was topped by champion Take Charge Brandi (Giant’s Causeway), who brought $3.2 million from Hill ‘n’ Dale at Xalapa, while carrying a foal by Justify. There were 14 mares who brought seven-figure price tags last term.

Best bought the sale’s top two lots: the aforementioned Concrete Rose (Hip 216), who brought $1.95 million; and Indian Miss (Indian Charlie) (Hip 32), the dam of champion Mitole (Eskendereya), who hammered for $1.9 million, carrying a foal by the nation’s leading sire, Into Mischief.

Best was the sale’s leading buyer by gross with 17 horses purchased for a total of $7,965,000. Eight of those 17 were mares to add to Best’s burgeoning broodmare band and to support his new stallion Instagrand (Into Mischief), who stands his first year at stud at Taylor Made for 2021. Best’s other nine purchases were weanlings to add to his racing stable.

Taylor Made was the sale’s leading consignor for the fourth straight year and the 24th time since 1987. The consignment sold 208 horses for a total of $18,957,600.

International Participation

International buyers from Japan, the Middle East, Europe and beyond are typically quite active at the Keeneland November Sale. Despite travel restrictions caused by the ongoing pandemic, the foreign contingent was still a heavy presence at Keeneland.

Leopoldo Fernandez Pujals’s Spanish-based Yeguada Centurion was the sale’s third-leading buyer with 22 horses bought for $3,857,000. Japan’s Shadai Farm was number seven on the buyers list with three horses purchased for $2,540,000.

“Even with the restrictions in travel, we do have representatives from pretty much all the countries that we have done business with in the past–Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Korea, the Japanese, and the Europeans,” Russell said. “Everybody appreciated the effort they’ve made if they’ve used our technology or actually came here to buy we’re very fortunate we were able to do that. For both sales, we got international waivers for [buyers from] countries that have issues getting in here. As an industry, we worked with the government to try to get international waivers for anybody who wanted to come here.”

Arvin added, “That’s a credit to our public officials as well. We worked with them to overcome what was basically an international travel ban to the United States.”

Keeneland added internet bidding during its September Sale to aid buyers who could not attend the sale due to COVID-19 restrictions and that option remained popular in November. There were 2,993 bids made over the internet throughout the 10-day auction. A total of 245 horses were sold to online bidders for a gross of $16.062 million, or 10.2% of the gross.

“Internet bidding was very popular in September, but it seemed to be even more popular in November,” Russell said. “While it was used in the first three days at the top end, we have sold a lot more actual horses each day of the second week than we did in the first week. People are comfortable buying a broodmare off the internet. Credit needs to go to the consignors. That provide information to buyers, whether on their websites or sent to them–photographs, videos–directly to these buyers when they made requests. Consignors have been very helpful in marketing their horses to these people who are bidding remotely.”

Triple Crown Progeny Prove Popular

The co-highest priced weanlings of the 2020 November Sale were a pair of babies by Ashford Stud’s resident Triple Crown winners. A colt from the first crop of 2018 Horse of the Year Justify (Hip 21) summoned $600,000 from bloodstock agent Donato Lanni and a son of 2015 Horse of the Year American Pharoah (Hip 244B) brought the same price from Coolmore’s M.V. Magnier. The latter, who was supplemented to the sale, is a half-brother to MGISW juvenile Jackie’s Warrior (Maclean’s Music).

American Pharoah was leading sire of weanlings by gross with 11 of his foals selling for $2.44 million. Justify topped that category by average with five of his weanlings selling for an average of $427,000 and a gross of $2.135 million.

Throughout the 10 days of selling, 692 weanlings summoned $39,320,100 with an average of $56,821 and median of $25,000.

Top sire Uncle Mo was the sale’s top covering sire with 13 mares in foal to the Ashford resident, bringing $5.89 million. Into Mischief was second on that list with seven mares carrying foals by the Spendthrift stalwart selling for $4,790,000.

The horses of racing age section of the Keeneland November Sale is always popular and this year that portion was topped by ‘TDN Rising Star’ Hidden Scroll (Hard Spun) (Hip 3295), who brought $525,000 from Fergus Galvin, acting on behalf of Marc Detampel. The 4-year-old racing or stallion prospect was sold by WinStar Racing on behalf of Juddmonte Farms.

“We’ve been working on the racehorse section of the catalog for the last couple of years,” said Russell. “WinStar were the first people to come to us and ask to have a portion of this sale around racehorses. It has grown exponentially since and I think we will be looking at it as we go forward into 2021 and improve on it.”

Final Session

Wednesday’s 10th and final session of the Keeneland November Sale was topped by the 4-year-old colt Mutakaamil (Tapit) (Hip 3753), a racing or stallion prospect, who was purchased by Jeff Engler, acting on behalf of Lea Farms LLC.

A total of 215 horses changed hands for $1,310,600, with an average of $6,096 and a median of $4,000. There were 29 horses who failed to meet their reserves.

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Serengeti Empress Retires to Taylor Made

Taylor Made Farm welcomed dual Grade I winner Serengeti Empress (Alternation) home to her birthplace on Monday afternoon. The 2019 Kentucky Oaks victress will be bred to red hot sire Into Mischief.

Shipping in from the Tom Amoss barn at Churchill Downs, Serengeti Empress will become barnmates with several other high-profile maiden mares, including Larry Best’s recent $1.95 million Keeneland November purchase Concrete Rose (Twirling Candy).

“It’s just special,” said Frank Taylor, the Vice President of Boarding Operations for Taylor Made. “When you get these Grade I winners come to the farm, it’s what we thrive on. We’ve had some great ones here, but we’ve now raised close to 110 Grade I winners, and she’s one of them. So whenever they get to come back home, it’s special.”

Serengeti Empress was bred by Tri Eques Bloodstock, a group made up of agent Jacob West, Mike Hardig and Val Henson. Henson, Taylor shared, is the Director of Maintenance and Special Projects at Taylor Made Farm and Serengeti Empress was the first mating he was a part of.

“Unfortunately, I talked him into selling her because I thought the bills she would bring in would be too high to keep her,” Taylor admitted. “But he’s gotten a few checks along the way. That makes it even more special. Our team takes great pride in raising horses like this. And to have another Oaks winner here is special.”

The daughter of Alternation was a $25,000 weanling-turned-$70,000 yearling pinhook.

“She was a very good foal when she was born here, a great individual,” Taylor said. “She was a standout. She sold pretty well for her pedigree, but every time out she just exceeded expectations.”
A 5½-length winner first time out, Serengeti Empress was a dual stakes winner by the end of her juvenile season. At three, she took the GII Rachel Alexandra S. before giving trainer Tom Amoss his first GI Kentucky Oaks victory. Also as a sophomore, she ran second in two Grade I races in the Acorn S. and Test S. and then wrapped up the season with a third-place effort in the GI Breeders’ Cup Distaff.

This year, the fleet-footed bay added wins in the GII Azeri S. and the GI Ballerina S. to her resume before finishing out her racing career with a runner-up effort behind Gamine (Into Mischief) in the GI Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.

The over-$2.1 million dollar earner is the first graded stakes winner for owner Joel Politi, an orthopedic surgeon from Columbus, Ohio. Upon her retirement, Politi opted to retain the mare instead of offering her at this fall’s breeding stock sales.

“She’s become part of his family,” Taylor said of Politi’s relationship with the talented filly. “Joel and his daughter and wife are all very excited to be part of her broodmare career. Joel is a super guy, and it’s going to be exciting to get that Into Mischief baby and see what happens.”

Of the stallion choice, Taylor added, “Basically you’re breeding the best to the best. I guess there’s no better choice to go with. You know, she got beat by Gamine in her last start so that just makes it more important to breed to Into Mischief. He’s a stallion that’s in his own league.”

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Best Buys Top Two During KEENOV Book 1

by Brian DiDonato, Jessica Martini & Christie DeBernardis

LEXINGTON, KY–OXO Equine’s Larry Best took home the top two lots Monday during the lone Book 1 session of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. Early in the day he went to $1.9 million for Indian Miss (Indian Charlie) (hip 32), the dam of champion sprinter Mitole (Eskendereya) and last Friday’s GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile runner-up Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow), in foal to Into Mischief and from the Hill ‘n’ Dale consignment; and towards the end of the session he paid $1.95 million for GISW turfer Concrete Rose (Twirling Candy), offered as hip 216 by Lane’s End on behalf of Ashbrook Farm and BBN Racing.

With a smaller Book 1 catalog and overall sale compared to last year, 128 head changed hands Monday for $49,775,000 in gross receipts–last year’s Book 1 gross was $70,449,500 from 163 sold. The average was $388,867 (down 10% from $432,206 12 months ago), and median was $280,000 (down 6.7%). The RNA rate was 27.68% compared to 24.54% for 2019’s Book 1 session.

“We had a solid day of trade,” said Keeneland’s President-elect Shannon Arvin. “We had eight horses who sold for a million dollars or more and we were really happy with the participation. There was broad domestic and international participation. We had a lot of Japanese participation today–three of those top sellers were purchased by the Japanese. So overall, we were really happy with how the day went.”

Keeneland continues to offer the expanded bidding options it introduced for the Keeneland September Yearling Sale brought about by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, and 62 bids were made over the internet Monday with over $6 million in purchases made online for nine horses.

“One of the benefits we’ve learned from internet bidding is that while the agents can go out and evaluate the horses, it’s the principal who then does the bidding,” noted Keeeneland Director of Sales Operations Geoffrey Russell. “I think that has helped both the principal and the agent. The principal might go a little bit further than the agent might have been authorized to go to. So he’s back in control. I think that’s great. It’s a great benefit of the internet. It’s a different way of doing commerce in 2020, but I think we’re all learning how to play with technology and get the best benefit out of it. Consignors were very good about providing photographs and information and videos direct to Japanese buyers who aren’t here.”

Emmanuel de Seroux, who purchased $1.85-million Cherokee Maiden (Distorted Humor) (hip 212) on behalf of Japan’s Grand Farm, said of trade Monday coming off a strong Fasig-Tipton November Night of the Stars: “The market is strong. It is difficult to get the good pedigrees. I think yesterday was very strong and today again is very strong. I thought the quality would sell because privately the horses were selling very well the last couple of months. So there was no reason for the top of the market to dip. But I think it is going to be more difficult for the average horse. But at the top of the market there are a lot of people who are ready to play. They are at home and have plenty of time to study and bid.”

The day’s top weanling was a $600,000 Justify colt purchased by agent Donato Lanni and consigned by Hunter Valley Farm as hip 21.

“It’s just like everything else; the ones they all land on seem to light up the board,” said Russell of a weanling market that seemed slightly soft. “I think the pinhookers you’ll see as they go further on into the sale will get more and more into it, and I think you’d have to expect that they will play at a little bit lower level than they have played at in the past based on the results of this year.”

Keeneland November will continue on with four more books, including Book 2 sessions Tuesday and Wednesday.

“In September, I think there was trepidation after the first two books were over where we would go and we went all the way through the sale with a very strong and vibrant market. Yes, at a lower level, but the horses were trading and moving on,” said Russell of expectations heading into the less select portions of the sale. “That’s what we hope and expect will continue here. I know they are very busy in Book 2, consignors are saying there are plenty of buyers at the barns, so let’s hope that continues.”

A Bittersweet Goodbye For Bromagen

The moments after the hammer dropped at a session-topping $1.95-million for Grade I winner Concrete Rose (Twirling Candy) (Hip 216) were bittersweet for part-owner Ashbrook Farm’s Bo Bromagen.

“I know Larry [Best] bought her, but she is still my filly as far as I’m concerned,” an emotional Bromagen said. “It is bittersweet.”

He continued, “The biggest thing for us is she is going to a good home. Larry Best treats his horses better than anybody. They live better than I do, that’s for sure. I wish him the best of luck with whatever he wants to do with her.”

Bromagen picked out Concrete Rose for just $61,000 after she breezed in :10 2/5 at the 2018 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic sale and campaigned her in partnership with BBN Racing. The Rusty Arnold pupil captured her first two starts, including the GII JP Morgan Chase Jessamine S. and suffered her only loss when eighth behind a freakish performance from Newspaperofrecord (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) in the 2018 GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies S.

Concrete Rose was a perfect four-for-four in 2019, starting with a win in the GIII Florida Oaks. She followed suit with victories in the GIII Edgewood S., GI Belmont Oaks–in which Best’s Cambier Parc (Medaglia d’Oro) finished third–and Saratoga Oaks, earning over $1.2-million.

“Obviously it’s a thrill, but nobody gets here by themselves,” Bromagen said. “I have to thank Rusty Arnold, who did such a great job with her. I am just happy that she can represent the team so well.”

Concrete Rose was consigned by Lane’s End. —@CDeBernardisTDN

Best Buys Filly Who Beat His

They say “If you can’t beat them, join them,” but in Larry Best’s case Monday it was “If you can’t beat them, buy them.” Best went to a session and likely sale-topping $1.95 million late in the day at Keeneland to secure last year’s GI Belmont Oaks Invitational S. and Saratoga Oaks Invitational S. heroine Concrete Rose (Twirling Candy) as hip 216.

Consigned by Lane’s End on behalf of Ashbrook Farm and BBN Racing, Concrete Rose had twice defeated Best’s $1.25-million KEESEP buy Cambier Parc (Medaglia d’Oro): when she took the GIII Edgewood S. last May and again in the Belmont Oaks. Cambier Parc, who was fourth and third, respectively, in those two heats, reached the highest level herself in both the GI Del Mar Oaks Presented by The Jockey Club and GI Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup S. Presented by Lane’s End in 2019.

“I didn’t want to go quite that high, but honestly I didn’t think I’d touch her below $2 million,” said Best after exchanging pleasantries with Concrete Rose’s trainer Rusty Arnold and BBN’s Braxton Lynch. “She’s a beautiful horse and you can’t take away that record from her. I’m just thrilled to have her. I have admired Concrete Rose for a long time. I have a multiple Grade I winner, Cambier Parc, and Concrete Rose beat her and I said, ‘Wow, what a horse.'” (Click for an interview with Larry Best)

While Concrete Rose was offered as a racing or broodmare prospect, Best said she would not race again. He had been shopping during the session for mares to send to his recently retired Instagrand (see below), but said he was not sure yet who Concrete Rose would visit this upcoming season. She may have a future date, however, with Best’s $1.05-million OBSMAR acquisition Instilled Regard (Arch), who was last seen annexing the GI Manhattan S. on July 4.

“I’d love to breed Instilled Regard to her [in 2022]–I think I’m going to race Instilled Regard one more year, but those two horses I think would meld together very well,” said Best. “She’s just an outstanding horse.”

—@BDiDonatoTDN

Best Adds to Band for Instagrand

OXO Equine’s Larry Best acquired the early Monday topper, going to $1.9 million to take home 11-year-old mare Indian Miss (Indian Charlie) (hip 32). The dam of last year’s champion sprinter and GI Breeders’ Cup Sprint hero Mitole (Eskendereya) saw her value increase again at the World Championships on Friday when her 2-year-old son Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow) belied 94-1 odds to complete the exacta in the GI TVG Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

Consigned by Hill ‘n’ Dale Sales Agency, Indian Miss was offered in foal to Best’s favorite sire Into Mischief–he had previously acquired her yearling daughter by the nation’s leading sire for $525,000 at Keeneland September.

“This one has an Into Mischief, and then I’m going to breed the mare back to Instagrand,” said Best, referring to his $1.2-million FTFMAR buy, 2018 GII Best Pal S. winner and ‘TDN Rising Star‘, who will stand his first year at stud in 2021 at Taylor Made. “That’s my strategy–try to get Instagrand going, and hopefully we’ll get a nice Into Mischief foal.”

The Into Mischief–Indian Charlie cross has been a potent one, having produced this year’s GI Frizette S. runner-up and GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies runner-up Dayoutoftheoffice as well as speedy three-time GSW and MGISP Frank’s Rockette.

“I really want to give Instagrand a shot,” said Best. “Indian Charlie is a beautiful cross with Into Mischief. Hopefully the mare is good for three or four more… I’m betting big on Instagrand; going to give it a shot anyway. You know how that is.”

Indian Miss was acquired by WinStar Farm for $240,000 out of the Edward A. Cox, Jr. dispersal at KEENOV ’18 while carrying the aforementioned Into Mischief filly. Out of stakes-winning juvenile Glacken’s Gal (Smoke Glacken), she’s a half to Grade II winner Live Lively (Medaglia d’Oro).

Best didn’t waste much time buying another high-dollar mare in foal to Into Mischief–he paid $430,000 for hip 49, Lady Tamra (Cross Traffic), who is a half to another standout Steve Asmussen sprinter in Mia Mischief (Into Mischief). Hip 49 was consigned by ELiTE. —@BDiDonatoTDN

Cherokee Maiden a Grand Purchase

Bloodstock agent Emmanuel de Seroux, bidding in the back show ring, made a final bid of $1.85 million to secure Cherokee Maiden (Distorted Humor) (hip 212) on behalf of Yoshiyuki Ito’s Grand Farm Monday at Keeneland. The racing or broodmare prospect, who was consigned by Bedouin Bloodstock, comes from an active family. She is a daughter of champion Folklore (Tiznow), who is a half-sister to the dam of Friday’s GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Essential Quality (Tapit), and she is a half-sister to the dam of recent Japanese Triple Crown winner Contrail (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}).

“Friday made a big difference, but she is a very nice broodmare prospect for us,” de Seroux said when asked what impact the Breeders’ Cup had on the purchase. “The pedigree is improving so much after Friday and there is more action in the family every day. We think she is a fantastic broodmare prospect. She is going to go to Japan, probably, it’s not finalized. But we will decide in the next few days.” (Click for more from Narvick’s Emmanuel de Seroux)

De Seroux, bidding on behalf of Ito’s Grand Farm, purchased GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies winner Caledonia Road (Quality Road) for $2.3 million at the 2018 Fasig-Tipton November sale.

Michael Stinson purchased Cherokee Maiden for $410,000 as a yearling at the 2018 Keeneland September sale. She was most recently third in a Monmouth Park allowance while racing for the SF Racing Group in July. She has one win in 11 starts and turned in a four-furlong work in :49.20 at Keeneland Oct. 12.

Grand Farm Family is also well-represented on the racetrack in the United States with the promising Himiko (American Pharoah) who aired by 6 1/2 lengths in a Del Mar allowance for trainer Bob Baffert Sunday. That filly, a half-sister to Bodemeister, was purchased by de Seroux on behalf of the farm for $1 million at the 2017 Fasig-Tipton November sale.

“They don’t buy many, but they buy quality,” de Seroux said.

@JessMartiniTDN

Ollie’s Candy Headed to Japan

Originally scheduled to sell at last year’s Keeneland November Sale, GISW Ollie’s Candy (Candy Ride {Arg}) (Hip 83) was scratched by her connections, who chose to race her another year. She made it through the ring this year, however, and rewarded her owner/breeders Paul and Karen Eggert by bringing $1.65 million from Japan’s K I Farm, which bid online.

The Eggerts bought Ollie’s Candy’s GSW dam Afternoon Stroll (Stroll) for $85,000 at the 2015 Keeneland January Sale with this mare in utero. She won four of her 16 starts, topped by the 2019 GI Clement L. Hirsch S., and earned $930,151.

“I thought she would bring that with the way the market has been going on high-end mares,” said Taylor Made’s Mark Taylor. “My appraisal was $1.5 to $2 million and she was in that range. She is worth every penny. She still looks good after all the races she has run. In my mind she was only about three lengths off winning three additional three Grade Is. If she had won a couple more that she had rough trips in, she could have brought twice that.”

Ollie’s Candy was winless in 2020, but placed in five Grade I events, including a head second in the GI Apple Blossom H., a half-length second in the Clement Hirsch and another close second to GI Breeders’ Cup Distaff runner-up Valiance (Tapit) in the GI Juddmonte Spinster S. —@CDeBernardisTDN

Lady Prancealot Also Bound for Japan

Grade I winner Lady Prancealot (Ire) (Sir Prancealot {Ire}) (hip 48), who was a close-up fourth in Saturday’s GI Breeders’ Cup F/M Turf, will be heading to Japan after Naohiro Hosoda signed the ticket on the 4-year-old filly at $1.6 million on behalf of Shadai Farm at Keeneland Monday.

“She is a Grade I winner on the turf and our main racing in Japan is on the grass,” Hosoda said of the filly’s appeal. “And of course her pedigree is suitable for mating with Japan’s main sire lines–Sunday Silence, King Kamehameha. So there are many options.”

Bloodstock agents David Meah and Jamie Lloyd acquired Lady Prancealot privately on behalf of partners Jerry McClanahan, Christopher Dunn and Jeremy Peskoff in 2018. The agents were looking for fillies racing in Europe to transfer to the U.S. with hopes of gaining black-type before selling at auction.

“This was one that the plan worked out perfectly,” Meah said. “We found her in England. She was exactly what we always try to find in Europe, something that has a bit of speed that in time will stretch out and wants fast ground. We bought her after her third start–a good friend of mine, John Egan, had ridden her and when we found out she was for sale, we called him and he highly recommended her. We kept her in England for a couple of races because we tried to go the Royal Ascot route. It didn’t pan out, we didn’t make it to Ascot, but she ran well in a couple other races. And then we brought her to America and she got into [trainer] Richard [Baltas]’s program, who has done a brilliant job with a lot of horses we’ve bought. She just went from strength to strength.”

Lady Prancealot, who eventually added partners Medallion Racing, Parkland Thoroughbreds, Craig and Josie Arntz, Donald Durando and Jules and Michael Iavarone, won the 2019 GI American Oaks, GIII Honeymoon S. and GIII Pin Oak Valley View S. On the board in 14 of 23 starts, Lady Prancealot retires with five wins and earnings of $740,841. McClanahan and Peskoff had maintained their interests in the filly up until Monday’s sale.

Asked if the filly had exceeded expectations, Meah said, “One hundred percent. Anytime you buy a horse for under $100,000 and they go on to win a Grade I, they’ve definitely exceeded expectations.”

Lady Prancealot ran a bang-up race to be fourth on championship Saturday at Keeneland.

“I thought it was her best race to date,” Meah said of her Breeders’ Cup effort. “And I think that probably enhanced buyers’ expectations. She’s proved it in California and she’s had a big win at Keeneland, but to do it against the world’s best, I think that probably pushed the needle a little bit for the buyers.”

Phillip Shelton, of Taylor Made’s Medallion Racing partnership, agreed the filly’s seven-figure price tag was likely a nod to her Breeders’ Cup performance.

“If you had asked me two days ago, I would have been surprised,” Shelton said of the filly’s final price. “But after the way she ran in the Breeders’ Cup, the strength of the market last night [at Fasig-Tipton]–anytime you have a strong market and there is a dominant buying force, it means a lot of people are not getting horses bought. I think we were expecting a strong showing today and $1.6 million was a great result for everybody. She’s a 4-year-old and there is blue sky ahead. They are going to breed her. If we couldn’t get it done we were happy to take her back and run her. We have to thank all of our [Medallion Racing] partners for putting their faith in us.”

Hosoda doubled up on mares for Shadai just a few hips later, going to $660,000 to acquire Layla Noor (Midnight Lute) (hip 51) and then went to $280,000 to purchase Olendon (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) (hip 82). @JessMartiniTDN

Spendthrift Picks Up Where It Left Off

After a night of heavy bidding across town at Fasig-Tipton and a morning welcoming GI Breeders’ Cup Classic and GI Kentucky Derby winner Authentic (Into Mischief) into retirement at the farm, Spendthrift Farm General Manager Ned Toffey was back in action at the first session of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. Bidding on behalf of B. Wayne Hughes’s operation, Toffey went to $1.5 million to acquire Queen’s Plate winner Holy Helena (Ghostzapper) (hip 28) from the Hidden Brook consignment. The 6-year-old mare sold in foal to Quality Road.

“She’s a nice mare with a lot of ability and a lot of pedigree, so we’re excited to have her,” Toffey said. “We will sit down and have a conversation on [mating plans] and go from there.”

Bred and campaigned by Frank Stronach’s Adena Springs, Holy Helena won the 2017 Queen’s Plate and Woodbine Oaks and was named Canada’s champion 3-year-old filly. She added wins in the 2018 GII Sheepshead Bay S. and the 2019 GII Dance Smartly S., as well as the 2018 and 2019 editions of the GIII The Very One S.

Out of Holy Grace (Holy Bull), Holy Helena is a half-sister to multiple Grade I placed Holy Boss (Street Boss). Holy Grace is a half-sister to graded winners Rookie Sensation (Unbridled’s Song) and Mark One (Alphabet Soup).

“She was a very good race mare and she’s a standout in the market here,” said Hidden Brook managing partner Sergio de Sousa. “We felt confident she would get that price. It was a little over what we thought.”

Toffey returned a few hips later to purchase Kelly’s Humor (Midnight Lute) (hip 41) for $800,000. Also Monday, Spendthrift also purchased Secret Message (Hat Trick {Jpn}) (hip 112) for $625,000 Monday at Keeneland. @JessMartiniTDN

Stonestreet Scoops Up Aussie Mare in Foal to Familiar Stallion

Barbara Banke’s Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings went to $1.5-million to secure talented Australian runner Houtzen (Aus) (I Am Invincible {Aus}) (Hip 31), who is carrying a foal by Stonestreet’s very own Curlin.

“She won the Magic Millions [2YO Classic], which is a hard race to win,” said Banke, standing alongside Stonestreet advisor John Moynihan. “She was a really brilliant 2-year-old in Australia–

super fast. She was in foal to my favorite stallion, so what is not to like?”

As for future matings, Banke said, “She’s by I Am Invincible, so we could send her anywhere.”

In addition to her stakes win at two, Houtzen was a multiple Group 3 winner in her native land, earning over $1.5-million. Peter O’Callaghan’s Woods Edge Farm consigned the filly for Australian owner and breeder Aquis Farm.

“We expected her to do very well,” O’Callaghan said. “She was a really talented race mare. She was a Grade I mare that didn’t win a Grade I. She was just so good looking and by a really top international sire and in foal to a top international sire. I think her looks really got her over the line. It was easy to say she was worth $800,000 to $1 million on paper, but when you looked at her, you knew she’d be better. There aren’t quite that many mares here quite as good looking as her.”

O’Callaghan said he was thrilled that she would be joining Banke’s star-studded broodmare band.

“A long-term wonderful breeder bought her and we’re very grateful for that,” he said. “It’s great for that mare to go there. They do a wonderful job and she’ll be taken care of and she deserves that. That was mare was a pleasure to have for us and a bit of a prize for us to have on the farm. We’re grateful for Aquis to have entrusted her to us and allowed us to sell her.” —@CDeBernardisTDN

Sams Strikes Early For Quality Mare

After a fury of seven-figure mares at Sunday night’s Fasig-Tipton sale, it did not take long for Keeneland to get their first $1-million dollar transaction of the November Sale with Claiborne’s Bernie Sams hitting the mark for Gingham (Quality Road) just 12 hips into the day’s action.

“It is an Arthur Hancock family,” said Sams, who was bidding on behalf of an undisclosed Claiborne client. “We like the Pulpit [broodmare sire], obviously, and the Quality Road. She was raised closed to us. She was a picture and she could run. She fills all the bills.”

Gingham was catalogued as a racing or broodmare prospect, but Sams said she would likely go right to the breeding shed.

As for the price, Sams said, “I would have loved to have been a little less. We tried to buy a couple of mares last night and got outrun pretty good, so I wasn’t sure where it would be today.”

Bred by Hancock’s Stone Farm, Gingham was purchased by Sarah Kelly for $420,000 at KEESEP. The bay captured three of 10 starts, including the Angels Flight S., and placed in a pair of graded events for trainer Bob Baffert.

Gingham’s second dam is MGSW Owsley (Harlan), who is also the dam of SW & GSP Senada (Pulpit). Senada’s daughter, GSP Layla Noor (Midnight Lute) (Hip 51), sold later in Monday’s session, bringing $660,000 from Shadai Farm. Gingham’s full-brother summoned $620,000 at the recent Keeneland September sale from the group known as “The Avengers” and is now named Blackadder.

“She was graded stakes-placed in August,” said Brookdale Sales’ Joe Seitz. “She’s gorgeous and she’s by a terrific sire [Quality Road], so that really helps. That was a great price, but she was so beautiful I wasn’t surprised.” —@CDeBernardisTDN

Holmes Hits a Home Run With Veronique

When Veronique (Mizzen Mast) (Hip 244D) went through the ring at last year’s Keeneland November Sale, she was led out unsold at $22,000. Marula Park Stud’s Tony Holmes secured the mare privately after the fact and partnered with one of his employees of 22 years.

It turned out to be a very shrewd purchase. Thanks to the exploits of her undefeated son Nashville (Speightstown), the mare–who was a late supplement to this catalogue–was very popular at Keeneland this time around, bringing $800,000 from bloodstock agent James Delahooke.

“We thought it could happen because [Nashville] did it so naturally [when winning the Perryville S. Saturday],” Holmes said after shaking hands with consignors Spider Duignan and Pat Costello of Paramount Sales. “It is just special for me. [His partner] Benedicto started working for me when he was 22 and 22 years later, he is still with us. He is the nicest, most loyal man you could ever meet. The special part is, it’s not all about us, it’s more about him. This is the American dream.”

When Holmes picked out the unraced Veronique, none of her foals had made the races. Fast forward to Sept. 2 of this year and her 3-year-old colt Nashville, a $460,000 KEESEP purchase by WinStar and China Horse Club, bursts onto the scene, earning the ‘TDN Rising Star’ nod after an 11 1/2-length demolition of his Saratoga debut.

The bay followed suit with an equally jaw-dropping, 9 3/4-length romp at Keeneland next out Oct. 10. His connections briefly considered the GI Breeders’ Cup Sprint, but opted for a softer spot on the undercard for their lightly raced colt. Nashville made a mockery of the Perryville S., blazing through splits of :21.54 and :43.87 and stopping the clock for six furlongs in a track record-time of 1:07.89, all while appearing to be out for a morning gallop. In comparison, hard-knocking veteran Whitmore’s (Pleasantly Perfect) final time for the six-panel BC Sprint later in the day was 1:08.61.

Veronique’s 2-year-old colt Market Cap (Candy Ride {Arg}) broke his maiden at Laurel Oct. 30, providing another timely update for his dam. She produced a Mastery colt in 2019 and a filly by that sire in 2020. The 9-year-old mare is currently in foal to Collected. —@CDeBernardisTDN

Lanni Lands Justify Foal Early

Agent Donato Lanni struck early at Keeneland November Monday to land a $600,0000 colt (hip 21) from the first crop of Triple Crown winner Justify out of the Hunter Valley Farm consignment.

“He’s pretty cool; he looked just like Justify,” said Lanni, who declined to reveal who he had made the purchase for. “We bought him to race… I wanted to buy a nice Justify. He was an amazing racehorse–[this colt] looked just like him.”

Bred by David Fennelly’s Mountmellick Farm, the Feb. 21 foal is a half to SW Supreme Aura (Candy Ride {Arg}) and out of a Mr. Greeley mare, just like GI Kentucky Derby and GI Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Authentic (Into Mischief), who Lanni had a hand in selecting. Dam Groton Circle, who hails from the female family of GSW dirt routers Miss Isella and Sir Cherokee, was acquired for $155,000 at this sale in 2016 while in foal to Liam’s Map.

“I haven’t seen many Justifys, but if they all look like that, it’ll be pretty good,” Lanni said. “He was a cool dude back there; laid back.”

As far as his read on the market coming off a somewhat surprisingly strong sale at Fasig-Tipton the night before, he said: “It was strong yesterday, it’s strong so far today. I don’t know what’s going on… I have no idea what horses are worth anymore. I’m just trying to adapt and figure things out, like we’re all doing.”

—@BDiDonatoTDN

Coolmore Strikes for American Pharoah Colt

The Coolmore team struck late in Monday’s first session of the Keeneland November sale to take home a half-brother to multiple Grade I-winning juvenile Jackie’s Warrior (Maclean’s Music) by the farm’s Triple Crown-winning sire American Pharoah (hip 244B) for $600,000.

“He looks fast, he looks really, really fast,” Coolmore’s Adrian Wallace said of the weanling. “Obviously we love Pharoah, we love what he’s done so far. Then you add in that he’s a half to Jackie’s Warrior, who looks like he’s one of the top 2-year-olds in the country. It certainly takes the mystery out of it. But he’s a lovely horse, very well prepared by Beau Lane and his daughter J. B. They do a wonderful job and he looked a picture.”

The weanling was consigned by Beau Lane Bloodstock on behalf of breeders Carlo Vaccarezza and J&J Stables, LLC. He is out of Unicorn Girl, whom the partners claimed for $16,000 in 2013. The 15-year-old mare, in foal to Into Mischief, followed the foal into the sales ring and sold for $850,000 to Arthur Hoyeau. Unicorn Girl’s yearling filly by Candy Ride (Arg) was bought back for $675,000 at last month’s Fasig-Tipton October sale. @JessMartiniTDN

Nice Sale for Hicks on Top Filly

Breeder Judy Hicks celebrated a successful result Monday as her American Pharoah half-sister to GISW Fault (Blame) brought $525,000 from Phil Schoenthal on behalf of Matt Dorman’s Determined Stud. The Feb. 14 foal was consigned by James Keogh’s Grovendale, Agent XVIII, as hip 210.

Hicks had acquired stakes-winning dam Charming N Lovable (Horse Chestnut {SAf}) as a 14-year-old in foal to Runhappy after she RNA’d for $70,000 at the 2017 Keeneland November sale. Fault took the GI Santa Margarita S. the follow season, and Charming N Lovable’s Runhappy colt sold for $230,000 at Fasig-Tipton October last season.

“She was an absolutely fabulous filly to be around,” said Hicks. “She’s out of a very good producing mare who’s back in foal with a full sister to this filly. I really was reluctant to sell her, but I’m not stupid. I’m going to miss her–I get attached to my horses.”

Also half to GSP Betweenhereandcool (Unbridled’s Song) and SP Congenial (Pulpit), hip 210 hails from the female family of this year’s GI Kentucky Derby contestant South Bend (Algorithms) as well as MGISW Bast (Uncle Mo), who sold for $4.2 million in foal to Justify Sunday night at Fasig-Tipton.

“I bought her from Claiborne in foal to Runhappy, and that colt made $230,00,” Hicks confirmed. “Then I bred her to Tapit on a late June cover. She had never missed a year, but she slipped, but that was probably a good thing, as she’s getting quite a bit of age on her now. This is her first filly back, and it’s an early foal. We’re probably going to breed her back to Nyquist.”

Determined Stud was involved with four purchases for $2,125,000 at Fasig, and picked up another seven head Monday (four mares, three weanling fillies) for a combined $2,260,000. For more, see Dorman Broodmare Band Off to Fast Start. —@BDiDonatoTDN

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