Tag: Keeneland November

Brisk Trade At Keeneland November Book 2 Opener

by Jessica Martini & Christie DeBernardis

LEXINGTON, KY — The momentum from Monday's opening session of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale continued into the first session of Book 2 Tuesday in Lexington with a pair of mares bringing seven figures.

“I would describe it as a solid day,” said Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin. “Overall, we are very happy with the gross, very happy with the median and average being up over last year.”

During Tuesday's session, 197 horses sold for $35,073,000. The average of $178,036 was up 6.26% from a year ago and the median, which dipped slightly during Monday's session, was up 7.69% to $140,000.

“We continue to use the median and the RNA rate as our measures of the depth and health of the market overall,” said Keeneland Director of Sales Operations Cormac Breathnach. “The averages are great and are great for headlines, but we look at the depth of the market as well and the median is a good indicator of that. Today, in that sense, was a strong day. Yesterday was a good day, too, we had a lot of seven figure offerings which made the average really strong. But overall, our median is up from last year and that's how we hope to see that continue.”

The session's buy-back rate was 27.84%, up from last year's corresponding figure of 22.07%, but that increase could be a reflection of the strong market, according to Breathnach.

“The RNA's are up a little bit, but people are probably being a bit more selective because replacement costs are high,” he said. “And you are going to roll on for another year if you don't feel like you can replace with the same quality.”

Jane Lyon of Summer Wind Farm made the day's highest bid, going to $1.45 million to acquire the 4-year-old racing/broodmare prospect Park Avenue (Quality Road). Jim and Dana Bernhard, stocking their broodmare band at their recently acquired Pin Oak Stud, made the session's other seven-figure bid when going to $1 million for Sweet Sami D (First Samurai), who sold in foal to red-hot Gun Runner. It was the first time Book 2 of the November sale had produced a million-dollar transaction since 2017.

Pin Oak Stud purchased four mares Tuesday and was the session's leading buyer as the domestic buying bench gained strength into Book 2.

“We had a really strong buying bench,” Arvin said. “We had much more domestic activity today than we did yesterday. We saw Jane Lyon, Determined Stud, and the Winchells and Jim and Dana Bernhard adding to their bloodstock. It was nice to see them active.”

With two positive sessions in the books already, the November sale will have plenty of momentum to carry it through its final eight sessions.

“We are off on the right foot,” said Breathnach. “We have the first day of Book 2 behind us and we have eight more sessions in the Breeding Stock Sale and then the racehorse sale to come, but it feels really good and the energy is good. There are a lot of buyers here and a lot of people talking about the shows in the barn area for tomorrow and beyond. We know we have a long way to go, but we are very pleased with this beginning.”

The Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale continues through Nov. 16 and is followed by a Horses of Racing Age Sale on Nov. 17. Bidding begins daily at 10 a.m.

Park Avenue Leads to Summer Wind

Jane Lyon of Summer Wind Farm had been outbid on some of her top picks earlier on the sale, so she was bidding with determination when she acquired Park Avenue (Quality Road) (hip 478) for $1.45 million Tuesday at Keeneland.

“I need some good mares,” Lyon said after signing the ticket on the 4-year-old filly. “I've been outbid on several I wanted–the sale topper yesterday and a couple of others along the way–so I was pretty determined not to get outbid on her.”

Park Avenue, a $450,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase, won this year's Ouija Board Distaff S. and was second in the GIII La Canada S. for Hronis Racing and trainer John Sadler. She retires from racing with four wins from 14 starts and earnings of $330,887.

Lyon is breeder and co-owner of recently retired superstar Flightline (Tapit) and Park Avenue could be visiting that stallion next year.

“We are going to debate it,” Lyon said of possible mating plans. “Because there is a close connection pedigree-wise [to Flightline]. But we will debate that with people who know–certainly not me.”

Park Avenue is out of Remarkable, who, like Flightline's dam Feathered, is by Indian Charlie.

Asked if she was surprised by Park Avenue's seven-figure price tag, Lyon said, “Oh yes. I am always surprised.”

During Monday's first session of the November sale, Lyon acquired the racing/broodmare prospect Edgeway (Competitive Edge) (hip 156)–also trained by Sadler for Hronis Racing–for $1.7 million.

“I am looking for good, quality mares, preferably if they had raced and been successful,” Lyon said. “I came here saying I was going to buy mares in foal and so far I've bought two who aren't. I am going to have to sit down and rethink it.”

Park Avenue was consigned Tuesday by Lane's End and the farm's Allaire Ryan thought she was a standout in Book 2.

“When two people want them, anything can happen,” Ryan said. “In this group, she was a standout for us. That was beyond our expectations and a super sale all the way around. She was a beautiful filly who obviously had plenty of talent and ability on the track. Her looks just surpassed that. She took your breath away when you saw her. She's a classy filly. She was popular at the barn and people kept coming back to look at her multiple times. We knew we had the right players on her. It's nice to see everyone get rewarded.” @JessMartiniTDN

 

 

 

Bernhards Assembling Broodmare Band For Their 'New' Farm

With their recent purchase or the historic Pin Oak Stud near Versailles, Jim and Dana Bernhard were busy at Keeneland purchasing mares for their new property. They purchased 10 yearlings at the Keeneland September sale under the name of their Lynnhaven Racing, but signed under the name of Pin Oak Stud Tuesday.

“We have plenty of stall space out there, so we figured we might as well get as many good ones as we can,” Matt Weinmann, the Bernhards' advisor, said. “We are looking for top quality, good pedigrees with really good physiology. You can't put a number on how many of those are in this sale. We will see.”

Their first purchase under their new moniker was Broadway Lady (Constitution) (Hip 283) for $500,000. A $125,000 FTKJUL yearling buy, the dark bay won four of her 21 starts and hit the board in seven others. She had a timely update coming into the sale, finishing third in the GIII Ontario Matron S. Oct. 22.

Out of SW Livi Makenzie (Macho Uno), Broadway Lady is a half to dual Grade III-winning sophomore colt Tawny Port (Pioneerof the Nile). She was consigned by Bluewater Sales on behalf of owner Gary Barber.

“We are going to breed her next year,” said Weinmann. “She is a lovely filly and checked all the boxes for us. Being Grade III-placed in her last race gave her that black-type, which is very important. After the sale, we will go over matings and see who she fits and go from there. We really liked her. She's beautiful.”

The new Pin Oak crew was back in action later in the session, taking home Cyrielle (Animal Kingdom) (Hip 313) for $160,000 and going to $700,000 for Querelle (Violence) (Hip 497) from the Grovendale consignment. The GSP mare, who sold in foal to Constitution, was acquired by Glendalough at Dromoland for $220,000 at the KEEJAN sale earlier this year.

They made their biggest purchase of the day late in the session, going to a cool $1 million for Sweet Sami D (First Samurai) (Hip 573), who sold in foal to red-hot sire Gun Runner.

“She was probably my favorite physical of the day,” said Weinmann. “She is really high-quality mare in foal to one of the best stallions on the planet. We are just extremely excited to have her.” —@CDeBernardisTDN

 

 

 

Stonehaven's Stellar Season Continues at KEENOV

The Reddoch's Stonehaven Steadings had an exceptional Keeneland September Sale and their hot streak continued in the November sales ring Tuesday with the $1-million sale of Sweet Sami D (First Samurai) (Hip 573), who was offered in foal to sensational young sire Gun Runner.

“I'm speechless,” said a clearly emotional Leah O'Meara, who owned the mare in partnership with her parents operation and her husband Aidan O'Meara. “I didn't want to bring her out here, but I'm glad we did. I'm really glad we did.”

Aidan O'Meara added, “We bought her last year and she just blossomed ever since she's been at the farm. We put her in foal to Gun Runner last year with the thoughts of coming this way. Then Gun Runner did what he did last year, so we decided we'd take a chance and bring her out here and see what the market would do. There is an obvious attachment there, so it is a little bittersweet.”

A $65,000 claim last August, Sweet Sami D was withdrawn from last year's November sale and was mated to Gun Runner. She was a talented racehorse with a record of 21-4-4-4 and multiple stakes placings, including the GIII Monmouth Oaks for trainer Pat McBurney.

“We were talking ourselves in and out of bringing her out here,” Aidan O'Meara said. “But, this was just an incredible result. We are delighted to have made the decision we did to come out here with her.”

The Stonehaven Steadings team sold a total of 18 yearlings for $8.188 million during Keeneland's September Sale, including the sale-topping $2.5-million Quality Road colt now named Metro.

“We are lost for words,” said Aidan O'Meara. “We were lost for words in September here, but this is even more incredible. It is hard to even fathom the type of year we've had. We've been so blessed. So many things have gone our way in an industry which is renowned for things being difficult. It has just been an incredible year for us and hopefully we can use this as a catalyst to build off and keep it moving forward bit by bit.” —@CDeBernardisTDN

CHC Collecting Mares For Life Is Good

The China Horse Club kept busy Tuesday, acquiring mares to send to their new stallion Life Is Good, topped by the $750,000 Ragged Rose (Union Rags) (Hip 500), who is in foal to Quality Road.

“She is a beautiful mare from a great family and in foal to Quality Road, who is nearly the best stallion in America,” said CHC's Michael Smith. “She is very clean, strong, good limbs, great action. She is very straight forward, everything you look for in a mare. She will complement him beautifully.”

A $200,000 KEESEP buy, Ragged Rose is out of SW & GSP Cat Charmer (Storm Cat), making her a half-sister to MGSW Strike Charmer (Smart Strike) and MSP Sweet Dreams (Candy Ride {Arg}), the dam of GSW & GISP Subconscious (Tapit). She was consigned by Grovendale Sales.

China Horse Club, signing as CHC INC, also purchased Summer Solo (Arch) (Hip 566) for $400,000 in foal to champion Essential Quality, Coastana (Kitten's Joy) (Hip 304) for $290,000, Lady Aces (Constitution) (Hip 419) for $200,000 and Pythoness (Liam's Map) for $110,000. Smith indicated that all four of those mares would go to Life Is Good.

CHC purchased five mares in total for $1.75 million and an average of $350,000. They also bought Princess Grace (Karakontie {Jpn}) for $1.7 million at Fasig Tipton Sunday and intend to race her in Australia next year.

“The market is strong, but if you do your homework and keep sifting through them, you can find a bit of value as well,” Smith said. “I think we bought well today. We got some really nice race fillies with stakes form as well as this mare with the big cover.” —@CDeBernardisTDN

Song of Mine to West Point

Terry Finley of West Point Thoroughbreds signed the ticket at $700,000 to acquire Song of Mine (Ghostzapper) (hip 550) while standing out back alongside David Ingordo, but when it was time to talk to the press, Finley and Ingordo left the talking to Will Farish, son of Lane's End's Bill Farish.

“She was a beautiful mare,” Farish said. “We were excited to get her and to get her at the price we got her.”

Consigned by Buckland Sales, the 7-year-old Song of Mine sold in foal to Curlin. The half-sister to champion Songbird (Medaglia d'Oro) was purchased by the Haughey family's PTK for $800,000 at the 2016 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale. She made five starts in the PTK colors, hitting the board twice.

While the West Point/Lane's End partners have been buying mares to send to the recently retired Flightline, plans for Song of Mine have yet to be finalized.

“We have no immediate plans,” Farish said. “We're still talking about it, but we are excited to have her.”

Asked how he was finding the competition this week in Lexington, Farish said, “The market is really strong. It's tough to buy. But it's great for the business.”

With the arrival of superstar Flightline, the 24-year-old Farish has picked an exciting time to get more involved in the family business.

“I am working for David Ingordo, I just started this year,” Farish said. “It's been a fun start. I hope to keep working with David for the foreseeable future. I've been going to all these sales and learning a lot. I am going to try to keep learning.”

It was easy for Farish to pinpoint the highlight of his year so far.

“Well this past weekend was pretty fun,” he said with a smile, referring to Flightline's romp in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic. @JessMartiniTDN

 

 

 

Schoenthal Determined to Get Don'tforgetaboutme

With a page laden with black-type, Don'tforgetaboutme (Malibu Moon) (Hip 334) proved quite popular Tuesday and it was trainer Phil Schoenthal, acting on behalf of Matt Dorman's Determined Stud, who won out at $550,000. Consigned by Claiborn Farm, she sold in foal to Blame.

“Anytime you get a mare, where the first dam fills the page with a bunch of graded stakes winners and black-type, it is very commercial,” Schoenthal said. “All of her foals have sold very well. She's a good producer, so it is all the boxes we are trying to check to put together an elite broodmare band. We are also big fans of Blame. I just told Mr. Hancock that we were trying to find some mares to breed to him, so the fact she was in foal to Blame was a bonus for us. She was the whole package.”

As for who she will visit next, Schoenthal said, “Mr. Dorman has a lot of stallion shares that he has purchased, so we will sort all of that out later. We have a lot of options with her.”

Don'tforgetaboutme is a half-sister to GSW Mo Tom (Uncle Mo), MGSW Red Ruby (Tiznow), SW & MGISP Beautician (Dehere) and SW Bella Castani (Big Brown). Claiborne purchased her for $675,000 at the 2015 KEENOV sale and she produced five foals for them, including GSP Royal Spirit (Into Mischief). All of them fetched six figures at their respective yearling sales, topped by her 2021 Candy Ride (Arg) colt, who brought $575,000 from WinStar and Siena Farm at the recent KEEESEP sale. —@CDeBernardisTDN

Quality Road Colt Destined for Resale

A colt by Quality Road (hip 315) was the top-priced weanling Tuesday at Keeneland when selling for $425,000 to Archie and Michelle St. George. Consigned by Lane's End, agent, the gray is out of the unraced Daisy Miller (GB) (Smart Strike), a half-sister to graded winner Mrs. Danvers (Tapit) and from the family of War Front.

“The sire is very good and the physical is very good, so he just made sense,” said Archie St. George, while confirming the colt was purchased to pinhook next year. “He has a good hind end to him and he walks really well. He ticks a lot of boxes.”

The weanling was bred by W.S. Farish, Greathouse Equine, David Greathouse, Kerry Cauthen and Tony Lacy. Deuce Greathouse purchased Daisy Miller for €60,000 at the 2017 Arqana December sale. Her colt by American Pharoah sold to Hideyuki Mori for $175,000 at this year's Keeneland September sale. The 8-year-old mare was bred to Yaupon this year.

Asked how he was finding the foal market in the early days of the November sale, St. George smiled and said, “Too strong.” @JessMartiniTDN

Good Day For Grovendale

James Keogh's Grovendale Sales, now operated in partnership with Chance Timm, made a strong showing during the Book 2 opener with the successful pinhook of a pair of mares.

First up was Querelle (Violence) (Hip 497), who sold in foal to Constitution for $700,000. The Grade III-placed mare from the family of GISW Declassify (Orientate) was purchased by Keogh and partner Chip Muth of Glendalough at Dromoland for $220,000 at this year's KEEJAN sale.

“Myself and my friend Chip Muth bought her together,” Keogh said. “We bred her to Constitution and it worked out really, really well. I think she was the second -or third-last mare through the ring during the January Sale.”

Just three hips later, another Keogh pinhook, Ragged Rose (Union Rags), brought $750,000 carrying a foal by Quality Road.

“She is a beautiful mare,” said Keogh. “A couple of my friends got together. She was in California last year and a friend of ours was able to arrange the purchase. We were fortunate enough to get to Quality Road and obviously Quality Road is the magic.”

Overall, Grovendale sold 14 head for $3,752,000 for average of $268,000.

“We have sold 11 out of 12 so far,” Keogh said three-quarters of the way through the session “It is very, very important to get your reserves correct. We have been on the reserve or a little were obviously the exception. It's always a good market at Keeneland.” —@CDeBernardisTDN

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Keeneland November Opener Starts … And Ends … With a Bang

by Jessica Martini, Christie DeBernardis & Christina Bossinakis

LEXINGTON, KY – The Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale opened with a jam-packed pavilion and the $4.6-million sale of the fractional interest in superstar Flightline (Tapit) and hit another high late in the day with the $5.5-million sale of champion Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute) to Katsumi Yoshida Monday in Lexington. By the end of the opening session of the auction, 136 head had grossed $66,980,000. The average of $492,500 was up 14.77% from a year ago, while the median dipped 12.12% to $290,000.

During the 2021 opening session of the Keeneland November sale, 118 head sold for $50,634,000. The average was $429,102 and the median was $330,000.

The buy-back rate Monday was 26.49%. It was 28.92% during last year's opening session.

“Everything goes back to the demand for quality,” said Keeneland Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy. “We saw the quality stock–Shamrock Rose brought $2.4 million right off the Breeders' Cup last time and she comes back here today in foal to Curlin and she brings $3 million. Midnight Bisou brings $5.5 million, she brought $5 million the last time she went through the ring. So I think there is a buoyancy in the market and we certainly see a focus on the quality.”

While the interest in Flightline was included in Monday's sales statistics, the session average would still be up 7.7% without its inclusion.

Of the dip in the median, Lacy said, “In certain areas, it would not be unexpected to see some correction in some point. I think there is a very discerning market. Something that is worth something is going to bring money and the ones that might have a little exposure might be more vulnerable. And that's just a function of the marketplace. It's likely an adjusting market, but the fact that we are up so much in gross and we are up on average and we are just a little down in the median, I still think we are making forward progress and a slight adjustment, I think, is to be expected.”

Mandy Pope's Whisper Hill Farm was active as both a buyer and a seller Monday and Pope echoed Lacy's sentiments.

“As always, for the right horses, it's tough but it also has soft spots,” Pope said. “We tried to sell one, but didn't get it done. [The market] kind of woke up a little bit later during the day. This morning, it was too quiet. A lot of us didn't have a lot of time to do a lot of shopping with the Breeders' Cup and the sales all being on top of each other. It made it tough for some of the buyers.”

Seven horses sold for $2 million or more Monday, while 10 sold for seven figures. The entire 2021 auction had seven million-dollar transactions.

The top buyers represented another deep and diverse buying bench.

“We see a broadness in the marketplace,” Lacy said. “The top 15 horses that went through the ring were bought by 11 different buyers. So that's always good to see. And there was a good mix of domestic and international.”

The Keeneland November sale began just days after the track hosted the Breeders' Cup championship weekend.

“We are coming off a very successful Breeders' Cup,” Lacy said. “Our team put in a huge effort to turn this around from putting on the largest racing event in North America to switching to have the second largest horse sale in the world within a few hours. I have to commend everybody who is here.”

The Keeneland November sale continues through Nov. 16 and is followed on Nov. 17 by a horses of racing age sale. Bidding begins daily at 10 a.m.

A Bittersweet Goodbye to 'Bisou'

The connections of champion Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute) (Hip 235) were overcome with mixed emotions when she topped Book 1 of the Keeneland September Sale after summoning $5.5 million from Japan's Katsumi Yoshida late in the session. A supplement to the auction, the dark bay sold carrying a Tapit filly, who will be her second foal.

Jeff Bloom, who picked up the mare for $80,000 at OBS April for his racing partnership, was among the first to congratulate Yoshida's bloodstock agent Shingo Hashimoto, even asking to exchange contact information so he could check on his star mare.

“It is hard to let her go, but the timing was right,” Bloom said. “She will go to a wonderful home and we look forward to seeing her babies out there. She will forever hold an incredible place in my heart, my family's hearts and my partner's heart. It is impossible to describe the journey she has taken us on. That is the beautiful thing about these horses. They afford us the opportunity to have these life experiences that we wouldn't be able to have. I have to sneak back down to the barn and give her a big hug. It's going to be weird to not be able to just go visit her whenever I want, but it's not that long of a flight to Japan, so there is that.”

Midnight Bisou was the topper after her first trip through a November sale ring back in 2020 at Fasig Tipton's Night of the Stars, where she was bought for $5 million by Chuck and Lori Allen, who were part of the original racing partnership on the mare. The Allens were right on Bloom's heels after the sale, shaking hands with Hashimoto. Lori Allen was quick to hand him a bag of peppermints, making sure the bloodstock agent knew they were Midnight Bisou's favorite.

When asked about the decision to bring their Eclipse winner back to auction, Lori Allen was too overcome with emotion to speak.

“We knew it was the right thing to do,” Allen said before rushing off to say goodbye to her clearly beloved Midnight Bisou. “The market was just really strong and we felt like we should just give her the opportunity for someone else to enjoy her. We have always been proud of her. From watching her at Del Mar when Jesus Camacho would get on her and she would just stand and watch everything. She was always very interested in things, very alert. All of the races she ran, she did just as much as she needed to to get the job done. She knew what she had to do and she did it and she loved it. I don't know if I've ever seen a racehorse that loved being a racehorse as much as she did.”

She continued, “Steve Asmussen and his crew did such a great job with her. One of her grooms just came and saw her a bit ago, which was really, really neat. She touched so many lives. She changed so many lives. She had such a fan club and it was really neat to see people here taking pictures of her and getting to see her again. She is such an elegant, feminine filly with a beast motor in her. She moved into motherhood really easily. She was a great mom to her first baby.”

Hashimoto was the underbidder on Midnight Bisou that day at Fasig-Tipton and was thrilled to get another chance to take home the star mare.

“We will take her back to Japan most likely,” said Hashimoto, who was back in action just four hips later for $2.7 million Dreamloper (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) (Hip 239). “I am kind of speechless. The first time I saw her was in Saudi, when she was running in the Saudi Cup. I already knew of her race record. She was at Fasig-Tipton in 2020 and if my memory is correct, we were in until $4.75 million and she ended up at $5 million. We were happy to see her again this year and were very lucky to purchase her.”

Midnight Bisou retired in 2020 with an impressive record of 22-13-6-3, earnings over $7.47 million and an Eclipse award as 2019's top older mare. All 13 of her wins came in graded stakes, even breaking her maiden in a Grade II, and five of those wins were Grade Is. The fleet-footed mare hit the board in her two trips to the Breeders' Cup and was a valiant second that day in Saudi Arabia against colts. The Allens have retained her first foal, a weanling colt by Curlin.

Midnight Bisou's Grade III-winning dam Diva Delite (Repent) (Hip 182) preceded her into the ring, RNA'ing for $775,000 while carrying a foal by Gun Runner. Her 2-year-old half-brother Verifying (Justify), a $775,000 KEESEP yearling, was second in the GI Champagne S. in October and finished sixth in a salty renewal of the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Friday in Lexington. Midnight Bisou is also a half to SP Stage Left (Congrats).

—@CDeBernardisTDN

West Point Forms Breeding Partnership

West Point Thoroughbreds is known primarily as a racing partnership, but they have a very good reason to delve into breeding partnerships and did so Monday, going to $2 million in partnership with Determined Stud and Lane's End to secure Salty As Can Be (Into Mischief) (Hip 154). The 4-year-old is currently in foal to Quality Road, but will visit…you guessed it…Flightline (Tapit) next year. One of West Point's Flightline partners, Jane Lyon of Summer Wind Farm, was the direct underbidder on the mare and she got her turn just two hips later, taking home MGSW Edgeway (Competitive Edge) for $1.7 million.

“She is for a breeding partnership we put together,” West Point's Terry Finley said. “She will go to Flightline. We are going to buy a couple of others. The idea came internally. Our partners were like let's do something with Flightline when he retires. That's what we are doing. Determined Stud is taking a piece of the deal. Lane's End will be part of it. It is a great partnership. The power of the partnership going to Flightline. A lot of people want to be part of this horse and I do too.”

West Point has five shares in Flightline to use and will also be buying mares to go to other stallions.

Chris Baccari was the co-breeder of Salty As Can Be and stayed in for a piece when she sold for $800,000 at FTSAUG. She won two of six starts and was stakes-placed before being bred to Quality Road. Salty As Can Be is out of SP Theycallmeladyluck (Dixie Union), making her a half-sister to Grade I winner Salty (Quality Road), who brought $3 million at the 2018 FTKNOV sale.

“She's a very special mare,” Baccari said. “That family breeds that look. They all look that way. She was a very high-dollar sale filly, her other sister brought $1.4 million. It's just a family I've been very lucky with. Theycallmeladyluck has been very good to me. I'm very fortunate.” —@CDeBernardisTDN

Rose Picking at Keeneland

Continuing the trend of Breeders' Cup winners being offered up at the November sales, Shamrock Rose (First Dude), the 2018 winner of the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, joined an elite rank bringing $3 million during Keeneland's Book 1 session Monday. Stepping up to the plate for the champion sprint filly of 2018 was Tomoyuki Nakamura's KI Farm. Consigned by Lane's End, she sold in foal to Curlin.

“The physical and race record are what stood out,” said Nakamura through interpreter Sean Toriumi.

According to Nakamura, breeding plans have yet to be finalized, although there is a possibility she will remain in the U.S.

“[Curlin] is a top sire and that is something that stood out as well,” he said.

In regard to the hefty pricetag, he added, “It was in the rough range of what he was expecting. Right now, [Nakamura] is deciding whether to take to Japan or leave in the states. There are a lot of options for us.”

A winner of Woodbine's Ontario Debutante S. in her career debut at two, Shamrock Rose came into her own in the latter part of her sophomore season while under the tutelage of Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse. Reeling off four wins in a row, she capped off her 2018 season with wins in the GI Lexus Raven Run S. at Keeneland and her Breeders' Cup victory at Churchill Downs.

Lane's End's Allaire Ryan added, “She was a little bit of a difficult mare for us to appraise just based on how things have been selling the past couple of nights. Her activity level really picked up today at the barn, and we knew she was going to be going overseas wherever she goes. It certainly surpassed our expectations, which just goes to show you how strong this market is when something ticks all the boxes for two people.”

She continued, “It's so difficult to appraise mares like her. They could bring any kind of money and it's just how much two people want them. I would love to see her stay here (in the U.S.). She is a sweetheart. She was a farm favorite, even though we didn't have her for a long while, but we've had her for the past couple years. It's a little bit bittersweet, but of course she's going into great hands again so we can't be anything but happy for everyone.”–@CBossTDN

Walker's 'Dream' Run Ends with $2.7M Score

Offered at the tail end of a robust Book 1 session at Keeneland, Group 1 winner Dreamloper (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) stole the late act with a $2.7-million final bid from the uber-active Katsumi Yoshida. The 5-year-old was consigned by her trainer Ed Walker, acting as agent on behalf of owner-breeder Olivia Hoare. Offered as Hip 239 in the supplemental catalog, she represented the fourth highest-priced offering of the session.

“Mixed emotions really. I'm very sad to see her go but amazing to make that kind of money; great for all,” said Walker. “I'm a racehorse trainer in Lamborn, England and to be selling her as a potential mare for millions of dollars at Keeneland is something I really never thought I'd do. It's been a novel experience and luckily, a successful one.”

Walker, who started training in October of 2010, enjoyed his first lifetime Group 1 victory with Starman (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) in last year's July Cup. However, Dreamloper gave signs of greater things to come while annexing last term's G3 Valiant S. at Ascot. Kicking off this season with a victory in the G3 Dahlia S. at Newmarket, she achieved a career high taking the May 29 G1 Prix d'Ispahan. Off the board in her next two Group 1 tries, she rebounded to take the Sept. 4 G1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp. Prior to her engagement in the Keeneland sales ring, she finished 12th in the GI Breeders' Cup Mile Saturday.

“It's been a special story,” he continued. “After [the Prix du Moulin], I think it was kind of decided that she'd be sold. The plan was very much the Breeders' Cup, and obviously we were very much hoping to win the Breeders' Cup and then come here. It sort of felt like a natural move. Sadly, the Breeders' Cup didn't go to plan.”

The first runner for the trainer at the Breeders' Cup World Championships, the Irish-bred also offered additional sentimental value as the daughter of another horse conditioned by Walker, listed winner Livia's Dream (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}).

“She's extra special because she's out of a mare called Livia's Dream, which was the first filly I ever trained,” he said. “It goes back a long way, so it's mixed emotions.”

Asked what prompted the decision to bypass the upcoming European bloodstock sales in favor of a U.S.-based sales venue, he explained, “With her European form and pedigree, Newmarket was obviously a very strong candidate. However, with her running in the Breeders' Cup and the volume of potential buyers over here, it made sense to have her go [to Keeneland]. I think the fact that she didn't run better in the Breeders' Cup probably took out a few of the local buyers, but I'm still very happy with that result.”–@CBossTDN

Coolmore Buying Spree Continues with Marion Ravenwood

Coolmore continued its frenetic buying spree Monday at Keeneland, going to $2.6 million to acquire Marion Ravenwood (A.P. Indy) (hip 187) shortly after purchasing a weanling filly by Medaglia d'Oro (hip 161) for $1.5 million. The 14-year-old mare is the dam of Nest (Curlin) and sold carrying a full-sibling to that likely 3-year-old filly champion.

“I was watching the videos with Michael [Tabor] just beforehand and Nest is just an incredible filly for Mike Repole and all of them,” M. V. Magnier said. “[Marion Ravenwood] produced very good animals and let's hope she continues to do so.”

Nest was a three-time Grade I winner in 2022 and was second in both the GI Kentucky Oaks and GI Belmont S.

Marion Ravenwood is also the dam of GI Santa Anita H. winner Idol (Curlin) and this year's Sapling S. winner Lost Ark (Violence). She was consigned by the Lyster family's Ashview Farm, which purchased the mare in partnership with Rich Santulli's Colts Neck Stable for $400,000 at the 2017 Keeneland November sale.

Magnier said Marion Ravenwood would likely visit Triple Crown winner Justify next year.

Of the mare's final price, Magnier said, “It was plenty of money for her, but she's in foal to Curlin and that's a full-sibling to a very good filly.”

During Sunday's Fasig-Tipton sale, Magnier signed for four horses, including the $7-million sale-topping Gamine (Into Mischief), for $4,475,000.  @JessMartiniTDN

Pope In a State of Grace

Mandy Pope would not be denied when it came to MGSW & GISP Four Graces (Majesticperfection) (Hip 192), fending off all comers to acquire the 5-year-old for $2.3 million.

“She was a hell of a racehorse,” said Pope. “Not only is she a graded stakes horse, but the numbers that she ran were legit. And this family, all of the family, they all ran very legitimate speed numbers, so the quality is absolutely there and they're breeding it for it. I'm very excited.”

Pope has not selected a stallion for the dark bay yet, but she said it would be “someone nice.”

Bred and raced by the Whitham family, Four Graces captured a pair of Grade IIIs sprinting on the dirt and was second in the GI Derby City Distaff. She retires with a record of 15-4-4-1 and earnings just shy of $500,000.

Out of GSP Ivory Empress (Seeking the Gold), Four Graces is a half to MGSW & GISP young sire McCraken (Ghostzapper), MGSP Bondurant (War Front) and GSP With Dignity (Declaration of War).

“It's pretty special isn't it? She is a classy filly,” said Four Graces' former trainer Ian Wilkes. “That was great. It was above expectations. That's a great family. You have to look at what Mrs. Whitham and Clay have done to offer something out of the family like this and get rewarded.” —@CDeBernardisTDN

Edgeway Poised for Flight

Fresh off a big GI Breeders' Cup Classic victory with Flightline (Tapit) Saturday, Summer Wind Equine's Jane Lyon was shopping for mates for the horse of the moment at Keeneland Monday. Catching her eye was Hip 156, MGSW and GSP Edgeway (Competitive Edge), and Lyon extended to $1.7 million for the mare. She was consigned by Lane's End.

“I think she's a beautiful mare and very fast,” said Lyon.    “Unfortunately, I get a little carried away now and then. We'll see what happens.”

The 5-year-old's dam, SW Magical Solution, is a half sister to Grade I winner The Lumber Guy (Grand Slam).

According to Lyon, plenty of time and effort goes into choosing the right companions for the likely Horse of the Year.

“We're still doing research on pedigree to see which bloodlines will or will not suit him and we thought she would,” she explained.

On the board in all four starts at two, including a win in the GIII Dogwood S., Edgeway added a trio of victories at three, highlighted by the GIII Rancho Bernardo S. and a runner-up effort in the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint. This season, she repeated in the Rancho Bernardo and also added wins in the GIII Las Flores S. and Kalookan Queen S.

“She is beautiful and obviously a very good racemare. Along with her pedigree, those things really boosted her in the sales ring,” said Lane's End's Bill Farish. “Jane Lyon likes to buy those pretty mares and she's had amazing success with them.”

—@CBossTDN

Coolmore Scoops Up Regally Bred Filly

It was no surprise to see a Medaglia d'Oro half-sister to champion Honor Code (Hip 161) summon $1.5 million. It was also no surprise to find Coolmore's M.V. Magnier signing the ticket on the regally bred weanling.

“She's a lovely, athletic filly,” said Magnier. “John Sikura, Dell Ridge and everyone are fantastic breeders. She is an exceptionally well-bred filly. She is a lovely filly. She is a sister to some very good horses. Honor Code was a very good horse.”

Hill 'n' Dale co-bred the filly's stakes-winning dam Serena's Cat (Storm Cat), a daughter of MSW Serena's Tune (Mr. Prospector). Dell Ridge Farm bought Serena's Cat from them for $1.4 million as a weanling at the 2003 KEENOV sale.

Serena's Cat's first foal was MGSW & GISP Noble Tune (Unbridled's Song) and her next foal was champion, MGISW and multi-millionaire Honor Code, who is now a member of the Lane's End stallion barn. Her 2014 Tapit filly, Serena's Harmony, summoned $3 million at that year's renewal of this auction. Her 2015 War Front colt Declarationofpeace brought $2.6 million here the following year and went on to be a stakes winner.

Serena's Cat continued her trend of seven-figure offspring here in 2016 with a $1.05 million Tapit colt now named Seclusive. He was followed by a $700,000 Tapit colt and $600,000 Curlin filly, all sold at this auction. Serena's Cat's 2019 Medaglia d'Oro colt was never offered at auction and she did not produce foals in 2020 and 2021. —@CDeBernardisTDN

Jouster to Japan

Jouster (Noble Mission {GB}), a graded stakes winner and 'TDN Rising Star' for Starlight Racing and Glen Hill Farm, will be heading to Japan after selling for $1.5 million to Katsumi Yoshida. Starlight had purchased the 4-year-old for $360,000 as a Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling in 2019 and she won four of 12 starts including the GII Appalachian S. at Keeneland, and earned $326,105.

“I thought she might bring right in there,” Starlight's Jack Wolf said of the final result. “With the bottom side of her pedigree and being a Grade II winner, especially here at Keeneland, I am excited she brought that.

Jouster, who was consigned by Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa, is out of Playtime (Street Cry {Ire}), a daughter of champion Storm Flag Flying (Storm Cat).

“Tonight it was business in deciding what to do with her,” Wolf said. “[Glen Hill Farm's] Craig Bernick and Starlight owned the horse together. It's our program to do the racing and Craig does both the racing and the breeding, but it's our game plan just to race.”

Wolf did admit there was a time he dabbled in the breeding half of the industry.

“When we had Harlan's Holiday, I bought 13 mares to support him,” Wolf said. “I decided after about five years of that I didn't want to do the breeding business.”

Yoshida purchased five mares for $8.05 million at Fasig-Tipton Sunday. His purchase of Jouster proved to be just a warm-up Monday, with his team following the session-topping $5.5-million purchase of Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute) with the $2.7-million acquisition of Dreamloper (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}).  @JessMartiniTDN

Best Strikes Early and Still Swinging Late at Keeneland

It didn't take long for things to get going at Keeneland Monday as OXO Equine's Larry Best got into the swing of things, extending to $925,000 for GSW Bees and Honey (Union Rags). Offered as Hip 18, the 4-year-old filly was consigned by Gainesway.

“I expected anywhere from $750,000 to $1 million,” said Best. “It's always higher than what you want, but when you look at the page, you expect to pay a premium. She is a beautiful filly that would fit a lot of different breeding programs.”

Campaigned by Gainesway and Andrew Rosen, the Shug McGaughey trainee won the GIII Comely S. during her sophomore season. The chestnut is out of Wickedly Smart (Smart Strike), a half-sister to GI Alcibiades S. scorer Wickedly Perfect (Congrats).

“I thought she'd be a nice mare for my broodmare band,” said Best. “She was very fast on the track. She had a nice pedigree and is young and she fits with my stallions.”

Best remains invested in Taylor Made stallions GISW Instilled Regard, GSW and GISP Instagrand and MGISP Rowayton.

“I'll probably breed her to all three of my stallions and go from there.”

Still active later in the session, this time shopping for weanlings, Best went to $700,000 for Hip 194, a colt by Quality Road. The Mar. 7 foal is out of unraced Donatella (Bernardini), who sold one hip later for $900,000 to WinStar Farm. This represents the family of late superstar sire and GI Florida Derby winner Scat Daddy.

“The physical was very good and he is by Quality Road,” Best said of the colt. “With a horse like this, you're at the top of the market. Given the pedigree, the price is supportable.”

Commenting on the overall market despite the depressed worldwide economy, he said, “Based on the latest sales, it seems like there is still a lot of money on the sidelines. There are people that have just done so well over the last decade or so and are just flush with cash. The stock market over the last decade has been almost unbelievable. Many people in the horse population benefitted from that. A lot of them are in it to have fun but also to meet the challenge of competition. I think it's rarified space.”

Based on the recent strength of Thoroughbred bloodstock markets, does Best expect to walk into the pavilion and spend more on horses?

“Not really, but I think you come into these sales and you evaluate each horse based on the individual. But after you understand what the market is, you just have to understand that you will have to pay more than you want or than you think. At some point it will turn around. It always does.”–@CBossTDN

Uncle Mo Colt Keeps LNJ Foxwoods Hitting on All Cylinders

The Roth family's LNJ Foxwoods has steadily built up an elite broodmare band and after years of success on the racetrack is now enjoying success in the sales ring, with a weanling colt by Uncle Mo (hip 157) selling for $575,000 to Randy Hartley and Dean DeRenzo Monday at Keeneland.

The weanling is out of Sensitive (Divine Park), a $475,000 KEESEP yearling purchase who won the 2019 Ellis Park Turf S. in the Roths colors.

“It's everything we hoped for,” LNJ Foxwoods' advisor Alex Solis said of the result. “We bought her as a yearling and loved her then. We won a stakes with her. Her first foal is very nice and her second foal, we get that. We are just trying to make room because we can only keep so many foals.”

Sensitive's first foal is yearling colt by Into Mischief and the mare was bred to Constitution this year.

The LNJ Foxwoods broodmare band is populated by the likes of champion Covfefe (Into Mischief), graded stakes winners Luck (Kitten's Joy), Fancy Dress Party (Munnings), and Boardroom (Commissioner), as well as Grade I-placed Dogtag (War Front).

“It's almost impossible now,” Solis said of the decision of what to keep and what to sell. “It's become, where can you rank them anymore? It's a high-class problem and we're lucky and fortunate.”

Hartley and DeRenzo, signing as AAA Thoroughbreds, purchased three weanlings at Sunday's Fasig-Tipton November sale. They purchased colts by Gun Runner for $675,000 (hip 97)  and $550,000 (hip 153) and a son of Tapit (hip 38) for $275,000.

Hartley said Sunday the plan would likely be to pinhook the weanlings as yearlings. @JessMartiniTDN

Caravel to Return to Races in 2023

Two days after Caravel (Mizzen Mast)'s wire-to-wire victory in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, she had been expected to make an appearance in the Keeneland sales ring Monday, but connections opted to keep the 5-year-old mare and continue racing her in 2023.

“I spoke to my brothers, who own her with me, and the whole family, and they decided that they think she needs another year of racing,” said Sheikh Fahad of co-owner Qatar Racing. “We thought we would give her another year and then she will probably come back to the sale next.”

Qatar Racing, Marc Detampel and Madaket Stables purchased Caravel for $500,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton November sale. In addition to her Breeders' Cup win, she also added the GIII Franklin S. and GIII Intercontinental S. to her resume this year.

“You don't get many Breeders' Cup winners, especially a filly beating the boys in the Sprint is incredible,” Fahad said. “And the way she did it was very exciting.”

Also at Fasig-Tipton last year, Qatar Racing was part of a partnership which purchased Shedaresthedevil (Daredevil) for $5 million. After racing the 2020 GI Kentucky Oaks winner last year, the 5-year-old was put back through the ring at Fasig-Tipton Sunday and Mandy Pope bought out the partners at a matching $5-million price tag.

“At a price we were going to try to keep her ourselves,” Sheikh Fahad said of Shedaresthedevil. “Mandy was a great partner with us on the filly and think she is going to go to a good home. So I am happy enough with that.” @JessMartiniTDN

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Yoshida Goes on Late Session Spending Spree at KEENOV

Katsumi Yoshida of Northern Farm went on a late session buying spree during the supplemental portion of Keeneland November Monday, purchasing champion Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute) for $5.5 million as hip 235 and then adding 2022 French two-time Group 1 winner Dreamloper (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) for $2.7 million as hip 239.

Midnight Bisou had previously sold for $5 million at the conclusion of her racing career to partner Chuck Allen at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton November sale. Since then she produced a Curlin colt Feb. 12 and was offered back in foal to Tapit. Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa consigned the 7-year-old, whose juvenile half-brother Verifying (Justify) was second in this year's GI Champagne S.

Dreamloper, meanwhile, was consigned by her trainer Ed Walker, having finished 12th in Saturday's GI Breeders' Cup Mile. The Mrs. Olivia Hoare homebred took the G1 Prix D'Ispahan in May and romped by 5 1/2 lengths in the G1 Prix de Moulin de Longchamp in her most recent European start. She was offered as a racing or broodmare prospect.

Yoshida also paid $1.5 million for GSW 'TDN Rising Star' Jouster (Noble Mission {GB}) as hip 198.

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Nest’s Dam to Coolmore

Marion Ravenwood (A.P. Indy), the stakes-winning dam of expected champion 3-year-old filly Nest (Curlin), GISW Idol (Curlin) and this year's stakes-winning juvenile Lost Ark (Violence) was unsurprisingly popular in the Keeneland November sales ring Monday, with Coolmore's MV Magnier coming out on top to secure the 14-year-old for $2.6 million. Hip 187, in foal to Curlin, was consigned by the Lyster family's Ashview Farm. Ashview and Richard Santulli's Colts Neck Stables paid $400,000 for Marion Ravenwood at the 2017 renewal of this sale while she was carrying eventual MSP Dr Jack (Pioneerof the Nile).

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