Matt Dorman | Horse Racing Free Tips

Lights Out at Keeneland November

by Jessica Martini, Brian DiDonato, and Christie DeBernardis

LEXINGTON, KY – The Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale saved its best to almost last Wednesday with Paris Lights (Curlin) capping a day of solid trade when bringing a final bid of $3.1 million from Spendthrift Farm. The racing or broodmare prospect was one of seven to top the million-dollar mark during the one-session Book 1 section of the 10-day Keeneland November sale.

“It was a good, steady, strong session,” Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin said Wednesday night. “We felt great about the way today went.”

In all, 118 horses sold for $50,634,000 Wednesday at Keeneland for an average of $429,102–up 10.35% from the 2020 Book 1–and the median was up 17.86% to $330,000. With 48 horses reported not sold, the buy-back rate was 28.92%. It was 27.68% a year ago.

“The 18% increase in median, I think was encouraging,” said Keeneland's Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy. “The money is spread across the board a lot more. I think overall, it was a very honest, fair and encouraging session as we move forward.”

During the first session of last year's November sale, 135 head sold for $52,942,000. The average was $392,163 and the median was $280,000. Concrete Rose topped the session when selling for $1,950,000 and the filly was one of nine to bring seven figures on the day.

Japanese buyers, who were so active during Fasig-Tipton November sale Tuesday night, continued to be a major presence at Keeneland Wednesday, taking home two of the top seven lots, but the domestic buying bench was responsible for five of the day's seven million-dollar mares.

“As we welcome back more and more travelers from around the world–I think we saw a far more diverse group–they are active and they are going to be active into Books 2 and 3,” said Lacy. “I think that's really encouraging as we step forward into the next year or two.”

Arvin added, “It was nice to have the international folks back. Definitely we saw internet bidding go down because there were so many international folks who were able to be here, which was great to see. And the domestic buying bench stayed very strong and steady as well, as it was in September.”

Matt Dorman's D. Hatman Thoroughbreds purchased the session's top-priced weanling when going to $800,000 to acquire a filly by Frankel (GB) from the Four Star Sales consignment.

“It's strong for any kind of quality,” Four Stars' John Greathouse said of the market. “You go up there and whatever you think you can pay, just add at least 50% to it. If you've got a quality horse here, I think you will do well.”

Greathouse continued, “I think there is a lot of money floating around right now. Purse money is good and people are wanting to race. There is a hunger for racehorses. That's translated into the sales, which has been nice. Breeders are finally getting rewarded, so you can buy a mare and do ok. It's a nice change. I hope it stays.”

The Keeneland November sale continues through Nov. 19 with sessions beginning daily at 10 a.m.

Paris 'Lights' Up Keeneland
Grade I winner Paris Lights (Curlin) (Hip 224D), a late supplement to the sale, lit up the ring just three hips from the end of the Book 1 session, bringing the day's top price of

$3.1 million from Spendthrift Farm. Offered by Elite on behalf of WinStar, the 4-year-old filly sold as a racing or broodmare prospect.

“She is going to Into Mischief and comes from as good a family as we have in the stud book, so there is not much more you can ask for,” Spendthrift's Ned Toffey said after signing the ticket. “It is very competitive. We tried on one earlier and didn't get it. We are happy to get this one and this is very much what we thought we had to pay.”

WinStar purchased Paris Lights dam Paris Bikini (Bernardini) from Bobby Flay for $425,000 at the 2016 KEEJAN sale. She is a daughter of SP Lacadena (Fasliyev) and a half-sister to Flay's GSW & MGISP America (A.P. Indy), who produced Grade III-winning 'TDN Rising Star' and $1.5-million FTSAUG co-topper First Captain (Curlin). Paris Bikini summoned $1.95 million from Japan's Katsumi Yoshida carrying a foal by Uncle Mo at the 2020 FTKNOV sale.

Paris Lights RNA'd for $200,000 at KEESEP and was place into the WinStar Stablemates Racing program. Entrusted her to Hall of Famer Bill Mott, she captured Saratoga's prestigious GI CCA Oaks last season and was shelved for the rest of the year. The bay returned a winner in the GIII Distaff H. in April and was last seen in a Belmont optional claimer in September. Paris Lights retires with a record of 9-4-0-3 and earnings of $403,842.

“It was a unique opportunity and we're very grateful,” said Elite's Brad Weisbord. “WinStar doesn't generally sell this type, so we really appreciate Elliott Walden, Dave Hanley and the Trout family for trusting Elite to consign Paris Lights. This is the product of an Eclipse Award-winning breeder producing a top class racehorse and clearly they were rewarded. Bill Mott had her looking extremely well coming off the track and it all came together for an excellent result. She is going to a great home in Spendthrift Farm, who is establishing a powerhouse breeding operation themselves.”

Paris Lights was one of just two purchases for Spendthrift Wednesday, the other being the $120,000 mare Hrasky (Speightstown) (Hip 128). They also purchased four mares at Fasig Tuesday, topped by the $3.4 million champion Vequist (Nyquist).

Last year the late B. Wayne Hughes' operation dominated the November market, purchasing nine mares at Fasig for over $24 million, including $9.5-million dual Eclipse winner Monomoy Girl (Tapizar), and another three during the opening session of KEENOV, topped by $1.5 million Holy Helena (Ghostzapper).

When asked about the decline in purchases this term, Toffey said, “We are pretty happy with where our broodmare band is right now. You always have to add to the top and keep culling. We are trying to add really select mares.”

Both Monomoy Girl and MGISW Got Stormy (Get Stormy), a $2.75 million FTKNOV buy last term, returned to training following their purchase, but are now retired to the Spendthrift broodmare band.

“Monomoy Girl will go to Into Mischief and Got Stormy we are still thinking about,” Toffey said. —@CDeBernardisTDN

Tapit Mares Reward Rosen & Beck
Pink Sands (Hip 183) was one of two Tapit mares owned by Andrew Rosen and Gainesway's Antony Beck to summon seven figures Wednesday at Keeneland, bringing $2.3 million from Masahiro Miki while carrying her first foal by the red-hot Into Mischief. The Japanese horseman was also active at Fasig-Tipton Tuesday, buying a pair of $3-million mares in GradeI/Group 1 winners Brave Anna (War Front) and Aunt Pearl (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}).

“She is named after our favorite spot, the Pink Sands [Resort] in Harbour Island [Bahamas],” said Rosen while standing alongside Beck. “That's been good to us and the mare has been good to us. She was a good race mare and I am happy to own her with Antony. You just have to sell one once in a while. Sometimes it's nice just to get a good sale. The racing ix exciting, the breeding is exciting, but the sales ring is also exciting.”

The CEO of Theory, Inc., added, “Into Mischief was a great choice for the mare and is probably the best sire America has. You have to have one to compete in either the sales ring or the racetrack.”

A $625,000 FTSAUG purchase, Pink Sands is out of Grade I winner Her Smile (Include). The Shug McGaughey pupil captured the 2019 GIII Rampart S. and 2020 GII Inside Information S. She retired at the end of her 2020 season with a record of 21-3-6-4 and earnings of $490,800. Pink Sands' 5-year-old full-brother Timing Now is already in Japan. He was third in a Hanshin allowance on the dirt Oct. 17 and second in a similar spot Oct. 31.

“I think the market is very strong for the right type of horse,” said Beck, whose operation consigned the 6-year-old mare. “Pink Sands was a great racemare and Shug McGaughey did an outstanding training job. We are very happy with the price.”

About 15 hips prior, another Tapit mare Mind Out (Hip 168), owned by Beck and Rosen in partnership with the Roth family's LNJ Focwoods, realized $1.2 million from Dana Bernhard.

“I think the Tapit mares are pretty special,” Rosen said. “We had another filly that we owned together with LNJ, who brought $1.2 million just before. So it has been a very good day for Tapit.”

Beck added, “We are very happy to have him. He has been an absolutely outstanding stallion for Gainesway.”–@CDeBernardisTDN

Sams Strikes Early
Bernie Sams was the first to sign a seven-figure ticket at Keeneland Wednesday when the Claiborne Farm Bloodstock Manager went to $1.4 million to land the well-bred Satin and Silk (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) on behalf of an undisclosed client. The 4-year-old, offered in foal to young Triple Crown winner Justify, was consigned by Eaton Sales as hip 13.

“It was for a farm client,” said Sams. “We tried to buy a couple mares last night [at Fasig-Tipton], and got outbid, but we liked her and we've got a couple others we like today, so we'll see. [Half-sister] My Miss Sophia's at the farm, and we know the family well, so we'll keep our fingers crossed.”

A 900,000gns Tattersalls October yearling purchase by Coolmore's M.V. Magnier in 2018, Satin and Silk was off the board in six tries for Aidan O'Brien. She is a half to GI Besilu Stables Florida Derby winner Materiality (Afleet Alex) and GSW and GI Kentucky Oaks runner-up My Miss Sophia (Unbridled's Song), who fetched $4 million in foal to Claiborne's War Front at the 2018 renewal of this sale. The War Front colt My Miss Sophia was carrying at the time has blossomed into two-for-two 'TDN Rising Star' Annapolis, winner of the GII Pilgrim S. at Belmont

“It probably helped,” Sams said when asked how much Annapolis's exploits might've impacted the price, adding of the Justify cover, “If she has a good colt, we'll see what happens.”–@BDiDonatoTDN

Bernhards Building Broodmare Band
Louisianians Dana and Jim Bernhard made their first foray into the Thoroughbred bloodstock market at this year's yearling sales with five purchases total including a $1-million War Front colt (click for more), and they began to build their broodmare band Wednesday with the help of Matt Weinmann of Equine Analysis Systems.

The Bernhards kicked things off with the $700,000 Glitter and Gold (Bodemeister) (hip 122)–a half to champion Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil) in foal to Curlin and consigned by Hill 'n' Dale–and then went to $1.2 million to secure hot broodmare prospect Mind Out (Tapit) from Gainesway as hip 168.

“She's a beautiful Tapit filly, 'TDN Rising Star', showed a lot of talent on the track,” said Weinmann of Mind Out as the Bernhards headed back to the barn to see their new purchase. “It's a really nice family. We've played with a few horses in that family. We're really excited about her. The Bernhards are just getting their broodmare band going, and she's going to be one of our standout broodmares at the farm.”

An $850,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling, Mind Out was a debut-winning juvenile at Del Mar for Gainesway, LNJ Foxwoods, Andrew Rosen and trainer Simon Callaghan. She hit the board in both the Surfer Girl S. and California Oaks.

Glitter and Gold was a $10,000 KEESEP yearling and had last changed hands publicly for $2,500 in an Emerald Downs claimer. The two-time winner's genes obviously grew significantly more valuable after Swiss Skydiver's exploits over the past two seasons, which included the 2020 GI Preakness S. en route to the Eclipse Award for champion 3-year-old filly. Swiss Skydiver sold for $4.7 million to Katsumi Yoshida at Tuesday evening's Night of the Stars. —@BDiDonatoTDN

Maxim Rate to Japan
Grade I winner Maxim Rate (Exchange Rate) (hip 191) will be heading to Japan after selling for $1.2 million to the bid of Ken Mishima, who was acting on behalf of an undisclosed client, Wednesday at Keeneland.

“The plan will be to send her to Japan and breed her,” Mishima said after signing the ticket on the 5-year-old mare.

Of the seven-figure price tag, Mishima added, “It's high, but she's a very nice mare.”

Maxim Rate, campaigned by Slam Dunk Racing, Stable Currency and James Branham, captured this year's GI Gamely S., as well as the 2020 GII Goldikova S. and 2019 GIII Senorita S. She was second in last year's GI Rodeo Drive S.

The mare was consigned by Eaton Sales.

“I actually thought it was the best bargain of the last two days,” Eaton's Reiley McDonald said. “She is stunningly beautiful and she won graded stakes at three, four and five. And in this market, I really thought she would have brought more, but she sold and I am happy for those guys. They got a really nice mare. At the high end, the sale just doesn't seem to have the pop that it did last night. But we came to sell her and we did. You can't quibble with seven figures. From that standpoint, it was a very nice sale.” @JessMartiniTDN

Goodman Gets His Top Pick Late
Greg Goodman of Mt. Brilliant Farm struck during the supplemental section of offerings Wednesday at Keeneland to take home Look Me Over (Hard Spun), a half-sister to last week's GI TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance winner Corniche (Quality Road). The final price was $1.2 million for the 4-year-old, who won a Churchill maiden special weight and Ellis allowance earlier this year while in foal to Kitten's Joy. She was last seen on the track missing third by a neck in Ellis's Kentucky Downs TVG Preview Ladies Mile S. Hunter Valley consigned the chestnut as hip 223 on behalf of Qatar Racing.

“We had three horses all day that we loved, including this last one that we couldn't afford, the one we bought and one other,” said Goodman after coming up short on session-topping Paris Lights. “We loved her. She was our first choice all day and we're just happy to get her.”

Goodman had a bit of added insight in his corner, as his advisor Marette Farrell bought Corniche for a sale-topping $1.5 million at OBS April on behalf of Speedway Stables. Corniche, who earned 'TDN Rising Star'-dom for a sharp Del Mar debut, also annexed Santa Anita's GI American Pharoah S. Oct. 1.

“Marette bought Corniche, so she kept up with him,” Goodman noted. “Obviously, we all know now after Friday that he's a great horse and maybe a Derby horse, so we're really happy to get her. She's beautiful and she's literally one of three mares who we were even interested in at all.”

Look Me Over, who was a $235,000 KEESEP yearling, is out of MGSW and GISP Wasted Tears (Najran). —@BDiDonatoTDN

No 'Downside' for Black Ridge
Bill and Will Daugherty and Bill Barr's BlackRidge Stables cashed out on a shrewd buy Wednesday when their Downside Scenario (Scat Daddy) garnered a winning bid of $1.15 million from Barbara Banke's Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings. The 8-year-old mare was consigned by Taylor Made Sales as hip 101 and is in foal to Into Mischief.

BlackRidge paid $250,000 for Downside Scenario–a winning half-sister to Dubai MGSW Cool Cowboy (Kodiak Kowboy)–while she was carrying her first foal by Into Mischief at the 2018 Keeneland January sale. The resulting colt was sold to Shadwell for $425,000 that November, and grew up to be 'TDN Rising Star' Mutasaabeq, the impressive last-to-first winner of the 2020 GII Bourbon S. at Keeneland and winner of the Mucho Macho Man S. as a freshly turned sophomore.

Downside Scenario, a $290,000 KEESEP yearling, was claimed for $40,000 out of her final start. Her subsequent produce is a current 2-year-old filly by California Chrome who was a $17,000 KEESEP RNA and $22,000 OBSAPR juvenile; a yearling colt by Uncle Mo who brought $400,000 from Suehiro Racing; and a foal colt by Audible.

“That was a little above expectations,” said Will Daugherty. “We bought this mare in 2018 for $250,000, and obviously had a great success right off the bat with Mutsaabeq. And she just kept delivering for us all the way through the end. We had a great partner in Randy Hill on her from start to finish. We're glad to see her move on.”

The BlackRidge partners' first-ever equine investment was in California Chrome before he took the 2016 G1 Dubai World Cup, and they also bought into Cathryn Sophia right before she won that same year's GI Kentucky Oaks.

BlackRidge's first broodmare buy was Laffina (Arch), who they acquired at the 2016 Keeneland November sale after she RNA'd for $290,000 carrying future MGISW juvenile Bast (Uncle Mo). BlackRidge sold Bast for $200,000 as a KEENOV weanling and Laffina for $1.5 million while in foal to Ghostzapper at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton November sale.

“We had a little piece of GSW and MGISP Estilo Talentoso (Maclean's Music) [who sold for $600,000] and RNA'd an Uncle Mo filly as well, so we'll take her on to the next level and look to pick up one or two more this week,” Daugherty said when asked if BlackRidge had done any business on Tuesday at Fasig. “We'll use some of this to cycle back into the market hopefully.” —@BDiDonatoTDN

Frankel Filly to Dorman
Matt Dorman purchased a weanling filly by Frankel (GB) (hip 144) for $800,000 under the name of his D Hatman Thoroughbreds racing division Wednesday at Keeneland, but admitted the long-term goal will be for the filly to join his Determined Stud broodmare band.

“We have horses that run, so she will be in the racing program and hopefully improve her page and go from there,” Dorman said. “She's long-term for us.”

Bred by Stephen Sullivan and consigned by Four Star Sales, the weanling is out of Lady Ederle (English Channel) and is a half-sister to multiple graded stakes winner Nay Lady Nay (Ire) (No Nay Never) and multiple Grade I placed Arizona (Ire) (No Nay Never).

“Obviously, it's Frankel and it's a great page, a great family, and she has great conformation,” Dorman said of the filly's appeal. “She checked all the boxes.”

Four Star Sales' John Greathouse said the team was pleased with Wednesday's result.

“She was a foal share with Juddmonte and Stephen Sullivan and I think she exceeded expectations for both of them,” Greathouse said. “We got her in midsummer and she was always a really nice horse. We were proud of how she did, how she shipped in. And she really acted nice down there and everybody seemed to like her.”

Juddmonte purchased the weanling's half-sister Nay Lady Nay for $1.7 million at Tuesday's Fasig-Tipton November sale.

Dorman's Determined Stud made its first appearance as a seller at the Fasig November sale. The operation sold a filly by Uncle Mo (hip 64) for $400,000 to Glen Hill Farm, while RNA'ing two other weanlings.

“I was very happy selling one for $400,000. He's a great horse, but we are breeding to sell,” Dorman said. “The other two, we put prices on them that we think are good and we can bring them back and sell them as yearlings.”

Determined Stud was also active buying broodmares. The team went to $350,000 to acquire Hard to Resist (Johanesburg) (hip 264)–dam of Going to Vegas (Goldencents)–at Fasig-Tipton and to $300,000 to take home Sociable (Run Away and Hide) (hip 23)–dam of Keeper ofthe Stars (Midnight Lute)–at Keeneland Wednesday.

“We were looking for ones that had either won graded stakes or had been graded stakes producers,” Dorman said. “So we got one Grade I producer last night and another one today.” @JessMartiniTDN

Lanni Scoops Up Quality Colt for Chus
Donato Lanni fended off all comers to win a prolonged bidding war on Hip 111, a $600,000 son of Quality Road. He was acting on behalf of Susan and Charlie Chu's Baoma Corp.

“Obviously, Quality Road had a good weekend in the Breeders' Cup,” Lanni said. “This colt is the type of horse that I think is going to grow up to be a really strong, athletic horse. We will send him to [Hill 'n' Dale at] Xalapa and then race him.”

He continued, “It is really tough to get a good colt in September, so I thought if we could find one here, let's buy him. Last year we brought a Justify colt here for the same price and we kept him.”

It is not unusual to see Lanni buying expensive horses for the Chus, though typically they focus on fillies.

“They like to buy one colt a year just to have that hope that they have a [GI Kentucky] Derby horse on their hands and can run in those big colt races,” the bloodstock agent said. “Bob [Baffert] has done a great job for them and they are great, lucky people. That helps a lot.”

Lanni continued, “They have three stallions at Bridlewood and she supports all three, but hopefully we will have one standing in Kentucky.”

Consigned by Bedouin Bloodstock, Hip 111 was bred by SF Bloodstock, which also sold his dam Exotic Notion (Lemon Drop Kid) (Hip 110) to Avenue Bloodstock for $800,000 carrying this colt's full-sibling one hip earlier. Exotic Notion is a half-sister to MGISW and popular young stallion City of Light (Quality Road).

“It is always a great compliment when Donato Lanni buys from your program,” said SF's Tom Ryan. “He is a beautiful colt. He is one of those colts who was stunning from the day he was born and everything went according to plan. He presented himself as a November candidate early on. The mare is a half-sister to, possibly to date, Quality Road's best son. It felt like the right move to present him here in November.”

As for Exotic Notion, who is stakes placed in Argentina, Ryan said, “The mare also sold very well. It was great to be able to put her foal on display beside her and she was carrying a foal sibling. It was a very intriguing package for anyone to put in their broodmare band.”

Yearlings from the first crop of City of Light were extremely well received at Keeneland September. A colt by the Lane's End stallion topped the premiere auction at $1.7 million and another one of his sons brought $1.05 million. His top sire and barnmate Quality Road was right behind him with the auction's second-most expensive offering, a $1.6 million colt, and had another son bring $1.15 million.

As Lanni mentioned, Quality Road had a stellar Breeders' Cup weekend with his unbeaten and soon-to-be champion son Corniche winning the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile and his daughter Dunbar Road was a very close second in the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff.

“City of Light is a stunning physical and the yearlings that were presented in Saratoga and September were amazing,” Ryan said. “Quality Road has really risen to an elite status in the last couple of years and it really feels like he will continue to maintain that status for years to come. He is breeding the best mares in the country now. He is a great stallion to produce a sales horses and on top of that he produces brilliant racehorses.” —@CDeBernardisTDN

Mattress Mack In It For the Long Haul With Into Mischief Filly
James McIngvale, better known as “Mattress Mack,” not only plans to keep the $510,000 weanling filly by Into Mischief (Hip 48) he purchased Wednesday for racing, but he already has her future mate picked out. No surprise…it's his champion sprinter Runhappy.

“I like Into Mischief,” McIngvale said, while sporting a 2021 World Series sweatshirt featuring his beloved Houston Astros. “I like the filly. My sister-in-law Laura Wohlers, who is the trainer, liked her. I think she will make a good mate one of these days, after she runs some races, for the great Runhappy. I am glad to have her.”

Consigned by Paramount Sales for breeders Drumkenny Farm, American Equistock and Dromoland Farm, Hip 48 is out of a half-sister to Grade I-winning sire Latent Heat (Maria;s Mon), MGSW Art Master (Royal Academy) and GSW Indian Flare (Cherokee Run).

Given the filly's sire and physique, McIngvale said he was not surprised by the price.

“I thought it would be about that,” he said. “The auctioneer said if you go to $510,000 he will quit, so I did. [Buying as a weanling], you get a lower price, but obviously there is more risk. I have never been afraid of risk. I love to gamble and I am gambling today.”

McIngvale is well known in the racing world for his creative promotions for his young stallion Runhappy and is famous nationwide for his massive bets on the Astros. He has brought his two passions together at the November Sale by bringing a new owner into the game.

“My friend Alex Bregman, who plays third base for the Houston Astros, is here and he is buying horses, so I brought some new people to the horse business,” McIngvale said. “I am glad to have Alex getting in the horse game. It is a great sport and we do everything we can to help racing through the advertising and promotion of Runhappy.”

“I have to show you guys this,” McIngvale said to the group of reporters and he reached in his pocket for a folded piece of paper. He opened it to reveal Wednesday's TDN Sire List, which featured Leading Second-Crop Dirt Sires by Black-Type Winners.

“See, there he is,” McIngvale said, pointing to Runhappy's name at the top of the list. “I am always promoting. I am a salesman.” —@CDeBernardisTDN

Bregmans Have Long-Term Racing Goals
With the World Series in the rearview mirror, Houston Astros third baseman Alex Bregman was enjoying some down time at the Keeneland November sale Wednesday. Bregman and wife Reagan recently began building a racing stable, buying a handful of yearlings, as well as a weanling, this fall.

“Growing up in New Mexico, I always used to go to the track with my grandfather,” Bregman said of his initial interest in racing. “My dad is on the racing commission in New Mexico. So we have always had a strong love for horse racing in our family. And my wife grew up with hunter/jumpers, so she's always loved horses.”

With the encouragement of the Astros number one fan Jim McIngvale, the Bregmans made their initial racing investments this year and while their plans remain flexible, their interest is for the long-term.

“This is the first year that we actually got involved in the business,” Bregman confirmed. “I'm looking forward to it. I would like to do a lot of things in the business. First and foremost, I want to win races.”

The Bregmans, assisted by bloodstock agent Mike Akers, purchased three yearlings at the Keeneland September sale, led by a $150,000 son of Medaglia d'Oro (hip 1314) and another two at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Fall sale–a $67,000 daughter of Kantharos (hip 135) and a $65,000 filly by Goldencents (hip 499). They acquired a weanling daughter of Practical Joke (hip 131) for $45,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Fall Sale.

“We bought a few yearlings and we have one weanling. We are looking to race them and we have two fillies that we are hoping will be good broodmares down the road,” Bregman said. “We are thinking long-term. We want to run from within. We haven't completely nailed down everything we want to do yet. But we want to be in the horse racing business for a long time.”

He continued, “Right now, four of the yearlings are down in Ocala with Ciaran Dunne and two of our yearlings are here over with Laura [Wohlers] and Mack.”

Bregman was at the November sale fresh off a trip to Del Mar for the Breeders' Cup last weekend.

“It was a lot of fun,” Bregman said of his first Breeders' Cup experience. “We had the whole family there, it was a blast. I actually own a half-share of Runhappy, so it was awesome to go see Following Sea [run third in the GI Qatar Breeders' Cup Sprint. I thought he looked great. And honestly, I look forward to Runhappy do really well. I think he's on the rise and he'll be a great stallion.”

Bregman's off-season plans start with healing a broken hand and also includes spending time with his new racing prospects.

“I'll be enjoying the time off, going to see the horses with the wife and watching them grow up and hopefully grow into some winners,” Bregman said. “Being with the horses, healing the broken hand and also just training and getting ready for next season.” @JessMartiniTDN

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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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Group 3 Winner Pollara, In Foal To War Front, Tops Second Day Of Keeneland November Sale At $975,000

Pollara, a Group 3 winner in France who is carrying her first foal by War Front, sold to Arthur Hoyeau, agent, for $975,000 during Tuesday's second session of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale, which was marked by international and domestic participation.

A total of 197 horses sold today for $27,690,000, for an average of $140,558 and a median of $100,000.

Through two sessions, 325 horses have grossed $77,465,000, for an average of $238,354 and a median of $135,000.

“Overall the market is strong,” Keeneland President-Elect and Interim Head of Sales Shannon Arvin said. “Five mares sold today for more than $500,000, which is pretty comparable to last year's session. Consignors have commented to us that they have been a little surprised at the strength of the market. So trade is strong.”

Keeneland Director of Sales Operations Geoffrey Russell agreed.

“Phil Schoenthal from Maryland brought Matt Dorman, who's developing a breeding operation, so they are here to fill up a farm,” he said. “Our international clients who came last year are back buying to lay down the foundations for their breeding operations. Keeneland is where the world comes to buy. If you look at the leading buyers at the end of the day. you have European, American and Japanese interests. There was a great mix of people today, and we hope that continues.”

Pollara, a 5-year-old daughter of Camelot, is out of the winning Storm Cat mare Brooklyn's Storm, a half-sister to French highweight and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Solemia. She is also from the family of French highweight and multiple Group 1 winner Silasol and group winners Prospect Wells and Prospect Park.

“She is going back to France,” said Henri Bozo, manager of Ecurie des Monceaux, about Pollara. “She is a very exciting mare. She is in foal to a very proven stallion. We try to breed classic winners. She stood out in Book 2.”

Pollara was consigned by Claiborne Farm, agent.

“She's such a nice mare, a group winner in France and in foal to the right horse,” Claiborne President Walker Hancock said. “Every single mare in the family is in foal to a world-leading sire. It's a very active family and they've all been bred to the best sires in the world. There are tons of upside to the family. When you have a page like that, a race record like that and in foal to the right sire the sky's the limit.”

Schoenthal, agent for Dorman's Determined Stud, paid $800,000 for Style and Grace, a winning, 4-year-old daughter of Curlin who is carrying her first foal by City of Light, and $600,000 for Vevina, a 5-year-old, stakes-placed daughter of More Than Ready who is carrying her first foal by Uncle Mo.

Style and Grace, a half-sister to Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner Furthest Land, was consigned by Lane's End, agent. Out of the Rahy mare Flagrant, she is from the family of Grade 2 winner Ready for Rye and Grade 3 winner Dynever.

Vevina, who was consigned by Kingswood Farm, is out of My Sugar Bear, by Giant's Causeway. She is from the family of Grade 2 winners Possible Mate and Guided Tour.

Determined Stud is a new breeding and racing operation that acquired several horses at Keeneland's 2020 September Yearling Sale.

“We're just buying quality,” Dorman said about Determined's broodmare purchases on Tuesday. “We have some stallion shares so we have some stallions in mind. The farm is in Boyds, Maryland. We are really looking for quality, so I think the band will be around the 15-horse mark and then we will go from there.”

Lane's End was the session's leading consignor, selling 31 horses for $4,716,000.

Woodford Thoroughbreds paid $575,000 for Grade 3-placed mare Hot Cash, a full-sister to Grade 1 winner Stately Victor carrying her first foal by Curlin. Consigned by Hidden Brook, agent, the 5-year-old daughter of Ghostzapper is out of Grade 1 winner Collect the Cash, by Dynaformer.

“She will be a good addition to the broodmare band,” said Lincoln Collins, who signed the ticket for Hot Cash. “No breeding plans yet; we will sit down and think about it. We knew she was going to be expensive but you never quite know what that means. It is a better market than I think any of us thought it would be. The horse business is alive and well.”

“She sold well. We are happy,” Hidden Brook's Dan Hall said. “She's a young mare who could run and she's in foal to the right horse. (Her sale is part of) a major reduction (for Adena Springs), getting the numbers way down. It makes sense right now. We have close to 90, between mares and weanlings, all in this sale. There has been a lot of interest at the barn at all levels.”

For the second day, a colt from the first crop of undefeated 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify was the session's top-priced weaning. On Tuesday, M.V. Magnier paid $475,000 for the first foal of Grade 3-placed winner Inchargeofme. Nursery Place, agent, consigned the colt, who is from the family of Group 1-placed Johann Straus.

“He's a beautiful-looking horse, and Justify is making very good foals,” Coolmore's David Wachman said. “We're just excited to be able to buy a very nice horse by him. Across the board, they're very good, and he's a very smart horse, that horse. We're happy to have him.”

Yeguada Centurion of Spain led buyers by spending $3,127,000 for 17 horses.

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Solid Book 2 Opener at Keeneland

by Jessica Martini, Brian DiDonato & Christie DeBernardis

LEXINGTON, KY – The Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale’s two-session Book 2 opened Tuesday in Lexington with solid trade and a varied bench of domestic and international buyers. Bloodstock agent Arthur Hoyeau made the day’s highest bid, going to $975,000 to acquire the group-winning mare Pollara (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) from the Claiborne Farm consignment. The 5-year-old mare was one of five to sell for $500,000 or more during Tuesday’s session. Six reached that level at last year’s first Book 2 session.

In all, 197 head sold Tuesday for $27,690,000. The session average of $140,558 dipped 10% from last year’s figure and the median fell 20% to $100,000. With 84 horses reported not sold, the buy-back rate was 30%. It was 24% a year ago when 227 horses grossed $35,443,000.

“It’s the same old story,” said Claiborne’s Walker Hancock. “The good ones bring a lot of money, the middle is spotty and there is no one really there for the lower end. Hopefully if these people keep getting outbid, it will trickle down to the middle and lower market. The foal market seems healthy, at least for us.”

Bloodstock agent Lincoln Collins , who signed for the fourth-highest offering Tuesday, said of the market, “It’s been tough enough. We got blown out on a couple yesterday. We bought one at Fasig-Tipton, so it’s a better market than any of us thought it would be. I think it will probably get tougher from here on out. But the horse business is alive and well.”

The Spanish-based Yeguada Centurian was the session’s leading buyer, with 17 head purchased for $3,127,000, while trainer Phil Schoenthal, buying for Matt Dorman’s Maryland-based Determined Stud, was the second leading buyer with six purchased for $2.2 million.

“This is where the world comes to buy,” said Keeneland’s Director of Sales Operations Geoffrey Russell. “If you look at the leaders at the end of the day, you had European, American, and Japanese buyers, there was a great mix of people today. We hope that continues on.”

The 2020 November catalogue is a slimmed down version of its 2019 counterpart. There were 413 horses catalogued in last year’s Book 2 opener, compared to 374 this year. The decrease in numbers is likely related to the number of market uncertainties heading into the November sale, according to Russell.

“At the yearling market, you are selling your crop, so you really have to show up,” Russell said. “In November, you’re selling the factory or the foal. They don’t have to sell the factory this year, they can wait and see if the market will be better next year and they can keep the foal for a yearling sale. Those business decisions are being made.”

For the second day in a row, a weanling from the first crop of Justify was the top-priced foal, with Coolmore’s M.V. Magnier going to $475,000 to take home a colt by the Triple Crown winner from the Nursery Place consignment. Justify had the $600,000 co-highest weanling of Monday’s first session of the auction.

The November auction picked up its ninth seven-figure sale when Con Te Partiro (Scat Daddy), originally an RNA Monday, sold post-sale for $1.6 million.

Internet bidders continued to be active Tuesday, making 92 bids and 12 purchases for gross sales over $2.5 million.

The Keeneland November sale resumes Wednesday at 10 a.m. and continues through Nov. 18.

Con Te Partiro to Qatar Racing

While she was bought back for $1.9 million during Monday’s first session of the Keeneland November sale, multiple Group 1 winner Con Te Partiro (Scat Daddy) (hip 217) was sold post-sale for $1.6 million to David Redvers on behalf of Sheikh Fahad’s Qatar Racing. The 6-year-old broodmare prospect was consigned by Bedouin Bloodstock on behalf of SF Bloodstock.

“We watched her through the ring yesterday, but we didn’t actually bid,” Redvers said. “We thought she was too expensive at $2 million. We thought she was worth a bit less, so we waited. When I saw she hadn’t sold, I spoke to [SF Bloodstock]’s Tom [Ryan] and Sheikh Fahad, who I’ve bought her for, and we’ve done a deal at I think the right money.

Con Te Partiro won this year’s G1 Coolmore Legacy S. and G1 Coolmore Classic in Australia. She was also a stakes winner in England at Royal Ascot and in the United States. Out of Temple Street (Street Cry {Ire}), she is a half-sister to multiple graded-placed Donworth (Tiznow).

“She is an immensely talented and fast filly who has proven her versatility and soundness around the world,” Redvers said. “She is going to be a very good addition to the Qatar Bloodstock broodmare band. She will come to Tweenhills and I think we will probably cover her with Frankel (GB) and I hope we can breed a proper horse for Europe.”

SF Bloodstock purchased Con Te Partiro for $575,000 at the 2018 Fasig-Tipton November sale and she won three group races in Australia in the operation’s colors.

“She is a mare who brought us great joy,” said Ryan. “We really enjoyed racing her. Everyone who has touched this mare has really had great success with her and we wish Sheikh Fahad all the success with her in the future. She is a superstar mare, a superstar physical with great pedigree, great family. The price was very fair.”

Of Con Te Partiro’s initial RNA status, Ryan said, “We were surprised, but that happens sometimes. Sometimes the stars just don’t align the way you’d like them to. I’m glad that we have a long-standing relationship with David Redvers and his team and we were able to come to a place where we both felt like it was a fair trade.” @JessMartiniTDN

Pollara Proves Popular

As a well-pedigreed daughter of Camelot (GB) in foal to War Front, Pollara (Ire) (hip 391) had plenty of international appeal and that served her well Tuesday at Keeneland, where she summoned $975,000 from a partnership headed by France’s Ecurie des Monceaux after a spirited round of bidding.

“She is going to go back to Monceaux and we are going to breed from her,” Ecurie de Monceaux’s Henri Bozo said. “She is a very exciting mare with a great family and is in foal to a very proven stallion. We try to produce Classic winners and she suits that program.”

As for the near seven-figure price tag, Bozo said, “She was standing out in Book 2. I don’t think whether she is in Book 1 or 2 changes much. Quality gets paid for. We were beaten four times yesterday, so it has been tough to buy. It is a very strong market which is good news.”

Out of the Storm Cat mare Brooklyn’s Storm, Group winner Pollara is a half-sister to MSW & GSP Stormina (Gulch), who is the dam of MG1SW Silasol (Monsun).

“She is such a nice mare, a group winner in France and in foal to the right horse,” said Walker Hancock, whose family’s Claiborne Farm consigned the mare. “I was just looking through the family and every single mare in the family is in foal to a world-leading sire. There will be tons of upside with the family. When you have a page like this, a race record like that and are in foal to the right sire, the sky’s the limit. Congratulations to them. I wish them the best.” —@CDeBernardisTDN

Dorman Remains ‘Determined’ in Book 2

Maryland-based Matt Dorman of upstart operation Determined Stud made a splash at Fasig-Tipton Sunday that continued during Monday’s Book 1 session of the Keeneland November sale, and he and trainer and advisor Phil Schoenthal were back at it Tuesday shopping the top end of Book 2.

Their priciest buy was $800,000 Style and Grace (Curlin), who was consigned by Lane’s End as hip 465 and offered in foal to Lane’s End’s promising young resident City of Light.

Style and Grace was a $270,000 KEESEP yearling by Lane’s End-affiliated Woodford Racing and Team D. She was two-for-nine on the track, scoring in an Aqueduct maiden special weight and Ellis allowance. The half-sister to GI Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner Furthest Land (Smart Strike) RNA’d for $190,000 here 12 months ago, but has seen her pedigree light up in the interim. Three-year-old half-sister Luck Money, by another son of Smart Strike in Lookin At Lucky, annexed Belmont’s Zagora S. Oct. 31 after having already finished third in the Dueling Grounds Oaks in September. A sophomore filly out of Style and Grace’s half-sister Embroidery (More Than Ready) broke through under the Twin Spires on Sunday.

“It’s a great page, great history, and a fairly young horse so there is a lot of future there,” said Dorman from the back ring while waiting to bid on another one. “To me, it seemed like a no-brainer.”

Dorman confirmed that the fact Style and Grace was in foal to City of Light added to the appeal, and was pleased to be finding a softer market in Book 2: “We’ve been trying to buy some [mares in foal to City of Lights. We’re pretty happy the market dropped off today from my side of it but I think it’s been fair. There are a couple of active folks going after quality horses, so I think the market works.”

Lane’s End’s Allaire Ryan said of the sale: It exceeded our expectations–we’re very pleased with the sale for obvious reasons. With that being said, when they’re as popular as she was–she was shown 95 times yesterday; that’s more than some of our foals were. She was a young, pretty, well-bred filly and she’s had a couple family updates since the catalogue. One sister’s a stakes winner now, and a horse out of a half-sister just broke her maiden at Churchill two days ago. Everything just lined up well, and it just shows you how competitive the market is for the quality that’s here.”

Team Determined had purchased SW/MGSP Involuntary (City Zip) (hip 307, Hidden Brook, i/f to Bernardini) for $70,000 earlier in the day, and was just getting started when they bought Style and Grace. They then added $335,000 Tenacious Jewel (Medaglia d’Oro), a daughter of MGSW Bizzy Caroline (Afleet Alex) who is in turn half to superstar Lady Eli (Divine Park) (hip 483, Runnymede Farm, i/f to Into Mischief); and stakes-placed Vevina (More Than Ready) for $600,000 (hip 503, Kingswood Farm, i/f to Uncle Mo).

Vevina is half to the winning 3-year-old and $500,000 KEESEP buy Friar’s Road (Quality Road), who was last seen just missing in a Keeneland allowance Oct. 15. She was purchased for $140,000 at the beginning of the year at Keeneland January. Vevina’s second dam is GSP Primetimevalentine (Affirmed), in turn the dam of MGSP All for Thee (Elusive Quality) and most recently September’s GIII Tokyo City Cup S. winner Cupid’s Claws (Kitten’s Joy).

“[Uncle Mo] is what we consider to be a Classic sire and a great bloodline, so that’s what you want when you’re starting out a broodmare band,” Dorman said. “We’re just buying quality. We have some stallion shares so we have some stallions in mind [to breed back to]. The farm is in Boyds, Maryland. We are really looking for quality so I think the band will be around the 15-horse mark and then we will go from there.”

Determined Stud finished the day off with $300,000 Ygritte (Tapit) (hip 517, Lane’s End, i/f to Candy Ride {Arg}), a daughter of Canadian champion Irish Mission (Giant’s Causeway); and $95,000 Drinking Dixie (Quality Road) (hip 602, Kingswood Farm, i/f to Kantharos).

Dorman, co-founder of Credible Behavioral Health Software, has been racing for about 10 years as D Hatman Thoroughbreds. He purchased a farm earlier this year and has been working since then to build up his broodmare band.

Dorman and Schoenthal were also active during yearling sales season–they bought five fillies for $870,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Selected Yearlings Showcase, and another six at Keeneland September for $1,195,000.

In addition to mares, they’ve purchased three weanling fillies at KEENOV: hip 86, by Tapit from Hidden Brook; hip 210, by American Pharoah from James Keogh’s Grovendale; and hip 215, by Hard Spun and offered by Valkyre Stud.

“We got a good group in September, so we look at these as possible pinhooks, but most likely runners,” Dorman said of his foal purchases. “If one of them jumps up and we get some interest then we may pinhook, but we’re looking at long term and we don’t need to generate revenue in the short term.”

—@BDiDonatoTDN

Buyers Continue to See the ‘Light’

Mares in foal to four-time Grade I winner City of Light proved extremely popular last fall, following his smashing win in the lucrative GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational S. and first year standing at Lane’s End. He was second to only Triple Crown winner Justify among covering freshman sires by average last year ($223,275), and his first foals have been similarly well received. A $600,000 City of Light colt was the priciest foal Sunday at Fasig-Tipton, and both his foals and mares bred to him have proved popular at Keeneland.

“He’s an exciting young stallion for us–no doubt,” said Lane’s End’s Allaire Ryan after the aforementioned hip 465 sold for $800,000 in foal to the $710,000 KEESEP yearling and speedy former Mike McCarthy trainee. “Just to have a son of Quality Road who looks as good as he does and was as talented as he was on the track, and that’s throwing the physicals that he is, all signs point to a successful future for him. I can’t say anything more positive about what we’ve seen from him thus far. That certainly gives you even more momentum to ride with a mare like [Style and Grace].”

City of Light has had 11 in-foal mares at KEENOV gross $2,860,000 at an average of $260,000, putting him fourth on the covering sires list by average with two or more sold behind only established stallions War Front, Uncle Mo and Constitution.

—@BDiDonatoTDN

New Group Strikes For Dothraki Sea

West Point Thoroughbreds’ Terry Finley and bloodstock agent David Ingordo are a familiar duo at yearling and 2-year-old sales, but, with Finley’s group focusing on racing not breeding, it was unusual to see the pair signing a ticket on a broodmare Tuesday. Finley and Ingordo went to $560,000 to acquire Dothraki Sea (Union Rags), who was purchased on behalf of a new partnership buying as “Band of Brothers, LLC.” Consigned by Claiborne Farm, Hip 600 is in foal to red-hot sire Constitution.

“It is a group from Dallas that wanted to get into the broodmare business and they reached out to me,” Finley explained. “They wanted top-end mares and I thought she was beautiful.”

Finley continued, “We tried a couple at the beginning of the sale and didn’t get lucky. We will look at a few more. Everybody is game and wants good horses.”

SF Bloodstock purchased Dothraki Sea’s unraced dam Mini Chat (Deputy Minister) with this mare in utero for $340,000 at the 2014 Keeneland November Sale. A daughter of champion Phone Chatter, Mini Chat had already produced Grade I-winning sire Dixie Chatter (Dixie Union) and GSW Rumor (Indian Charlie).

The SF team retained Dothraki Sea to race and she captured two of eight starts for trainer Tom Proctor before retiring to the breeding shed. The bay had her first foal this year, a colt by Curlin.

“She is by Union Rags and she is all class,” said Ingordo. “It is a pedigree I know and respect. Constitution is an up-and-coming stallion and the mare also has a Curlin, so two proven sires it looks like. She is just the whole package.” —@CDeBernardisTDN

Hot Cash for Woodford

Graded stakes-placed Hot Cash (Ghostzapper) (hip 293) will be joining the broodmare band at Woodford Farm after bloodstock agent Lincoln Collins went to $575,000 to acquire the 5-year-old mare from the Hidden Brook consignment early in Tuesday’s second session of the Keeneland November sale.

“She is by Ghostzapper, she’s graded stakes-placed and she’s in foal to Curlin,” Collins said of the mare’s qualities. “And she’s very good looking. She’s just a nice mare, we liked her and she’ll be a good addition to the broodmare band for Woodford.”

Bred by Frank Stronach’s Adena Springs and campaigned by his Stronach Stables, Hot Cash was third in the 2018 Woodbine Oaks and second in last year’s GIII Trillium S. She is a daughter of Stronach homebred Collect the Cash (Dynaformer), winner of the 2000 GI Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup S., and she is a full-sister to Grade I winner Stately Victor.

Of the mare’s final price, Collins said, “We knew she was going to be expensive. You never know quite what that means, but we are happy to have her.”

Also through the Hidden Brook consignment, Adena Springs sold Queen’s Plate winner Holy Helena (Ghostzapper) (hip 28) for $1.5 million during Monday’s first session of the November Sale. Among the operation’s Tuesday results were Devine Aida (Unbridled’s Song) (hip 596), who sold for $400,000 to Fairview LLC; Promise Me Silver (Silver City) (hip 397), who sold for $325,000 to Chester and Mary Broman; and Sweet Sting (Awesome Again) (hip 474), who sold for $310,000 to Pam and Marty Wygod. The Wygods also bought Sweet Sting’s weanling filly by Empire Maker (hip 475) for $230,000.

“It is just a major reduction, getting the numbers way down,” Hidden Brook partner Dan Hall said of the Adena Springs offerings. “It makes sense right now. We have close to 90, between mares and weanlings, all in this sale. There has been a lot of interest at the barn at all levels.” @JessMartiniTDN

Coolmore Supports Justify

The Coolmore contingent was out in full force Tuesday at Keeneland, and struck early in the session to land a colt from the first crop of Coolmore Ashford resident Justify for $475,000. Consigned by John Mayer’s Nursery Place as hip 298, the Jan. 27 foal was bred by Nursery Place, Manfuso and Wilhite.

“He’s a beautiful-looking horse, and Justify is making very good foals,” said Coolmore’s David Wachman. “We’re just excited to be able to buy a very nice horse by him. Across the board, they’re very good, and he’s a very smart horse, that horse. We’re happy to have him.”

Nursery Place acquired hip 298’s dam Inchargeofme (GB) (High Chaparral {Ire}) for $80,000 as an unraced 2-year-old at the 2015 Keeneland January sale. She was turned over to Charlie LoPresti and, racing in the names of Mayer and Robert Manfuso, racked up three wins from 13 starts, capped by a third-place run in the 2018 GIII Mint Julep H. in 2018. She was bought back for $235,000 later that year at Fasig-Tipton November. Hip 298 is her first foal. She was bred back to Blame.

Demand for foals by the 2018 Triple Crown winner has, unsurprisingly, been strong thus far. His sellers at Fasig-Tipton November included a $400,000 filly, and Donato Lanni bought a $600,000 colt Monday at Keeneland. Two seven-figure mares sold in foal to Justify at Fasig, including $4.2-million MGISW Bast (Uncle Mo). —@BDiDonatoTDN

Best Back in Action Early for Mastery Colt

Larry Best bought the top two lots during Monday’s Book 1, a pair of seven-figure mares, and was back in action early during Tuesday’s Book 2 opener, going to $450,000 for a weanling colt from the second crop of Mastery (hip 266).

“It was driven mostly be the physical of the horse and then, of course, Mastery,” said Best. “I have a Mastery I bought last year and I think he is going to hit as a sire. Largely I’d say it was driven by the physical of the horse. I noticed in the ring here when I was bidding that a lot of smart money was on him. That always makes me feel more comfortable when I see people that know horses on the same horse.”

As for the price, the OXO Equine principal said, “They have enough quality buyers here that want to play at the top, so you’re talking $350,000 to $600,000 for the quality weanlings. So, I wasn’t really that surprised.”

The price exceeded expectations for breeders Lee McMillin and Eric Buckley.

“It doesn’t happen very often, but when it does, it’s sweet, especially for a homebred horse,” said Buckley, whose family operates Threave Main Stud, which consigned the colt. “We both have small, family farms. This horse just ticked all the boxes for a lot of people. He got a good home, which is the main thing.”

Out of Go Go Dana (Malibu Moon), who is back in foal to champion Mitole, hip 266 hails from the family of top stallion Distorted Humor.

His sire Mastery was undefeated in his brief career, winning four consecutive races, topped by the GI Los Alamitos Cash Call Futurity S. He retired to Claiborne after suffering a career-ending injury after crossing the wire first in the 2017 GII San Felipe S.

“He was a very good racehorse, obviously,” said Buckley. “He stands at the right stud farm. We have been doing business over there for 50 years, my family has. I will be breed to him again. I’ll tell you that.” —@CDeBernardisTDN

Constitution Colt a Welcome Score

Bill Harrigan, Mike Pietrangelo and Mark McEntee purchased the mare Welcome Speech (Henrythenavigator), in foal to Constitution, for $52,000 at last year’s Keeneland November sale. The mare’s weanling colt by Constitution (hip 509) rewarded the partners Tuesday at Keeneland when selling for $300,000 to the Enfuego Stables pinhooking partnership. The bay was consigned by Lane’s End.

“She’s a Henrythenavigator mare and it’s a great pedigree,” McEntee said of the mare’s appeal last year. “We loved the fact that she was in foal to Constitution. He’s obviously a top stallion–he’s $85,000 for next year. She looked like she had the body and the build to throw a really nice foal. And Bill has a very good eye–it’s all up to Bill.”

Of impressions of the mare’s weanling, McEntee said, “He’s sort of a raw horse. He has all of the angles and a beautiful, long, relaxed walk. He’s been a standout at the farm. All credit to Allaire Ryan and Callan Strouss from Lane’s End. They came out to look at the horse and really liked him. They put him in Book 2 and put him in the right place. They were high on the horse and he sold like it.”

As for Welcome Speech, who is out of a full-sister to Grade I winner Winchester, McEntee said “We are going to look at stallions starting tomorrow and try to find a nice stallion for her for next year on an early cover.” @JessMartiniTDN

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