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Keeneland November Sale Passes 2020 Total With Five Sessions To Go

The buoyant pace continued at Keeneland on Sunday when gross sales of $166,206,000 through five sessions of the 10-day November Breeding Stock Sale surpassed total sales of $151,017,300 recorded during last year's entire 10-day auction.

Demand continued to drive healthy gains today, the final day of Book 3, when 282 horses sold for $19,590,500, up 50.33% over the corresponding session of the 2020 November Sale when 235 horses grossed $13,032,000. The average of $69,470 rose 25.27% from last year's $55,455. The median increased 35.71% from $42,000 to $57,000.

At the halfway point in the sale, Keeneland has sold 1,120 horses for $166,206,000, up 29.14% compared to $128,701,000 for 982 horses at this point in 2020. The average of $148,398 increased 13.23% from last year's $131,060, while the median of $95,000 rose 26.67% from $75,000.

Market strength also was reflected in the buy-back rate, which was 15.32%.

Susan Casner paid the day's highest price of $360,000 for a weanling filly from the first crop of Audible who is a half-sister to 2021 Grade 1 Darley Alcibiades winner and G1 NetJets Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies runner-up Juju's Map. She was consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent.

Super Simple, a winning 5-year-old daughter of Super Saver from the family of 2021 G1 Hopeful winner Gunite, who in foal to Volatile, sold for $300,000 to Woodford Thoroughbreds. Consigned by Warrendale Sales, agent, Super Simple is out of stakes winner Simplify, by Pulpit, and is a half-sister to stakes winner Simple Surprise.

A weanling colt from the first crop of champion Mitole sold for $285,000 to Corinne and Bill Heiligbrodt and Spendthirft Farm. Consigned by Mulholland Springs, he is out of the Quality Road mare Rode Warrior and from the family of G2 winner Three Peat and G3 winner Wacky Patty.

Natalma paid $250,000 and $235,000 for the session's next two highest-priced horses, both cataloged as racing or broodmare prospects.

The first was Union Maiden, a winning, stakes-placed 4-year-old daughter of Union Rags consigned by Indian Creek, agent. Out of Pantanal, by Congrats, Union Maiden is a half-sister to Grade 1-placed Borracho and from the family of graded stakes-placed Selva and Vanzzy.

Natalma's $235,000 purchase was Correctness, a winning 4-year-old daughter of Medaglia d'Oro out of the winning Distorted Humor mare Veracity. Consigned by Denali Stud, agent, Correctness is from the family of G1 winners Elate and Eastern Echo and G2 winners Yell, Roar, and Tax.

Code of Honor LLC/L.E.B., agent, purchased six horses for $690,000 to lead buyers for the second consecutive day.

The leading consignor was Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent, which sold 28 horses for $2,729,000.

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Toast To Vino Rosso Presented By Spendthrift Farm: Momentum Into The Weekend At Keeneland November

As the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale moves into its second week, Spendthrift Farm's Vino Rosso has emerged as one of the early stars among the first-crop weanling sires.

The Breeders' Cup Classic-winning son of Curlin was responsible for the auction's most expensive first-crop weanling through the auction's first three sessions, and has established himself as one of the rookie stallions with the highest average weanling sale price during the select sessions of Kentucky's fall mixed sales.

In this installment of Toast To Vino Rosso, we'll look at a pair of weanlings by the stallion from the Gainesway consignment. One turned heads in the sale ring on Friday with a six-figure hammer price, while the other will get her chance to shine during Sunday's session.

Hip 645 – Bay filly out of Shaken, by Uncle Mo

The second-most expensive Vino Rosso weanling of the Keeneland sale through the end of Friday's session went to Scoot Stable for $300,000.

Bred in Kentucky by Mark Stansell, the bay filly is the first foal out of the Grade 2-placed Uncle Mo mare Shaken, who is herself a half-sister to the multiple Grade 2-placed runner Sway Away.

We checked in on this filly back in May, when she was boarded at Waggoner Farm in Lexington, Ky., for Texas-based Stansell. At the time, he said the decision to send Shaken to Vino Rosso was based on the stallion's race record and his expectation that the first foals would be received well at auction.

Brian Graves of consignor Gainesway was quick to note the filly's quality after the fall of the hammer.

“The Vino Rosso that we sold was just a really beautiful filly,” he said. “She'd be a select session-type filly at any sale she'd go to. She's beautifully-balanced, great hip. We've seen quite a few Vino Rossos that we liked over the sale, so the stallion looks like he's off to a good start producing nice stock.”

Hip 1469 – Gray or roan filly out of Snagglepuss, by Holy Bull

Sunday's session will feature this filly out of the winning Holy Bull mare Snagglepuss, who is the dam of one winner from two runners.

Bred in Kentucky by Tami Bobo, the filly hails from the family of Grade 1-placed Colorful Charades. The mating that produced this foal was set up by Milan Kosanovich, and Bobo acquired the pregnant mare after her visit to Vino Rosso.

“She's a beautiful filly, very forward, always loved her,” Bobo said. “I thought the market might be one that would support a filly that's physically as presentable as her to maybe come and try early, and see if the market plays where I think it should play. I think she's a great specimen for the stallion.”

“As a group overall, I like the Vino Rossos,” Bobo continued. “Collectively, they've been a great group of horses, and I think the public's going to receive them well. In hindsight, I think I probably should have been earlier than later, but I played it safe and was busy with real estate, and really hadn't gone through my babies like I should have early enough. Sale deadline time came up, so I called my two consignors and said, 'Enter all my horses in Book 3.' Hopefully she's a standout where she's at, and hopefully the public sees what we see in her.”

Vino Rosso, a 6-year-old son of Curlin, stands at Spendthrift Farm for an advertised fee of $20,000.

Vino Rosso won six of 15 starts and earned $4,803,125 on the racetrack. In addition to his signature Breeders' Cup Classic score, the stallion picked up victories in the Grade 1 Gold Cup at Santa Anita Stakes, and the G2 Wood Memorial Stakes.

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A Way-Too-Early Look At The First-Crop Weanling Sire Race At Kentucky’s November Sales

Any reasonable person would acknowledge that it's far too early in the game to be declaring winners and losers in a first-crop stallion race among those with first weanlings this year.

There have been exactly two days of selling at the major Kentucky fall mixed sales, prefaced by a few smaller sales around the country – hardly enough to provide an accurate projection of long-term commercial or on-track success for this year's class of young stallions.

However, the context behind those two days of selling in Kentucky make it worth noting who performed well.

The Fasig-Tipton November sale and Book 1 of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale are the pinnacle of North America's mixed auction calendar. The quantity of foals cataloged in each session says a lot about a first-year stallion's perceived spot on the high-end pecking order, and the performance of their foals when the hammer falls is a major dress rehearsal for the elite yearling sales to come. How a new stallion performs in these boutique sessions won't make or break a commercial legacy, but it's good information to have.

By that standard, the first jump out of the gate went to Spendthrift Farm's Omaha Beach, who was the leading first-crop weanling sire by average sale price, combining the Fasig-Tipton November sale on Tuesday and Book 1 of Keeneland November on Wednesday.

The Grade 1-winning son of War Front had five weanlings change hands through the ring over the two days for an average of $160,000.

Leading the way for Omaha Beach was a colt who sold Wednesday at Keeneland to Freya Stables for $300,000.

The dark bay or brown colt, offered as Hip 176, is out of the unraced Bellamy Road mare Achalaya, whose three foals of racing age are all winners, including Grade 1 winner Casa Creed and Grade 3 winner Chess's Dream. Gainesway consigned the colt, as agent.

Omaha Beach sent the most expensive first-crop weanling through the Fasig-Tipton ring on Tuesday, when Hip 46, a filly out of the Medaglia d'Oro mare Glory Gold, sold to Sewanne Investments for $220,000.

The New York-bred filly is a sister to stakes winners Espresso Shot and Venti Valentine, and she was consigned by Ballysax Bloodstock, agent.

Spendthrift Farm general manager Ned Toffey said he knew expectations were high for Omaha Beach's first foals. When an incoming stallion enters the marketplace with a $45,000 stud fee, a strong commercial reception is supposed to be a feature, not a pleasant surprise. Toffey said he was satisfied with how the Omaha Beach weanlings met their first challenge.

“They're just classy, elegant looking foals, very much like him,” Toffey said. “They're really good mentally. The stallion is wonderful mentally, and that's something that we're hearing from breeders is how good-minded these foals are.”

A fellow Spendthrift Farm resident wasn't far behind Omaha Beach among the early leaders in the first-crop race.

Champion Vino Rosso had five weanlings bring an average of $135,000, led by the most expensive first-crop weanling of Keeneland November's first book.

That was Hip 112, a dark bay or brown colt out of the unraced Tiznow mare Fair Huntress who sold to Bolter Bloodstock for $340,000.

The colt hails from the family of Grade 1 winner Competitionofideas and Grade 3 winner Devil by Design.

He was consigned by Glennwood Farm, which also bred Vino Rosso and consigned the Breeders' Cup Classic-winning son of Curlin as a yearling.

Vino Rosso's second-leading weanling came at the Fasig-Tipton November sale, when BW Stables went to $150,000 for Hip 114, a colt out of the Bodemeister mare Storm Raven. Ballysax Bloodstock consigned him, as agent.

“He's just been incredibly consistent,” Toffey said about Vino Rosso. “We get one breeder after another giving us this great feedback on how much they like their foal; things like 'best foal this mare's ever thrown,' 'best foal on the farm.' The rest of the market's starting to see that as well. They're very athletic, very well-balanced, everything you want to see.”

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Grade 1 Winner Paris Lights Brings $3.1 Million To Lead Book 1 Of Keeneland November Sale

Spendthrift Farm paid $3.1 million for the Grade 1-winning Curlin filly Paris Lights to lead Wednesday's Book 1 opening session of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale.

Paris Lights, who was supplemented to Book 1, was the third-to-last horse to appear in the ring during the session, which featured seven horses who sold for more than $1 million each and the highest price paid for a weanling at public auction in North America this year.

“It was a good, steady, strong session,” Keeneland president and CEO Shannon Arvin said. “We felt great about the way today went. It was as we had expected and hoped. We heard a lot of people say it was tough to buy. They didn't get to fill their orders so hopefully they'll be looking to do that in the next nine sessions.”

Keeneland sold 118 horses Wednesday for $50,634,000, for an average of $429,102 and a median of $330,000. Last year, 128 horses sold for $49,775,000, for an average of $388,867 and a median of $280,000.

“Overall it was a very honest, fair, encouraging session,” Keeneland vice president of sales Tony Lacy said. “The popularity and success of American pedigrees across the world is evident. (International buyers) are excited to be back (after the pandemic travel restrictions of the past). As we welcome more visitors from around the world, we see a more diverse group. They are active and they are going to be active into Books 2 and 3. They are not going anywhere anytime soon. That is encouraging as we step forward into the next year or two.”

Paris Lights was consigned by ELiTE, agent, as a racing or broodmare prospect. A 4-year-old filly out of the winning Bernardini mare Paris Bikini, she is from the family of Broodmare of Year Better Than Honour, Grade 2 winner Smolensk and Grade 3 winners America and First Captain.

“Very classic American racehorse – big, scopey filly,” Spendthrift general manager Ned Toffey said. “I think she will fit Into Mischief (who stands at Spendthrift) really well. We are happy to have her.”

Toffey said, “The market is very strong. It was pretty good across the board and very competitive. We tried on one earlier and didn't get her. (The price for Paris Lights) was very much what we thought we would have to pay. We were hoping to get her for less. She comes from as good a family as we have in the stud book. We are (always) trying to add select mares to our broodmare band.”

Paris Lights raced for the WinStar Stablemates Racing partnership.

“For her to be our first Grade 1-winning filly in such a short time period is very special in and of itself,” WinStar Stablemates director Mary Cage said. “And for her to then be able to come to Keeneland November and sell for such a high price tag really speaks to the quality of fillies and mares that we're able to offer to these people to be part of the ownership experience.

“Partnerships and syndicates are so important to getting people into the sport for a fraction of the cost, a fraction of the risk,” Cage added. “And to be able to do it at this level, I think is a second-to-none sort of experience that they're gonna remember forever.”

Masahiro Miki of Japan paid $2.3 million for the Grade 3-winning Tapit mare Pink Sands, who is carrying her first foal by Into Mischief. Consigned by Gainesway, agent, the 6-year-old mare is out of Grade 1 winner Her Smile, by Include.

“She exceeded what we thought we'd get for her coming here by a bit,” Gainesway general manager Brian Graves said about Pink Sands. “It wasn't a lot more than we felt we could possibly get for her, but obviously everybody's really happy. She was really quality. We felt we had a chance to be one of the best mares in Book 1 with her, and we're just really thrilled with that.”

Miki was the session's leading buyer, spending $3,675,000 for three horses.

Claiborne Farm, agent, went to $1.4 million to acquire Satin And Silk, a 4-year-old daughter of Galileo carrying her first foal by undefeated Triple Crown winner Justify. Consigned by Eaton Sales, agent, the mare is a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Materiality and Grade 2 winner and Grade 1-placed My Miss Sophia and from the family of Grade 1 winners Embellish the Lace and Afleet Express. Her dam is stakes winner Wildwood Flower, by Langfuhr.

“(Satin And Silk was purchased) for a farm client,” said Bernie Sams, Claiborne's Stallion Seasons & Bloodstock Manager. “We liked her, and My Miss Sophia is at the farm and we know the family.”

The family recorded a recent update when Annapolis, a colt by War Front out of My Miss Sophia won the Oct. 3 Grade 2 Pilgrim Stakes at Belmont Park.

Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings spent $1.15 million for the Scat Daddy mare Downside Scenario, who is carrying a full sibling to Grade 2 winner Mutasaabeq. Consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent, the 8-year-old mare is a half-sister to Group 3 winner Cool Cowboy. Her dam is Grand Breeze, by Grand Slam.

“That was a little above expectations,” seller Will Daugherty of BlackRidge Stables said about the price for Downside Scenario. “We bought this mare in 2018 (at Keeneland's January Horses of All Ages Sale) for $250,000 and obviously had a great success right off the bat with Mutasaabeq (sold for $425,000 at the 2018 November Sale). 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.”

Taylor Made Sales Agency was the session's leading consignor, selling 29 horses for $8,615,000.

Three horses sold for $1.2 million apiece.

Dana Bernhard paid the amount for the winning, stakes-placed Tapit filly Mind Out, who was cataloged as a broodmare prospect. Consigned by Gainesway, agent, Mind Out is a 4-year-old half-sister to Canadian champion Miss Mischief whose dam is the stakes-placed Lemon Drop Kid mare Kid Majic. She is from the family of Grade 1 winners J P's Gusto and Letruska.

“She's a beautiful Tapit filly, showed a lot of talent on the track,” said Matt Weinmann, who represented the buyer. “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.”

Bernhard also spent $700,000 for Glitter and Gold, a half-sister to champion Swiss Skydiver who is in foal to Curlin. Glitter and Gold is a winning daughter of Bodemeister.

“Those are our first two broodmares,” Weinmann said, “and we'll see where it goes from here.”

Grade 1 winner Maxim Rate sold to Ever Union Shokai for $1.2 million. Eaton Sales, agent, consigned the 5-year-old daughter of Exchange Rate, who was cataloged as a racing or broodmare prospect.

Ken Mishima, who signed the ticket, said Maxim Rate would go to Japan to be bred.

“The price was high, but she is a nice mare,” Mishima said.

Mt. Brilliant Farm spent $1.2 million for Book 1 supplement Look Me Over, a half-sister to Saturday's undefeated TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance winner and presumptive champion 2-year-old male Corniche. Consigned by Hunter Valley Farm, agent, Look Me Over is a 4-year-old mare who is carrying her first foal by Kitten's Joy. Her dam is Grade 2 winner Wasted Tears, by Najran.

“We had three horses all day that we liked and this last one (Paris Lights) we couldn't afford and then the one we bought (Look Me Over),” Mt. Brilliant owner Greg Goodman said. “We loved her, she was our first choice. We're really happy. She's beautiful. We've talked about it (who to breed her to in the future), we just haven't decided yet.”

At $800,000, the session's top-priced weanling was a daughter of Frankel who is a half-sister to Group 1 winner Arizona and Grade 2 winner Nay Lady Nay purchased by Phil Schoenthal, agent for Matt Dorman's D. Hatman Thoroughbreds. Four Star Sales, agent, consigned the filly, whose dam is the English Channel mare Lady Ederle. She is from the family of European champion Dabirsim and Group 1 winner Bright Generation (IRE).

Dorman said having Frankel as her sire made the filly especially attractive.

“It's a great page, great family,” Dorman said, “and she's got great conformation, so she ticked all the boxes. She'll be in the racing program and hopefully improve her page and go from there. She's long term for us.”

Dorman said the market is “pretty strong. There's some really good horses that people have brought out, and there's still a lot of pent-up demand.”

The November Sale continues Thursday with the first session of the two-day Book 2. TVG2 will present live coverage of the session from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. ET and from 5:30-8 p.m.

The auction continues through Friday, Nov. 19, with all sessions beginning at 10 a.m.

The final session on Nov. 19 will conclude with a single dedicated portion of horses of racing age following the conclusion of breeding stock. A total of 285 horses of racing age have been cataloged to the closing day and will follow the total of 148 head of breeding stock in the catalog.

Keeneland will accept supplements to the horses of racing age section through mid-November.

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