$850,000 Weanling Tops Day 3 Of Keeneland Breeding Stock Sale

They contributed to total sales of 271 horses reaching $29,701,000 to mark a five percent increase from the corresponding session last year.

The day’s average of $109,598 held steady when compared with last year’s $110,465, and the median of $85,000 was 5.56 percent below last year’s $90,000.

Thursday marked the first of two sessions that comprise Book 2 of the sale.

“The top end of the foal market is very strong,” Keeneland Director of Sales Geoffrey Russell said. “It was great to see those two weanlings break loose. During the same session last year, the highest price was $410,000, so to have a total of four horses exceed that amount shows how the sale is continuing with the strength of Book 1.”

Cumulatively, Keeneland has sold 544 horses for $125,553,000, nine percent above the gross of $114,700,500 last year.

The average of $230,796 matches the average last year, and the median of $125,000 is down 10.71 percent from $140,000 in 2013.

Brian Graves, representing Clear Ridge Stables, signed the ticket for the top-priced weanling, a half-brother to stakes winner Street Life consigned by Nursery Place, agent. The colt is out of the winning Grindstone mare Stone Hope.

“He’s one of the nicest horses in the sale,” Graves said. “He’s by a very good stallion, and that costs money. This one’s very light on his feet – a really well-balanced, muscular horse that you just expect to get better and better.”

VanMeter Sales, agent, consigned the session’s top-priced weanling filly, out of the stakes-placed Unbridled’s Song mare Life Lesson.

“Physically, I don’t know if you’re going to find one as good as that Malibu Moon filly, and we love Unbridled’s Song mares,” said Alex Solis II, who purchased the filly for an undisclosed client. “She’s from the family of (Racing Hall of Famer and prominent producer) Serena’s Song, and she just checked all the boxes. She was that good. She’s an unbelievable filly, and hopefully she can run.”

The session’s top-priced mares each brought $450,000. The first was Hummingbird Hill, a daughter of leading sire Tapit carrying her first foal by Blame. The second was the Indian Charlie mare I’m Mom’s Favorite, in foal to Union Rags for her first foal.

Consigned by Claiborne Farm, agent, Hummingbird Hill was sold to Mandy Pope’s Whisper Hill Farm LLC. The 4-year-old half-sister to stakes winner Fifth Avenue is from the family of Grade 1 winners Miss Shop and Power Broker and Grade 2 winner Trappe Shop.

Barbara Banke’s Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings purchased I’m Mom’s Favorite, consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent. The 4-year-old stakes-winning mare, out of the Storm Cat mare Charming Toutsie, is a granddaughter of multiple Grade 1 winner Tout Charmant.

Asked about breeding plans for the acquisition, Stonestreet bloodstock adviser John Moynihan said, “We’ll see who she goes well with. Indian Charlie is such a good broodmare sire. She’s really, really pretty. What was on the page was probably not indicative of her true ability; she could really run fast. She won the Miss Preakness Stakes, a hard race to win. That’s a good indicator of her quality.”

Claiborne Farm, agent, also consigned Guard the Lines, a daughter of War Front carrying her first foal by Curlin, who was sold to Mayfair Speculators for $400,000. The 3-year-old mare, a full sister to Grade 1 winner Data Link, is out of the stakes-winning Known Fact mare Database.

Grant Knowles, who represents Klawervlei Stud of South Africa, signed the ticket for Guard the Lines.

“To get mares like this into the South African gene pool is a massive boost to South African racing,” said Knowles, who added that Guard the Lines will remain in the U.S. to foal then be sent to South Africa and be bred to recently retired two-time South African Horse of the Year Variety Club. Variety Club will enter stud at Klawervlei in 2015.

“The market is super strong, the middle to high end of the market, especially,” Claiborne president Walker Hancock said. “We can attest to that. We tried to buy some, thought we were going to get them, and we weren’t even close. But that’s good. We’re happy with the way (the sale) is going.”

Taylor Made Sales Agency was the session’s leading consignor, selling 47 horses for $6,713,000.

The leading buyer was McMahon & Hill Bloodstock LLC, agent, which paid $917,000 for seven horses.

The November Sale continues through Friday, Nov. 14. Sessions begin at 10 a.m. The entire sale is streamed live at Keeneland.com.