Keeneland January sale: Potesta brings $800K, Princess Arabella sells for $725K

Keeneland photo

Grade 2 winner Potesta sold for $800,000 at the Keeneland January sale

Potesta and Princess Arabella, both well-regarded fillies whose promising racing careers were cut short by injuries last season, sold for $800,000 and $725,000, respectively, to help pace Monday's opening session of the Keeneland January horses of all ages sale.

John Moynihan, agent for Stonestreet Farm, signed the ticket on Potesta, a 4-year-old Macho Uno filly. Consigned by Three Chimneys Sales, agent for owners Anthony Fanticola and Joseph Scardino, she was offered as a broodmare prospect after suffering a career-ending condylar fracture in a workout last September,

"She was rocket-fast, and she could carry it two turns," Moynihan said. "[The price] was a lot, but those kind, they don't come around too often."

Princess Arabella was purchased by Frank and Jane Lyon's Summer Wind Farm. Consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent for owner John Fort's Peachtree Stable, the 4-year-old Any Given Saturday filly sold in foal to Tapit; she was retired and bred after suffering a ligament injury last April.

"I was at my limit," Jane Lyon said of the price.

Potesta won three of four career starts last year, including a game victory over Eden's Moon in the Grade 2 Hollywood Oaks and a track record-setting victory at Del Mar in the Torrey Pines Stakes, covering a mile on Polytrack in 1:34.86.

Out of the stakes-winning Furiously mare Katzen, Potesta is a half sister to Group 1-placed Kabu.

Moynihan said a 2013 mate for Potesta has yet to be determined.

Princess Arabella won all three of her career starts by a combined 15 lengths in 2012, including an eight-length romp in the Sunland Park Oaks.

Out of the winning Thunder Gulch mare Tortuga Lady—a full sister to 2001 Kentucky Derby runner-up and sire Invisible Ink—Princess Arabella is a half sister to stakes winner Dyna's Lassie.

"She's a beautiful stakes mare that obviously had tons or talent," Lyon said. "She's young, and she's in foal to the right stallion. We're happy to add her to our broodmare band."

Lyon said she will likely wait until Princess Arabella produces her Tapit foal before selecting a 2013 mate.