Keeneland sale: Consistent prices topped by pair of $300,000-plus mares

Session four of the Keeneland November breeding stock sale continued the pattern set by Day 3 of consistent prices with few outliers.

As of mid-session, Friday’s session-topper was Four Gifts, a 6-year-old Even the Score mare who sold to Barry and Judith Becker for $340,000. Indian Creek, agent, consigned the mare, who sold in foal to Hard Spun.

The top price was challenged later in the session by Mighty Caroline, purchased by Frank Stronach’s Adena Springs Farm for $330,000. The 3-year-old Stormy Atlantic mare, consigned by Hill ‘n’ Dale Sales Agency, agent, was sold in foal to Australian import Lonhro.

Also selling early during Friday’s session was Gold Edge, a 2-year-old Eddington filly who won the Grade 3 Arlington-Washington Lassie Stakes in September. Consigned by Gainesway, agent for the dispersal of Dolphus Morrison, Gold Edge was purchased by Jim Miller for $220,000.

No horse through the middle of the Friday session surpassed the price of the last horse sold at Thursday’s session, Eyeofthehurricane, who was purchased for $475,000 by Ben Glass, agent for owners Gary and Mary West.

Glass said they had an inside advantage on what Eyeofthehurricane can produce because the Wests already own a yearling colt out of the mare, by Bernardini. Consigned by Lane’s End, agent, Eyeofthehurricane sold in foal to Smart Strike.

“We just liked everything about her,” Glass said. She has “a beautiful pedigree, by Storm Cat, and we had the yearling. It kind of all added up.”

Glass said the market was hard to gauge from a buyer’s perspective, having bought some horses for more than he expected at the November sale and some for less. Through the first three sessions, discounting the two massive dispersals from last year’s sale, total revenues were up, while the average price held fairly steady though the median was down.

“I think when the right one comes in, the money’s still there, but with the election and market and everything, I think there were some bargains here,” Glass said. “But I know a good mare will bring good money. I just found that out.”

Keeneland’s November breeding stock auction will continue through Nov. 16. Sessions start daily at 10 a.m.