Bishops Bay goes for a record $1.3 million to lead Keeneland November horses of racing age sale
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LEXINGTON, Ky. – Multiple graded stakes winner Bishops Bay was purchased for $1.3 million to lead the Keeneland November horses of racing age sale on Wednesday, which wrapped up a vibrant fall of activity in the Lexington sales pavilion.
Keeneland reported 108 horses sold through the ring, prior to any private sales, in Wednesday's single-session sale for gross receipts of $10,455,000. Last year, 105 horses sold through the ring for gross receipts of $8,613,000.
With Bishops Bay leading seven horses sold for a quarter-million or more, Wednesday's average price was $96,806. That was up 18 percent from last year's $82,029. Last year, five horses sold for a quarter million or more, charged by $675,000 Alyeska and $410,000 Captain Cook, both then-2-year-olds from signature Whitney families from the estate of John Hendrickson, a unique opportunity.
Wednesday's median price was $40,000, down 20 percent compared to $50,000 last year. The buyback rate was 16 percent, compared to a stellar 12 percent last year. Figures under 20 percent are considered strong in a discerning marketplace.
Sales officials noted an increased interest in Thoroughbred ownership during this year's record-setting yearling sale season, due to factors such as strong purse structures in many jurisdictions and celebrities and other influencers becoming involved in ownership themselves. These factors also helped fuel a demand for race-ready horses, taking some of the risk, and time investment involved, in purchasing a yearling off the table.
“Setting a record for top price in this format is very satisfying and reflects an ongoing demand for quality, race-ready horses as we move into a new season," Keeneland vice president of sales Tony Lacy said. "The momentum we’ve seen throughout the year carried right through to the end, and we are grateful to all the buyers and sellers whose participation and confidence make success like this possible.”
Bishops Bay, winner of the Grade 3 Forty Niner Stakes on Nov. 2, was a race-ready purchase by bloodstock agent Pedro Lanz, on behalf of KAS Stables of Saudi Arabia.
Lanz mentioned the Grade 2 Cigar Mile on December 6 at Aqueduct or, if that comes up too quickly in trainer Brad Cox's opinion, the Group 3 Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup (King's Cup) on Jan. 17 in Saudi Arabia as possible next targets for the horse. Races such as these would be short-term steps en route to the ultimate goal of the Group 1, $20 million Saudi Cup on Feb. 14.
"We are trying to find the best way to Riyadh - that's the final goal," Lanz said. "If we win the King's Cup against local-trained horses, we have a direct pass to the race, we qualify. Or if we win the Cigar Mile and got a [Grade 2], that's another way. We have to be invited by The Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia."
Bishops Bay, by Uncle Mo, was consigned as a racing or stallion prospect by Elite Sales, as agent for the ownership partnership of Spendthrift Farm, Steve Landers, Martin Schwartz, Michael Dubb, Ten Strike Racing, Jim Bakke, Titletown Racing, Kueber Racing, Big Easy Racing, Rick Kanter, Michael Caruso, and WinStar Farm. Multiple Grade 3-placed as a 3-year-old in 2023, he hit his best stride at 5 this year for Cox, winning five of seven starts on the season thus far. That includes victories in the American Pharoah Overnight at Oaklawn, the Grade 3 Salvator Mile at Monmouth, and the Forty Niner. Lanz, who said he has been watching this horse all year, noted that the horse had "a horrible trip" in his only unplaced effort, when sixth in the Grade 1 Forego at Saratoga after stumbling at the start.
"He's a very honest horse," Lanz said. "Twelve starts, eight wins, and only one bad start, with a horrible trip ... he could have even won the race with a better trip. He's a very honest horse."
The second-highest price of the day was a strong $900,000 for graded stakes winner World Record, purchased by Sheikh Rashid bin Humaid Al Nuaimi's RRR Racing.
“I think there was quite a bit of interest in this horse from the Middle East. Bhupat Seemar, who will train him in Dubai, asked me to bid on him," said Keeneland's European representative Ed Prosser, who signed the ticket on behalf of the new connections. "He is always on the lookout for horses in America. There are some people from Saudi Arabia and the [Persian] Gulf region who are interested in this horse and this sale. They did their homework and they liked him. He looks like he will be a good horse for the races in Dubai.”
Also consigned by Elite, as agent, World Record, a 4-year-old Gun Runner colt, was trained by Rodolphe Brisset for WinStar Farm and BBN Racing. He won the Grade 2 Amsterdam in summer 2024 at Saratoga. This year, he was second in the Grade 3 Aristides at Churchill Downs and third in the Grade 1 Bing Crosby at Del Mar.
Bishops Bay takes his place in a nascent record book as the highest-priced horse at the November racing age sale since this session was officially decoupled from the preceding November breeding stock sale starting in 2022. After a selection of racehorses in the second week of the November mixed sale became steadily more popular, Keeneland broke the horses of racing age sale out into its own single-session sale with a distinct catalog and results, and it has kept a strong profile. Bishops Bay, World Record, and others will seek to join recent high-profile graduates including Phileas Fogg, purchased for $55,000 in 2023. He won this year’s Grade 2 Suburban and placed in two other graded events this season.
The aforementioned Captain Cook was the second-highest price of the 2024 sale at $410,000. He won this year’s Withers and placed in four other stakes, including a runner-up effort by a nose in the Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial.
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