Clarkland reinvests $650,000 in Conquest Eclipse at the Keeneland November breeding stock sale Thursday

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Clarkland Farm sold one of the highest-priced horses in the history of the Keeneland September yearling sale two months ago, as a filly by American Pharoah and out of its blue hen Leslie's Lady brought $8.2 million. As the wheel turns to the sale season for breeding stock, Clarkland was able to reinvest, picking up younger mares to add to its broodmare band.

The farm led Thursday's trade at the Keeneland November breeding stock sale with the $650,000 purchase of Conquest Eclipse as the sale moved into its Book 2 portion with steady figures.

Keeneland reported 235 horses sold during Thursday's session, the first of two Book 2 sessions, for gross revenues of $36,205,000. Those figures include private sales that occurred on the grounds prior to the close of the session. Last year's comparable Book 2 opener grossed $36,372,000 from 234 sold, including private sales.

Thursday's average price was $154,064, a change of less than 1 percent from $155,436 in the 2018 Book 2 opener. The median remained even at $125,000. The session's buyback rate was 22 percent, also virtually even with 23 percent in the comparable session last year.

"I think the best statistic today was the not-sold rate," Keeneland's director of sales Geoffrey Russell said. "The clearance rate was very, very good. So that bodes well for the rest of the week."

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Conquest Eclipse, who was sold carrying a foal from the first crop of 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify, was the second purchase under the Clarkland banner at this sale. During Wednesday's Book 1 session, Clarkland purchased the young mare Fairyland for $700,000, in foal to Triple Crown winner and leading freshman sire American Pharoah.

"She was a gorgeous mare, and I really wanted a Justify," Clarkland patriarch Fred Mitchell said. "We just reinvested a little bit that the filly brought for us in September. We just hope luck stays with us, and hope these mares have beautiful foals for us."

Conquest Eclipse, by Malibu Moon, was consigned by Francis and Barbara Vanlangendonck's Summerfield Sales, as agent. Summerfield had signed for the mare when she sold for $375,000 at the Conquest Stables dispersal at the 2016 Keeneland November sale. She was bred for the first time the following spring, and thus has not yet produced a runner.

Conquest Eclipse was multiple Grade 1-placed as a juvenile in California, finishing third in the Del Mar Debutante and then second in the Chandelier Stakes. She is a half-sister to Grade 3-placed stakes winner Bear'sway. Their dam, the unraced Grand Traverse Bay, is a half-sister to Sweet Damsel, the dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Colonel John; Mr. Hot Stuff, who was Grade 1-placed on the flat and went on to be a Grade 1-winning steeplechaser; Grade 3-placed Caroline's Gold; and stakes-placed Kayce Ace, the dam of Grade 3 winner Comical.

The session's top weanling was a $600,000 Quality Road colt purchased by the partnership of WinStar Farm's Maverick Racing and China Horse Club.

The colt, who was consigned by St. George Sales, as agent, is out of the unraced Birdstone mare Princess Aspen. She is a half-sibling to multiple Grade 1 winner Zazu, to Grade 2 winner Flashback, to Group 2-placed Art Princess, and to stakes-placed Corinthian's Jewel. Zazu is the dam of Group 3-placed Arusha, Art Princess has produced stakes-placed Tap That, and another half-sister, Star of Sapphire, is the dam of Group 2-placed stakes winner Hush Writer. Flashback, meanwhile, is the sire of Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies winner British Idiom from his second crop.