Early topper a $290K mare

Lots at $100,000 or more were plentiful at Saturday's sixth session of the Keeneland November breeding stock, as purchasers, apparently confident in the bloodstock business's future, bid aggressively for broodmares and weanlings.

The day's top lot at 4:30 p.m. was $290,000 Miraloma, a stakes-winning racemare who is out of the great broodmare Stick to Beauty. Twin Creeks Farm bought the mare.

Miraloma is a half-sister to champion and Grade 1 producer Gold Beauty; stakes winners Storm Beauty and Majestic Venture; and stakes-placed runners Felix the Cat, Green Knight, and Hello Beauty. She is a full sister to Grade 2 winner The Prime Minister.

Offered by Craig and Holly Bandoroff's Denali Stud agency on behalf of Bob and Beverly Lewis, Miraloma was cataloged in foal after being covered by both Successful Appeal and Golden Missile. She was thought to be in foal to Golden Missile on an April 30 cover.

At Friday's session, the auction sold 247 horses for $17,889,200, up from last year's $15,031,500 gross for 266 head at the corresponding session. The 2005 session average was $72,426, up 28 percent from last year, and the $60,000 median was up 33 percent. The five-day cumulative figures in 2005 showed 1,131 head selling for $242,887,400 (up 3 percent), yielding a $214,755 average (up 7 percent) and a $110,000 median (up 18 percent).

The sale was to continue through Friday at Keeneland, with sessions beginning daily at 10 a.m.