Electricita brings $180,000 to top fourth session at Keeneland January

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Ontario-bred Electricita, a filly from one of the cornerstone families of one of Canada’s most historic breeding operations, sold for $180,000 to lead Thursday’s penultimate session of the Keeneland January horses of all ages sale.

Keeneland reported 244 horses sold during Thursday's second of three Book 2 sessions, including private transactions, for $3,448,100. Last year's comparable second Book 2 session, which was the final in that section, had 220 horses sold for $3,872,000. This year's sale has five sessions overall, while the 2019 edition finished at four.

Thursday's average price was $14,132, dropping 20 percent from $17,600. The median dropped 12 percent, to $7,000 from $8,000.

Bloodstock agent Cecil Seaman, acting as agent for longtime client Jon Marshall, signed the ticket for Electricita, an unraced 4-year-old daughter of Ghostzapper. The filly was consigned by Canada's historic Sam-Son Farm, which recently began offering horses in the commercial sales market.

“We were very reasonable with our reserve,” Sam-Son manager David Whitford said. “We were prepared to take her home, of course. We were delighted with the price – it was well above her reserve.

“We knew there were plenty of people who would like her as a broodmare,” he continued. “We’ve got lots of different parts of that family. It’s a family that just keeps on giving to us. We still have lots, so we’re not afraid to sell some. But we don’t do it very often, especially for a nice filly like that.”

Electricita is out of the winning A.P. Indy mare Dance With Doves, the dam of Grade 2-placed stakes winner Dance Again and Grade 3-placed Swoop and Strike. Dance Again is by Awesome Again, the sire of Ghostzapper.

Dance With Doves is out of Canadian Hall of Famer Dancethruthedawn, winner of the classic Queen's Plate in Canada and a Grade 1 winner in New York; she has gone on to become the second dam of Grade 1 winner Moreno. Dancethruthedawn, in turn, is out of Canadian and United States Hall of Famer Dance Smartly, who swept the Canadian Triple Crown and won the Breeders' Cup Distaff. Dance Smartly went on to become a prolific broodmare, producing the Queen's Plate winners Dancethruthedawn and Scatter the Gold, Grade 2 winner Dance With Ravens, Grade 3 placed Dance to Destiny, stakes-placed Dance Smartly, and Dancethruthestorm, the dam of stakes winner Grand Smile.

Dance Smartly was out of Sam-Son's cornerstone mare Classy 'n Smart, a Canadian champion who also produced the Grade 1 winner and leading sire Smart Strike. Classy 'n Smart, a half-sister to Canadian and U.S. champion Sky Classic, Canadian champions Grey Classic and Regal Classic, and Grade 1 winner Always A Classic, also produced Grade 1 winner Full Of Wonder, Grade 2 winner Strike Smartly, and Seattle Classic, dam of Canadian champion Hello Seattle.

The family has remained active in recent years, with runners including last year's Grade 1 Woodbine Mile winner El Tormenta, Grade 3 winner and coming freshman sire Speightster, 2019 California Cup Derby winner Galilean.

“You can’t find anything in the family, so he was thrilled when this filly was offered,” Seaman’s associate Sally Nims said.

For hip-by-hip results, click here. The Keeneland January sale concludes with a third and final Book 2 session on Friday.