Federal Case helps close Keeneland Book 5 with a bang

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Federal Case, a debut winner last month, sold for $650,000 to power Tuesday's session at the Keeneland November breeding stock sale, the ninth of 12 sessions overall and the wrap-up to the auction’s Book 5 portion.

The two sessions of Book 5, which featured a selection of racing prospects, racing or stallion prospects, and stallions, finished with 476 horses sold for gross receipts of $11,534,600. The book's average price, $24,232, soared 64 percent from $14,770 in last year's Book 5.

To this point of Keeneland November, a total of 2,049 horses have grossed $184,287,600. Through the first five books of the 2017 renewal of the sale, which comprised 10 sessions, 2,197 horses sold for $200,620,600. This year's cumulative average, $89,940, is trending downward less than 2 percent from $91,316 at this point in 2017. The current median, $37,000, is down 8 percent from $40,000. The buyback rate is unchanged at 24 percent.

Bloodstock agent Jacob West landed the session-leading Federal Case on behalf of owners Robert and Lawana Low.

Federal Case, a 2-year-old by Gemologist, was consigned by WinStar Farm, which had purchased him, in partnership with China Horse Club and SF Racing, for $180,000 as a Keeneland September yearling. The colt won his debut by a half length on Oct. 19 at Keeneland for trainer Rodolphe Brisset, and has breezed twice at Keeneland since then.

“It was hard to part with him because he won so well first time out, but all the smart guys were on him,” WinStar executive Elliott Walden said. “We put him in this sale in August. We hate scratching horses, so we felt like we should bring him."

West said the colt will transfer to trainer Todd Pletcher to continue his career.

“You’ve gotta tip your cap to WinStar because they brought a horse here to sell that obviously has ability and talent,” West said. “When everybody got to see him, they all started dreaming of the first Saturday in May – that’s what he reminded us of. Mr. and Mrs. Low obviously have a history with Todd, winning the Arkansas Derby with Magnum Moon. We hope we just bought the Arkansas Derby winner.”

Federal Case is out of the winning Elusive Quality mare Delilahjane, a half sister to Grade 1-placed Fast Falcon. It is the immediate family of Grade 1 winner Pool Land, and other prominent performers appearing on the catalog page include Breeders' Cup Sprint winner Very Subtle.

The most expensive racing or broodmare prospect of the session was stakes-placed Lady Suebee, sold for $230,000 to Ingordo Bloodstock. She was consigned by Elite Sales.

Lady Suebee, a 3-year-old daughter of First Defence, is out of the stakes-winning Touch Gold mare Freeroll, and is from the family of Canadian Triple Crown winner and champion Izvestia.

A pair of weanling colts sold for $90,000 each to lead that segment of the market for Tuesday. A colt from the first crop of Speightster sold to Machmer Hall from the consignment of Ledgelands LLC, as agent. The colt is out of the stakes-placed Maria's Mon mare Bear's Lightning, a full sister to Grade 1-placed stakes producer Illusoria. Bear's Lightning is also a half sister to Unacloud, dam of Grade 1 winners Overanalyze and Meadow Breeze.

Later in the session, Fred M. Allor matched the top weanling price for a colt by leading turf sire Kitten's Joy, from the consignment of Taylor Made Sales, as agent. Out of the Thunder Gulch mare Tee Off, he is a half brother to Grade 3 winner Five Iron and Grade 2 placed Back Spin. It is the family of Grade 1 winners Only Queens and Tactile.

Keeneland November continues with a single Book 6 session on Wednesday, and wraps up with Book 7 action on Thursday and Friday. For hip-by-hip results from the sale, click here.