From the Hood sells for $375,000 to top Day 3 at Keeneland January sale

The well-related young broodmare From the Hood sold for $375,000 to lead Wednesday’s penultimate session of the Keeneland January horses of all ages sale.

Keeneland reported 255 horses sold Wednesday, the Book 2 opener and the third of four sessions overall, for gross receipts of $4,378,300. Last year's comparable third session of a five-session auction brought $5,253,200 from 237 horses sold, including 11 private transactions.

After fireworks at the top of the market generated by the high-profile dispersals of Sam-Son Farm and the late Paul Pompa Jr. in Book 1, Wednesday's average price dipped to $17,170, with a median of $7,000. Those figures were decreases of 23 percent and 42 percent, respectively, from the comparable 2020 figures of $22,165 and $12,000. The Pompa dispersal continues with a number of horses of racing age Thursday, meaning the average price could rise somewhat.

The buyback rate for the session improved to 19 percent, compared to 23 percent in the third session last year, not including private transactions. A buyback rate under 20 percent is considered an extremely solid figure in a highly selective commercial marketplace that has become even more so with the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

From the Hood, a 6-year-old Street Sense mare offered in foal to Fast Anna, was purchased by Baccari Bloodstock from the consignment of Taylor Made Sales, as agent. This would be the first foal for the mare.

From the Hood is out of the Storm Cat mare Contrive, the dam of Eclipse Award champion juvenile filly Folklore, Grade 3-placed stakes winner Divided Attention, and Grade 3-placed Delightful Quality. Contrive's daughters and granddaughters have been highly successful as broodmares, with Delightful Quality the dam of 2020 Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner and likely Eclipse divisional champion Essential Quality. Folklore is the granddam of Japanese champion and Triple Crown winner Contrail, while another of Contrive's daughters, Amusing Plan, produced Korean stakes winner Tiz Plan.

The highest-priced yearling in the session was a $70,000 Ohio-bred colt by Laoban, one of last year's leading freshman sires. The colt, foaled in February 2020, was purchased by Rascal Bloodstock from the consignment of bloodstock agent Bill Murphy.

The colt is out of the Colonel John mare Jade, who in turn is out of stakes winner Capitol View. This is the extended family of multiple Grade 1 winner Play Fellow.

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