Horses to watch in Book 1 at 2020 Keeneland November sale

There’s something for everyone at the Keeneland November breeding stock sale, which begins its run on Monday, Nov. 9, two days after the Lexington, Ky., track hosted the Breeders’ Cup for the second time.

The Keeneland November sale will run over 10 sessions – two fewer than 2019 – with 3,791 cataloged through Oct. 19 across various levels of the marketplace. The sale begins with a single-session Book 1, with 251 selected racemares or broodmares and weanlings in the spotlight. The sale will certainly get a reflected glow from the Breeders’ Cup, as those who walked across the grounds to the sale barns after starting in one of those races include, in Book 1 alone, Lady Prancelot (Filly and Mare Turf), Oleksandra (Turf Sprint), and Ollie’s Candy (Distaff). Other close relations to prominent Breeders’ Cup runners include Expo Gold, who is the dam of Preakness Stakes heroine Swiss Skydiver, and Unicorn Girl, dam of Breeders’ Cup Juvenile favorite Jackie’s Warrior. Unicorn Girl’s weanling colt by Triple Crown winner American Pharoah also will be on offer.

While the mares and weanlings are the primary attraction at this sale, Keeneland November’s second week has added interest as it has cultivated a selection of racing and stallion prospects. Domestic and international interest in this market segment has grown. Last year’s graduates included Combatant, who went on to win the Santa Anita Handicap earlier this year, and New York Central, who headed overseas to win the inaugural Saudia Sprint.

“The November sale is a globally important source of premium bloodstock, and the Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland immediately beforehand will only heighten the excitement surrounding the sale,” Shannon Arvin, Keeneland’s president-elect and interim head of sales, said in a press release. “This year’s catalog features a number of unique offerings, led by stakes-winning fillies, among them ones scheduled to compete in the Breeders’ Cup, and stakes-producing mares in foal to leading sires. Weanlings are another important segment of the November sale, and we are especially excited to see members of the first crop of foals by undefeated 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify. Meanwhile, the portion of the sale dedicated to horses of racing age has proven very popular with trainers.”

Following are some key horses to watch during Keeneland November’s Book 1 session, accounting for catalog updates, additions, and outs through Nov. 8.

Hip No. 26, Hightap (in foal to Arrogate), broodmare by Tapit – Don’tellmichelle, by Regal Classic. Consigned by Hidden Brook, agent.

A multiple Grade 3 winner, Hightap, carrying a foal from Arrogate’s final crop, is the dam of Grade 1 winner and Breeders’ Cup Mile candidate Halladay. Her weanling filly by Union Rags follows her through the ring, and later in the day her winning daughter Tap of War, a full sister to Halladay, sells in foal to leading freshman sire Not This Time.

Hip No. 28, Holy Helena (in foal to Quality Road), broodmare by Ghostzapper – Holy Grace, by Holy Bull. Consigned by Hidden Brook, agent.

This millionaire is a Canadian classic winner and champion and a multiple graded stakes winner. The daughter of emerging broodmare sire Ghostzapper is a half-sister to graded stakes winner Holy Boss and is carrying her first foal.

Hip No. 32, Indian Miss (in foal to Into Mischief), broodmare by Indian Charlie – Glacken’s Gal, by Smoke Glacken. Consigned by Hill ‘n’ Dale Sales, agent.

Selling in foal to a leading sire, Indian Miss is the dam of Eclipse Award champion Mitole, who counted the Breeders’ Cup Sprint and Metropolitan Handicap among four Grade 1 wins in 2019.

Hip No. 36, Itsagiantcauseway (in foal to Medaglia d’Oro), broodmare by Giant’s Causeway – Countervail, by Seeking the Gold. Consigned by Taylor Made Sales, agent.

Winning mare is the dam of five-time graded stakes winner Mucho Gusto, who took this year’s Pegasus World Cup Invitational. This is the immediate family of Grade 1 winner and Canadian Horse of the Year Peaks and Valleys, as well as multiple graded stakes producer Alternate, dam of Grade 1 winner Higher Power.

Hip No. 83, Ollie’s Candy, racing/broodmare prospect by Candy Ride – Afternoon Stroll, by Stroll. Consigned by Taylor Made Sales, agent.

This consistent Grade 1 winner will start in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff.

Hip No. 105, colt by Curlin – Rigoletta, by Concerto. Consigned by Gainesway, agent.

Out of Grade 1 winner Rigoletta, this is a weanling half-brother to Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner and Kentucky Derby third-place finisher Battle of Midway. He was by Smart Strike, the sire of Curlin. Rigoletta also is the dam of Grade 2-placed stakes winner Moretti, and this is the family of Grade 1 winner Patternrecognition.

Hip No. 129, filly by Justify – Storm Dixie, by Catienus. Consigned by Paramount Sales, agent.

From the first crop of Triple Crown winner Justify, this is a half-sister to Kentucky Oaks winner Princess of Sylmar.

Hip No. 151, Tizahit (in foal to Constitution), broodmare by Tiznow – Never a No Hitter, by Kris S. Consigned by Sequel New York, agent.

Grade 2 winner selling in foal to a leading sophomore sire is the dam of Grade 1-winning millionaire and Breeders’ Cup runner Come Dancing. This is the family of champion Folklore and of Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Essential Quality.

Hip No. 172, Yawkey Way (in foal to Hard Spun), broodmare by Grand Slam – Is Kylie Good, by Touch Gold. Consigned by Taylor Made Sales, agent.

Stakes winner is the dam of Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner Spun to Run, as well as stakes winner Tap It All. She sells carrying a full sibling to Spun to Run.

Hip No. 217, Con Te Partiro, broodmare prospect by Scat Daddy – Temple Street, by Street Cry. Consigned by Bedouin Bloodstock, agent.

The globe-trotting Con Te Partiro, who sold for $575,000 two years ago, is a multiple stakes winner on turf, including the Group 1 Coolmore Classic and Coolmore Legacy in Australia earlier this year, and the 2017 Sandringham Handicap at Royal Ascot. She also was a maiden winner on dirt and is Grade 3-placed on synthetic. The daughter of successful international sire Scat Daddy is out of Grade 1-placed Temple Street and is a half-sister to stakes winner Donworth.

Hip No. 243, Expo Gold (in foal to Catholic Boy), broodmare by Johannesburg – Clouds of Gold, by Strike the Gold. Consigned by Taylor Made Sales, agent.

This is the dam of Preakness Stakes heroine Swiss Skydiver, who will be one of the stars of the Breeders’ Cup. She also is the dam of stakes-placed Miss Hot Legs, and the foal she is carrying is bred on the same cross to both of those fillies. Expo Gold’s daughters Miss Hot Legs and Is It Gold also will be on offer at Keeneland.

Hip No. 244B, colt by American Pharoah – Unicorn Girl, by A.P. Five Hundred. Consigned by Beau Lane Bloodstock, agent.

By a Triple Crown winner and young leading sire, this is a half-brother to multiple Grade 1 winner and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile favorite Jackie’s Warrior. His dam, Unicorn Girl, follows him through the ring.