Justify weanling leads strong selling as Book 2 begins at Keeneland November

LEXINGTON, Ky. - A weanling colt from the second crop of Triple Crown winner Justify led the way, selling for $625,000 as the Keeneland November breeding stock sale moved into its Book 2 portion on Thursday with major gains.

After the single-session Book 1 on Wednesday opened the sale strong with a 10 percent gain in average and 18 percent gain in median, Keeneland reported 226 horses sold through the ring on Thursday, the first of two Book 2 sessions, for gross receipts of $37,866,000. In last year's comparable Book 2 opener, 197 horses brought $27,690,000.

Thursday's average price was $167,549, jumping 19 percent from $140,558 in the corresponding session last year. The median spiked 30 percent, to $130,000 from $100,000. The buyback rate for the session improved to 22 percent, compared to 30 percent.

The session-topping Justify weanling colt, already named Just Before Dawn, was purchased by M.V. Magnier of the Coolmore group, which stands Justify.

"They look like they are a very special group of horses," Magnier said of Justify's offspring. "Everybody seems to be very high on them. They are a very exciting bunch of horses. The pedigrees, the physiques, and everything about them, and the way Justify was such a good racehorse, we have a huge amount of faith in them. Justify is making super strong horses. All seem to be good movers and everything. The lads at home say they are simple to deal with.”

The colt, who was consigned by Lane's End, as agent, is out of the winning Unbridled's Song mare Unenchantedevening, dam of eight winners from as many starters. Those are led by Moonshine Memories, a multiple Grade 1 winner as a juvenile. Unenchantedevening is also the dam of Grade 2-placed stakes winner Indian Evening and stakes-placed Mo for the Money.

Out of stakes winner Evil Elaine, Unenchantedevening is a half-sister to Horse of the Year Favorite Trick. This is also the family of multiple Grade 1 winner Tiz the Law.

The session's highest-priced broodmare was stakes winner Streak of Luck, who was purchased for $620,000 by Aaron and Marie Jones. Streak of Luck, a 6-year-old Old Fashioned mare offered carrying a foal from the first crop of Horse of the Year Authentic, was consigned by James B. Keogh's Grovendale, as agent.

"Wow, it couldn’t be any better," Keogh said. "Mr. and Mrs. Jones are great people. I’m thrilled and delighted they got her. They are dear friends.

“I campaigned her as a racehorse - she won a stakes for me, so she is pretty special to me," Keogh continued. "Carrie Brogden and I owned her together. Carrie found her in California, and in two seconds I made the decision to take half of her."

Streak of Luck was multiple graded stakes-placed in California, and won the Lady Canterbury Stakes last year at Canterbury Downs. The mare is out of the winning Elusive Quality mare Valeria, dam of three winners from as many starters. This is the family of Grade 3 winner Lindsay Jean, and stakes winners Biwa Shinseiki, Crozet, and Honour Colony appear on the catalog page.

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