Keeneland January sale: Pioneerof the Nile mare Evocative tops opening session at $550K
LEXINGTON, Ky. - The young broodmare Evocative sold for $550,000 to lead the session as the Keeneland January horses of all ages sale opened its run on Monday.
Keeneland reported that 224 horses changed hands for gross receipts of $16,261,900 on Monday, the first of two Book 1 sessions in the four-day sale. In last year's comparable opening session, 248 horses sold through the ring, before any private sales were factored in, for a total of $17,989,200.
Monday's average price was $72,598, nearly identical to $72,537 in the 2022 opener. The median was $40,000, up 8 percent from $37,000. The session's buyback rate was 31 percent, compared to 22 percent a year ago.
"The session was even with last year in many metrics," Keeneland vice president of sales Tony Lacy said. "The RNA rate was a little higher than expected, but that's a little bit of people thinking they don't have to sell. If they don't get exactly what they need, they're happy to take them home. We're just happy that everybody felt there was good, healthy trade. Quality was selling, and selling well.
"It's a follow on from November; you could see a trend that was continuing. The stock that was young or had current activity in the family, and the short yearlings that had good physicals and were by the right sires were in strong demand."
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Evocative, a 6-year-old Pioneerof the Nile mare, was purchased by bloodstock agent Kerri Radcliffe to lead the session. Evocative's first foal, a filly by Quality Road, led the yearlings at the session and was the third-highest price on the day, selling for $450,000 to West Bloodstock, as agent for Robert and Lawana Low. Bedoiun Bloodstock consigned the mother and daughter, as agent.
Evocative, who sold carrying a full sibling to her pricey filly, is out of the winning Honour and Glory mare General Jeanne, who has been a prolific producer. She is the dam of multiple graded stakes winner Justwhistledixie, graded stakes winner Chace City, and graded stakes-placed Bakken.
Justwhistledixie has elevated the family by producing Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner New Year's Day and graded stakes winners Mohaymen, Enforceable, and Kingly. Two of General Jeanne's other daughters have produced stakes-placed winners.
Radcliffe said she purchased Evocative for a commercial breeding operation and that the mare will remain in America.
"She's beautiful," Radcliffe said. "Look at the pedigree. Look at the individual."
Evocative's filly followed her through the ring, giving agent Jacob West insight into what the price might be.
"I thought she was outstanding. Physically, she is unbelievable," West said. "I was blown away by the [dam]. Whoever bought her is going to breed her to a top stallion, so there is [residual value] coming in the pipeline."
While Evocative and her filly were part of the original catalog for Keeneland January, the day's second-highest price came from a supplemental entry with a timely catalog update, as Ack Naughty sold for $500,000 to Chester and Mary Broman.
The multiple stakes-placed mare, who was consigned by Elite Sales, as agent, was entered in the January sale after her son Practical Move won the Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity in December.
Ack Naughty, by Afleet Alex, is out of the Grade 3-placed General Meeting mare Dash for Money, also the dam of stakes winners So Lonesome and No Spin. It is the extended family of Breeders' Cup Classic winner and champion Vino Rosso.
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