Keeneland November: Brockovich sells for $450,000 top first Book 3 session

Brockovich, in foal to popular first-year stallion Charlatan, sold for $450,000 to lead the session as the Keeneland November breeding stock sale moved into its Book 3 portion by continuing to post solid figures.

Keeneland reported that 248 horses changed hands in Thursday's session, the fourth of the sale overall, for gross receipts of $20,988,500. In last year's corresponding fourth session, 252 horses sold for $19,981,500.

Keeneland November opened with a single-session Book 1 and a two-session Book 2 earlier this week, which began the sale with gains to this point, led by 12 seven-figure horses changing hands, plus the $4.6 million share of unbeaten stallion prospect Flightline. With those fireworks in the rearview mirror, the remainder of the November sale will test the middle and lower markets as it continues through Nov. 16 with Books 3, 4, and 5. A single-day horses of racing age sale will be held Nov. 17.

The average price for Thursday was $84,631, up 7 percent from $79,292 in the comparable session of 2021. The median price was unchanged, at $65,000. Both of those figures demonstrated strength across this marketplace, as last year's corresponding session was topped by a $550,000 sale, while this year's session did not reach that mark.

Thursday's buyback rate was 27 percent, up compared to 24 percent last year.

Brockovich, an unraced 3-year-old by Honor Code, was purchased by bloodstock agent Jody Huckabay from the consignment of Lane's End, as agent. She sold carrying her first foal, to a March cover by Charlatan. In his first year at stud, Charlatan, a Grade 1-winning son of Speightstown, covered 222 mares at Hill 'n' Dale Farm, according to The Jockey Club's Report of Mares Bred. That made him the sixth-busiest stallion in the country.

Brockovich, out of the winning Smart Strike mare Miss Squeal, is a half-sister to Grade 2 winner Spielberg. Miss Squeal is a half-sister to stakes winners Katerbug, Outplay, and Raconteur, and this is the family of Belmont Stakes winner Creme Fraiche, Japanese champion To The Victory, and Grade 1 winners Clear Mandate, Dream Deal, Romantic Vision, and Strong Mandate.

The session's highest-priced weanling was a $380,000 filly by Twirling Candy, purchased by Bay Shore Stable from the consignment of Nursery Place, as agent.

The filly is out of the Half Ours mare Ours to Run, a seven-time stakes winner, mainly in her native Louisiana, who also was Grade 2-placed. She earned more than $500,000.

For hip-by-hip results, click here.