Keeneland November: Not For Love broodmares bring seven figures

Maryland stalwart Not For Love was catapulted into the national spotlight because his daughter Love The Chase is the dam of California Chrome, who raced to dual classic wins and two Horse of the Year titles. The late stallion is by no means a one-hit wonder. The broodmare sire of 40 stakes winners, including six graded winners, Not For Love is continuing to make an impact in the major market, with two seven-figure broodmares sold at Keeneland November.

Not For Love was represented by four mares sold at Keeneland November for an average price of $898,750. He is the second-leading sire by average, trailing only Curlin, whose $6 million sale-topping champion Stellar Wind and a $1 million weanling have fueled an average of $1,165,286.

Not For Love’s sale has been highlighted by a pair of multiple stakes producers. For Royalty sold for $2.1 million to Summer Wind Farm, and Fools In Love sold for $1 million to Cheveley Park Stud. For Royalty, who was offered in foal to Bernardini, is the dam of Grade 1 winner Constellation and stakes-placed winners Back Flip, Queen Mum, and Upper Room. Summer Wind’s Jane Lyon called the mare “probably our top pick” of the sale as she signed the ticket.

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“Her pedigree and the fact that as a relatively young mare she has multiple stakes horses and possibilities, you don’t see that often,” Lyon said. “We’re pretty excited.”

Fools In Love is the dam of Group 2 winner and Group 1-placed juvenile Seahenge. As a daughter of Not For Love, Fools In Love is an outcross overseas and attracted international interest.

“We came here to buy special pedigrees and special mares,” Cheveley Park managing director Chris Richardson said. “She is a proven producer. She has a good connection to the U.K.”

Fools In Love, who sold in foal to Speightstown, also has produced Grade 3-placed Urban Bourbon and stakes-placed Frank’s Folly. A stakes winner herself, the mare is a half-sister to Grade 2 winner International Star and a full sister to stakes winner D C Dancer and stakes-placed No More Talk.

Not For Love’s other representatives were the winning mare If Not For Her, sold for $360,000 to Three Chimneys, and stakes winner Lovable Lady, whom Edwin Anthony purchased for $135,000.