Keeneland November: Weanlings dominate Book 5 opener

Book 5 of the Keeneland November breeding stock sale kicked off on Wednesday with steady results dominated by weanlings, led by a $110,000 Broken Vow filly.

The day finished with 228 horses sold for revenues of $3,952,400, down 9 percent from last year’s ninth session, when 229 horses sold for $4,360,300. The average sale price also fell 9 percent to $17,335 from $19,041, while the median rose 4 percent to $12,000 from $11,500, and the buyback rate finished at 24 percent compared with 28 percent in 2016.

The number of six-figure transactions and horses sold for $50,000 or more both went unchanged between comparable sessions, at three and 17, respectively.

Weanlings were firmly in the spotlight on Thursday, accounting for eight of the day’s 10 highest prices, including all three six-figure sales.

The day’s most expensive offering was a Broken Vow filly, who sold to Hidden Brook, as agent, for $110,000.

The chestnut filly is the second foal out of the unplaced Curlin mare Whirl, from the family of Grade 2 winner Strike a Deal. She was bred in West Virginia by Evergreen Thoroughbreds, and consigned by Bedouin Bloodstock, as agent.

Wednesday’s session-topper is the first six-figure auction graduate out of Whirl, whose first foal, the Morning Line filly Pop’s Joy, brought $80,000 at this year’s Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July yearling sale. Evergreen Thoroughbreds bought Whirl, in-foal to Morning Line, for $47,000 at last year’s Keeneland January horses of all ages sale.

Wednesday’s top broodmare was Reality Queen, a placed Pioneerof the Nile filly who went to Mary and Maria Haire for $75,000.

The 4-year-old remains a maiden after six starts in Kentucky and New York, but she has finished second in three of those efforts and third and another, compiling earnings of $40,260. Reality Queen previously raced for owner Three Diamonds Farm and trainer Mike Maker.

Bred in Kentucky by Centaur Farms, Reality Queen is out of the Grade 3-placed Pulpit mare A. P. Reality, whose three winners from five runners includes stakes-placed Zloty. Grade 2 winners Teeth of the Dog and Funistrada are in the extended family.

Three Diamonds Farm bought Reality Queen for $50,000 at the 2016 Keeneland September yearling sale.

Bluewater Sales consigned Reality Queen on Wednesday, as agent.

Milwaukee Brew, a resident of Adena Springs North in Ontario, Canada, was Wednesday’s top covering sire by gross, with four pregnant mares sold for $89,500. He was also the leading covering sire by average among those with three or more mares sold at $22,375. His most expensive was Conquest Archangel, a Blame mare who went to English Range Farm for $50,000.

Select Sales was the day’s leading consignor by gross, with 29 horses sold for $377,400. Leading the way was a weanling first-crop Lea colt who sold to J & S Racing for $65,000.

K.O.I.D., the buying entity for the Korean Racing Authority, was Wednesday’s biggest buyer, with 12 purchases totaling $204,000. At the top of the list was Dagger, a $30,000 Tactical Cat mare.

After nine sessions, a total of 1,962 horses had sold for $197,734,300, down 5 percent from the same point in 2016 when 1,924 horses brought $208,371,300. The average sale price was down 7 percent to $100,782 from $108,301, the median was even at $45,000, and the buyback sat at 23 percent compared with 28 percent last year.

The Keeneland November sale continues daily through Sept. 18, with sessions beginning at 10 a.m. Eastern.

For hip-by-hip results, click here.