Keeneland sales: Pastilla leads early Monday selling at $190K

As Monday’s seventh session of the Keeneland November breeding stock sale rolled into the afternoon, the average and median sale prices painted different pictures.

A total of 148 horses sold for $3,334,500 through the first five hours of Monday’s session. The average sale price was $22,530, down 7.2 percent from last year’s final seventh session average. The median of $20,000 is up 29 percent.

The high price through 3 p.m. came from broodmare prospect Pastilla, who sold to James Ryan for $190,000. The 3-year-old unraced Pulpit filly was the only horse to surpass six digits during the first half of Monday’s session.

Pastilla is the third foal out of the stakes-winning Kris S. mare Paiota Falls, who has produced one foal to race. Consigned by Hagyard Farm, agent, Pastilla is from the family of leading sire Smart Strike, Canadian Horse of the Year Dance Smartly, Canadian champions Sky Classic, Regal Classic, and Grey Classic, and Canadian Broodmare of the Year Classy ‘N Smart.

Sunday’s sixth session posted gains compared with last year, with total sales rising 21.3 percent to $10,740,300 from 265 horses sold. Average sale price of $40,529 rose 24 percent, while median price spiked 28 percent to $32,000.

The fireworks in Sunday’s session did not occur until the final offering of the day, when Terry Raymond and Skychai Racing purchased 2-year-old Tapit colt Moro Tap for $350,000. He was the only horse of the session to exceed $200,000.

Consigned by Hill ‘n’ Dale Sales agency, agent, Moro Tap will go to the Kentucky barn of trainer Mike Maker before shipping to Florida this winter to kick off his sophomore campaign. He finished second in his career debut on Oct. 12 at Calder Race Course.

Maker has found success over the past two years with another Tapit colt, champion Hansen, whom Skychai Racing bought a minority interest in prior to his win in the 2011 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

“I liked everything,” Maker said about Moro Tap. “I liked his first race. Obviously, we’re big fan of Tapits, and he’s a 2-year-old coming [into his] 3-year-old season.”

Cumulative numbers for the Keeneland November sale were down through six sessions compared with 2011, largely due to the absence of two major dispersals that contributed significantly to sale figures last year. With those dispersals excluded from last year’s total, the first six sessions in 2012 have posted a 5.7 percent increase in total sales compared with 2011, a 3.3 increase in average, and an unchanged median of $50,000.

The sale continues daily through Nov. 16, with sessions beginning at 10 a.m. Eastern.