At midway point, Keeneland November sale still trending upward

The Keeneland November breeding stock sale slowed somewhat as it reached the midway point Saturday but still is on an upward trajectory overall thanks to a flying start earlier in the week.

Through Books 1, 2, and 3 at Keeneland, a total of 1,206 horses have sold for gross receipts of $190,531,000. Despite fewer horses sold, the gross represents a gain of 6 percent over last year at this point, when 1,321 had sold for a total of $180,429,500. The cumulative average price currently sits at $157,986, tracking up 16 percent from $136,586 at this point last year. The median of $80,000 is up 7 percent from $75,000 at this point in 2014.

The buyback rate in a highly selective market continues to be up, sitting at 28 percent compared to 22 percent.

Saturday's session, the second and final of Book 3, saw 238 horses sold for $11,753,000, down 16 percent from 275 for $13,968,500 in the corresponding 2014 session. The average price of $49,382 and median of $40,000 were slight declines of 3 and 5 percent from $50,860 and $42,000.

The session leader was the stakes-producing broodmare Lovely Regina, purchased for $370,000 by Baccari Bloodstock. The 14-year-old Deputy Minister mare, offered carrying a foal from the first crop of Flashback, was consigned by Hill ‘n’ Dale Sales, as agent. She is the dam of six winners from as many starters. That group is led by Thiskyhasnolimit, winner of the Grade 3 Texas Mile, Grade 3 Iroquois Stakes, and three other stakes events.

Out of the Grade 1 winner Cara Rafaela, Lovely Regina is a half-sister to champion and prominent young sire Bernardini, as well as to Grade 1-placed Ile de France, dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Love and Pride.

The session’s top weanling was a colt from the first crop of Grade 1 winner Paynter, purchased for $145,000 by Orchard Lane out of the consignment of Denali Stud, as agent. The colt is out of the Coronado’s Quest mare Glory and Grace, making him a half-brother to the stakes-placed Bear’s Prospector. It is the immediate family of Grade 1 winner and stakes producer On a Soapbox.

The Keeneland November sale continues with daily sessions, comprising Books 4, 5, and 6, through Nov. 13.

For complete sale results, click here.