Pop a Choc tops sixth Keeneland November sale session as gains continue

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The winning filly Pop a Choc sold for $265,000 to lead the session as the Keeneland November breeding stock sale entered its second half on Monday.

Keeneland reported 271 horses sold for gross receipts of $10,507,100 during Monday's session, the first of two in the Book 4 portion of this sale, and the sixth of 10 sessions overall. In last year's comparable sixth session, 265 horses brought $6,278,400.

The average and median prices have been improved in each session of this sale thus far, and Monday not only continued the trend, it posted the biggest year-to-year gains to date. The average was $38,772, rising 64 percent from $23,692 in the comparable session last year. The crucial median figure soared 73 percent, to $26,000 from $15,000. The buyback rate was 18 percent, compared to 16 percent.

Pop a Choc, offered as a racing or broodmare prospect, was purchased by Clear Ridge Stables from the consignment of Bluewater Sales, as agent. The 4-year-old filly is by prominent sire Bernardini, who died in July. His daughters have become particularly desirable as he has emerged as an outstanding broodmare sire; more than 50 black-type winners out of his daughters include Kentucky Oaks winner Serengeti Empress and Grade 1 winners Colonel Liam, Catholic Boy, Dunbar Road, Maxfield, and Paris Lights.

Pop a Choc, an allowance winner this season at Woodbine, is one of two winners from as many starters out of stakes-placed Chocolate Pop. The Cuvee mare's other starter is Airoforce, a graded stakes winner on both dirt and turf as a juvenile.

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