Prominent dispersals fuel gains at Keeneland January sale

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Bolstered by the high-profile dispersals of the legendary Sam-Son Farm and the prominent racing stable of the late Paul Pompa Jr., the Keeneland January horses of all ages sale wrapped up a four-day run with economic gains Thursday night.

Keeneland reported 963 horses sold during the January auction for total gross receipts of $45,522,100. Last year's January sale ran for five total sessions. Through this comparable four-session point, that sale had featured 899 horses sold for $39,136,700; the 2020 auction ultimately concluded with 1,050 horses sold for $40,453,300.

A significant amount of the gross came from dispersals. Ontario-based Sam-Son Farm, founded by the late Ernie Samuel in 1972 and responsible for multiple Eclipse Award and Sovereign Award championships over nearly five decades, announced in October that it would disperse its holdings over the coming year. Keeneland January included 21 broodmares in foal from that operation, who accounted for sales of $6,733,000.

Pompa, best known for his involvement with dual classic winner and champion Big Brown, died in October at 62. A dispersal of his stock, handled by Lane's End, as agent, kicked off with 38 horses sold for $6,790,200.

Although less high-profile than the other two, Keeneland January also included stock from the dispersal of Spry Family Farm, grossing $1,405,900 from 41 horses sold via Hill 'n' Dale Sales, as agent.

“The Sam-Son and Pompa dispersals are the legacies of two wonderful operations, and they infused a lot of positive energy into the January sale," said Keeneland president and CEO Shannon Arvin, also the company's interim head of sales. "Dispersals are always bittersweet, but we are honored that their families and connections entrusted Keeneland to present these dispersals and showcase their excellence.”

The Sam-Son and Pompa dispersals were jointly responsible for seven horses sold for prices in excess of last year's sale-topping $640,000 for Enaya Alraab. Bolstered by that strength at the top of the market, Keeneland January's cumulative average price was $47,271, which represented a gain of 9 percent from $43,534 through four sessions last year. The five-session 2020 average ultimately finished at $38,527. This year's median price was $15,000, dropping 12 percent from $17,000 through four 2020 sessions, but up from the final figure of $13,000.

The buyback rate in a highly selective marketplace that has become even more so with the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic finished at 21 percent, improved from 25 percent through four sessions last year, also ultimately that sale's final figure. The buyback rate also was helped by the dispersals, as there is more desire by connections to move stock.

Danceforthecause, a successful broodmare for Sam-Son, and Regal Glory, a multiple graded stakes-winning homebred for Pompa, tied for the top price of $925,000 when sold Tuesday.

Danceforthecause, a 10-year-old Giant’s Causeway mare in foal to Twirling Candy, sold to Gainesway Farm.

The unraced Danceforthecause, a full sister to stakes winner Grand Style, is from one of Sam-Son's most storied families. Her second dam is Canadian Triple Crown and Breeders' Cup Distaff winner Dance Smartly, a Hall of Famer in both the United States and Canada. The mare went on to a stellar career as a broodmare, producing Queen’s Plate winners Dancethruthedawn and Scatter the Gold.

Danceforthecause has ably added to the family's success in her own right. Her first foal, the More Than Ready gelding Say the Word, won last fall's Grade 1 Northern Dancer Stakes. An invitee to the Pegasus World Cup Turf, he has placed in four other stakes, including a runner-up effort in the Breeders' Stakes, the final leg of the Canadian Triple Crown. Danceforthecause's second foal is Grade 2 winner Rideforthecause, by Candy Ride, making her bred on the same cross as the foal the mare sold carrying.

“She is a really beautiful mare and has been such a good producer already,” said Alex Solis II, Gainesway's director of bloodstock and racing, who signed the ticket. “I feel this is the best Sam-Son family there is, with Dance Smartly as the second dam and Smart Strike right there on the page.”

Regal Glory, a 5-year-old Animal Kingdom mare, sold as a racing or broodmare prospect to Peter Brant's White Birch Farm, via telephone bid.

Regal Glory has been a stakes performer in all three seasons of her racing career to date. After winning the Stewart Manor Stakes as a juvenile, she added the Grade 2 Lake Placid, Grade 3 Lake George, and the Penn Oaks in 2019, and also placed in two other graded stakes that season. Last September, she added the Grade 3 Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf to her resume.

Regal Glory is a half-sister to multiple graded/group stakes winners Cafe Pharoah and Night Prowler. Their dam, the Grade 2-winning More Than Ready mare Mary's Follies, also was offered on Tuesday, selling for $500,000 to BBA Ireland.

Carillo, a 3-year-old Union Rags colt, highlighted a selection of Pompa's colts and geldings who bolstered Thursday’s final session of the sale. He sold for $875,000 to agent Lauren Carlisle to lead all racing or stallion prospects at the auction.

Carillo was less than a week removed from a 2 3/4-length debut win at Aqueduct for trainer Chad Brown and Pompa’s estate.

“Currency is the most important thing in the marketplace,” said Geoffrey Russell, Keeneland’s director of sales operations. “The sky is the limit for a horse like that.”

Carlisle said Carillo would be transferred to trainer Tom Amoss to continue his career.

“He’s an exciting 3-year-old colt and hopefully he improves off [his first] effort, and we will try to go longer with him,” Carlisle said. “We didn't want to spend that much, but if you’re in the market for a 3-year-old colt before [the Derby trail] you're going to have to spend. We're happy to get him.”

Carillo is out of the unraced Bernardini mare Proper Mad, who is from the family of Kentucky Oaks winner Secret Status and Grade 1 winner Dunbar Road.

Larry Best, who breeds and races as OXO Equine, was a high-end buyer for yearlings, after also being active in the weanling marketplace last November. He went home with the two highest-priced youngsters of the sale, a $475,000 Munnings colt, and a $400,000 City of Light filly.

“I tend to go earlier now for [weanlings] as opposed to waiting for them to be yearlings,” Best has said of his activity in this market segment. “You take more risk, but you are not spending the same amount of money. You might get two or three shots on goal for what you’d be paying at the yearling sales.”

The Munnings colt, consigned by Hunter Valley Farm, as agent, is a May foal. He is out of the stakes-winning Jump Start mare Sea Shadow, dam of stakes-placed Rising Seas.

The City of Light filly, from the first crop of her sire, was consigned by Lane's End, which stands that stallion. The March filly's dam, the Bernardini mare I'll Show Me, is a half-sister to Kentucky Oaks winner and champion Proud Spell.

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