Five horses fetched seven-figure prices in the first hour of the Keeneland November breeding stock sale's opening session to get things off to a rousing start, led by $3.5-million Secret Gesture, purchased by Godolphin's bloodstock agent John Ferguson.
The Fasig-Tipton Kentucky fall selected mixed sale provided its usual shower of seven-figure prices on Monday night, and finished with across-the-board gains topped by the $3.5-million broodmare Baffled.
Kentucky Oaks winner Cathryn Sophia sold for $1.4 million to multinational operation SF Bloodstock Monday night at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky fall selected mixed sale.
John Malone's Bridlewood Farm was the last one standing after a prolonged bidding war to land multiple graded stakes producer Baffled, going to $3.5 million for the mare Monday night at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky fall selected mixed sale.
Stopchargingmaria, whose multiple Grade 1 victories were highlighted by the 2015 Breeders' Cup Distaff, sold for $2.8 million to Goncalo Torrealba of Three Chimneys Farm Monday night at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky fall selected mixed sale.
Love The Chase, dam of 2014 Horse of the Year California Chrome, sold for $1.95 million to bloodstock agent John McCormack, on behalf of domestic clients, Monday night at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky fall selected mixed sale
By any indication, the four-decade pursuit of the ideal Thoroughbred by the late Edward P. Evans has been validated in the years following his death in December 2010. Five years ago, Evans’ Spring Hill Farm program rung up a record-shattering dispersal that grossed more than $62 million over the course of three Keeneland auctions, and its impact continues to be felt through the pedigrees Evans developed and the charitable interests his horses helped fund.
There is a decidedly international flavor among the first-crop weanling sires who will be represented at the major fall mixed sales in Kentucky following the Breeders' Cup, when international buyers will descend upon the Fasig-Tipton November sale (Nov. 7) and the Keeneland November breeding stock sale (Nov. 8-20).
In a business where a single decision can take years to come to fruition, the industry's vision snaps quickly from present to future over the course of a weekend when horsemen move on from the Breeders' Cup to the November mixed-sale season. Building to that future could come in the form of a weanling with a once-in-a-lifetime page or from a broodmare prospect bought with the goal of creating special pages for generations to come.
Following are horses to watch during Book 1 of the Keeneland November breeding stock sale, which covers the first two sessions. Horses were selected based on their pedigrees, racing records, and past auction results for themselves or notable family members.
