'Stevie' sibling brings $600K

On Wednesday, when most horses were selling between $15,000 and $40,000 at the Keeneland November mixed sale, a connection to recent Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Stevie Wonderboy helped one mare achieve a $600,000 price.

Summer Scene, a 5-year-old Belong to Me mare who is a half-sister to Stevie Wonderboy, brought that price from Winchell Thoroughbreds. Offered by Mill Ridge Sales, she was cataloged in foal to Mizzen Mast.

Summer Scene's price was easily the highest of the day as of 5:30 p.m., and it pointed out how much breeders are willing to spend these days to acquire a young mare with quality connections in her pedigree. Mare prices have been buoyant throughout the 12-day November mixed auction since its opening session on Nov. 7.

Through Tuesday, the last session for which complete figures were available, the auction had surpassed its 2004 gross with three days left to sell. At the end of the Tuesday session, 2,147 horses had brought total receipts of $281,046,100, outpacing last year's grand total of $279,680,200 for 2,873 lots. The cumulative nine-day average was $130,902, up from last year's $123,409, and median climbed 6 percent, from $47,000 last year to $50,000.

The Tuesday session-topper was the $290,000 racehorse Will He Shine, a 3-year-old Silver Deputy half-brother to Grade 1 winner Cuvee. WinStar Racing, agent, sold the colt to Saverio Pugliese.

The auction was to continue through Friday at Keeneland's sale pavilion, with sessions beginning daily at 10 a.m.