LEXINGTON, Ky. – The November breeding stock sales typically bring a global marketplace to Lexington by providing the opportunity to acquire high-end racemares and broodmares, including some with internationally known families.

That global appeal has been evident in the past few weeks. Despite a weak yen against the American dollar, a number of prominent Japanese outfits made the annual trip to Kentucky and are returning home with seven-figure purchases. Other international buyers, particularly from Australia, are playing a role in the marketplace, as well.

In a unique family accomplishment, full brothers Frankel and Noble Mission, both European champions, each sired a Breeders’ Cup winner last Saturday on the Santa Anita turf.

Unbeaten two-time European Horse of the Year Frankel has been an international sensation for owner-breeder Juddmonte’s Banstead Manor Stud in England, with Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Alpinista, Epsom Derby winner Adayar, and Irish Derby winner Westover among his 95 career graded/group stakes winners, including champions in four countries.

Turfway Park has partnered with legendary Claiborne Farm for an upcoming series of stakes races where fillies and mares will receive a future stallion credit to be used upon their retirement from racing.

The series, which has been dubbed the “Make Your Mare” series, consists of the $125,000 Holiday Inaugural Stakes on Dec. 2, the $125,000 My Charmer Stakes on Dec. 9, and the $125,000 Likely Exchange Stakes on Jan. 13.

Triple Crown winner Justify, who has made a meteoric rise in the international sire ranks, scored a double with his juveniles on the Future Stars Friday program at the Breeders’ Cup. Just F Y I won the Juvenile Fillies to likely secure a divisional championship, followed, less than an hour later, by Hard to Justify’s win in the Juvenile Fillies Turf.

It was 15 years ago that the imposing Curlin concluded his career at the Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita. The two-time Horse of the Year and first-ballot Hall of Famer quickly showed his mettle as a sire, with 2013 Belmont Stakes winner Palace Malice emerging from his first crop.