Cover image courtesy of Keeneland
At A Glance
The second and final Book 2 session of the Keeneland November Sale concluded on Friday, and a total of 444 horses sold through the ring for a combined US$69,520,000 (AU$109,290,000). The section's average of US$153,599 (AU$241,500) was down 15.1 per cent from the 2022 Book 2 figure, while the median fell 20 per cent.
Three Witches (USA) (Into Mischief {USA}) (Hip 936), just a week removed from a third-place finish in the G1 Breeders' Cup F/M Sprint, became the 12th seven-figure filly of the Keeneland November Sale when selling for US$1.7 million (AU$2.67 million) to the internet bid of Rifa Mustang Europe, Ltd. The 4-year-old is expected to stay in training in the US next year.
Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA) and Milburn Creek were again amongst the buyers on Friday in Lexington. Waiting until the final opportunity in Book 2, they purchased 3-year-old Speightstown (USA) filly Mom’s Town (USA) (Hip 1071A), a former stakes-winning juvenile, for US$100,000 (AU$157,200).
Justify (USA), who had a pair of winners on Breeders' Cup weekend, was represented by the top two weanlings during Friday's session. Paul Sharp went to US$525,000 (AU$825,300) for a daughter of the Triple Crown winner and AAA Thoroughbreds acquired a colt for US$425,000 (AU$668,100).
A ‘solid’ finale to Book 2
Three Witches (USA) (Into Mischief {USA}) provided the highlight of the closing Book 2 section of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale when selling for US$1.7 million (AU$2.67 million) on Friday in Lexington. Book 2 opened with an uneven session on Thursday at Keeneland, but activity was more consistent throughout Friday's Book 2 finale.
“It was a solid day of trade,” said Keeneland's Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy. “From start to finish, it felt a little more consistent and healthy today. Yesterday was a little bumpy, the clearance rate was a little higher than we probably would have liked, but today was a lot more consistent.”
Through the two Book 2 sessions, 444 horses sold through the ring for a total of US$69,520,000 (AU$109,290,000). The section's average of US$153,599 (AU$241,500) was down 15.1 per cent from the 2022 Book 2 figure, while the median fell 20 per cent.
Tony Lacy | Image courtesy of Keeneland
“There is certainly a little bit of an adjustment through the marketplace, but I think everyone felt pragmatic about it,” Lacy said. “I think it was an encouraging day. The money is still here for the right horses.”
Consigned by Indian Creek on behalf of Bob Edwards' e Five Racing, Three Witches brought the section's top price when selling for US$1.7 million (AU$2.67 million) in the name of Rifa Mustang Europe, Ltd.
“Quality mares, young mares, well-bred with the right breeding and not overly exposed, were highly desirable,” said Lacy. “I think that's been the consistent theme that we've seen so far. When we saw Three Witches go through for US$1.7 million going to a client that is pretty established internationally, that's really encouraging. We are seeing that international investment still here.”
“Quality mares, young mares, well-bred with the right breeding and not overly exposed, were highly desirable. I think that's been the consistent theme that we've seen so far.” - Tony Lacy
Three Witches stars at Keeneland on Friday
Three Witches (USA) (Into Mischief {USA}) (Hip 936), just a week removed from a third-place finish in the G1 Breeders' Cup F/M Sprint, became the 12th seven-figure filly of the Keeneland November sale when selling for US$1.7 million (AU$2.67 million) to the internet bid of Rifa Mustang Europe, Ltd. The 4-year-old is expected to stay in training in the US next year.
Hip 936 - Three Witches (USA) was purchased by Rifa Mustang Europe for US$1.7 million (AU$2.67 million) | Image courtesy of Keeneland
“She was bought on behalf of a significant investment based in Australia and Europe,” said Barry Bowditch, managing director of Australia’s Magic Millions and Keeneland’s Australasian representative, who spoke on behalf of the buyer.
“She'll stay here in America and we'll try again on the racetrack,” he added. “For a mare that raced five days ago, in one of the strongest Breeders' Cup races of the week, she looked so well and handled the trip back so well. You just feel that the best of her racing is yet to come. It will be great to have a new investor racing horses here in America.”
“She (Hip 936) was bought on behalf of a significant investment based in Australia and Europe. She'll stay here in America and we'll try again on the racetrack.” - Barry Bowditch
Bowditch said a trainer is still being discussed for the filly's 2024 campaign.
Bloodstock agent Mike Ryan purchased Three Witches on behalf of Bob Edwards' e Five Racing for US$350,000 (AU$550,200) at the 2020 Keeneland September Sale. Trained by Saffie Joseph, the dark bay earned a trip to the Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita with a win in the G3 Princess Rooney S. in October.
Barry Bowditch | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“It's always a hard decision (to sell) when you have something special that's won a Grade 3 and you drop her in the Breeders' Cup and, at 30-1, she hits the board,” Edwards said. “We believed in her and Saffie did a phenomenal job suiting her up and getting that Princess Rooney win for us and getting to the Breeders' Cup. That was all Saffie.”
Milburn/Hedge back amongst buyers
A day after they went to US$220,000 (AU$345,600) to secure Hip 585, 5-year-old mare Bipartisanship (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}), Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA) and Milburn Creek were back amongst the buyers on Friday in Lexington.
Waiting until the final opportunity in Book 2, they purchased Hip 1071A, Mom’s Town (USA), a 3-year-old Speightstown (USA) filly, for US$100,000 (AU$157,200). A stakes-winning juvenile, Mom’s Town is out of the young Kitten’s Joy (USA) mare Moms Choice (USA), who was herself stakes-placed as a 2-year-old and is the dam of three foals of racing age.
Hip 1017A - Mom's Town (USA) was purchased by Milburn Creek and Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA) for US$100,000 (AU$157,200) | Image courtesy of Keeneland
Sharp splurges for Justify filly
Paul and Sarah Sharp, sitting in a back row of the sales pavilion, went to US$525,000 (AU$825,300) to acquire a weanling filly by Justify (USA) (Hip 975) from the Elite consignment on Friday at Keeneland. The filly was the day's highest-priced weanling.
“We have been trying to buy really nice horses like that from the beginning of the sale and across town (at Fasig-Tipton) as well,” Paul Sharp said. “It's been really hard.”
Paul Sharp | Image courtesy of Keeneland
The bay filly is out of Ada Lovelace (USA) (Algorithms {USA}), a half-sister to sprint champion Mitole (USA) (Eskendereya {USA}) and to Grade I winner Hot Rod Charlie (USA) (Oxbow {USA}).
“That was a legit family and a very athletic, really nice filly by one of the best sires in the world at this time,” Sharp said. “I feel like that justified the price and we are very happy to have her. It was a little higher than we wanted to go, honestly, but we are running out of bullets.”
The weanling was bred by Villa Rosa Stables, which purchased Ada Lovelace for US$110,000 (AU$172,900) at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton November Sale.
Hip 975 - Justify (USA) x Ada Lovelace (USA) (filly) was purchased by Paul Sharp (CSWV) for US$525,000 (AU$825,300) | Image courtesy of Keeneland
“Right now, the plan is to sell her back next summer,” Sharp, who signed for the filly as CSWV, said. “We're not sure where, but that's the plan.”
CSWV purchased another daughter of Justify on Friday at Keeneland, going to US$290,000 (AU$455,900) to acquire Hip 793 from the Paramount Sales consignment. Through three sessions, the partnership has purchased five weanlings for US$1,295,000 (AU$2,036,000).
“Right now, the plan is to sell her (Hip 975) back next summer. We're not sure where, but that's the plan.” - Paul Sharp
Justify colt to AAA Thoroughbreds
Randy Hartley and Dean DeRenzo's AAA Thoroughbreds, which has been busy buying weanlings from the Fasig-Tipton November Sale on Tuesday and into the first week of the Keeneland November Sale, purchased a colt by Justify (Hip 855) for US$425,000 (AU$668,100) on Friday in Lexington.
“He's just a beautiful horse,” said Hartley. “We are big fans of Justify. When Scat Daddy passed away, we never dreamed that we would have another stallion that could replace him, let alone a Triple Crown-winning son of his. We came here in September and tried to buy every one that we could get our hands on.”
“He's (Hip 855) just a beautiful horse. We are big fans of Justify. We came here in September and tried to buy every one that we could get our hands on.” - Randy Hartley
The chestnut colt, consigned by Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa, is out of Saralin (USA) (Curlin {USA}), a half-sister to Graded winners Salutos Amigos (USA) (Salute The Sarge {USA}) and Sarah's Secret (USA) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}). He was bred by Orpendale, Chelston, Wynatt and Kaleem Shah.
Shah and MV Magnier purchased Saralin for US$1.3 million (AU$2.04 million) at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream Sale. She made just one racetrack appearance and her first foal, another colt by Justify, sold for US$300,000 (AU$471,600) at this year's Keeneland September Sale. The mare preceded her weanling into the ring, selling not-mated to Shah for US$285,000 (AU$448,000).
Through three sessions, AAA Thoroughbreds has purchased 14 weanlings for US$4,370,000 (AU$6,870,000). A filly by Curlin (USA) (Hip 151) leads the operation's acquisitions with a price-tag of US$550,000 (AU$864,600). Earlier in Friday's session, it acquired another colt by Justify (Hip 812) for US$250,000 (AU$393,000).
Randy Hartley | Image courtesy of Keeneland
“I just had a big order for babies – I needed about 20,” Hartley said. “I buy some for Tom Durant in Texas. He likes buying babies because he feels like he gets a little bit of a discount. This colt might have made US$600,000 (AU$943,300) or US$700,000 (AU$1.1 million) as a yearling. He feels he can save a little if he can get some nice babies. Some (that we are buying here) will be for pinhooking and some will go to him in Texas.”
Other notable purchases
With the market continuing to remain competitive for weanlings, a colt by Nyquist (Hip 893) reached US$385,000 (AU$605,300) at Keeneland Friday. Baroda Stud's David Cox signed the ticket on behalf of Goodwill Bloodstock. Hunter Valley Farm consigned the bay colt.
The February 10 foal is out of the Bernardini (USA) mare Spa Treatment (USA), a daughter of stakes winner and elite-level-placed Silver Knockers (USA) (Silver Deputy {USA}) and a half-sister to stakes winner Manipulated (USA) (Malibu Moon {USA}).
“He's a real athlete, a great cross,” said Cox. “Hopefully, he'll be re-sold (pinhooked) next year. (Nyquist) is proven, and has good runners. We tried to buy a few more, but we got beat plenty, so we're delighted to get him.”
“He's (Hip 983) a real athlete, a great cross. Hopefully, he'll be re-sold (pinhooked) next year. We tried to buy a few more, but we got beat plenty, so we're delighted to get him.” - David Cox
Also amongst the headline results during Friday's Book 2 finale at Keeneland was a colt by Charlatan (USA), who brought US$370,000 (AU$581,700) from Stonestreet Stables. He was consigned as Hip 695 by John Stuart's Bluegrass Thoroughbred Services, acting as agent for Merribelle Stable.
Headed by this colt, 14 weanlings sold by the sire – with four surpassing the US$200,000 (AU$314,400) mark – through three days of selling at Keeneland. The weanlings grossed US$2,810,000 (AU$4,418,000), averaging US$200,714 (AU$315,500).
Charlatan, a son of Speightstown (USA), stands for US$50,000 (AU$78,600) LFSN at Hill 'n' Dale Farms in 2024.
Hip 695 - Charlatan (USA) x Hillhouse High (USA) (colt) was purchased by Stonetreet Stables for US$370,000 (AU$581,700) | Image courtesy of Keeneland
Campaigned by SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Fred Hertrich, III, John Fielding, and Golconda Stables, Charlatan was trained by Bob Baffert to win his first four career starts, including the GI Arkansas Derby and GI Runhappy Malibu S. before finishing second in what would be his career finale in the 2021 G1 Saudi Cup.
