Quietside tops first day of vibrant Keeneland November Sale

Cover image courtesy of Keeneland

At A Glance

•

On Tuesday, 152 horses sold at Keeneland for a gross of US$95,929,000 (AU$137.4 million), up from 122 sales for US$72 million (AU$103 million) in 2025.

•

Quietside (Malibu Moon), in foal to Nyquist, topped the day at US$5.2 million (AU$7.5 million) to Erdenheim Farm Thoroughbreds.

•

The average of US$631,112 (AU$903,000) was up 5.85% from 2025, while the median declined 5.33% to US$400,000 (AU$573,000).

•

With 46 horses reported not sold, the buy-back rate was 23.23%. It was 24.22% a year ago.

•

During Tuesday's session, 61 weanlings sold through the ring for a gross of US$22,764,000 (AU$32.5 million), an average of US$373,180 (AU$535,000), and a median of US$300,000 (AU$430,000).

The Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale opened on Tuesday with a day of vibrant trade that saw 23 horses–including four weanlings–sell for US$1 million (AU$1.4 million) or more.

“It was an incredible day,” said Keeneland President Shannon Arvin. “It was an incredible horse sale. The catalogue was deep and the buying bench was diverse and deep and it just had a great energy to it all day long. I think it really was a very successful Book 1.”

In all, 152 horses sold at Keeneland Tuesday for a gross of US$95,929,000 (AU$137.4 million). The average of US$631,112 (AU$903,000) was up 5.85% from 2025, while the median declined 5.33% to US$400,000 (AU$573,000).

Buyer confidence staying strong at the top

“I think one thing you notice is the confidence of the buyers,” said Keeneland Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy. “There was an enthusiasm for quality stock and we had an abundance of it today, for which we've got to thank our sellers, the consignors and the owners who entrusted their stock with us. This is sort of like the benchmark for the breeding side of things because this is the very foundation of the industry, the broodmares and the weanlings.

"This is where everything starts. And watching breeders and owners that have successfully raced some of these fillies gain true reward in the ring today was great. There were a lot of happy people.”

The 4-year-old broodmare Quietside (Malibu Moon), in foal to Nyquist, brought the day's highest bid when selling for US$5.2 million (AU$7.5 million) to Erdenheim Farm Thoroughbreds. The mare, consigned by Stone Farm, was one of eight to sell for US$2 million (AU$2.9 million) or over.

“I think you see that quality is really, really sought after at this moment and it's very encouraging,” Lacy said. “Anybody with quality is getting well-rewarded and I think that's only right. It takes a lot to get them to this point and it's really good to see it come to fruition in the ring here.”

Coolmore's M.V. Magnier and Peter Brant's White Birch Farm purchased the day's highest-priced weanling, going to US$1.3 million (AU$1.86 million) to acquire a full-brother to G1 English Guineas winner Ruling Court (Justify). The weanling was one of two on the day to bring seven figures from the Mayer family's Nursery Place consignment.

“The weanling market was exceptionally strong,” Lacy said. “Having four weanlings bring seven figures was exceptional. That was double last year and we didn't have any two years ago. So that's great. It just shows you the demand. We're seeing a lot of end-users participating in the weanling market.”

During Tuesday's session, 61 weanlings sold through the ring for a gross of US$22,764,000 (AU$32.5 million), an average of US$373,180 (AU$535,000), and a median of US$300,000 (AU$430,000). At last year's Book 1 session, 54 weanlings sold through the ring for a total of US$19,020,000 (AU$27.2 million), an average of US$380,400 (AU$545,000), and a median of US$295,000 (AU$423,000).

The weanlings were led by a US$2.2 million (AU$3.2 million) son of Gun Runner who was one of two to sell for seven figures last year.

Quietside makes some noise going to Erdenheim for $5.2 million

Well into Tuesday's Keeneland November Book 1 session, Quietside (Malibu Moon) (Hip 175) brought a session-topping US$5.2 million (AU$7.5 million) from Chris Baker, acting on behalf of Peter McCausland's Erdenheim Farm Thoroughbreds.

Consigned by Stone Farm, the multiple graded stakes-winning and Grade I-placed mare was offered in foal to Nyquist.

“I expected her to be expensive,” said Baker. “There's a certain point at which it's hard to predict what you're going to have to give, but clearly Mr. McCausland was determined.”

Out of graded winner Benner Island (Speightstown), the 4-year-old, named a 'TDN Rising Star’ on debut, was bred by John Ed Anthony's Shortleaf Stable.

Runner-up in the GI Spinaway and GII Golden Rod and third in the GI Alcibiades at two, Quietside won the GII Fantasy and GIII Honeybee and placed in the GIII Comley and third in the GIII Bayakoa. She retired with earnings just over US$1 million (AU$1.4 million).

Her second dam, Graded winner Spacy Tracy (Awesome Again), is also responsible for Graded winner Victim of Love (Speightstown) and stakes winners Ohana Honor (Honor Code) and High North (Midnight Lute).

What drew Baker to the 4-year-old?

“Her pedigree, her physical, the stallion she's in full to,” affirmed Baker. “She's from the kind of matrilineal line that could do good things as a producer herself. And for Erdenheim, who's in the process of re-tooling its program, she just seems like a great fit. He wants to breed to race and this is a family that's been curated the same way and we hope to extend that through Erdenheim.”

According to Baker, Erdenheim currently holds a small but select broodmare band numbering 10-12. Erdenheim also paid US$2.6 million (AU$3.7 million) for Grade I winner Kilwin (Twirling Candy) (Hip 114) earlier in Tuesday's session.

Shortleaf Stable secured Benner Island for US$200,000 (AU$287,000) at Keeneland September in 2015.

Anthony, who initially campaigned under Loblolly Stable before changing over to Shortleaf Stable, campaigned the likes of Classic winners and champions Prairie Bayou and Temperence Hill, as well as champion Vanlandingham, in addition to Cox's Ridge.

The longtime owner/breeder has been slowly whittling down his breeding stock, and according to his son Ed, the operation consists of a handful of mares in Arkansas.

“My father deserves all the credit,” said Ed Anthony, son of John Ed Anthony. “He's been in the game for 50 years. He's had a lot of good horses. This filly is pretty special. Obviously, we bred her. We own the mare (Benner Island).”

According to the junior Anthony, the operation is currently down to about 10 broodmares in Arkansas. He added, “My father's 87. He's just downsizing and kind of slowly dispersing, you might say. So that's kind of where we are right now.”

Shortleaf previously achieved success in the sales ring when selling Graded winner Bubble Rock (More Than Ready) for US$1.5 million (AU$2.15 million) at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Mixed Sale in 2023 to Kia Ora Stud.

$4.8 million Ahavah to Hill 'n' Dale

Ahavah (City of Light), a maiden winner and graded stakes-placed in two lifetime starts, outdid her Grade I-winning half-sister Vahva (Gun Runner) in the sales ring when selling for US$4.8 million (AU$6.9 million) to John Sikura's Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa Tuesday at Keeneland. Vahva sold to Boyd Racing at the same sale last year for US$3.1 million (AU$4.4 million). While John Sikura did the bidding from a back row in the pavilion, his son Jes Sikura signed the ticket on the 4-year-old mare, who sold in foal to Gun Runner. She was consigned by Lane's End as hip 186.

“She is going to be a broodmare at Hill 'n' Dale,” said Jes Sikura. “I am not sure what partners we will have, if any.”

The younger Sikura said the purchase was made on the advice of Hill 'n' Dale farm manager Peter Conway.

“She got the big compliment,” Sikura said. “Peter Conway had gone to see her and we respect his judgment of a physical probably more than anybody else in the world. He knows a good broodmare when he sees one. He said this was one we had to have.”

Ahavah is a daughter of multiple stakes winner Holiday Soiree (Harlan's Holiday). She sold for US$400,000 (AU$573,000) at the 2023 Keeneland September sale and was a first-out winner at Fair Grounds in February 2025 for Twin Brook Stables, Glassman Racing LLC, Belladonna Racing LLC, Woodford Racing LLC, B.C.W.T. Ltd. and Taylor Creek and trainer Cherie DeVaux. She made just one more start, finishing second behind Good Cheer (Medaglia d'Oro) in the GII Fair Grounds Oaks.

“This is a beautiful mare and it's such a deep family,” Sikura said. “Vahva was a big purchase here last year by Randy Boyd and I think there are a lot of updates to come with this family.”

Ahavah was the third seven-figure mare of the session for Hill 'n' Dale, which purchased Dramatic (Medaglia d'Oro) (hip 56) for US$1.6 million (AU$2.3 million) and Dry Powder (Gun Runner) (hip 58) for US$1.3 million (AU$1.9 million).

Claiborne parts with Admit for $3.1 million

The Claiborne Farm-consigned Admit (Blame) (hip 204), a filly who represented several generations of breeding from the historic operation, came through the Keeneland sales ring Tuesday and will depart for Coolmore as M.V. Magnier struck the final US$3.1 million (AU$4.4 million) bid.

The moment was bittersweet for Claiborne's President Walker Hancock, who sent Admit through the ring in foal to top-three freshman sire Life Is Good.

“Definitely hard decision to sell,” Hancock said. “We have had the family since (around) 1951. We still have a lot of the blood. We have two other Blame mares in the family. It is bittersweet and I might regret it. We bought a few mares today–just trying to get some new blood infused into our broodmare band. Buying has been tough. We have had to pay more than we were hoping to.”

A 4-year-old filly out of a War Front half-sister to the late sire Pulpit (A.P. Indy), Admit has plenty of Claiborne-infused pedigree class to back up a race record which saw her finish her career with a win in last year's GII Bank of America Valley View Stakes at Keeneland.

Bringing Admit back to Keeneland was sentimental for Hancock who said, “My grandfather was one of the ones who helped found this place. It is great that everything Keeneland generates goes back to racing and sales. We feel like we are supporting the industry. Always special to sell at Keeneland.”

Whisper Hill Active at Keeneland with $2.9M Flag Day, $1.05 Good Magic Filly

Mandy Pope, less than an hour removed from buying a weanling filly by Good Magic for US$1.05 million (AU$1.5 million), went to US$2.9 million (AU$4.2 million) to acquire the broodmare Flag Day (Giant's Causeway) (Hip 79).

The 10-year-old mare, consigned by Denali Stud as agent for the complete dispersal of Earle Mack's breeding stock, sold in foal to Gun Runner and Pope had a ready plan right after the purchase.

“She's already produced two stakes winners and she is back in foal to Gun Runner,” Pope said. “So the plan would be to foal her out and come back with that one as a yearling and get $3.5 million for her. And then we are out on the mare and good to go.”

Flag Day's first foal was graded stakes winner Hall of Fame (Gun Runner). Her 2-year-old colt Jas (Justify) won the Oct. 25 GIII Street Sense Stakes. She has a yearling filly by Good Magic.

“I love Giant's Causeway mares,” Pope said. “I think he is one of the top broodmare sires that we've had. And I also like that she's out of a Street Sense mare.”

Pope said the mare's price tag wasn't much of a surprise given the competitive market for top-class mares.

“I was hoping she would be around $2 million, but everything is bringing a lot of money,” she said. “If you want this kind of mare, it's what you have to do.”

Mack campaigned several members of Flag Day's immediate family, including her stakes placed dam Sense to Compete (Street Sense) and her half-brother stakes placed Robin Hood (Scat Daddy). Flag Day was the sole member of the Earle Mack dispersal offered in Book 1.

“Flag Day represents the culmination of a breeding program Earle Mack started, grew and cultivated over many years,” said Denali's Craig Bandoroff. “Denali's relationship with Ambassador Mack has been a very long one. We are pleased to see an astute judge like Mandy Pope purchase her and see Earle's family recognized in this way.”

The 'time' is just right for $2.6 million 'Rising Star' On Time Girl

After failing to reach her reserve at US$375,000 (AU$538,000) as a yearling in this same ring at the Keeneland September Sale just two years ago, 'TDN Rising Star’ On Time Girl (Not This Time) (hip 155) more than made up for lost time when bringing US$2.6 million (AU$3.7 million) from David Lanigan who signed on behalf of Heider Family Stables.

“She was a very good dirt filly, winner at two, and continued on out at three,” Lanigan said. “She's a very, very attractive filly by the right stallion, and boss is keen to sort of bring in some more dirt mares. He'll make a plan with her and what he's going to breed her to and should be going to the broodmare band. She was his pick and pedigree in the whole book.”

Named a 'TDN Rising Star' in her second start when she rolled home by four lengths in a Churchill Downs allowance race in Sept. 2025, On Time Girl continued on to win the Fern Creek Stakes one year ago and opened 2026 by winning the GIII Forward Gal Stakes at Gulfstream Park. Also a winner this year in the GII Eight Belles Stakes on the Kentucky Oaks undercard May 1, she last ran fifth in the GI Test Stakes at Saratoga in August.

“Good dirt mares are very expensive now, especially if they have everything,” Lanigan said. “This filly walked very well. She had a great physical. Those fillies are making a premium at the moment, and you see it even at the yearling sale. The top end is very high.”

On Time Girl is out of the Uncle Mo mare Girl Daddy, who was a 'TDN Rising Star' herself, won the GIII Pocahontas and placed in the 2020 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. Albaugh Family Stables purchased the mare for US$500,000 (AU$717,000) as a yearling at Keeneland September in 2019 and On Time Girl is her second foal. Her yearling Not This Time filly, a full-sister to On Time Girl, went for US$1.9 million (AU$2.7 million) to Mitsu Nakauchida at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale earlier this year.

Kilwin may race on as Baker goes to $2.6 million for Erdenheim Farm

Last year's GI Test Stakes winner Kilwin (Twirling Candy) (hip 114) may continue to race on as a 5-year-old after bringing US$2.6 million (AU$3.7 million) on Tuesday at the Keeneland November Sale. Consigned by Royal Oak Farm, as Agent for BBN Racing and Rick Howard, the 4-year-old Kilwin raced this past weekend at Keeneland where she finished fourth behind Ways and Means (Practical Joke) in the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint.

“We're making plans,” said Chris Baker, who signed the ticket on behalf of Erdenhiem Farm Thoroughbreds's Peter McCausland. “Whether or not she has racing left in her is to be determined. I need to talk to Rusty Arnold, who has been training her, and make a plan there to see what we think makes sense. Ultimately, she's going the broodmare band for Erdenheim Farm Thoroughbreds. It's really a 10- to 15-year project, but we have some immediate things to consider now.”

After Rick Howard purchased Kilwin one year ago from this same sale for US$3 million (AU$4.3 million), last weekend's GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint fourth-place finisher raced a trio of times in 2026, winning the listed Twin Bridges Stakes at Ellis Park in July and running second in the GI Ballerina Stakes before finishing out at Keeneland in the Breeders' Cup. Across her career, Kilwin banked more than US$1.35 million (AU$1.9 million) on the track with five wins from 11 starts. BBN Racing initially purchased Kilwin as a yearling at Keeneland September for US$225,000 (AU$323,000) in 2022.

“This is what the good ones cost,” Baker said. “I think when you look at what she was last year ($3 million) with some racing value assigned to her this year, coming back where she won a listed race and ran second in a Grade I, I think [this price] was in the realm of what we were thinking in today's market. The target is very small and expensive at that small end of the market.”

China Horse Club active with two mares for Australia

China Horse Club purchased two mares on the first day with juvenile stakes winner Casalu (Caracaro) costing US$475,000 (AU$681,000) and Grammy Girl (Mastery) costing US$535,000 (AU$767,000).

“It’s been a busy few days in Kentucky, and it was great to buy two mares at Keeneland to come back to Australia in such a strong international market. We’ve got some exciting young stock coming through at The Chase out of American mares we’ve bought previously, including Princess Grace. We came back to Kentucky hoping to find another couple of mares of that quality to bring to Australia,” China Horse Club’s Michael Smith said.

Grade 2 winner Princess Grace (Karakontie) has a yearling filly by I Am Invincible. She was a US$1.7 million (AU$2.4 million) purchase in 2022.

“Casalu was a stakes winner at two for Bob Baffert and backed that up with another stakes win at three at Santa Anita. Donato Lanni paid US$775,000 for her on behalf of the Three Amigos at the OBS Spring breeze-up sale, and you could see why. She’s an exceptional physical and showed plenty of ability on the track. Her sire, Caracaro, is out of Peace Time, a mare who’s done a great job in Australia, and I could see plenty of that family in her.”

Peace Time (War Front) produced Grade 1-placed Caracaro (Uncle Mo) with her first foal, then arrived in Australia where her second foal was Listed winner Xtremetime (Extreme Choice) and her third foal is stakes placed Miss Hellfire (Hellbent). Her fourth foal is stakes placed August Bloom (More Than Ready).

“Casalu is in foal to McKinzie, and once she foals, we’ll likely send her to Not This Time on Southern Hemisphere time next year before bringing her down to The Chase.

“Grammy Girl won seven races, including the G3 Distaff and Vagrancy Stakes at Aqueduct. She was as athletic a mare as I saw at the sale, with real strength and a great action. Her dam is a half-sister to Classic Empire, the champion American 2-year-old colt, so there’s plenty to like about her pedigree as well. Given China Horse Club’s interest in Extreme Choice, he’ll be high on the list for her when she gets to Australia for the next breeding season.”