US$750,000 Not This Time filly tops Keeneland Book 3

Cover image courtesy of Keeneland

Imad al Sagar's Blue Diamond Stud, with its American base at Stonereath Farm since the summer of 2023, went to US$750,000 (AU$1.09 million) for the 3-year-old racing or broodmare prospect Hot Mash (Not This Time) as the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale crossed into Book 3 on Friday afternoon in Lexington.

It was a solid day of trade on Friday, with 15 horses selling for price tags in excess of US$250,000 (AU$360,000). The corresponding session in 2025 saw a top price of US$375,000 (AU$546,000) and some 17 horses breached the quarter-million dollar threshold. At the end of the session, Keeneland reported sales on 229 horses for gross receipts of US$22,399,700 (AU$32.5 million). The average of US$97,815 (AU$142,300) increased by 3.91% over last year's fourth session, while the median price of US$70,000 (AU$100,000) represented a decrease of 6.67%.

After four sessions of the November Breeding Stock Sale, 792 horses have changed hands for gross receipts of US$196,346,700 (AU$285 million). The cumulative average of US$247,913 (AU$363,000) was an improvement of 13.27% over 2025, while the overall median price was static at US$150,000 (AU$218,000).

Looking for more 'Diamonds' in the rough

With its purchase from the Berglar Family of Stonereath Farm three years ago, Blue Diamond Stud was sending a message that it was their intention to compete more broadly on the world breeding stage. Over the past several years, the operation has invested in middle-market mares in America with the goal of breeding and racing in this country to go along with its operation in England, split between a pair of properties in the heart of horse country in Newmarket.

With their purchase of the session-topping hip 1317 about halfway through Friday's session at Keeneland, Blue Diamond was securing its third horse of the auction, with noted bloodstock agent Hugo Merry bidding on their behalf.

Bred in Kentucky by Sally J. Anderson, Hot Mash was purchased for US$375,000 (AU$546,000) at the 2024 Keeneland September Sale and made a smashing debut for trainer John Servis on an otherwise non-descript Monday afternoon at Ellis Park last August, dominating a turf sprint by 7.75 lengths. Subsequently runner-up in the GI Natalma Stakes, Hot Mash was unplaced in the Oct. 10 Ontario Damsel Stakes in what would become her final start and joins the Blue Diamond broodmare band after Merry signed the ticket at US$750,000 (AU$1.09 million).

There was plenty to recommend the filly on pedigree, as she is a half-sister to Peace and War (War Front), upset winner of the 2014 GI Darley Alcibiades Stakes up the hill and later sold to Japan as a broodmare prospect for US$1.45 million (AU$2.1 million) at this event a decade ago. Hot Mash is also kin to the unraced dam of Rushie (Liam's Map), third in the GI Santa Anita Derby and GII Toyota Blue Grass in 2020 and victorious in the COVID-delayed GII Pat Day Mile later that season.

Late in the session on Thursday, Merry signed for the stakes-placed 4-year-old filly Winning Streep (Oscar Performance) for US$400,000 (AU$582,000) on behalf of Blue Diamond, and on day two of the auction, they acquired a Cody's Wish filly from the same family as Winning Streep for US$210,000 (AU$305,000). Classic winner Seize the Grey (Arrogate) and Grade I scorer Power Broker (Pulpit) are among the elite family members on those pages.

Among others, the Blue Diamond broodmare band at Stonereath includes Floret (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), a half-sister to the crack multiple Group 1-winning European sprinter Moonlight Cloud (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}); Free Look (Tapit), whose dam is a full-sister to Grade I-winner and successful sire Violence (Medaglia d'Oro); I'm Wonderful (Giant's Causeway), a full-sister to Grade I winner Carpe Diem, a half to Grade 1 winner J. B.'s Thunder (Thunder Gulch) and graded winner Farrell (Malibu Moon); and Arwa (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), a half-sister to legendary European stayer Order of St George (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and whose dam is a daughter of champion Storm Song.

The prize jewel in the British broodmare band at Blue Diamond is the mighty homebred Nashwa (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), whose three elite-level victories included the 2022 G1 Prix de Diane for John and Thady Gosden and Hollie Doyle. She was also third in that year's G1 Cazoo Oaks and a running-on fourth in the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Keeneland.

Colts dominate the session's weanling offerings

Colts accounted for eight of the afternoon's top 10 weanlings, led by hip 1457, a son of Hill 'n' Dale's Good Magic. Consigned to the November Sale by Lane's End as agent, the chestnut is out of 2021 GIII Iowa Oaks runner-up Shesa Mystery (Verrazano) and was purchased by Castleton Way for US$450,000 (AU$655,000). Wimberley Bloodstock snapped up Shesa Mystery for US$285,000 (AU$415,000) in foal to Life Is Good at the 2023 November Sale.

A Four Star Sales-consigned filly by Newgate (Into Mischief) (hip 1543) was tops among the fairer sex when hammering to DG Stable for US$250,000 (AU$363,000). The Feb. 20 foal is one of six horses of racing age out of the two-time stakes winner Uptown Twirl (Twirling Candy), whose son Presidential (Pioneerof the Nile) was a black-type winner on the Desert Southwest circuit. Uptown Twirl is a half-sister to Eclipse Award and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile hero Classic Empire.

Harron buys Ecstasy

The James Harron Broodmare Partnership paid US$145,000 (AU$211,000) for Ecstasy (Paynter). Winner of the Listed Damsel Stakes in Canada, she is in foal to Yaupon. Her dam, Annihilation (Northern Afleet) is also a Listed winner.