American Oaks Stakes (gr. IT) winner Nereid brought the highest price so far at the Keeneland January horses of all ages sale when she fetched a final bid of $1.3 million from Lane Seliger for Baumann Stables.
Consigned by Winter Quarter Farm as Hip No. 110, she is by Rock Hard Ten, out of the Belong to Me mare Dowry.
"She had more presence than anything I've had in a couple of years," said Don Robinson of Winter Quarter Farm. "She was the star of the show. She really stuck out here; she was extraordinary in this sale. I expected her to bring a very nice number and she did. I felt pretty good about it."
A representative of Baumann Stables of Amarillo, Texas declined comment. Baumann remained active bidding on many of the top mares offered Jan. 7 and landed Rockin Heather for $140,000. Rockin Heather, by In Excess, is a half sister to grade I winner Killer Graces.
Five-year-old Nereid, who dead heated with Cambina in the 2011 American Oaks, was also runner-up in the 2012 Rodeo Drive Stakes (gr. IT) and finished third in the 2011 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes (gr. IT) and Del Mar Oaks (gr. IT).
Trained by John Shirreffs in all her starts for Eric Kronfeld, she holds a record of 3-2-2 from 11 starts, for earnings of $303,800. Nereid was scheduled to contest the 2012 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (gr. IT), but was withdrawn from consideration in the race after sustaining a minor injury.
Nereid's dam Dowry is a half sister to stakes winners Malibu Win (by Malibu Moon ) and The Herc (by Lord Carson). The American Oaks winner's fourth dam is 1975 Kentucky Oaks (gr. II) winner Sun and Snow (by Hawaii).
Bred in Kentucky by Mr. and Mrs. Emler Neuman, Nereid was sold as a broodmare prospect. She was originally bought for $190,000 by Blandford Bloodstock at the 2009 Keeneland September yearling sale from Castle Park Farm, agent.
Earlier, Maristar, a winning filly out of champion older mare Jewel Princess, fetched $500,000 from Robert N. Clay's Three Chimneys.
Consigned by Gerard Butler Racing as Hip No. 90, she is a daughter of Giant's Causeway and was sold as a racing or broodmare prospect.
Maristar, a newly turned 6-year-old, boasts a career record of 5-1-2 from 19 starts, which includes a second in the 2011 Washington Park Handicap (gr. III) and a third in the Chilukki Stakes (gr. II). She has earned $131,402.
Jewel Princess, by Key to the Mint, captured the 1996 Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I), Vanity Invitational Handicap (gr. I), Louisville Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. II), La Canada Stakes (gr. II), and El Encino Stakes en route to being named that year's United States champion older mare.
Jewel Princess, who fetched $4.9 million at the 2000 Keeneland November breeding stock sale, also scored in the 1997 Santa Margarita Invitational Handicap (gr. I), Santa Maria Handicap (gr. I). She retired with a record of 13-4-7 from 29 starts and earnings of $1,904,060.
Case Clay of Three Chimneys said Maristar impressed on many levels. The mare is scheduled to begin a broodmare career at the Midway, Ky. farm.
"We loved her physicals, loved her family, loved her mom," said Clay. "We're excited to have her. We haven't made any mating decisions yet. We'll go back and think about it."
Clay said the price was a bit more than they had estimated but in the ballpark of expectations.
"She has a beautiful profile. She has a lovely walk, a lovely front end," Clay said. "She looks like a quality broodmare and we're very interested in quality."
Frank Angst contributed to this story
