San Fernando Stakes (gr. II) and Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf winner Nownownow sold for $130,000 to top the Nov. 17 session of the Keeneland breeding stock sale.
Richard Giacopelli purchased the 5-year-old son of Whywhywhy out of the winning Exit to Nowhere mare Here and Now. Consigned as a racing or stallion prospect by Highclere Sales, agent, Nownownow is a half brother to French stakes winner Marche de Paix.
Nownownow won the San Fernando in 2009 at Santa Anita Park. His most lucrative victory, however, came in 2007 when he won the then-ungraded $916,000 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf in its first running. He flew home from last with a quarter-mile to go in the one-mile turf test at Monmouth Park.
Gerald Bortolazzo paid the session’s second-highest price of $110,000 for a colt by War Front from the consignment of Beau Lane Bloodstock. Out of the winning Virginia Rapids mare Legendary Lady, the colt is from the family of multiple stakes winners Song of Navarone and Celluloid Hero.
Keeneland sold 251 horses for $2,487,200 Nov. 17 for an average of $9,909 and a median of $6,000. Last year on the comparable day, 239 horses brought $2,253,900 for an average of $9,431 and a median of $6,000.
After 10 days—the 13-day auction concludes Nov. 20—2,425 horses have sold for a gross of $144,303,000. The average is$59,506 and median $22,000.
At this point in 2009, 2,261 horses had been sold for $155,950,000; the average was $68,974 and the median $27,000.