Mary Delaney, winner of the 2007 Vinery Madison Stakes (gr. II) at Keeneland, kicked off the Overbrook Farm dispersal at the Keeneland November breeding stock auction in Lexington by selling for $850,000. She was the second horse in the sale ring during the auction’s second session Nov. 11. Kentucky bloodstock agent Reynolds Bell purchased her from Eaton Sales’ consignment.
A 6-year-old daughter of Hennessy, Mary Delaney produced a Mr. Greeley colt earlier this year and is in foal to Elusive Quality. She is out of the Crafty Prospector mare Crafty Emerald, who is from the family of grade I winner Thorn Song.
Bell declined to reveal the identity of Mary Delaney’s new owner, but said the mare would remain in Kentucky.
“I really liked her because she could run; she won a grade II, and she’s very attractive,” Bell said. “She’s part of an Overbrook dispersal, which we’re not going to have a chance to look at anymore. It (the dispersal) is the impetus of this November sale, as I see it. It’s certainly the group that stands out the biggest and the strongest for the market at Keeneland.”
As for Mary Delaney’s price, Bell said, “Anytime you’re at a dispersal, you end up feeling as if you’re going to have to be a little stronger than you would otherwise because it’s the last time you’re going to see it in the marketplace in the form that it is today.”
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Bell described the market at Keeneland, so far, as “real solid,” then elaborated: “Good horses are bringing retail prices. Now, when you compare it to past years, it’s really not fair, but I think in this day and time, it’s a strong market. As you look at the market compared to past years (in terms of quality offerings), you can say that there are people who have held on to their mares maybe this year when they wouldn’t have in past years just waiting to see what the market is going to do.”
The late W.T. Young founded Overbrook Farm, which dispersed its yearlings during this year's Keeneland September yearling auction.
