Mr. Greeley Filly Tops Keeneland Session

On the day it was announced the stud fee for Mr. Greeley was jumping to $75,000, a 3-year-old filly by the son of Gone West topped the action at the fourth session of the Keeneland November sale Nov. 9.

The filly, Pretty Proud, was purchased by Frankfort Park Stud for $600,000. She was consigned by Hidden Brook.

Out of the Quiet American mare Thorough Fair, Pretty Proud won two races this year and was sold as a racing or broodmare prospect. She is a full sister to grade I winner Whywhywhy and a half-sister to grade II winner Spellbinder, by Tale of the Cat  .

Irish bloodstock agent Brendan Gallagher, managing director of Emerald Bloodstock and a partner in Frankfort Park Farm, signed the ticket for Pretty Proud, who will be retired and bred next year.

Gallagher and partners John and Willie Browne recently purchased the 220-acre Frankfort Park Farm, formerly Jim Plemmons' Old Frankfort Stud, near Lexington. He reported the partnership is expanding its American bloodstock business, and the farm will be used primarily as a quarantine facility for horses traveling between the United States and Europe.

The top price for a mare on the day was $580,000 for Exotic Elegance, a 5-year-old daughter of Storm Cat carrying her first foal, by Tiznow. Exotic Elegance, a winner of two races, is out of the multiple grade I winning Rahy mare Exotic Wood.

Consigned by Mill Ridge Sales, agent, Exotic Balance was purchased by Black Jack Stables.

There were 257 horses sold during the session for $31,626,000, an average of $123,058 and median of $90,000. The gross was up 26.5% from 2005 when 251 horses brought $24,996,200. The average increased 23.6% and the median rose 34.3% from the same session a year ago.

Over four days, 873 lots have been auctioned for $225,978,000, producing an average of $258,852 and median of $1550,000.

"Today was an exceedingly strong sale," said Geoffrey Russell, Keeneland's director of sales. "The middle market continues to show strength, owing to the momentum coming out of a record-breaking September yearling sale, a strong international base of buyers who continue to spend, and a foal market that is very strong."

Hip by hip results from Keeneland

Leading Sires: Session Four