Silver Deputy Mare Tops Keeneland Session as Key Numbers Soar

Scrambling, a 4-year-old daughter of Silver Deputy in foal to Mr. Greeley, was purchased by the Gaines-Gentry Thoroughbreds for $625,000 to top Friday's fifth session of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale in Lexington, Ky.

Consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, Scrambling was produced from Canadian champion sprinter Apelia and is a half-sister to Canadian champion older mare Saoirse. Ironically, Gaines-Gentry had bred Scrambling, who was initially purchased by Bob and Beverly Lewis for $575,000 from the Paramount Sales consignment to the 2002 Keeneland July yearling sale.

Keeneland reported increases in the major categories of gross, average, and median prices, but the buyback rate also increased when compared with the comparable session one year ago.

The numbers for Friday were:
--Gross receipts of $17,889,200 for the 247 horses sold represented a 19% increase over the $15,031,500 gross when 266 horses were sold during the corresponding session in 2004.
--The average price of $72,426 was up 28.2% over the 2004 session average of $56,509.
--The median increased 33.3% to $60,000, compared with $45,000 in 2004
--The 96 horses which did not sell represented an RNA rate of 28%, compared with a rate of 21.1% when 71 went unsold last year.

The cumulative figures for the sale that continues through Nov. 18 show that:
--The gross of $242,887,400 for 1,131 sold is up 2.8% over the $236,323,000 figure for 1,180 sold through the same period one year ago.
--The average price of $214,755 represents a 7.2% increase over the 2004 figure of $200,274.
--The median price of $110,000 is up 17.6% over the 2004 median of $93,500.

Sales director Geoffrey Russell said bidding during Friday's session continued to be competitive for broodmares that had the three criteria most buyers are seeking -- conformation, pedigree, and being in foal to a top stallion.

"Today reflected the strength of the middle market that we had seen at the September yearling sale," Russell said. "The ones that meet their criteria are blowing right through their reserves and are going on (up in price)."

The day's second highest price of $500,000 was paid by Hurricane Hall for Song Track, a winning daughter of Dixieland Band in foal to Gulch. The 4-year-old, produced from the A.P. Indy mare Happy Tune, was consigned by Lane's End as agent. Song Track was bred in Kentucky by Lane's End owner William S. Farish and Ogden Mills Phipps. Located near Georgetown, Ky., historic Hurricane Hall is now operated by a partnership consisting of Ben P. Walden Jr., Patrick Madden, Brad M. Kelley, and David Hanley.

Top price for a weanling Friday was the $215,000 bid of Aspiration Stud for an El Prado colt produced from the stakes-placed Mister Baileys mare Peanut Gallery. The colt was bred in Kentucky by Lee Pokoik. El Prado's 2005 fee was $100,000 and stood for $75,000 in 2004, when the colt was conceived.

Leading Weanling Sires, Buyers, and Consignors

Hip-by-hip results from Keeneland