Still Plenty of Steam in Keeneland November Sale

As the high-powered Keeneland November breeding stock sale moved into the fourth of seven books Sunday, the market for breeding stock and weanling prospects showed it still has plenty of steam. Seventeen lots in the session brought final bids in the six-figure range, led by a pair of $200,000 broodmares and a $210,000 weanling.

For the day, 256 horses sold for $9,875,000, good for an average of $38,574 and a median of $30,000. At the Sunday session a year ago, 270 horses sold for $8,690,000, for an average of $32,185. The median during this session in 2003 was $25,000.

"It shows that everyone is getting a piece of the pie," Keeneland director of sales Geoffrey Russell said of the rise in the median.

Eighty-six horses failed to sell, making for an RNA rate of 25.1%, which was slightly higher than the cumulative 23.5% for the sale. Russell noted that at the Keeneland November sale, "a lot of people are buying and selling. If they can't buy, they are going to hold on to their horses."

Topping the session was a bay colt by Yonaguska, out of the Tri Jet mare Jetazelle, that brought a bid of $210,000 from Bloodstock Services. Consigned by Clarkland Farm, the colt is a half-brother to stakes winner Runaway Jet. Another son of Yonaguska sold for $160,000 and a filly by him sold for $200,000 Sunday.

The second-high priced weanling at the session was by first-year sire Buddha.

"The weanlings are selling well at the moment," Russell said. "And the first-year sires, the Yonaguskas, the Buddhas, are in tremendous demand. The young sires are commanding a premium. Earlier in the sale, the pinhookers were having a hard time buying."

Totally Crafty, a 5-year-old mare by Crafty Prospector, out of the stakes-winning Vice Regent mare Teewinot, sold for $200,000. In foal to first-year sire Posse, Totally Crafty was consigned by the Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent. She was purchased by Pennston Farm. Teewinot won the Dispute Stakes at Gulfstream, and ran third in the Louisville Budweiser Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. II).

The other mare to bring $200,000 was Lyrics 'n Laughter, an 8-year-old daughter of Stop the Music -- Distant Doll, by Distant Land, in foal to Chief Seattle. She was purchased by Ben Glass, agent, from the consignment of Ballinswood Sales, agent.

The late Rick Littrell's Viking Stud had a successful day, with a pair of horses bringing six-figure prices. A pair of weanlings by Buddha brought $170,000 and $135,000.

So far in the 2004 November sale, 1,692 horses have been reported as sold for $257,217,900. The average through Sunday is $152,020 and the median is $62,000. The gross blew by last year's gross total of $236,070,900 during Friday's session.

Only three other November sales, 1999 ($317 million), 2000 ($301 million), and 1998 ($264 million) have had higher gross receipts.

Top-Priced Weanlings

Hip – Sex – Pedigree – Consignor – Buyer – Price

2502 – Colt – Yonaguska -- Jetazelle, by Tri Jet – Clarkland Farm – Bloodstock Services -- $210,000

2459 -- Filly -- Yonaguska--Gate Swinger, by Wayne's Crane -- Moreau Bloodstock Int'l, agent -- Vinery Stables -- $200,000

2557 – Colt – Buddha -- Miss Blues Sweep, by End Sweep – Viking Stud, agent for Barak Farm – Ben Glass, agent -- $170,000

2317 – Filly – Forest Wildcat -- Whispered Wishes, by With Approval – Brookdale Sales, agent – Bloodstock Management II -- $160,000

2505 – Colt – Yonaguska -- St. Agnes, by St. Jovite – Susan M. Forrester, agent II – Cherry Lane Farm -- $160,000

2535 – Colt – Yes It's True -- Lost Peace, by Hold Your Peace – Moreau Bloostock Int'l, agent – Josham Farms, agent -- $155,000

Top-Priced Broodmares

Hip – Name/Age -- Pedigree – Covering Sire – Consignor – Buyer – Price

2285 – Totally Crafty, 5 – Crafty Prospector -- Teewinot, by Vice Regent – Posse – Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent – Pennston Farm -- $200,000

2540 – Lyrics 'n Laughter, 8 – Stop the Music -- Distant Doll, by Distant Land – Chief Seattle -- Ballinswood Sales, agent – Ben Glass, agent $200,000

2270 – Sweet Alabama, 3 – Kris S. -- Evil's Pic, by Piccolino – (prospect) – Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent – Brilliant Stables -- $152,000

Results, leading buyer, leading consignor, leading sire lists from Keeneland