A NEW sale-topper emerged on Monday, the second and final day of Book 1, with nine yearlings selling for a million dollars or more. For the second day running it was a Tapit who dominated, this time a son of the Gainesway flagbearer.
A partnership consisting of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Robert LaPenta, Gainesway and Winchell Thoroughbreds paid $2 million for a colt by the sire out of Grade 1 winner Tara’s Tango. He was one of 100 yearlings to sell for $44,535,000, generating a median of $360,000. The 14 yearlings who sold for $1 million or more on the opening two days were purchased by 13 different buyers. Incredibly, four of the millionaires on Monday sold within the last 11 lots.
“It was a frantic end to the session, and we appreciate Barbara Banke for her support of Keeneland and congratulate her on having another top-priced horse,” Geoffrey Russell said, referring to the breeder of the session topper and speaking at the end of the day. “Under the current circumstances, we are very pleased with the session.”
At the end of the two days, however, the selectivity of the market was clearly shown by the fact that just three in every five yearlings offered were sold.
Eaton Sales acted as agent for Banke’s Stonestreet and consigned the session topper. The colt is out of the Unbridled’s Song mare Tara’s Tango who is also half-sister to Grade 1 winner Visionaire. Aron Wellman of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners signed the buyer’s docket, saying: “Partnerships are so prevalent in today’s market. We had a fabulous relationship with Cot Campbell of Dogwood Stable going back to when Eclipse first started. To think how the partnership model has evolved and that now we are partnering with moguls in the industry. It speaks volumes. Barbara Banke has been gracious about staying in as a partner. She adores this colt.”
Best again
Larry Best’s OXO Equine again showed his love for Into Mischief when buying a daughter of the sire for $1.9 million. She is out of the stakes-winning Medaglia D’Oro mare Taylor S, a half-sister to Grade 1 winner and sire Liam’s Map and Grade 3 winner and young sire sensation Not This Time. “Book 1 has been unbelievably strong,” said Best. “It blew away my expectations. Keeneland should be very happy.”
Three of Monday’s seven-figure horses are by Into Mischief, sire of recent Kentucky Derby winner Authentic. In Book 1 he was represented by 20 yearlings that realised $13,085,000.
It was reassuring to see Shadwell Estate Company Ltd on the buyer’s list. Sheikh Hamdan paid $1.6 million for a filly by Medaglia D’Oro, a half-sister to Irish and English stakes winner Sergei Prokofiev. Rick Nichols signed the ticket. “She is a beautiful filly – the kind you have to have,” Nichols said. “Sheikh Hamdan told me this morning to try to concentrate on getting some really nice fillies.” Nichols indicated that the filly will stay in the USA. The filly is out of a daughter of Tapit.
The filly’s breeder David Anderson was thrilled and he also sold Sergei Prokofiev for $1.1 million at the sale three years ago. He said: “I’m very emotional right now. I bred the mother and I bred this filly and she’s probably the most athletic filly I’ve ever had on the farm. We came here fairly confident that everyone would feel the same way I do. There were many wonderful people that I respect that came by to see the filly and bid on her. It means a lot to a little guy from Canada.”
Robbie Medina spent $1.4 million for a Medaglia D’Oro filly, a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Salty, and their dam is the stakes-placed Dixie Union mare Theycallmeladyluck. A colt by Curlin and a filly by American Pharoah sold for $1.2 million each. The partnership of Repole Stable, St. Elias, Gainesway, John Oxley and Grandview purchased the colt whose dam is multiple Grade 1 winner Midnight Lucky.
American Pharoah
Mike Rutherford bought the American Pharoah filly, a daughter of the Grade 1-placed winner Modification who is a half-sister to undefeated Grade 2 winner Yaupon. Rutherford revealed that his current racing stable consists of six offspring of the 2015 Triple Crown winner. “She is beautiful, gorgeous. Best filly I have seen,” Rutherford said.
Medaglia D’Oro also sired a filly that sold for $1.1 million, a daughter of the stakes-winning Thirteen Arrows. Out of multiple Grade 1 winner Stop Traffic, Thirteen Arrows is a half-sister to Grade 1 winner and sire Cross Traffic. Two daughters of Into Mischief brought $1.025 million apiece. Courtlandt Farm purchased the first, whose third dam is Hall of Famer Personal Ensign, and she was sold by Clearsky Farms.
BSW/Crow secured the second seven-figure Into Mischief filly, a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Gift Box. Liz Crow, who unearthed the six-time Grade 1 winner Monomoy Girl, signed the ticket on behalf of an undisclosed client. The filly was consigned by Machmer Hall Sales. “This means so much because I bought [the dam] Special Me [at the 2009 Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale for $6,000] as a broodmare prospect,” Carrie Brogden of Machmer Hall said. “It has been a whole progression of seeing and raising all of her foals. She is a great mom and is easy to get in foal and raises nothing but runners.”