Keeneland Photo
By Sarah Mace
As the Keeneland November breeding stock sale reached the half-way point of its 12-day stand at the conclusion of Book 3 on Sunday, New York-bred weanlings by first-crop sires continued to be hot commodities. Meanwhile, the median price for New York-breds at the sale is coming in leaps and bounds ahead of the cumulative median.
Half-way through the Keeneland sale, 52 of 72 New York-breds offered changed hands for a buyback percentage of 27.8%, a couple ticks above the sale RNA rate of 25.6% The New York-bred average of $131,000 hasn’t quite kept pace with the $148,716 cumulative sale average, but the New York-bred median of $130,000 is far outperforming $80,000 cumulative sale median. Thirty-one Empire State-breds have brought six figures, 13 have sold for $200,000 and up and four went for over $300,000.
The New York-bred weanling stars of Book 2 were by Carpe Diem and Liam’s Map. In Book 3, the standout and top-selling weanling overall of Sunday’s session 6 was another colt by Carpe Diem. The co-third top seller of Saturday’s session 5 was a New York-bred Beyern weanling.
Sunday’s top-selling Carpe Diem colt, offered as Hip 1810, was bred by WinStar Farm, LLC and purchased by Taylor Made’s pinhooking partnership, Bloodstock Investments, from the consignment of Taylor Made Sales Agency, Agent CXLVI for $200,000
The chestnut weanling, who was foaled April 27 at Sugar Maple Farm in Poughquag, sports a deep pedigree. He is the third foal out of winner Hot Spa (Latent Heat), who is a half-sister to multiple Group 2 winner Mendip (Harlan’s Holiday), and stakes winner Dig Deep. The weanling’s third dam is multiple Grade 1 winner Chaposa Springs and fourth dam, La Chaposa, was a champion sprinter in Peru.
Katie Taylor said of the sale colt, “I really liked the shape of that horse. We bought a horse, an Uncle Mo, last year that we did really well with and they looked a lot alike to me. They have the same body, same type. He’s correct and I see a lot of room for improvement. I really like Carpe Diem—I’ve seen a lot of them at this sale and he was my favorite.”
WinStar Farm purchased Hot Spa in foal for $160,000 at the 2013 Keeneland November sale and both prior foals (fillies) have excelled in the sales ring. Hot Spas’ first foal Hot Tub Holiday (Harlan’s Holiday), brought $250,000 at the 2016 OBS March sale. Her second, by Into Mischief, was a $270,000 September yearling at Keeneland last year. Hot Spa was bred to WinStar stallion Gemologist this year.
Saturday’s Session 5 New York-bred weanling standout was Hip 1373, a gray or roan colt by Bayern also foaled February 1 at Sugar Maple Farm in Poughquag. Bred and consigned by Hunter Valley Farm, agent, the colt was hammered down to Springhouse Farm for $180,000.
The colt is the second foal out of Holy Dazzle, a multiple winner by Holy Bull out of multiple stakes winner Stormy Temper by Conquistador Cielo. Black type abounds under the fourth dam, graded winner and graded stakes producer Cinegita.
The November Sale continues through Saturday, November 18, with all sessions beginning at 10 a.m. ET.
