New York-bred weanlings come to the fore in Book 3 of Keeneland November

By Sarah Mace

The first two books of the 2019 Keeneland November breeding stock sale were distinguished by outstanding results for top-flight New York-bred broodmares and racing prospects. In Book 3, the New York-bred weanling cohort came to the fore. The New York-bred weanling toppers were a colt by Liam’s Map and a Munnings filly, who sold on Saturday (Session 4). Sunday brought two more six-figure weanlings – a filly by Classic Empire and Munnings colt. The top New York-bred broodmare mare of Book 3 was 3-year-old Munnings’ Finest who is in foal to City of Light.

In the Book 3 opener Saturday, Stonebriar Equine went to $170,000 to purchase Hip 1359[2], a bay by Liam’s Map, who currently sits fourth on the first crop sire leaderboard. The youngster was the top-selling New York-bred weanling colt of Book 3 and the fourth highest-priced weaning of the session.

Bred by Lambholm, foaled on March 22, 2019 the Liam’s Map colt was offered by Francis and Barbara Vanlangendonck’s Summerfield consignment. He is the first foal out of Bitterroot, a Maryland-bred winner by Not For Love purchased by Lambholm for $50,000 at the 2014 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic select yearling sale. Bitterroot is a full-sister to stakes winner Clubman and a half-sister to stakes winner I Stand Alone, along with two more stakes performers. Further down the pedigree page, the colt’s fourth dam is a half-sister to multiple European champion and sire Alleged. This is also the family of graded / group winners Per Quod, Joes Blazing Aaron, Evidently and Taking Risks.

The top weaning filly of Book 3, also selling on Saturday, was Hip 1510[3], a chestnut by Munnings from the family of Nyquist. Bred by Milfer Farm Inc., the February 28 foal was purchased by Canaan Creek Stables from the consignment of Legacy Bloodstock, Agent III, for $150,000. The filly’s dam is multiple graded stakes winner Just Jenda, who was purchased in foal by Milfer Farm for $32,000 at last year’s Keeneland November Sale. The mare, who won seven stakes, topped by three graded scores, has produced three winners from three foals to start, led by Jenda’s Agenda, her first registered foal, who is a stakes winner.

The family under the filly’s third dam, stakes winner Fulbright Scholar, is chock-full of luminaries. She herself is a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Bachelor Beau. Her multiple graded stakes-winning daughter Seeking Regina is the second dam of Grade 1 Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist. She herself produced Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap winner and millionaire Sahara Sky and New York-bred graded stakes winner Seeking the Sky (bred by Stonewall Farm).

Sunday’s trading saw two more six-figure New York-bred weanlings change hands.

Hip 1709[4], Session 5’s top New York-bred weanling, is a chestnut filly from the first crop of Classic Empire bred by Mt. Sackville Bloodstock and foaled on April 4, 2019. Windylea Farm NY, LLC signed the ticket for $115,000. Consigned by Paramount Sales, agent, the Classic Empire filly is out of graded stakes-placed runner Tristanme, who has already produced three winners. The Florida-bred mare last changed hands at the 2016 at the Keenland November sale when purchased by Millicent Bloodstock for $18,000. Tristanme is a half-sister to stakes winners Regiment, also a multiple graded stakes-placed runner, and Eternal Cup.

Session 5’s top-selling colt was Hip 1887[5], a March 6, 2019 chestnut son of Munnings and the first foal out of accomplished New York-bred race mare Freudie Anne who went to Vermillion Stables for $100,000. He was bred by a partnership of Fergus Galvin, Marc Detampel, Jayne Johnson and Adrian Wallace, and consigned by Hunter Valley Farm, agent. Freudie Anne, by Freud, raced for four seasons and won eight of 25 starts with two seconds and three thirds, earning nearly $400,000. At two, she won the East View stakes and at three took the Statue of Liberty division of the New York Stallion Stakes series. She is also a half-sister to Frostie Anne, another New York-bred multiple stakes winner and earner of nearly $600,000.

New York’s top broodmare in Book 3, selling on Sunday in foal to City of Light on a March 8 cover, was Munnings’ Finest (Hip 1580[6]) who went to Valerie Dailey for $165,000 from the Taylor Made Consignment. A successful pinhooking venture, she was purchased earlier this year by Mark Taylor at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky winter mixed sale for $60,000.

Bred by the Peter J. Callahan Revocable Trust Dated 2/28/02, Munnings’ Finest is out of Wonderously, an unraced Kentucky-bred by Awesome Again, Munnings’ Finest did not race either, but was well-received when offered as a yearling at the Fasig-Tipton preferred New York-bred yearling sale, bringing $200,000 from Alex and JoAnn Lieblong. This will be her first foal. Munnings’ Finest is a half-sister to multiple stakes winner Baffle Me and stakes performer Locksley Hall. Her stakes-winning second dam Defer West produced graded stakes winners Forest Music and Shooter, while Forest Music went on to produce a pair of stakes horses.

Through the first three books of this year’s Keeneland November sale, 45 New York-breds have sold (of 62 offered) for an average price of $103,533 and median of $80,000. The New York-bred RNA percentage through Book 3 of the sale (five of seven sessions) is 27.42%.

The cumulative sale average is $146,415. The $80,000 median is identical to the New York-bred median. Overall buybacks sit at 26%.

Book 4 of the Keeneland November sale, spanning Hips 1940-2761G, will take place on Monday and Tuesday. Sessions begin at 10 a.m. Click here[7] for New York-bred hips and registration status.

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2019/11/11/book-3-of-kee-nov-19-wrap/

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