The closing session of Book 2 at the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale on Nov. 10 was headlined by the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1)-placed Three Witches , who took bidding to $1.7 million with Rifa Mustang Europe victorious. Indian Creek consigned the filly for her racing connections e Five Racing Thoroughbreds, as Hip 936.
The 4-year-old Into Mischief filly shipped into the sale off her compelling performance at Santa Anita Park, which came on the heels of her Princess Rooney Invitational Stakes (G3) victory Oct. 7. She is a half sibling to Spellbound , by Bernardini, a winner in the 2014 La Canada Stakes (G2) and producer of 2021 Santa Anita Oaks (G2) winner Soothsay . Her Lemon Drop Kid half brother, Kid Cruz , is a two-time grade 3 winner.
“She’s low mileage with eight starts; her last two were her career-best races,” Mike Ryan commented. “A 91 Beyer in the Princess Rooney and a 91 in the Breeders’ Cup. She is completely sound; there isn’t a pimple on her, and she X-rayed spotlessly, which is pretty amazing. It’s a great tribute to Saffie Joseph, who I consider a terrific horseman.”
The Hard Spun sister Rebelle, producer of Oct. 1 Woodward Stakes (G2) second Film Star , is not present on the page.
“It’s a family I love—a very good family of the Brogdens’ Machmer Hall Farm,” Ryan said.
Mike Ryan at Keeneland
Ryan purchased Three Witches as a yearling at the 2020 Keeneland September Sale for $350,000. She was sold by her breeder Machmer Hall. She made all of her eight starts with trainer Saffie Joseph Jr., carrying a record of 3-1-3 and earnings of $289,870 into the sales ring Friday.
Ryan added: “I think she’s just getting good. It was a great sale for e Five Racing; the pedigree also carried her, but she helped make her own pedigree.”
Rifa Mustang Europe was the Day 3 leading buyer with their two purchases, also taking home the Curlin mare Dreidel consigned as Hip 1066 for $200,000, followed by AAA Thoroughbreds, which purchased seven weanlings for receipts of $1,755,000, at an average of $250,714.
“Today was a solid day of trade, from start to finish,” said Keeneland vice president of sales Tony Lacy. “It felt more consistent and healthy today, and the clearance rate was better. It certainly is a bit of an adjustment through the marketplace, but I think everybody felt pragmatic about it and people were not disappointed. A lot of people had a very good day and were pleased.”
The top broodmare offering, Hip 967, Wish It, by Tapit , came from consignor Gainesway, selling for $500,000 to Barry and Judith Becker and Jeffrey Mischka; she is in foal to Street Sense on an April cover.
The mare out of 2008 Winning Colors Stakes (G3) winner and grade 1-placed Graeme Six is a half sibling to grade 3 winner Cali Star (Street Cry) and a full sibling to 2015 Monmouth Oaks (G3) winner Delightful Joy , producer of Summertime Oaks (G2) victress Window Shopping .
Day 3 saw the top 10 horses sell for $400,000 or more to 10 distinct individuals.
Justify weanlings proved a hot commodity during Day 3, accounting for the session’s top two weanling prices, $525,000 and $425,000.
Paul Sharp at Keeneland
Paul Sharp, purchasing as CSWV, signed for the pricey filly from ELiTE, who consigned her as Hip 975. She boasts the family of 2021 Broodmare of the Year Indian Miss and her millionaire sons Mitole and Hot Rod Charlie .
The $425,000 colt came from the Hill ‘n’ Dale at Xalapa consignment, Hip 855. AAA Thoroughbreds, the weanling-to-yearling pinhooking arm of Hartley/DeRenzo Thoroughbreds, signed for the colt out of the Curlin mare, Saralin. The page reads a sea of black type featuring $1.5 million earner Salutos Amigos and 2011 Honeymoon Handicap (G2T) winner Sarah’s Secret .
“I think it was an encouraging day,” Lacy commented. “(Thursday) was a little bumpy, and the RNA rate was slightly higher than we would have liked, but today was much more consistent. It’s encouraging when you saw Three Witches go through for $1.7 million to a client that is established internationally.
“We’re seeing international investment is still here, and the money’s still here for the right horses—the quality mares, young, well-bred with the right breeding, and not overly exposed, were highly desirable. That has been the consistent theme we’ve seen so far.”
There were 11 mares sold Friday in foal to Ashford Stud’s Epicenter to gross $1,320,000, at an average of $120,000 to be the session-leading covering sire. Epicenter will stand for the 2024 season at $40,000; he stood for $45,000 this year.
Session 3 saw 236 horses of the 307 through the ring sell for a $35,452,000 gross, down 16.5% over the previous year. The average of $150,220 shows a 19.7% decline, and the median declined 26.7% to $110,000. The 71 individuals who failed to sell represent an RNA rate of 23.1%.
During the third session last year, 227 changed hands of the 286 to go under the hammer for a $42,459,000 gross; the average price was $187,044, and the median was $150,000. An RNA rate of 20.6% represents the 59 individuals who did not sell.
Consignor Taylor Made Sales Agency sold 33 head for a gross of $5,880,000, at a clip of $178,182 per head, to be the session’s top seller. They also are the leading consignor by gross for the past three days of selling, with receipts of $17,082,000 for the 91 individuals sold, at an average of $187,714.
Cumulatively, over the past three days, Keeneland reports 604 horses have changed hands of the 815 on offer for a gross of $134,260,000, setting an average price of $222,285 and a $150,000 median. An RNA rate of 25.9% accounts for the 211 horses that have not sold.
To this point, last year, 580 horses sold of the 743 to go under the hammer for a gross of $143,002,000, recording a $246,555 average and a median of $170,000. Some 163 individuals had not sold to represent an RNA rate of 21.9%.
West Bloodstock, agent for Repole Stable, has made nine purchases for receipts of $5,220,000 to be the sale’s leading buyer through the first three sessions.
Selling from Book 3 begins Nov. 11 with Hips 1072-1484 heading through the ring, beginning at 10 a.m. ET. As of Friday evening, 79 horses were withdrawn from the fourth session.
