All eyes were on Better Than Honour Sunday night (Courtesy of Fasig-Tipton)

Broodmare of the Year BETTER THAN HONOUR (Deputy Minister), the dam of Belmont S. (G1) winners Rags to Riches (A.P. Indy) and Jazil (Seeking the Gold) as well as Peter Pan S. (G2) victor Casino Drive (Mineshaft), set a world record for a broodmare purchase when registering a final bid of a staggering $14 million at Fasig-Tipton's November Selected Sale at Newtown Paddocks in Lexington, Kentucky, on Sunday. The final horse to enter the ring, the sales topper was consigned as Hip No. 188 by Hill 'n' Dale Sales Agency, agent, and purchased by Mike Moreno of Southern Equine Stables, LLC. The final price destroyed the previous high at Fasig-Tipton November, established by 2006 Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) heroine Round Pond (Awesome Again) last year.

On the track, Better Than Honour won the Demoiselle S. (G2) at two and placed in the next year's Acorn S. (G1) and Mother Goose S. (G1). The 12-year-old mare is also responsible for the two-year-old colt Man of Iron (Giant's Causeway) and an unnamed yearling colt by Giant's Causeway). She was not bred this spring. She is a half-sister to the dam of European co-champion Peeping Fawn (Danehill), who bagged a quartet of Group 1 wins in 2007, and Group 1 hero Thewayyouare (Kingmambo).

The star during the early portion of the sale was recent Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies S. (G1) romper and likely Eclipse Award winner STARDOM BOUND (Tapit), who brought a hefty $5.7 million from Nick Sallusto, agent for IEAH Stables. Offered as Hip 65 by Hill 'n' Dale Sales, agent, the sensational two-year-old filly has racked up three Grade 1 wins in succession, including the Del Mar Debutante S. (G1) and Oak Leaf S. (G1), and is a cinch to be named champion juvenile filly later this year. Previously trained by Chris Paasch for Charles Cono, the striking gray proved to be a remarkable investment, as she was purchased for $375,000 at the OBS March Sale earlier this year. Her career line to date reads 5-3-2-0, $1,420,600.

The first horse to go through the ring was the brilliant MADCAP ESCAPADE (Hennessy), winner of the 2004 Ashland S. (G1). Selling as Hip 2 by Hill 'n' Dale Sales, agent, the seven-year-old fetched a bid of $3.1 million from Hill 'n' Dale owner John Sikura. The Kentucky-bred, who amassed a sparkling 9-7-0-1, $1,052,852 career mark, sold in foal to perennial top sire A.P. Indy. Madcap Escapade is a half-sister to 2006 Ballerina S. (G1) vixen Dubai Escapade (Awesome Again) and recent James B. Moseley Sprint H. winner Real Estate (High Yield). She is herself responsible for an unnamed yearling filly by Pulpit and an unnamed weanling colt by A.P. Indy.

Stardom Bound will now race for IEAH Stables (Courtesy of Fasig-Tipton)

LEAR'S PRINCESS (Lear Fan), who captured the 2007 Gazelle S. (G1), brought the next highest total when going for $2.7 million to Shadwell Farm, LLC. Consigned by Hill 'n' Dale Sales, agent, and selling as Hip 182, the four-year-old filly was offered as a broodmare prospect. Lear's Princess concluded her career with a third-place effort in the Louisville S. (G2) in May, retiring with a mark of 10-4-3-1, $491,870. She may be best known, though, for upending Rags to Riches in the Gazelle. She hails from the same family as 1993 champion three-year-old colt Prairie Bayou, who won that same year's Preakness S. (G1) and finished second in the Kentucky Derby (G1).

Multiple Grade 1 victress PANTY RAID (Include) reached a final bid of $2.5 million from John Ferguson. Selling as Hip 25, the classy four-year-old was consigned by Four Star Sales, agent, and sold as a broodmare prospect. Panty Raid compiled a 10-5-1-1, $1,052,380, on the track, which included wins in the 2007 American Oaks Invitational S. (G1), Spinster S. (G1) and Black-Eyed Susan S. (G2), each on a unique surface. Panty Raid is out of the stakes-placed Adventurous Di (Private Account) and is a half-sister to listed winner Franc (Woodman). 

Hip 68, the blue-blooded SURPRISES WELCOMED (Storm Cat), brought $2.5 million from Southern Equine Stales, LLC. Consigned by Hill 'n' Dale Sales, agent, the sophomore was offered as a racing/broodmare prospect and has placed in all five of her career starts. The miss is out of Grade 3 victress Welcome Surprise (Seeking the Gold), who is a half-sister to Grade 1-winning stallions A.P. Indy (Seattle Slew) and Summer Squall (Storm Bird). Surprises Welcomed attracted a final bid of $3 million at the 2006 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

HIP

188

65

2

25

54

SHARP SUSAN, f, 4, Touch Gold-Winter's Gone