Ready for Romance tops Keeneland session at $240,000

Last updated: 1/13/16 6:41 PM

Ready for Romance was one of only two six-figure offerings during the third session

(Photo courtesy of Keeneland Association)

READY FOR ROMANCE, winner of the 2015 Ontario Damsel at Woodbine, sold to
Mike Ryan, agent for Fifth Avenue Bloodstock, for $240,000 to top Wednesday’s
third session of the Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale.

Sam-Son Farm, who bred and raced Ready for Romance, sold the filly as a
racing or broodmare prospect. The four-year-old daughter of More Than Ready, out
of the winning Mr. Greeley mare Strange Romance, is from the family of Grade 3
winners Matt’s Broken Vow and High Button Shoes and stakes winner Victory
Thrill.

A yearling colt by Shanghai Bobby brought the day’s second-highest price of
$105,000 from Blue Sky Stables. Catalyst Bloodstock, agent, consigned the colt,
who is out of the winning Cape Town mare Six Ribbons and is a half-brother to
Canadian stakes winner Prayforthesoldiers. He is from the family of champion and
Grade 1 winner Benny the Bull and Grade 1 winner Shotgun Gulch.

On Wednesday, Keeneland sold 220 horses for $3,817,300, for an average of
$17,351 and a median of $9,000. Gross sales dipped 6.3 percent from last year’s
$4,074,300 for 242 horses, while the average rose 3.1 percent from $16,836 in
2015 and the median increased 9.1 percent from last year’s $8,250.

Through the first three days of the five-day sale, Keeneland has sold 595
horses for $30,468,900, down 4.4 percent from $31,872,700 for 694 horses sold
during the same period last year. The average of $51,208 increased 11.5 percent
from $45,926 in 2015. The median of $22,000 is just below last year’s $23,000.

The sales continues through Friday with sessions beginning daily at 10 a.m.
(EST). The sale is streamed live at keeneland.com.