AQUA REGIA, consigned as Hip No. 1656, sold to Xavier International Bloodstock, agent, for $260,000 to top Sunday’s sixth session of the 2017 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale.
The six-year-old Pollard’s Vision mare came from the Trackside Farm (Tom Evans), agent, consignment, and is believed to be in foal to Dialed In on a March 18 cover.
Aqua Regia, who finished third in the 2014 Monmouth Oaks (G3), is out of the unraced Tabasco Cat mare Phu Cat and counts as her third dam the Dead Ahead mare Kitchen Window. That mare is responsible for foaling Grade 1 heroine Singing Susan and Grade 3 scorer I Am the Game.
Kitchen Window also produced Roman Rockette, who is herself the dam of 1988 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) conqueror and successful sire Is It True.
Sunday’s session saw 264 horses sell for a total $14,885,500, an increase of 46.7 percent over the corresponding session last year when 233 were purchased for $10,147,000. The $56,384 average rose 29.5 percent over the 2016 average of $43,549, and the $46,000 median showed a 31.4 percent jump on last year’s $35,000 median in the sixth session.
GOOSE LEMON DROP brought the second-highest price on Sunday when Town & Country Horse Farms LLC went to $215,000 to purchase the bay mare by Elusive Quality.
Consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent, as Hip 1792, the six-year-old mare is believed to be in foal to Violence on an April 1 cover.
Goose Lemon Drop is out of the stakes-winning Lemon Drop Kid mare Lemon Kiss, making her a half-sister to Grade 1 victor Lochte. Lemon Kiss is herself a full sister to multiple Grade 3-scoring stallion Kiss the Kid.
Goose Lemon Drop’s third dam is stakes vixen Hat Tab Girl, who is best known for producing 1991 Horse of the Year and sire Black Tie Affair as well as Group 1 winner Great Palm.
Three others tied for the third-highest price of $200,000 on Sunday, including the top-priced weanling on the day.
A chestnut colt from the first crop of Carpe Diem, sold to Bloodstock Investments V as Hip 1810 from the Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent, consignment. The New York-bred was born April 27 to the Latent Heat mare Hot Spa, who is a half-sister to Group 2 hero Mendip.
The weanling’s third dam is multiple Grade 1 queen Chaposa Springs, who is a half-sister to Grade 1-winning sire You and I.
CAST IN SILVER, consigned by Hill ‘n’ Dale Sales Agency, agent, as Hip 1702, and SPINDLE, who entered the ring as Hip 1991 from the James B. Keogh (Grovendale), agent, consignment, also each brought $200,000.
Stakes-placed Cast in Silver was purchased by McMahon & Hill Bloodstock, agent, and is believed to be in foal to Constitution on a February 21 cover. The City Zip six-year-old is out of stakes victress Palace Rumor, making Cast in Silver a half-sister to 2013 Belmont Stakes (G1) winner and multi-millionaire Palace Malice. This female line also boasts multiple Grade 1-scoring millionaire Rail Trip.
Spindle was secured by Chesapeake Equine Inc. & Manganano Bloodstock and is believed to be in foal to Honor Code on a February 17 cover. The four-year-old daughter of Hard Spun is out of the Grade 3-winning French Deputy mare French Saint, making her a half-sister to this year’s Bay Shore Stakes (G3) victor Long Haul Bay as well as a full sibling to Grade 2-placed stakes conqueror Midnight Transfer. French Satin is herself a half-sister to multiple Grade 1-scoring millionaire and sire Lion Heart.
At the halfway mark, a total of 1,172 horses have sold for a gross $174,295,500, an average of $148,716 and a median of $80,000. The gross and average have declined, 3.1 percent and 4.6 percent, respectively, as compared to this point in the 2016 sale, when 1,154 horses were purchased for a total $179,956,200 at an average of $155,941. The median showed a 6.7 increase over the 2016 median of $75,000.
The Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale continues through Saturday, November 18, beginning each day at 10 a.m. (ET).
