Into Mischief colt highlights penultimate session of Keeneland January

Numbers continue to fall heading into the final day of Keeneland’s January sale (Keeneland Photo) Hip No. 1005, a yearling colt by Into Mischief, brought the top price of $150,000 from J. S. B. Stable during Wednesday’s third session of the Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale in Lexington, Kentucky. Consigned by Kingswood Farm, agent, the bay was foaled April 1, 2014, by Cayala (Cherokee Run). The Kentucky-bred colt is his dam’s first registered foal and counts Grade 3 runner-up Chasethegold (Touch Gold) as his second dam. In addition to Cayala, that mare also produced Grade 2-placed Goldrush Girl (Political Force). Chasethegold is a half-sister to Grade 1-winning millionaire Albertus Maximus (Alber the Great) and last year’s Champagne (G1) victor Daredevil (More Than Ready). Farther back this female family boasts Grade/Group 1 scorers Race the Wild Wind (Sunny’s Halo) and King Charlemagne (Nureyev). Only four managed to bring six-figure sums on Wednesday, with OUR GAL EL (Tapit) bringing the second-highest price of $145,000 from Cobble Drive Stables. Sporting Hip 821, she came from the Claiborne Farm, agent, consignment and sold as a broodmare prospect.

Bred in Kentucky, the four-year-old filly brought $275,000 as a Keeneland
September yearling. She is out of Shop Here (Dehere), making her a half-sister
to Grade 2-placed stakes victress Fifth Avenue (Monarchos) and stakes-placed
Shoptate (Orientate). Our Gal El’s second dam is Shopping (Private Account), who
is known for producing Grade 1-winning millionaire Miss Shop (Deputy Minister),
Grade 2 victor Trappe Shot (Tapit) and stakes vixen Shop Again (Wild Again). The
latter is herself the dam of Grade 1 hero Power Broker (Pulpit).

GRENOBLE (Afleet Alex) was purchased for $110,000 while BELLA TRAVIATA
(Indian Charlie) saw a winning bid of $105,000 to round out the other six-figure
sellers on Wednesday.

Consigned as Hip 1083 by Buck Pond Farm (Douglas S. Arnold), agent, Grenoble
went to Twin Hopes Farm while believed in foal to Uncle Mo. The five-year-old
mare has toured the sales ring on three prior occasions, bringing $100,000 as a
Keeneland September yearling and $62,000 as a 2014 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Winter
Mixed broodmare prospect before RNAing for $125,000 at Keeneland November last
year.

Grenoble’s third dam is blue-hen mare Lassie Dear (Buckpasser).

Stakes-placed Bella Traviata sold to Coronation Investments as a broodmare
prospect from the Journeyman Bloodstock (Brent & Crystal Fernung), agent,
consignment after
entering the ring as Hip 991. She brought $67,000 as a yearling at Keeneland
September in 2012.

Bella Traviata is out of Deceit (Danzig), making her a half-sister to Grade
2-placed multiple stakes winner Afleet Deceit (Northern Afleet). She comes from
the same female family as multiple Grade 1-scoring millionaire To Honor and
Serve (Bernardini).

On Wednesday, Keeneland sold 242 horses for $4,074,300, for an
average of $16,836 and a median of $8,250. Compared to the third session of the
2014 sale which sold 246, the total decreased 31.6 percent from $5,953,300, the average was down
30.4 percent from $24,200 and the median was 45 percent below last year’s $15,000.

Through the first three days of the four-day sale, Keeneland has
sold 694 horses for $31,872,700, down 12.6 percent from $36,462,400 through the
same period last year. The average of $45,926 decreased 5 percent from
$48,359 in 2014 and the median of $23,000 is 9.8 percent below last year’s
$25,500.

The sale concludes Thursday beginning at 10 a.m. (EST). For the complete
catalog, results, updates and live video of the auction, please visit keeneland.com.