A weanling filly from the first crop of the Indian Charlie stallion Conveyance grabbed the early lead in Friday’s 11th session of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale and never looked back, topping the penultimate day’s trade at $50,000. Consigned by Douglas Arnold’s Buck Pond Farm, agent, the Kentucky-bred was purchased by Joel Zawitz.
The April 15 foal, who toured the ring as Hip No. 3695, is out of the winning Successful Diva (Successful Appeal). The family has had success with Indian Charlie. Successful Diva is a half-sister to 2011 Arlington-Washington Lassie (G3) victress Rocket Twentyone (Indian Charlie), and further back, one finds two-time Eclipse Award champion Indian Blessing (Indian Charlie).
Later in the day, RENOWN (Street Cry), carrying her first foal by Morning Line on a February 20 cover, sold to Brad Grady’s Grand Oaks for $45,000. The four-year-old from the consignment of Lane’s End, agent, was cataloged as Hip 3852.
A half-sister to stakes scorers Outplay (Bernardini), Raconteur (A.P. Indy), and Katerbug (Pulpit), Renown counts as her second dam Grade 1 heroine and noted producer Dream Deal (Sharpen Up). Thus she’s a maternal relative of multiple Grade 1-winning millionaire Clear Mandate (Deputy Minister) (herself the dam of 2013 Hopeful [G1] victor Strong Mandate, by Morning Line’s sire Tiznow), Japanese champion and successful broodmare To the Victory (Sunday Silence), current Spinster (G1) winner Romantic Vision (Lemon Drop Kid), and $4 million-earner Crème Fraiche (Rich Cream).
Numbers were down substantially on Friday, but last year’s 11th session had more horses cataloged (379 compared to 241). Keeneland reported that 112 horses grossed $714,000, a drop of 63.9 percent from the $1,976,200 realized by 211 sellers in 2016. The average declined 31.9 percent, from $9,366 to $6,375, and the $3,500 median dipped 30 percent from last year’s $5,000.
The cumulative numbers are mixed. The gross is off 5.8 percent, with 2,309 horses bringing $201,334,600, compared to the $213,684,200 raked in by 2,382 horses at this point in the 2016 sale. But the $87,196 average is only a 2.8 percent decrease from $89,708, and the $35,000 median actually increased 9.38 percent from $32,000.
The 12-day auction concludes Saturday, beginning at 10 a.m. (EST). For complete coverage, including live video of the sale, visit november.keeneland.com.
