Empire Maker fillies top Keeneland session

The legacy of Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel, who died Monday, was

apparent at the eighth session of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale in

Lexington, Kentucky, on Tuesday. The top two sellers were both three-year-old

fillies sired by Empire Maker, who Frankel trained to three Grade 1 successes

including the 2003 Belmont S. (G1). The session leader, CLEAR SAILING, brought

$255,000 from Larry Richardson/Coteau Grove. Offered as a racing/broodmare

prospect, Clear Sailing was consigned by Eaton Sales, agent for the Overbrook

Farm dispersal, and cataloged as Hip No. 2729.

Clear Sailing has raced one time, running third in a maiden special weight at

Churchill Downs in June 2008, and has earnings of $4,140. She was produced by

the winning Steady Course (Old Trieste), a half-sister to Grade 2 winner and

sire Jump Start (A.P. Indy). This is the family of French Group 1 winner and

prolific sire Miswaki (Mr. Prospector).

The other Empire Maker, the unraced PASSIFLORA, was knocked down to Freyer

Bloodstock for $180,000. The Kentucky-bred, who was sold as broodmare prospect,

toured the ring as Hip 2536 and was offered by Mill Ridge Sales, agent.

Passiflora is out of the stakes-placed Quick to Please (Danzig), a full

sister to European highweight and noted sire Danehill, Grade 2 winner Eagle

Eyed, Grade 3-winning producer Harpia, Grade 3 winner Shibboleth and the Group

3-placed Anziyan. Quick to Please also counts as a half-sister the

stakes-winning producer Euphonic (The Minstrel). Passiflora's fourth dam was the

celebrated Natalma (Native Dancer), the dam of champion and legendary stallion

Northern Dancer (Nearctic).

Another member the Overbrook dispersal, BIG SURF (Storm Cat), was sold to

Royal Pegasus for $165,000. The unraced three-year-old colt was offered as a

racing prospect. Produced from the 2000 champion three-year-old filly Surfside

(Seattle Slew), the chestnut is a half-brother to the multiple stakes-placed

Shark (Danzig). The colt's second dam is 1994 champion two-year-old filly

Flanders (Seeking the Gold).

STORM SONG (Summer Squall), the champion two-year-old filly of 1996, was

among the others to reach six figures. The 15-year-old, who sported Hip 2613,

was purchased by Aaron Sones for $100,000. Storm Song captured the Breeders' Cup

Juvenile Fillies (G1), Frizette S. (G1) and Adirondack S. (G2) for trainer Nick

Zito during her championship campaign, and altogether earned $1,020,050. The

granddam of French Group 3 winner Asperity (War Chant), Storm Song is not

currently in foal.

On Tuesday, 241 horses sold for $4,902,600, a decline of 12.1 percent from

the corresponding session a year ago when 192 head brought $5,579,600. The

average declined 30 percent, from $29,060 to $20,343, while the median dipped

40.9 percent, from $22,000 to $13,000.

After eight days of selling, $150,359,400 has been grossed from the sale of

1,786 horses, a decline of 10.4 percent from the same point a year ago when

1,589 head brought $167,899,300. The average has declined 20.3 percent, from

$105,663 to $84,188, while the median is off 22 percent, from $50,000 to

$39,000.

The 13-day auction continues Wednesday and runs through Sunday, with each

session opening at 10 a.m. (EST). For more information, as well as live video of

the sale, log onto keeneland.com.