First-crop weanlings by WinStar Farm stallion Life Is Good were well received during the second session of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale Nov. 6.
While Flightline weanlings stole the show on Day 1, it was Life Is Good who sired Wednesday's session-topping weanling (Hip 287) for a price of $410,000. The son of Into Mischief topped all first-crop weanling sires on Day 2 with an average price of $328,333. From two days of selling at Keeneland, six Life Is Good weanlings have grossed a total of $1,905,000 with an average of $317,500, a figure second only to Flightline among first-crop weanling sires.
"I've seen a few of them and as a group, they seem to be a very uniform bunch," said Highgate Sale's Jill Gordon, consignor of Hip 444, who sold for $385,000 halfway through the session. "I see a lot of him in this particular filly and there's a lot of the mare as well. They're both beautiful so that makes for a beautiful package. From what we've seen so far with Life Is Good there's a lot to look forward to and a lot of blue sky there."
Consigned as Hip 287, the session-topping filly was a member of the complete dispersal of Breed First consigned by Runnymede Farm. Purchased by Classic Equine, the filly is the fifth foal out of the Bodemeister mare Mezinka, a half sibling to grade 1 winner and late stallion Pioneerofthe Nile. The filly's half brother, the 4-year-old Justify colt Harlocap , broke his maiden at Santa Anita Park in 2023 with a 105 Equibase Speed Figure and finished third in this year's Pimlico Special Stakes (G3).
"We are delighted for that sale," said Runnymede's Romain Malhouitre. "The right people were on her. I'm happy that she will go to Hartley and DeRenzo. They had an experience with Harlocap (half brother by Justify) and they love the mare and the family. I'm happy they got the final bid."
Randy Hartley and Dean DeRenzo consigned Harlocap when he realized $400,000 as a 2-year-old at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale.
Fiesta Racing acquired Hip 444, a Kentucky-bred daughter of the multiple stakes-placed Tiznow mare Tiznow's Smile.
"She's a filly that's been all quality since the first day that I saw her," said Gordon. "She had a great attitude out here at the sale. Every show was the same, she would come out, prick her ears, and show a lot of class. And she's bred by some really good people in Misty and Chad Dugar. They have a smaller program but they do a great job. I'm thrilled with the result for them."
The final Life Is Good weanling of the day, Hip 475, was acquired by Red Devil Bloodstock from the Ballysax Bloodstock (agent for Grantley Acres) consignment. The filly out of the No Nay Never stakes winner Yesterdayoncemore sold for $190,000.
A four-time grade 1 winner for trainer Todd Pletcher, Life Is Good stood his first season at WinStar for $100,000. He will stand the 2025 breeding season for $75,000.
