The Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale surpassed last year's gross of $196,492,900, including post-ring sales, at the end of the fifth session Nov. 8. A total of 1,176 horses have changed hands thus far for $221,832,000, up 29% from the same point last year and already 13% more than the entire sale last year, with three days left to go.
Keeneland sold 259 horses Saturday for $25,328,500, a 27% increase from last year's corresponding session when 267 horses grossed $20,002,500. Saturday's average price was $97,793—31% higher than $74,916 in 2024. The median rose 49% from $57,000 to $85,000. The RNA rate of 17% represented the 53 horses who failed to meet their reserve. Last year's RNA rate at this session was 19%.
The demand for high-quality, young mares continued through the fifth session with Way Too Sexy (Hip 1482) demanding the top price of the day at $400,000 from Cary Bloodstock, agent for Coteau Grove Farms.
The 4-year-old daughter of Flatter was offered in foal to McKinzie by Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa, agent. Way Too Sexy is out of the stakes-winning, multiple graded-stakes-placed More Than Ready mare Ready to Confess, and a half sister to stakes winner No Confession (Into Mischief ).
"Way Too Sexy was very appropriately named," Andrew Cary said. "Just a gorgeous mare from a great-running Pin Oak family. Flatter is an up-and-coming broodmare sire and covering sire McKinzie has gotten off to a great start at stud and was a warrior of a racehorse.
"Peter O'Callaghan purchased her (Way Too Sexy) as a weanling and Donato Lanni and Bob Baffert purchased her as a yearling; you can't get any better judges than that. We had a fantastic yearling sales season, and we're excited to add a young, high-quality mare to the broodmare band. It's always important to keep upgrading and refreshing."
Cary, who is the advisor for Keith and Ginger Myer's Coteau Grove Farms near Sunset, La., had a great year both in the sales ring and on the track, highlighted by horses they bred Touchuponastar and Tumbarumba—both graded stakes winners and millionaires.
"The market has been incredibly strong, and we've only purchased two mares," Cary said. "I think we bought 10 last year. We underbid on the top two mares yesterday but were thrilled to get this beauty today."
The weanling market held strong through the end of Book 3, with a colt (Hip 1541) by Vekoma topping the fifth session at $375,000, selling to En Fuego Stables. The colt was bred in Kentucky by Aymen Moftah Inkeep and is the first foal out of the unraced Nyquist mare Camelot's Cup, who is half sister to multiple graded-stakes-placed State of Honor. He was consigned by Columbiana Farm.
The highest-priced weanling filly of the session was an Elite Power filly, consigned as Hip 1819 by Indian Creek, agent, and purchased by Renee Logan. She was bred in Kentucky by William B. Thompson Jr. out of the stakes-winning Speightstown mare Shot Gun Pennie, who is the dam of stakes winners Duke of Carthania and Whatwasithinking, plus graded stakes placed Guileful.
Faris Breeding was the leading buyer for a second consecutive session, with six purchases totaling $930,000. Gainesway topped the consignors, selling 37 from their draft for $3,807,000.
The Keeneland November Sale continues Nov. 9 at 10:00 a.m. for the start of Book 4. Hips 1858-2271 will head to the ring. As of Saturday evening, Keeneland had reported 77 outs.
