BBA Ireland paid $2.1 million for the 10-year-old Galileo (IRE) mare White Hot (IRE), the dam of 2021 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) winner Pizza Bianca who is in foal to leading sire Into Mischief, to record the highest price of today’s Book 1 opening session of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale.

White Hot was one of 11 horses sold today for seven figures. Stakes winner Puca, who is in foal to Good Magic with a full sibling to 2023 Kentucky Derby (G1) Presented by Woodford Reserve winner Mage, was an RNA when sold through the ring but sold privately after the session for $2.9 million to Gavin O’Connor, agent for John Stewart. Puca was consigned by Case Clay Thoroughbred Management, agent.

On Wednesday, Keeneland sold 120 horses through the ring for $54,340,000, for an average of $452,833 and a median of $375,000. The gross was down 18.87% from $66,980,000 from the first session last year, and the average dipped 8.05% from $492,500. The median rose 29.31% from $290,000. 

“We were very pleased with the session overall,” Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin said. “The theme of the century seems to be that quality sells, and there was very high demand for quality. The foal market was especially strong today. We had double the number of foals sell for $400,000 or more compared to last year. There was great international participation but plenty of domestic participation as well. There was a real diversity among the buyers.” 

“It was a strong market today, especially for foals, but we saw a really competitive environment for any horses that were perceived to have elevated desirability,” Keeneland Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy said. “That was something that was very evident. Buyers found it hard to buy the stock that they wanted to buy. There were a lot of people here from many sectors of the world, and there was a lot of confidence in the breeding industry. I felt very encouraged, and we look forward to tomorrow.”

Consigned by Stone Farm, agent, the session-topping White Hot is out of Gwynn (IRE), by Darshaan, and is a half-sister to Investec Epsom Derby (G1) winner Pour Moi and group winner Gagnoa (IRE) and Dawn Patrol. She is from the family of multiple 2023 stakes winner No Nay Mets (IRE).

“She’s a Galileo mare,” said Michael Donohoe, who signed the ticket on behalf of BBA Ireland. “She’s a dam of a Grade 1-winning juvenile. She’s in foal to a champion stallion. It made a lot of sense; it’s a great family. Those Galileo mares, you can see what they can do. We were very happy to get her. We’ll probably leave her here and foal her out.” 

“Obviously, great sale, but she’s a lovely mare,” said Lynn Hancock, Stone Farm’s Director of Sales and Racing. “Beautiful, looks the part. Her first foal is a Breeders’ Cup champion, so you can’t ask any more of a mare than that. I think she’s worth every penny of (her purchase price). She’s a lovely mare, she’s beautiful. She acted like a queen in the back ring.”

Two horses each sold for $1.8 million. Summer Wind Equine paid the amount for 4-year-old Skims (GB), a Grade 2-winning daughter of Frankel. Consigned by Bluegrass Thoroughbred Services, agent, she is a half-sister to Group 2 winner War Decree and from the family of Grade 1 winner Ticker Tape (GB). Skims is out of Royal Decree, by Street Cry (IRE). She was offered as a racing or broodmare prospect.

“I’m excited about getting this filly,” Summer Wind owner Jane Lyon said. “I am a Frankel lover. I had one filly (by Frankel), who unfortunately is not going to be a race filly, but when I saw this filly, I was so excited to have her.”

“That was right in line with what we thought she would bring,” consignor John Stuart said. “She is by Frankel and from a nice family. I am really happy that she is staying right here in the Bluegrass.”

Juddmonte paid $1.8 million for Ack Naughty, dam of 2023 Grade 1 winner Practical Move in foal to Into Mischief. The 11-year-old stakes-placed daughter of Afleet Alex was consigned by Sequel New York, agent for Chester and Mary Broman. Into Mischief’s son Practical Joke sired Practical Move.

“Top end (of the market) is just killer strong,” Juddmonte General Manager Garrett O’Rourke said. “It’s like people buying art or something in a hot market. It’s hard to put a value on them at this level. And if you want them, you have to pay for them. I’m delighted to have something really nice to bring home and add to the Juddmonte broodmare band.”

“Mr. Broman still races quite a bit, but he is breeding to sell in a commercial market,” Sequel’s Becky Thomas said. (Selling Ack Naughty) will be a chance to put cash back into the program, and that’s what we did.”

Grade 1 winner Dalika (GER), who is carrying a foal from the first crop of 2022 Horse of the Year Flightline, sold for $1.65 million to Pursuit of Success. Case Clay Thoroughbred Management, agent, consigned the 7-year-old daughter of Pastorius out of Drawn To Run, by Hurricane Run (IRE).

“It’s hard to sell a mare like her – that’s the hardest part – but the results for her accomplishments (sale price), that’s sort of where we thought she might be,” said owner Paul Varga of Bal Mar Equine. “She definitely gave us a great day, but it really is hard to let go of a mare like that. One great thing is I have her full sister (who is) in foal, so I can still keep the family. A huge amount of congratulations to not only Case (Clay) for selling her but also to Albert Stall, who trained her all along. She required a ton of patience to run that much over that long a time. And he and his group did a super job. Honestly, this was great, but it’s so much more fun to watch them win on the race track.”

Barronstown Stud paid $1.45 million for Champagne Lady, a 6-year-old stakes-placed daughter of Uncle Mo who is also is in foal to Flightline. A full sister to Grade 1 winner and sire Mo Town and a half-sister to stakes winner Justique, she was consigned by Lane’s End, agent.

Grade 2 winner Interstatedaydream, a 4-year-old filly by Classic Empire who won the Nov. 3 Turnback the Alarm (L) at Aqueduct, sold for $1.4 million to West Bloodstock, agent for Repole Stable. Out of Babcock, by Uncle Mo, she is from the family of Canadian Horse of the Year Uncaptured and was consigned by Four Star Sales, agent.

West Bloodstock, agent for Repole Stable, paid $4.4 million for five horses to lead buyers during the session. Among them was Surprisingly, a 4-year-old filly by Mastery who won the Endeavour (G3) this year and sold for $1 million. Consigned by Claiborne Farm, agent, she is out of the winning Arch mare Vagabond and from the family of Grade 1 winners Pleasant Home, Point of Entry and Pine Island.

Mike Repole intends to return Interstatedaydream and Surprisingly to the races next year.

“I get excited about the mares we are buying to race,” Mike Repole said. “(My team’s) getting excited about the mares we are buying in foal. But I like running and I enjoy the races. If we can keep horses around at ages 4 and 5, they can become stars.”

Spendthrift Farm acquired stakes winner and Grade 1-placed Tarabi for $1.05 million. Consigned by Lane’s End, agent, the 4-year-old daughter of First Samurai is a full sister to Group 3 winner Shivaji and from the family of Grade 2 winner Buy the Barrel and Grade 3 winners Fishy Advice, Demarcation and Mauk Four.

“Really impressive physical,” Spendthrift General Manager Ned Toffey said about Tarabi. “We are really excited to have her. That was about what we thought we would have to pay. She will be a nice addition to the broodmare band. We have a couple of options (for stallions to breed her to). Maybe something on (our) farm or maybe off the farm. We certainly will be out looking (for more horses to buy). There are some nice horses at this sale. We’re always keeping the options open.”

Two additional horses also sold for $1 million each.

J.S. Company, Limited paid the amount for Technical Analysis (IRE), who won the Oct. 27 Athenia (L) at Belmont at The Big A in her most recent race. ELiTE, agent, consigned the 5-year-old daughter of Kingman who is out of the winning Sea The Stars mare Sealife and from the family of Group 2 winner Rekindling and Group 3 winner Golden Sword.

Also bringing $1 million was Grade 3 winner White Frost, a 5-year-daughter of Candy Ride (ARG) purchased by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings. Consigned by Gainesway, agent, she is out of stakes winner Miss Frost, by Curlin, and from the family of Grade 1 winner Pharma and Grade 2 winner Hap.

At $750,000, the session’s top-priced weanling was a colt by Gun Runner sold to Shadwell Racing. Consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent, he is out of the winning Galileo (IRE) mare Sea Hill (GB) and from the family of Group 1 winner and French highweight Groom Dancer.

“Beautiful Gun Runner, good family, very impressed,” said Jonathan Smyth on behalf of Shadwell. “A new addition to the farm and fingers crossed it goes well. I thought it was a good price. We had a budget in mind, and we were happy.”

Taylor Made Sales Agency was the leading consignor with sales of $6,810,000 for 26 horses.