Though the November breeding stock sales might have moved from Fasig-Tipton across town to the Keeneland venue, the Book 1 results have some distinct similarities at the top of the list.
In-foal mares topped buyers’ shopping lists and, as expected, the sales sheets. Through the first two days of Book 1, the current sale-topper is Unrivaled Belle, who sold in foal to Gainesway’s leading sire Tapit. Selling on the second of Book 1’s two sessions, the 10 year-old Unbridled’s Song mare, who won the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff and more than $1.8 million, lit up the Keeneland board at $3.8 million on a final bid from Mandy Pope’s Whisper Hill Farm.
Other seven-figure mares in foal to Tapit include Alcibiades Stakes (G1) winner My Conquestadory. The 5-year-old daughter of Artie Schiller brought $1.5 million from SF Bloodstock and Newgate Farm.
Another Alcibiades Stakes winner, the 4-year-old War Front mare Peace and War, also in foal to Tapit and carrying her first foal, will join the broodmare band at Northern Farm in Japan, having sold for $1.45 million to Northern Farm’s owner Katsumi Yoshida.
Tapit, who has topped the general leading sires list for the last two years and who is well on his way to the hat trick this year, led all other covering sires by gross. His seven mares grossed $9,625,000 for an average of $1,375,000.
Tapit weanlings also shone brightly during Book 1, led by the half-brother to graded stakes winners Honor Code (by A.P Indy), the Eclipse Award winner as champion older male; and Noble Tune (by Unbridled’s Song). The dark bay colt is from the family of champion Serena’s Song and is out of the stakes-winning Storm Cat mare Serena’s Cat. Baccari Bloodstock bought him for $1,050,000.
A Tapit filly out of stakes winner and Grade 1-placed Miss Empire (by Empire Maker) exited the Keeneland sale ring at $975,000 on a bid from Peter Brant’s White Birch Farm.
Altogether five Tapit weanlings sold for a gross of $3,870,000 and averaged $774,000.
Tapicat, a 6-year-old Tapit mare carrying a first foal on a Pioneerof the Nile cover, found a new home at Summer Wind Farm for $2,200,000.
Keeneland Book 1 results showed gains in average and median: 253 lots sold for $102,919,000, which resulted in a $406,794 average and a $260,000 median.
