Topping Book 1 of Keeneland’s January mixed sale was Siren Serenade, in foal to Tapit, marking the third straight major U.S. breeding stock sale a mare in foal to Gainesway’s three-time record-breaking leading sire has been the sale-topper. At Fasig-Tipton November, Baffled at $3.5 million led the charge while at Keeneland November the $3.8 million Unrivaled Belle topped all other offerings.
Don Alberto Corporation purchased the 11-year-old Unbridled’s Song mare for $1,025,000 during the auction’s Jan. 9 opening session. Already the producer of a Grade 1-placed runner, Siren Serenade is a half-sister to Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) winner George Vancouver and to Grade 2 winner Saarland.
Siren Serenade’s second dam is four-time Grade 1 winner Versailles Treaty (by Danzig), who hailed from the Phipps family’s breeding program.
Perhaps a sign for the future, on the previous day at Santa Anita, Don Alberto’s 3-year-old Tapit filly Unique Bella, out of the Unbridled’s Song mare Unrivaled Belle, won the Grade 2 Santa Ynez Stakes in her third career start.
Tapit was also responsible for the session’s second-highest price. His 5-year-old daughter Delightful Joy topped all other broodmare prospects when she brought $700,000 from Oussama Aboughazale’s International Equities Holdings. A half-sister to Grade 3 winner Cali Star, Delightful Joy won the Grade 3 Monmouth Stakes. Their dam is Grade 3 winner Graeme Six (by Graeme Hall).