Buyer Demand for Top-Class Weanlings Remains Strong

Buyers looking for the perfect pinhook score took advantage of a mildly softened market Nov. 10, scoring several top weanling picks as Book 3 of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale drew to a close.

The action got off to a rapid start Sunday, as Glencrest Farm engaged in a bidding war for Hip 1594, a filly by Street Sense  consigned by Hidden Brook, agent. Bred in Kentucky by Spruce Lane, Built Wright, Lynn Farm, Will Robbins, and Copper Beach, the filly was purchased for $160,000. 

"We plan to pinhook," said John Greathouse, who signed the winning ticket on the bay filly. "We have a little group together so that's what we do at this point. But if worst comes to worst we wouldn't mind racing her either. I love the stallion, he does great with fillies and colts. They've obviously raised the stud fee so we're happy to have her." 

Out of the Henny Hughes mare One Look, the filly's second dam is Without Delay, who produced grade 3-placed runners Before You Know It and Instant Reflex. Her third dam, Slow Down, was a winner in France and a stateside stakes scorer who produced group 3 scorer Slow Pace as well as Funny Duck, who won the 2018 Pat Day Mile Stakes presented by LG and E and KU (G3) at Churchill Downs. 

"That would be the eighth one I've bought that I own a piece of," Greathouse said. "We kind of piece out whatever but we usually buy 10 to 12 and flip—we just do the best we can do. So far I'm very happy with what we bought. 

"(Hip 1594) is very forward for a May foal, she had plenty of leg, and I thought she was just a nice, correct filly that would improve. In Spring when the green grass hits I just think she'll get better and better. That was the end of what I had for her, but I felt like everyone in my group was very happy with the horse. I was pretty certain who was bidding against me and they have a good eye so hopefully I wasn't too wrong. I'm not sure there was a nicer May foal on the ground here."

Greathouse said he was pleased to see the weanling market had remained competitive throughout the first week of the sale and hoped the trend would continue into the new year. 

"I think it's a very healthy market," Greathouse said. "It's the age-old thing—if you have the right horse you will get plenty of money for it. A quality horse brings plenty of money here. I think it's healthy, I just hope it continues into the election year." 

Hip 1594 was the fourth overall purchase of the week, and most costly, for Glencrest. The first was a $55,000 Tiznow  colt out of the City Zip mare Run Away's Sis—a full sister to grade 2 winner Run Away and Hide—consigned as Hip 385 by Select Sales, agent. The filly's female family includes grade 1 winners Firery Ensign and Hard Not to Like. 

Glencrest went to $100,000 for Hip 845, a Flatter colt consigned by Denali Stud, agent for Stepwise Farm. The Kentucky-bred is out of the Stormy Atlantic mare Stormy Caress, a half sister to champion 3-year-old West Coast . The colt's second dam is champion Honour and Glory mare Caressing, who was the champion 2-year-old filly of 2000.

Rounding out Glencrest's purchases is Hip 1193, an Honor Code  filly out of the War Front  mare Poster Girl. Consigned by Lane's End, agent, the filly's second dam, Wonder Woman, is a half sister to group 1-placed War Command and group 3 winner Naval Officer. 

Upper V Stables Picks up Street Sense Colt for Pinhook Venture

Also looking to add to their tally of pinhooks Sunday was Upper V Stables, who purchased a $185,000 Street Sense colt (Hip 1689) from the consignment of Hunter Valley Farm, agent.

"We're going to probably sell him next year I would say, that's the game plan anyway. He's a really pretty colt," said bloodstock agent Phil Hager, who signed the winning ticket. 

Bred in Kentucky by Adrian Regan of Hunter Valley, the colt is out of the Empire Maker  mare Take a Memo. The colt's second dam is Memorette, a grade 2 winner who was grade 1-placed four times. 

"He was just a very two-turn looking kind of horse," Hager said. "He is very pretty with a big walk, pretty head, and nice neck—everything you hope for."  

The most expensive purchase for Upper V came early Nov. 6, when they picked up a $325,000 Into Mischief  colt consigned as Hip 95 by Hunter Valley. Bred in Kentucky, the colt is out of the Lemon Drop Kid  mare Spring Fling, a daughter of the multiple grade 3-winning mare Swept Away. Spring Fling is a half sister to several stakes performers including Cash Refund, who placed third in the Aristides (G3) at Churchill Downs. 

The first purchase of the sale for Upper V was Hip 34, a Frosted  filly consigned by Denali Stud, agent. The weanling is out of the Indian Charlie mare Morea, a half sister to Central Bank Ashland Stakes (G1) victress Weep No More and grade 3 winner Current. The filly's third dam, Flute, won the 2001 Kentucky Oaks (G1) and Alabama Stakes (G1) and is the dam of grade 2 scorer Filimbi. 

Upper V spent $75,000 on Hip 1577, a Kentucky-bred daughter of Liam's Map  out of the stakes-winning Malibu Moon  mare Moon Philly. She was consigned by Gainesway, agent. 

"The market is tough," Hager said. "We bought a couple early and then we kind of had to sit out for a few days because it got really strong. I think we bought into three today so I think it's starting to soften just a little bit, but pedigrees also soften a little bit."