Marvelous Time Tops Book 2 Opener at $220,000

The opening session of Book 2 at the Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale Jan. 10 concluded with the gross taking a 22.7% decline over last year's session but the median price improved 25%. Godolphin's Distorted Humor mare, Marvelous Time, took top honors after selling for $220,000 to Centofanti TB, agent, early in the day.

The 4-year-old mare, Hip 845, is carrying her first foal by Mystic Guide  . Out of the grade 1-placed Folk , the mare boasts Davona Dale Stakes (G2)-placed Captivating Lass  as a half sibling. Captivating Lass, an A.P. Indy mare, has produced Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes (G1T) winner and $1.3 million earner Atone , by Into Mischief  .

Godolphin sold 17 mares from its draft Wednesday for a gross of $1,103,000, at an average of $64,882, to be the leading consignor for the third session in both categories (two or more sold).

"The buyers are willing to pay more for the perceived commercial quality—particularly in the yearlings," said Meg Levy of Bluewater Sales. "We had Kaling sell very well here, which we were pleased about, but it seems like everybody is willing to pay up to a third more for what they perceive to be the good stuff. The middle market is still suffering, and it's tough. There is a gap when selling some of these yearlings where we use the vet reports as a marketing tool to help buyers. However, not all buyers understand the reports and don't use a veterinarian."

Clarkland Farm led a short-yearling Yaupon   filly to the ring and watched her realize $150,000 from buyer Crestwood Farm, agent. The filly, Hip 926, was bred in Kentucky by her consignor. She is out of the Canadian stakes winner Tiz Imaginary , by Tizway , and is a half sibling to the stakes-placed Practical Joke   colt, Mr Bob .

"I'm more than happy with the market; I think there was a bit of doom and gloom with people coming in thinking it would be tough going, but the market is pretty good," said Hunter Valley Farm's Adrian Regan. "If you had the right foal and it vets clean, they sold very well. Overall, it's been better than expected."

For the session Keeneland reports 199 horses sold of the 242 to go under the hammer for a turnover of $4,361,900, down 22.7% over the previous corresponding session last year. The average price dropped 2.4% to $21,919, and a $10,000 median shows an increase of 25%. The 43 horses who failed to attain their reserve represent an RNA rate of 17.8%.

There were 75 horses withdrawn from the third session.

Last year's third session saw 251 horses change hands of the 298 to go on offer for gross receipts of $5,639,600, at an average of $22,469 and a $8,000 median. An RNA rate of 15.8% represents the 47 horses that did not sell.

"I am seeing that horses with quality are still fairly easy to sell, and anything that even hints at not being every bit of that is corrected," said Gainesway's Brian Graves. "Anything not 100% quality or the top shelf is corrected.

"It seems like there weren't a lot of back ring participants today as well; if you didn't have it done at the barn, you weren't going to get any help from people buying out of the back ring for anything significant."

John Stewart's Resolute Bloodstock made two purchases Wednesday for $255,000 to be the leading buyer for the session.

Over the past three sessions, 653 individuals have been traded of the 839 through the ring for a $38,192,600 gross, down 12.4% over 2023. An average price of $58,488 shows a 1.4% improvement, and the median has dropped 18.5% to $22,000.

To this point, last year, 756 of the 948 horses had sold for receipts of $43,585,500, at an average price of $57,653 and held a $27,000 median. An RNA rate of 20.3% represents the 192 horses that remained unsold.

Agent Steven Young made four purchases thus far in the sale for receipts of $2,185,000 to be the leading buyer and consignor Taylor Made Sales Agency has sold 79 head for $4,790,200 to be the top seller.

The sale concludes tomorrow with Hips 1171-1487 heading through the ring, beginning at 10 a.m. ET; 72 horses have been withdrawn from the final session as of Wednesday afternoon.