McKinzie Continues To Be in Demand Through Book 4

McKinzie   has stamped himself as one of the leading first-crop sires with a pair of grade 1 winners in Chancer McPatrick  and Scottish Lassie . His reputation has extended to the auction ring as he was the leading covering sire and weanling sire Nov. 11 during the seventh session of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale, where he also had the highest-priced weanling filly at $120,000 to conclude Book 4.

"It's kind of a three-way fight for leading freshman sire right now," said Brian Graves, general manager at Gainesway Farm. "McKinzie separated himself when he got two grade 1 winners and two other horses that were grade-1 placed as well. He just keeps putting a good, good horse on the ground. You go and look at one, and they've all got these long beautiful necks, nicely balanced, good walk. They're correct, one right after the other, and the sales results are showing that."

McKinzie's four weanlings brought a total of $320,000, with two broodmares in foal to the son of Street Sense   bringing $220,000.

The top-priced weanling, a colt by Upstart   out of Honey Muffin, went for $155,000 to Cherry Knoll Farm. Hip 2680 was consigned by Indian Creek, agent.

Hip 2436, a McKinzie filly bred and consigned by Stoneriggs Farm, commanded $120,000 from John Donahue. She is the third foal of the mare Shop American, by American Pharoah  . 

Belle Gallantey , in foal to McKinzie, was the co-highest priced broodmare of the day at $120,000, selling to Chad Schumer/KGS. She is the dam of multiple stakes winner Avana  and graded stakes-placed Morning , who was third in the Emirates Holidays Mahab Al Shimaal (G3). 

Third on the first-crop sire list, McKinzie has had 20 weanlings sell thus far in the sale for $2,842,000, with an average of $142,100. Sixteen broodmares have sold in foal to the stallion for $1,815,000. 

"We're hopeful he keeps rolling, and we're pretty confident he will," said Graves. 

Day 7 Stats

The conclusion of Book 4 saw a gross of $8,571,600 from the 283 horses to change hands, including private sales. The average was $30,288, with the median at $23,000. A 13.7% RNA represented the 45 horses who failed to meet their reserve.

"The foal market has been pretty savage, really," Graves said. "I mean it's every good baby you chase up there. I think honestly, just from Book 1 down to this level, they've gotten more expensive as you go. People are running out of options, and they're just fighting harder to get a nice weanling to sell.

"Mares in foal on a fashionable cover are selling pretty well, but anything that's got a little gap in it, isn't pretty."

Mahmud F. Mouni was the leading buyer with eight purchases totaling $278,000. Taylor Made Sales Agency led the consignors, selling 32 head for $1,088,000.

Last year's seventh session saw 277 horses sell for $7,260,900, including private sales, with an average of $26,213, and a median of $20,000. 

The Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale continues Nov. 12 at 10 a.m. with Book 5, with a total of 660 horses cataloged over the next two days. As of Monday evening, Keeneland has reported 63 outs for the eighth session.