Bishops Bay Tops Keeneland's HORA Sale at $1.3M

Three-time grade 3 stakes winner Bishops Bay  kicked off the opening hour of the Keeneland November Horses of Racing Age Sale Nov. 12 by selling for the top price of $1.3 million to Pedro Lanz, agent for KAS Stables. The seven-figure price was a record for the sale, which Keeneland began in 2022 after previously including horses of racing age in the November Breeding Stock Sale.

ELiTE, as agent, consigned the 5-year-old son of Uncle Mo, who recently won the Nov. 2 Forty Niner Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct Racetrack. That victory was his fifth in seven starts this year with earnings of $468,600. After a runner-up finish in an optional claiming race at Oaklawn Park in early January, he added an allowance optional claimer at Oaklawn, as well as the American Pharoah Stakes there. He then added the Westchester Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct and the Salvator Mile (G3) at Monmouth Park. A sixth-place finish in the Forego Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course preceded his victory in the Forty Niner.

He also ran well as a younger horse for trainer Brad Cox, placing in the 2023 Peter Pan Stakes (G3) and 2023 Ohio Derby (G3) at age 3. He has a career record of 8-3-0 in 12 starts, making $702,800 for former owners Spendthrift Farm, Steve Landers, Martin Schwartz, Michael Dubb, Ten Strike Racing, Jim Bakke, Titletown Racing, Kueber Racing, Big Easy Racing, Rick Kanter, Michael Caruso, and WinStar Farm.

Lanz said there are two discussed plans for the newly required horse, one of which would lead to Bishops Bay running again in New York this year in the $500,000 Cigar Mile (G2). The race is Dec. 6, and he has a paid entry by virtue of winning the Forty Niner Stakes.

"We talked to Brad Cox and that's a possibility,"  Lanz said. "If it's too soon for the horse, we have the option to continue training the horse in quarantine for the King's Cup (otherwise known as The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup) in Saudi Arabia; it's not confirmed yet. That race would be Jan. 17; that's similar to Rattle n Roll's plans that they did last year. They won the race, so that's a possibility."

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup (G3) is a prep for the Saudi Cup (G1) in February. Both races are run at King Abdulaziz Racecourse.

"If we win the King's Cup against local-trained horses, we have a direct pass through the race, we qualify. If we win the Cigar Mile and we have a nice, high rating, that's another way. We have to receive an invitation from the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia."

Lanz said Bishops Bay has been on his radar all year.

"I was watching the replays, and I recommended this horse because he's a very honest horse," Lanz said. "If you see his 12 starts, three seconds, and only one bad start with a horrible trip in the Forego (Stakes) at Saratoga. He could have even won the race with a better trip. He's a very honest horse."

Lanz, who was the leading buyer of the sale with his lone purchase, said he was not surprised at the $1.3 million it took to secure the multiple graded stakes winner.

"That's usually what happens when we have the Middle East fighting for the same horse," Lanz said. "He was, for me, the best horse—two turns, long-distance horse. So, I told Prince we have to be ready."

Bred in Kentucky by WinStar Farm, Bishops Bay is out of the Pioneer of the Nile mare Catch My Drift , who has produced two other black-type horses: 2024 Louisiana Derby (G2) winner Catching Freedom  (Constitution  ) and Strava  (Into Mischief  ), who showed in the 2022 Ellis Park Derby. His dam has produced four winners from five foals to race. Seven of her foals are of racing age.

Bishops Bay was a $450,000 yearling purchase by BSW/Crow Colts Group from the 2021 September Yearling Sale from the Warrendale Sales consignment. The BSW/Crow Colts Group, organized by Brad Weisbord and Liz Crow of ELiTE, bought yearling colts with the aim of them potentially developing into promising racehorses and potential stallions.

A total of 112 horses changed hands during the one-day auction for gross receipts of $10,628,500, including post-ring sales, a 23% increase from last year's sale when 106 head brought $8,620,500. The average was up 17% to $94,898 from $81,325, while median decreased 16% from $47,500 to $40,000. Sixteen horses failed to meet their reserve, resulting in an RNA rate of 12.5%. 

"This was a strong finish to a remarkable sales season," Keeneland vice president of sales Tony Lacy said. "Setting a record for top price in this format is very satisfying and reflects an ongoing demand for quality, race-ready horses as we move into a new season. The momentum we've seen throughout the year carried right through to the end, and we are grateful to all the buyers and sellers whose participation and confidence make success like this possible."

Graded stakes winner World Record  (Hip 4184) brought the second-highest price of the day when selling for $900,000 to RRR Racing, also from the ELiTE consignment. The 4-year-old son of Gun Runner   won the 2024 Amsterdam Stakes (G2) at 3, and has hit the board in three of his four starts in 2025.

ELiTE was the leading consignor with 44 horses from their draft selling for $5,508,500.

"We take this day seriously. It's kind of our Super Bowl of the year," ELiTE's Liz Crow said. "We try to recruit as many horses as we can so we have a good volume for people, so that we have the $20,000 horse all the way up to the million-dollar horse. We were really happy with the way things went. It was just a great day for our team. A ton of work goes behind the scenes to get that 44 sold (including three post sales) today."

Crevalle d'Oro  (Hip 4216) was the highest-priced filly or mare, bringing $500,000 from Meah/Lloyd Bloodstock, agent for Mike and Jules Iavarone and TCC Stables. The 4-year-old daughter of Constitution   recently ran a game fourth in the Goldikova Stakes (G3T) at Del Mar. The filly was won on both turf and dirt for trainer Lauren Robson. 

Meah/Lloyd Bloodstock purchased three other horses for the Iavarones and TCC Stables for a total of $970,000. 

Mike and Jules Iavarone recently purchased a 25% share in eventual Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) winner Bentornato  at Keeneland's Championship Sale Oct. 29 for $1 million. 

Keeneland will begin the 2026 season with the January Horses of All Ages Sale, held Jan. 12-15.