Conquest Horses, Uptown Twirl Rock Keeneland

Boosted by the first day of the Conquest Stables dispersal and the historic sale of Uptown Twirl for $1,075,000, prices soared during the Nov. 14 seventh session of the Keeneland November breeding stock sale.

Keeneland reported 254 horses grossed $13,221,100 Monday, up 78% compared with the corresponding session last year. Monday saw an average price of $52,052 and a $27,000 median, up 80% and 29% respectively. During the comparable session a year ago, 256 horses averaged $28,932 on gross receipts of $7,406,700, with a $21,000 median price. This year’s session buyback rate was 25.5%, compared with 24.7% on Day 7 in 2015.

Through the first day of Book 4, Keeneland has sold 1,408 horses for nearly $193.2 million, an average of $137,200 and a cumulative median of $65,000. At the same juncture a year ago, 1,462 horses had grossed $197.9 million for an average price of $135,386 and the same $65,000 median. The cumulative RNA rate is 29.8%. With 2,565 cataloged to this point, 600 horses have been bought back and 557 were withdrawn.

This year's total sales to this point are down 2.4%, with average up slightly, and median the same.

The session marked the complete dispersal of the Conquest Stable of Ernie Semersky and Dory Newell, with Lane’s End acting as agent. With racing fillies or broodmare prospects on offer Monday (colts and geldings sell Tuesday, Nov. 15), 35 Conquest horses sold for $4,321,500, an average price of $123,471 and a $57,000 median.

Uptown Twirl was the first-ever seven-figure transaction during the second week in the history of the Keeneland November sale.

“It shows what we’ve always said: you bring the product, you bring quality, and it sells; be it the first week or the second,” said Keeneland director of sales Geoffrey Russell. “We were very pleased to have the Conquest dispersal, which was a great draw today, but also selling a race filly for $1,075,000 for the first time during the second week is also very exciting.”

Uptown Twirl, a daughter of Twirling Candy   bought by Three Chimneys Farm from Lane’s End, agent, is a half sister to John Oxley’s Classic Empire, a son of Pioneerof the Nile   who since the catalog was put together won the grade I Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland before going on to win the Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (gr. I), stamping the colt trained by Mark Casse as the early favorite for the 2017 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).

Bred in Kentucky by Steven and Brandi Nicholson, Uptown Twirl was bought by H. H. for $110,000 from Warrendale Sales at the 2014 Keeneland September yearling sale. Pinhooked by Halcyon Hammock Farm into the 2015 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s March sale of 2-year-olds in training, the filly went to L. E. B. for $630,000.

Trained by John Sadler for Hronis Racing, Uptown Twirl won four of nine starts, including the Surfside Stakes and Pleasanton Oaks, while earning more than $170,000.

Jacob West, director of bloodstock services for Three Chimneys, said the filly’s appeal was obvious, considering that she is a half sister to a colt expected to be named champion 2-year-old male.

“She was a great physical herself and won two stakes this year so she showed she had ability,” he said. “She is going to be a half to a champion 2-year-old so we’re pretty excited to own her.”

West said Uptown Twirl probably will remain in training the rest of the year, with the long-term plan to add her to Three Chimneys’ broodmare band.

Although a seven-figure transaction had never transpired this late in the marathon auction, West said “we kind of had an idea she would be in that ballpark. We’re happy to own her at any price. Quality is bringing quality … she was a quality mare with that pedigree update and she stood on her own physically.”

Produced from the Cat Thief mare Sambuca Classica, Uptown Twirl is also a half sister to stakes winner Anytime Magic.

Second-highest price among non-Conquest horses was the $230,000 paid for two different mares.

Castleton Lyons went to that figure for Accomplish First, a 6-year-old First Defence mare in foal to Verrazano  . A half sister to New York strakes winner Sarah Accomplished, the mare is from the extended female family of grade I winner Little Baby Bear and grade III winner and sire First American.

Bred in New York by Sugar Maple Farm, Accomplish First earned $101,734 while winning three of nine career starts. The mare consigned by Select Sales had been purchased by Jay Goodwin for $5,000 at the 2015 Keeneland November sale.

Also selling for $230,000 was multiple stakes winner Galina Point, bought by Maverick Racing from Bluewater Sales’ offerings. A 4-year-old filly by Safir, Galina Point is from the family of grade I winner Fran’s Valentine bred by Spring Farm.

The filly has won three of 21 starts, including the South Ocean and Lady Angela Stakes, and earned $410,573. She has placed in nine stakes, including the grade III Whimsical and Hendry Stakes.

She was a $6,637 purchase by Phillip Brooks at the 2013 September sale of the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society (Ontario division).

Russell said there continued to be strong demand for weanlings, with a son of multiple grade II winner and two-time track record setter Fed Biz   leading the way when bought by Machmer Hall for $170,000. The colt, consigned by VanMeter-Gentry Sales, agent, is the first foal out of a Purge mare who is a half sister to multiple stakes winner and multiple graded-placed Five Star Momma.

The Jan. 27 foal was bred in Kentucky by T. F. VanMeter.

“Quality foals are bringing top dollar still,” Russell said.

The sale continues through Nov. 20, with daily sessions beginning at 10 a.m. ET.