$650,000 WinStar Colt Tops Brisk Session at Keeneland

The most anticipated horse offered during the ninth session of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale lived up to the hype.

A WinStar Racing juvenile named Federal Case started the buzz Oct. 19 when he broke his maiden on debut by half a length at Keeneland, going seven furlongs in 1:27.41. Private offers began pouring in soon after, but WinStar had entered the colt by Gemologist  in the November sale and felt obligated to that commitment, according to WinStar president and CEO Elliott Walden.

The decision to honor that commitment opened the door to opportunity for Robert and Lawana Low, who went to $650,000 to secure the colt Nov. 13. Federal Case was the highest-priced horse of the day and the 23rd-highest price for the sale to date. Jacob West, the Lows' bloodstock agent and racing manager, prevailed in a spirited bidding battle that took only a few seconds to sail deep into six-figure territory.

"You have to tip your hat to WinStar, who brought a horse here who obviously has ability and talent," said West. "(Trainer) Rodolph Brisset did an incredible job with the horse and didn't press him too early. Brought him here in October and let him showcase his class. I do believe him when he said he had the horse 80% cranked when he led him over here. We feel there is some upside."

West said the colt will be sent to trainer Todd Pletcher, who won this year's Arkansas Derby (G1) for the Lows with Magnum Moon. 

"The Lows are big supporters of Oaklawn and that is what we hope we did today—buy the Arkansas Derby winner," West said.

Elliott Walden, president and CEO of WinStar Farm, said the colt was an obvious standout at the sale.

"People will spend money on 2-year-olds that go an eighth of a mile and pay twice that much. This horse won seven-eighths and is a real horse," he said. "We entered the horse back in August and felt we needed to bring him here. He is a two-turn type horse, and he sold extremely well."

West said he wished more racing prospects would be offered at auction.

"I didn't think the colt would be here to sell, quite honestly, but I'm glad they did and got rewarded handsomely," West said. "The private market is so hard. Everybody wants these astronomical numbers. You have a price in mind and you can normally quadruple that price. When they show up here ... you get paid. The public is going to tell you what they're worth. You get to see them, you get to vet them, and there is not all this hustle and bustle of trying to beat everyone to the punch. I wish more people would do this."

Activity remained brisk during the ninth session Tuesday. Keeneland reported a 16.72% buy-back rate, which is the lowest single-session rate for this sale so far. A total of 244 horses sold for $6,337,000 and averaged $25,971. For the same session of 2017, the average was $17,335.

For the sale overall to date, 2,049 horses have sold for $184,287,600 and averaged $89,940. Through the ninth session of 2017, 1,962 horses brought a gross of $197,734,300 and averaged $100,782.

Ten horses sold for six-figure prices and two other racing prospects fetched prices of $200,000 and up. 

The second-highest-priced horse was Lady Suebee, a stakes-placed daughter of First Defence that ELiTE sold for $230,000 on behalf of clients Sol Kumin, Michael Dubb, and Stuart Grant to bloodstock agent David Ingordo for an undisclosed client.

WinStar sold the third-highest-priced horse when She Will Rock, a twice-placed daughter of Will Take Charge , was bought for $200,000 by Rosilyn Polan. The 2-year-old filly is a half sister to three black-type winners—Mark My Way (Noonmark), Hard to Stay Notgo (More Than Ready ), and Haul Anchor (Bernardini ). The sale filly's second dam is stakes winner Spunoutacontrol, the dam of multiple graded winner and sire Fed Biz .

The sale continues through Friday, Nov. 16 with sessions beginning at 10 a.m. ET daily.