LEXINGTON, Ky. – The debut-winning 2-year-old filly Alyeska sold for $675,000 as, bolstered by stock from the late John Hendrickson’s stable, the Keeneland November horses of racing age sale saw vibrant trade on Thursday.
Actively-racing horses became an increasingly-important component of the second week of the Keeneland November breeding stock sale, and after several years of growth, the auction house broke this market segment out into its own single-session sale with separately reported figures in 2022. This third edition of the sale finished with 105 horses sold for a gross of $8,613,000, compared to 155 sold for $7,864,000 last year.
The average price was $82,059, spiking 62 percent from $50,735 last year. The median also soared upward 67 percent, to $50,000 from $30,000. The strong demand was also seen in an outstanding buyback rate of 12 percent, compared to 16 percent last year.
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“The sale today was vibrant from the very get-go,” Keeneland vice president of sales Tony Lacy said. “Every year has a little bit of a different dynamic, but there was very little weakness in that market. [The figures were] seriously strong. We were $800,000 over last year’s gross with a third less horses. It shows the demand for quality stock. I really appreciate the people that supported us, because it goes to prove that when you get the right environment, this is the right place to do it. The sellers were extremely happy, and the buyers were delighted to get the horses they got.”
Hendrickson, who, along with his late wife, Marylou Whitney, was known for his extensive philanthropy within the Thoroughbred industry, died unexpectedly in August at age 59. Hendrickson, who served as chairman of the board of the National Racing Museum and Hall of Fame, among other prominent roles, continued to campaign horses in the Whitney blue following his wife’s death in 2019, and to develop the bloodlines the operation was known for.
At the Keeneland November breeding stock sale, which ran from Nov. 5 through 13, Hendrickson’s producing mares and broodmare prospects were offered by his estate, with 18 horses sold for a gross of $2,254,500. On Thursday, eight racehorses sold for $1,807,000.
Gainesway Farm handled the estate’s consignments, as agent. Gainesway, now owned by Antony Beck, was formerly owned in part by the Whitney family, and Marylou Whitney and Hendrickson continued to board their stock there.
“I think it’s a great tribute to John that these horses have been so well received,” Gainesway general manager Brian Graves said. “It’s a good tribute to John and nice to see. That part is heartwarming, but it is bittersweet in that he is gone and there won’t be any more.”
Alyeska was purchased by bloodstock agent Steven Young, on behalf of an undisclosed client, to top the sale. Shortly afterward, Young also signed for the second-highest price of the sale also out of the dispersal, the 2-year-old colt Captain Cook for $410,000. Both were homebreds for the stable, and have been trained to this point by Norm Casse.
Alyeska is from the first crop of Vekoma, currently this year’s second-leading freshman sire by earnings in a tight race. The filly won her career debut by a length on Sept. 20 at Churchill Downs, despite being bumped and steadied.
Alyeska, one of two winners from as many starters out of the Giant’s Causeway mare Gull Island, is from the family Marylou Whitney was most well-known for in the past decades. Gull Island is out of Kentucky Oaks winner, champion, and stakes producer Bird Town, in turn out of Broodmare of the Year Dear Birdie. In addition to Bird Town, Dear Birdie produced Birdstone, whose three Grade 1 wins included the 2004 Belmont Stakes; he went on to be a classic sire himself.
“She is from a family that, without John’s passing, she would not have come on the market,” Young said. “[Her family] has been with the Whitneys for 40, 50 years, maybe more. She ran once like a quality horse. I think she is a very special horse.”
Captain Cook, by successful young sire Practical Joke, is from the same family. He is out of the Grade 2-placed Indian Charlie mare Pow Wow Wow, whose second dam is Bird Town. Captain Cook was sixth on debut Oct. 27 at Churchill, but earned a respectable 71 Beyer Speed Figure.
“He’s a nice horse,” Young said. “Had a less-than-perfect trip [in his debut]. The horse put in two or three different runs in the race. He’s a really good horse, obviously. Beautiful action. And once again, a horse that would have never seen the market if John was still with us.”
For complete hip-by-hip results from the horses of racing age sale, click here.
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