LEXINGTON, Ky. – With two sessions remaining, a strong edition of the Keeneland November breeding stock sale has already exceeded last year’s total gross receipts.
On Monday evening, Keeneland November concluded its seventh of nine sessions overall, with the single-session Book 1 and the two-session Books 2, 3, and 4 now accounted for. Keeneland reported 1,603 horses sold for gross receipts of $181,460,500. At this same point of last year’s sale, under the same formatting, 1,615 horses sold for $170,860,000. Both sets of figures include only horses sold through the ring, not including private sales that Keeneland will later factor into official results.
The 2023 sale finished with 2,128 horses sold through the ring for a gross of $176,571,000.
To this point of the sale, the cumulative average is $113,301, up 7 percent from $105,796 at the comparable point last year. The median is up 14 percent, to $57,000 against $50,000.
The cumulative buyback rate is a tick better at 23 percent, compared to 24 percent.
Book 4 was led by a pair of $200,000 lots in its opening session – a weanling colt by McKinzie, and the broodmare Thrill.
The McKinzie colt was purchased by Cherry Knoll Farm from the consignment of Nardelli Sales, as agent. McKinzie is currently third in a tight freshman sire race, with Grade 1 winners Chancer McPatrick and Scottish Lassie in his first crop to race this year.
The colt, an April foal, is out of the Pure Prize mare Social Gal, a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Mona de Momma, dam of Grade 1 winner Vekoma, currently second on the freshman sire list. This also is the family of Kentucky Derby winner and champion 2-year-old Street Sense and another prominent sire in Mr. Greeley.
Less than an hour later, Thrill was purchased by John Gunther of Glennwood Farm. The winning Candy Ride mare was offered carrying her second foal, to the cover of champion turf horse Up to the Mark in his first season at stud. She was consigned by Lane’s End, which stands the horse, as agent.
Thrill is one of four winners out of the winning Indian Charlie mare Running Wild, dam of Grade 2 winner Stolen Base. Running Wild is out of graded stakes winner Rare Artist, dam of two additional stakes winners.
The Keeneland November sale concludes with a two-session Book 5 on Tuesday and Wednesday. The single-session November horses of racing age sale, which was broken out into its own session with separately reported figures in 2022, follows Thursday.
For hip-by-hip results, click here.
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