Domestic Buyers Fuel Powerful Keeneland November Opener

[Wandering Eyes]

$3.7-Million Lush Lips Tops Book 1

by Jessica Martini, Christina Bossinakis, & Alan Carasso

LEXINGTON, KY – The Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale blitzed through its opening session Tuesday with 17 offerings–including a pair of weanlings–selling for $1 million or more and figures up dramatically from the auction's Book 1 session in 2024.

“It was a really strong day,” said Keeneland President Shannon Arvin. “The broodmare market was very, very strong. We had 15 who brought $1 million or more, seven of those brought $2 million or more. The weanling market was incredibly strong. We sold a $2.2-million weanling–it's the highest price since a decade ago. I think it showed an overall confidence and continuation of excitement about our sport and about our industry.”

In all, 122 horses sold during Tuesday's single Book 1 session for a gross of $72,737,000. The average of $596,205 was up 36.70% from a year ago, while the median rose 20.71% to $422,500. A year ago, 143 sold for $62,370,000 for an average of $436,154 and a median of $350,000.

“The amount of enthusiasm we saw from the buyers, both domestic and international, was very, very broad.” said Keeneland Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy. “I think a lot of people were a little frustrated trying to buy horses. Over 50% of the horses that sold today sold for 50% or more above their reserve. So it shows the market was strong. People set their reserves, but the market brought them well beyond that. That's really encouraging. It's a great balance in the market.”

Bill Shively's Dixiana Farm made the highest purchase of the day, going to $3.7 million to acquire the 3-year-old racing/broodmare prospect Lush Lips (GB) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}) from the Taylor Made Sales Agency consignment. The Grade I-winning filly was one of three on the day to sell for $3 million or over and one of eight to sell for $2 million or more.

The Book 1 section also featured a very competitive weanling market. For the session, 54 weanlings sold for an average of $364,019 and a median of $275,000. During last year's Book 1 section, 46 weanlings sold for an average of $281,087 and a median of $250,000.

 

And that's a Wrap on an incredible Book 1 of Keeneland November! pic.twitter.com/9vP1XrN69n

— Keeneland Sales (@keenelandsales) November 5, 2025

The strength of the weanling market was a carry-on effect from the record-setting yearling sales of the summer and fall, according to Lacy.

“A lot of people who sold yearlings, whether pinhookers or breeders, they are looking to restock for next year's sales,” Lacy said. “So, they have a level of return that was probably a little unexpected. Now they have an issue that they've got to spend it. It has a multiplier effect that you've got to invest or that becomes a tax liability. So there is a lot of reinvestment in the industry.”

Bloodstock agent Donato Lanni, bidding on behalf of Amr Zedan, went to $2.2 million to acquire a colt by Gun Runner. It was the fourth highest priced weanling to ever sell at the November sale and the highest-priced weanling to sell in North America in a decade. That kind of result highlighted the juxtaposition between supply and demand in the market.

“There is a supply and demand issue,” Lacy said. “So demand is outstripping supply by a great deal. When you get quality stock coming through that fits the criteria, passes the vet, has the athleticism and the physical and the pedigree that people are looking for, they are willing to spend a premium. When you see Mr. Zedan buying the Gun Runner colt, buyers know that that colt won't be available next year. So when these quality individuals come up, you have to buy them.”

The $2.2-million weanling was consigned by Denali Stud, which sold three of the day's seven-figure offerings.

“The trade is very strong,” said Denali's Conrad Bandoroff. “The weanling market is scalding hot. The demand is voracious and I think that has carried over from the yearling market.

“A lot of weanling buyers are being very aggressive trying to buy horses. You are also seeing some coming into the weanling market that maybe didn't get enough yearlings bought and they are going to buy some weanlings to race.”

The Keeneland November sale continues through Tuesday with sessions beginning daily at 10 a.m.

The Future Is Now For Dixiana

Bill Shively stated in no uncertain terms that the future of his Dixiana Farms is 'grass mares from Europe that can really run.' With that in mind, the Lexington operation signed for a pair of horses with foreign country codes, including a session-topping $3.7 million for recent GI Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup victress Lush Lips (Ire) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}) (hip 129) at Keeneland November on Monday.

 

$3.7 million #KeeNov Book 1 – Tuesday: Grade I winner LUSH LIPS (Ten Sovereigns) sells for $3.7 million to Dixiana Farm from the @TaylorMadeSales consignment.

Read more: https://t.co/T40HCFVp4o pic.twitter.com/IfAdX1TZrY

— TDN (@theTDN) November 4, 2025

Bred in England by The Pocock Family, Lush Lips was sourced from the draft of Stringston Farm agent and was purchased for £82,000 ($103,340) by Avenue Bloodstock/Medallion Racing/Donnacha O'Brien at the Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale in 2023.

Second from two Irish starts and a Kentucky Downs maiden while under the care of the junior O'Brien to begin her career, Lush Lips joined the barn of Brendan Walsh and made an immediate impression, graduating by seven lengths in a two-turn race over the Gulfstream synthetic last November. Never out of the top two in her six tries for the Irishman, the bay filly became a black-type winner in the Tepin Stakes at Churchill's September meet and was runner-up in the GI Del Mar Oaks before hitting the line hard to win the QE II in Shiveley's backyard.

“I think she has a good career ahead of her,” Shiveley commented. “We sponsor the QE II, so we got to see her win the Grade I here. Brendan trains for us already, so we'll be keeping her with Brendan.”

Shively admits that he expected to have to part with about $3 million, but refused to bow down as the price climbed.

“She was special for us,” he said. “She's one that travels the ground so light, she doesn't hurt herself, I think she can have a long career. Very smooth with her action. You saw the QE II, she really accelerated at the end, which is what you need in a grass horse. She's all class.”

Dixiana also gave $500,000 for the 6-year-old La Mehana (Fr) (Al Wukair {Ire}) (hip 117). Campaigned in this country by Randy Sarf's LSU Stables and trained most recently by Miguel Clement, La Mehana posted a career-best when romping clear through the yielding ground to take the GII Glens Falls Stakes by 8 3/4 lengths this past August. @EquinealTDN

Vahva….Vah….Voom

About 24 hours after going to $2.5 million to acquire GISW Seismic Beauty (Uncle Mo) during Monday's Fasig-Tipton November Sale, Killora Stud's Hannah Jennings and bloodstock agent Brittany Linton, bidding on behalf of Jenny and Randy Boyd's Boyd Racing, went to $3.1 million to purchase Grade I winner Vahva (Gun Runner) (hip 187) during Book 1 at Keeneland November. The 5-year-old, who ran home strongly to finish runner-up in the GI PNC Bank Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint at Del Mar last weekend, was consigned by Lane's End, agent.

“She was everything we could have wanted in a broodmare prospect,” said Jennings. “Jenny and Randy Boyd are getting into the game and they want to have a broodmare band at the top level and she fit the bill.”

 

#KeeNov Book 1 – Tuesday: Hip 187 – Grade I winner VAHVA (Gun Runner) sells for $3.1 million to Killora/Linton, agent for Boyd Racing.

She was consigned by @LanesEndFarms.

Read more: https://t.co/uDw0XizGSz pic.twitter.com/mQdufjhRQz

— TDN (@theTDN) November 5, 2025

 

Bred by Woodford Thoroughbreds and purchased for $280,000 at this auction house's September Yearling Sale just over four years ago, Vahva was briefly on the Kentucky Oaks trail in 2023, but when she proved that distance was not going to be her forte, she excelled at sprint trips.

A two-time graded winner at three, including Keeneland's GII Lexus Raven Run Stakes at what would become her sweet spot at seven-eighths of a mile, Vahva returned to the Lexington oval to just miss in the 2024 GI Madison Stakes before reversing form with Alva Starr (Lord Nelson) in the GI Derby City Distaff Stakes. Unplaced in the Filly & Mare Sprint last November, she successfully defended her title in the GII Chicago Stakes at Churchill and was runner up in Keeneland's GII Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes ahead of her Breeders' Cup effort.

Vahva was raced by the Belladonna Racing Partnership, Edward J. Hudson, Jr., Lynne Hudson, West Point Thoroughbreds, W.S. Farish, Twin Brook Stables, LBD Racing LLC, Runnels Racing and Manganaro Bloodstock.

“Super proud of everyone that's been part of this, from Barry Eisaman who broke her to every single exercise rider and jockey that rode her, her groom and all of our assistants,” said Vahva's trainer Cherie DeVaux. “She's been such a joy to work with. She's just one that you love to train. She goes out there every time and does her job. It's going to leave a big hole for us.”

Jennings indicated that Vahva would head to Killora Stud in nearby Paris, Kentucky, and that a decision on whether the mare stays in training in 2026 would be forthcoming.

“We will leave the option open,” Jennings said. “She vets well and she's sound, so we will leave that option open. But she's done enough. She's won her Grade I. We are just really excited to have her.”

Should she be retired, Jennings said there would be a variety of stallions that could suit the mare, but was focused on a certain white-hot sire.

“We will bring a few up to him. Not This Time comes up first thing to me,” she said. “I think physically she would suit him really well being so strong. We will see what he says.”

Jennings paid tribute to the way DeVaux developed Vahva over the last three seasons.

“Incredible. To campaign a horse for that long at the top of the game from ages two to five,” she said, “She ran some really fast numbers her whole career. She did a great job with the filly. And I know she's really special to her being one of her first really big horses. Hopefully she will come visit.” @EquinealTDN

DeVaux Reflects Fondly On Vahva

Vahva was the second Grade I winner and first on the dirt trained by DeVaux, who emotionally watched the 5-year-old go through the ring on Monday.

“I'm very excited she gets to stay here, I would have been excited regardless,” she said. “I know she's going to have a great home and future no matter what. This is where it all started and she got to come full circle and come back here. I'm so proud of her.”

:heart:still have tears in my eyes:heart: thanks for the ride big girl https://t.co/NPXavP0NiA

— Cherie DeVaux (@reredevaux) November 5, 2025

After winning her maiden at career start three in convincing fashion, it was only logical to try to step Vahva up in trip. She was the 11-10 favorite in the 2022 Untapable Stakes, but she could do no better than a distant third to Pretty Mischievous (Into Mischief), who would go on to win an Eclipse Award in 2023 after taking the GI Kentucky Oaks.

DeVaux said that Vahva was instrumental in helping launch her career.

“When it was apparent that [routing] was not going to be in her future, we kept her sprinting and she's been one of the high-level sprinters since we made that decision,” DeVaux said. “When you're trying to get your career going, you want to show you can be well-rounded. She helped to do that.”

While Vahva wasn't quite the same racemare that she was in 2024, DeVaux lauded her for her perseverance and was pleased Vahva got to go out on a positive note, if the Filly & Mare Sprint was indeed the finish line.

“We didn't get the year started off the way we wanted to, but she finished off the year and gave us a really big thrill, closing down the stretch at Del Mar,” she said. “We're just proud and we're so excited to have had her.” @EquinealTDN

$3M Buy Kilwin Keeps It Kicking Late at Keeneland

Despite the activity in the pavilion starting to abate late in Tuesday's session, Rick Howard was prepared to go the distance to secure Grade I-winning Kilwin (Twirling Candy), who brought $3 million as hip 223.

Consigned by Taylor Made Sales, the 3-year-old filly entered the arena armed with the right credentials, including a top-shelf victory in last summer's GI Test Stakes in Saratoga. The filly was campaigned BBN Racing and trained by Rusty Arnold.

“The Test was really an impressive performance,” said Howard, who recently sold his Manitou Farm in Lexington.

 

#KeeNov Book 1 – Tuesday: Hip 223 – Grade I winner KILWIN (Twirling Candy) sells for $3 million to Rick Howard from the Royal Oak Farm consignment, agent for @BBNRacingTeam.

Read more: https://t.co/oVAkFY72kI pic.twitter.com/O3x1dccFAa

— TDN (@theTDN) November 5, 2025

 

According to Howard, Kilwin will remain with Arnold and be campaigned in partnership with BBN Racing in 2026.

“I'm excited to go in together and keep her,” he said.

Explaining the decision to put the filly through the ring, Braxton Lynch, BBN Founding Partner and Racing Manager, explained, “The market was so hot in September that we thought this was the right time to sell and it all worked out.”

She continued, “Keeneland has always been so good to us. Our horses train right here [from the Rice Road training center] so it was a natural fit.”

Out of Blame's Spanish Star, the filly is a half-sister to GSW One Timer (Trappe Shot) in addition to Iowa Oaks scorer Just Basking (Arrogate), who ran third in the GI Alabama Stakes.

Kilwin's 11-year-old dam–out of GSW and GISP La Gran Bailadora (Afleet Alex)–is a half-sister to GI Belmont Stakes winner Sir Winston (Awesome Again).

Tuesday's purchase connects a few dots between BBN Racing and Howard, who had previously connected through Mackinac, also by Twirling Candy.

Bred by Manitou Farm, Mackinac was a $240,000 KEESEP yearling purchase by BBN Racing that won a Kentucky Downs allowance in late August.

“I have another Twirling Candy filly that I bred that is with BBN Racing and Rusty,” said Howard. “So it's all in the family.”

Kilwin, the third highest priced horse sold in Book 1, also represented the sole purchase for Howard at Keeneland on Tuesday.

“We sold three babies this year,” he said when asked about his current bloodstock holdings. “I have five mares and a couple of race horses. It's just a small operation.”–CBoss

In the Midst of Dispersal, Woodford Thoroughbreds Enjoys Racing, Sales Success

John Sykes is in the midst of a complete dispersal of his Woodford Thoroughbreds, but the operation is not going out quietly. On Friday, the Woodford-bred Super Corredora (Gun Runner) went from maiden winner to victress of the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Filles and two days later, her dam Super Simple (Super Saver) was supplemented to the Keeneland November sale. The 9-year-old mare, in foal to Gunite, was the last horse through the ring Tuesday at Keeneland as hip 225 and attracted a final bid of $2.3 million from Jane Lyon's Summer Wind Equine.

“Mr. Sykes will be absolutely delighted,” Woodford advisor Lincoln Collins said of Tuesday's result.

 

#KeeNov Book 1 – Tuesday: Hip 225 – Super Simple (Super Saver), the dam of GI @BreedersCup Juvenile Fillies winner SUPER CORREDORA, sells for $2.3 million to @MoreSummerWind from the @DenaliStud consignment.

She is in foal to Gunite. pic.twitter.com/TdbzWAcsGS

— TDN (@theTDN) November 5, 2025

 

Collins purchased Super Simple on behalf of Woodford for $300,000 at the 2021 Keeneland November sale and she was bred to Gun Runner the following spring.

“When we bought her, she was the most obvious mare I've ever seen to breed to Gun Runner,” Collins said. “She cost quite a lot at that time, but she made a little matter of $2 million more today.”

The Woodford dispersal is being carried out in stages. A group of yearlings was offered at last month's Fasig-Tipton October sale and mares and weanlings will be offered at the Keeneland January sale. Super Corredora's win at the Breeders' Cup last week caused Sykes to call an audible.

“He made the decision a couple of days ago that he would like to put her in this sale because of the immediate update,” Collins said. “It's been a thrilling–but somewhat nerve wracking few days. All credit to Town and Country who prepped her for the sale and Denali who sold her. She came here looking like she had prepped when she was out in a field on Friday.”

Collins added, “Breeding the winner of a Breeders' Cup race was a feather in his cap, a sort of crowning achievement at the end of the thing. He's been in the business a while. He is dispersing his stock. The rest of the mares and the foals, including this mare's current weanling, will sell in January. There is a lot of quality stock. ”

Of Tuesday's sale result, Collins concluded, “You dream and the dream came true. Thank you very much to Jane Lyon and the whole team.” @JessMartiniTDN

Buchu Heads to Payson After Bringing $2.3M at KeeNov

Payson Stud may not step up to the plate at the sales all that often, but when it does, it certainly makes it count. Highlighting the point Tuesday, Christian Erickson, acting on behalf of Payson, dug in to buy MGSW Buchu (Justify) for $2.3 million in Keeneland's Book 1 session.

Consigned by Denali Stud, the 4-year-old mare followed on the heels of another filly by Justify (MGSP Totally Justified), out of Outstanding (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who was purchased by the nursery for $775,000 at the Fasig-Tipton November Sale on Monday.

 

Hip 169, multiple graded stakes winner BUCHU in foal to Not This Time delivers $2.3 million in the ring at #KeeNov! Consigned by @DenaliStud, bought by Payson Stud/River Oak, agent pic.twitter.com/WZI6el91Ft

— Keeneland Sales (@keenelandsales) November 4, 2025

“She's beautiful, just beautiful,” extolled Erickson. “Keeneland always brings top-notch horses, and she's a top-notch horse. Honestly, I'm really glad to get her.”

Offered as Hip 169, Buchu, who sold in foal to Not This Time, is out of another Galileo mare, Flowering Peach (Ire), who herself is out of a sister (MGSW Naples Bay) to MGISW and sire Medaglia d'Oro.

“I work with Nathan McCauley and we're pretty disciplined about replacing older mares with younger mares,” said Erickson, explaining Payson's bloodstock ideology. “You know, it's just new beginnings with stronger horses. We just keep getting better. We have a really, really nice group of mares.”

According to Erickson, Payson Stud currently has seven broodmares in addition to two fillies on the racetrack.

Erickson emphasized that the plan is to retain a small but select band going forward.

“We have to make money,” he explained. “We want to have fun, but we have to make money. So that's basically it with this horse. Quality over quantity most definitely…I just want Book 1 quality.”

Buchu was bred by Richard Rigney's Rigney Racing, and although she was offered at the 2022 Keeneland September Sale, she returned unsold at $275,000. Undeterred, Rigney campaigned the filly and was rewarded with a pair of graded stakes wins at Keeneland and earnings of $615,670.

“That was a tremendous result,” said Denali Stud's VP Conrad Bandoroff. “It was a full-circle moment. She was born and raised at the farm. After she didn't sell, Mr. Rigney raced her and she won two Grade IIs at Keeneland. Bringing her back to Keeneland to the November Sale, it is very gratifying.”

He added, “She attracted a ton of interest for a lot of top judges. [The final price] was north of our expectations. When you have an offering like her that has all those quality attributes, you can achieve these kind of results. She has all the ingredients to be a foundation mare for someone.

“With a young, quality offering that has pedigree and the physical performance to go with it, this is what can happen.”

In regard to the highly sought-after sire Justify, Bandoroff added, “Justify is a tremendous stallion. He gets the turf and dirt. I think he's going to go on to be a very significant influence on the breed.”

Denali Stud enjoyed a banner day Tuesday, also selling the day's top weanling, a colt by Gun Runner, who brought $2.2 million.

In total, the operation sold eight head for gross revenue of $9,225,000. Buchu was the highest-priced sale for Denali in Book 1.–CBoss

$2.2-Million Gun Runner Weanling for Zedan

Amr Zedan has made a habit of buying big-ticket horses at the yearling and 2-year-old sales in recent years, but the Saudi businessman moved into the weanling market with a flourish Tuesday at Keeneland when purchasing a colt by Gun Runner (hip 146) for $2.2 million. Bloodstock agent Donato Lanni signed the ticket on the weanling, who was consigned by Denali Stud on behalf of co-breeders Three Chimneys Farm and Brookdale Racing. It was the fourth most expensive weanling to ever sell at the Keeneland November sale and the most expensive weanling colt sold in North America in the last 10 years.

“[Zedan] wants to win the Derby,” Lanni said after signing the ticket on the colt. “So this is that type of horse. He's by Gun Runner. He looks like he will run all day.”

 

#KeeNov Book 1 – Tuesday: Hip 146, a Gun Runner weanling colt out of GIW NICKNAME, sells for $2.2 million to @DonatoLanni, agent for @ZedanRacing from the @DenaliStud consignment. pic.twitter.com/rtEPOEjCoo

— TDN (@theTDN) November 4, 2025

 

The weanling is out of Grade I winner Nickname (Scat Daddy) and is a half-brother to group winner Ides of March (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}). Purchased by Kerri Radcliffe for $3 million as a 4-year-old at the 2017 Fasig-Tipton November sale, Nickname RNA'd for $1.45 million while in foal to Uncle Mo at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton November sale.

“He's the kind of horse that in September would probably have brought double that,” Lanni said. “It's a lot of money–don't get me wrong–but he's a special-looking horse. You just don't see these kind of horses in November. I am happy that we saw him and he was offered to sell. I thought we needed to buy him.”

Lanni admitted the team didn't come into the November sale planning to shop for weanlings for Zedan.

“We didn't come here looking for weanlings,” Lanni said. “But he was offered to sell and you have to be open minded at every sale when you see one that fits the profile. So we adjusted. We have never really bought a weanling for Zedan. We usually buy yearlings or 2-year-olds, but this guy showed up and I thought we needed to add him to his band.”

Conrad Bandoroff of Denali Stud succinctly summarized the result.

“It was absolutely bonkers,” Bandoroff said. “We brought that colt to November with the intent of trying to attract end-user interest. The plan worked out beautifully. But never in our wildest dreams did we ever think that we'd achieve a result like that. We were hoping we could come here and get yearling money and we got that and then some.” @JessMartiniTDN

Pope Extends to $2M for Justify's Justique

Coolmore sire Justify continued to light up the board on Tuesday when MSW and MGSP Justique (hip 107) drew a cool $2 million from Whisper Hill's Mandy Pope during Book 1 of the Keeneland November Sale.

Consigned by Lane's End, the 5-year-old mare is out of Grazie Mille (Bernardini), also responsible for GI Hollywood Derby winner Mo Town (Uncle Mo).

 

#KeeNov Book 1 – Tuesday: Hip 107 – MGSP Justique (Justify), a half-sister to GIW MO TOWN, sells for $2 million to @whisper_hill from the @LanesEndFarms consignment.

Read more: https://t.co/td4YQUjIG6 pic.twitter.com/a6PGsYHKZL

— TDN (@theTDN) November 4, 2025

“Obviously, a lovely pedigree and she ran in multiple graded stakes–Grade IIs, Grade IIIs, although not in a Grade I. She would have been three times as much [if she had won a Grade I],” said Pope. “[We are] just trying to get into some different families and getting some nice race mares.”

Bred by John Gunther and Eurowest Bloodstock, the dark bay was purchased by Mayberry Farm on behalf of Lee and Susan Searing's C R K Stable for $725,000 at the Keeneland September Sale in 2021. Trained by Cherie DeVaux, Justique earned $378,415 through four seasons on the racetrack.

“She'll go to Gainesway, they'll let her down, get her turned out, and then breed her next year,” said Pope.

Justique was the sole purchase for Whisper Hill on Tuesday.

“We've just had great success here,” she added. “Shopping at Keeneland there is such a variety: dirt, turf, international, American…and at all different levels that you could possibly want. There are a lot of options.”–CBoss

Mt. Brilliant Gives Plenty of 'Green' For Justify Mare

On behalf of Greg Goodman's Mt. Brilliant Farm, bloodstock agent Marette Farrell went to $1.5 million for hip 93, Greenfinch (Justify), from the Taylor Made consignment during Monday's Book 1 at Keeneland November.

Bred in Kentucky by Orpendale/Chelston/Wynatt, but trained in Ireland by Aidan O'Brien for the Coolmore conglomerate, the 4-year-old broke her maiden in the last of three starts as a juvenile going seven furlongs over the Dundalk all-weather. She made four subsequent appearances in Ireland at three, finishing third in the Listed Naas Oaks Trial ahead of a victory in the Listed Cairn Rouge Stakes. Fourth in the GIII Kentucky Downs Ladies' Marathon Stakes last September, she was bred to Gun Runner on a Feb. 16 cover.

#KeeNov Book 1 – Tuesday: The stakes-winning Greenfinch (Justify), in foal to Gun Runner, brought $1.5 million from Marette Farrell on behalf of Mt. Brilliant Farm.

Read more: https://t.co/vP4yb3cDct https://t.co/b8XwhW7IKL

— TDN (@theTDN) November 4, 2025

“Mr. Goodman's M.O. over the years that I've worked for him is to buy into generational families,” said Farrell. “This is a mare that can hopefully spawn some generations for Mt. Brilliant Farm, keep a few fillies and be a generational mare down the way.”

Absent her racetrack exploits, Greenfinch was already a fairly valuable asset on pedigree alone. Bred on the very successful cross of Justify over Galileo (Ire), the bay is a daughter of Misty For Me (Ire), winner of the G1 Moyglare Stud Stakes and G1 Prix Marcel Boussac at two in 2010 and victorious in the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas the following spring. She is a half-sister to five other winners, including champion U S Navy Flag (War Front), MG1SW Roly Poly (War Front) and Grade III winner and producer Cover Song (Fastnet Rock {Aus}).

“Lovely mare, we loved what Justify brought to the pedigree,” Farrell continued. “I obviously know the family coming from Ireland. Roly Poly was phenomenal, Misty For Me, it's an incredible family. We're excited about the foal she's going to produce next year and just thrilled for Mr. Goodman that he kind of got what he wanted.

“The [Mt. Brilliant] boys were here working hard the whole sale. Cooper, the farm manager, really liked her and I'm hoping she'll be lucky for them.”

Farrell indicated that the winning bid was their last.

“That was it, we valued her between $1 million and $1.5 million, so we were done,” she said.

Other members of the Mt. Brilliant broodmare band include MGSW Beyond Blame (Blame), the dam of GISP Loggins (Ghostzapper); Debonnaire (GB) (Anabaa), the dam of MG1SW Hartnell (GB) (Authorized {Ire}); Ithinkisawapudycat (Bluegrass Cat), whose daughter Sweet Loretta (Tapit) won the GI Spinaway Stakes; and Private Gift (Unbridled), the dam of GSW Private Mission (Into Mischief).

Mt. Brilliant's international holdings include the 3-year-old filly Social Graces (Aus) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), a half-sister to the legendary Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro) who was acquired by Greg Goodman's operation for A$1 million ($665,416) as a yearling out of the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale. @EquinealTDN

'Awesome, Beautiful' $1.25-Million Curlin Filly to Ward

Trainer Wesley Ward, busy buying weanlings from Fasig-Tipton Monday to Keeneland Tuesday, made his biggest splash of the week so far when going to $1.25 million to acquire a filly by Curlin (hip 82) from the Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa consignment during Book 1 of the Keeneland November sale.

“I went out to Hill 'n' Dale and saw this filly prior to the Breeders' Cup and she was awesome, beautiful,” Ward said. “When we saw her, we fell in love with her.”

 

#KeeNov Book 1 – Tuesday: Hip 82, a weanling Curlin filly that's a half-sister to KOPION, AMIS GIZMO, AMI'S FLATTER, etc., sells for $1.25 million to Wesley Ward from the @HillnDaleFarm consignment.

Read more: https://t.co/UkhYlRt8BU pic.twitter.com/WshrVx6NmQ

— TDN (@theTDN) November 4, 2025

 

The weanling was bred by the Dalos family's Tall Oaks Farm and The Curlin Syndicate. She is out of Galloping Ami (Victory Gallop) and is a half-sister to Canadian champion Amis Gizmo (Giant Gizmo) and to Grade I winner Kopion (Omaha Beach).

Ward purchased the filly on behalf of an undisclosed client, who he said was new to the business.

“It's for a client who wishes to stay anonymous,” Ward said. “But he's a great guy. We bought some horses for him in September and he is really excited about the business. He's never had a racehorse before.”

Also Tuesday at Keeneland, Ward purchased a filly by Justify (hip 76) for $725,000 and, with Louis Dubois as agent, a filly by Practical Joke (hip 33) for $425,000.

Of the new client, Ward added, “He was thinking about buying some broodmares and I said, 'I think you've bought a couple already.'”

Monday at Fasig-Tipton, Ward purchased a colt by Uncle Mo (hip 80) and a colt by Cody's Wish (hip 81), both for $500,000.

“These are all going to race,” Ward said. “They are not going to be pinhooks. We are going to raise them from this point forward like racehorses out in fields.” @JessMartiniTDN

Dalos Celebrates Seven-Figure Result

With nearly five decades in the racing and breeding industry, Ivan Dalos has enjoyed more than one seven-figure sale, but the $1.25-million Curlin filly was a first for Dalos's daughter Colleen Dalos.

“This is a family business,” Colleen said. “My father has been doing it for quite some time. He's had two [million-dollar sales], but since I have taken over, I have not. So this was my first one. My goal [today] was a million, so I can't tell you how elated I am.”

Hip 82 | Keeneland

The weanling is out of a foundational family for Tall Oaks Farm. Dalos raced the filly's third dam Sybelle Ami (Alwasmi) and bred and campaigned granddam Secret Ami (Secret Claim) and dam Galloping Ami (Victory Gallop).

Galloping Ami's son Amis Gizmo (Giant Gizmo) carried the family's colors to victory in the 2016 GIII Ontario Derby and earned the Sovereign Award as Canada's top 3-year-old colt that year.

“We breed to race, but we also breed to sell,” Dalos said. “When you have such a fantastic horse like this that you think you can make a good sale, it's hard to justify keeping them. She's a special filly from one of our flagship broodmares. I was hoping for the million dollars and that was well over it. And we always just want them to go to a great home. So I am thrilled that she will go to Wesley Ward.”

The result continued a strong week for John Sikura's Hill 'n' Dale, which was the leading consignor by gross at Monday's Fasig-Tipton sale with 13 sold for $17,375,000. @JessMartiniTDN

Heider Family Lands Into Mischief Filly for $1.2M Early at KEENOV

It didn't take long after the start of Keeneland's November Sale that one of the day's offerings, SW Almostgone Rocket (Into Mischief), registered the initial seven-figure sale of the day. David Lanigan, bidding on behalf of the Heider Family Stable, went to $1.2 million. The filly, the sole purchase for the Heiders in Book 1, was consigned by Elite.

“She's just a very good looking mare,” said Lanigan of hip 26. “She was a very fast race filly, and she was a filly that Mr. [Scott] Heider liked a lot. She was good-looking filly, she showed herself very well and handled herself with a lot of class. Hopefully, she will be a nice mare to add to the broodmare band.”

Early fireworks in the ring as hip 26, Almostgone Rocket by Into Mischief delivers $1.2 million! Consigned by @EliteRaceSales, purchased by @uscgatsby pic.twitter.com/FQUZ8fyvI1

— Keeneland Sales (@keenelandsales) November 4, 2025

Bred by Malibu Farm, the 4-year-old filly, a $250,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase, is out of MSW Bound (Jump Start). Unraced at two, the bay won the Jersey Girl Stakes at three.

“We've got a lot of grass mares and she's an out and out dirt filly and she was very fast on the dirt and that was something that we're trying to expand upon; to find a few more dirt fillies like that to breed over here. This mare will probably go to Mill Ridge.”–CBoss

Hinkle Strikes Early For White Sands

The website for the Hinkle family's Hinkle Farms sums up their philosophy in a few words: 'we treat our horses like horses.'

That approach paid dividends as recently as this year's Keeneland September Sale, when the boutique operation sold 16 head for $7.155 million, including a $2-million daughter of Not This Time out of the multiple stakes-placed Stave (Ghostzapper) and a colt by Life Is Good from Stave's half-sister Indian Bay (Indian Charlie). Four others from the Hinkle draft fetched better than $500,000.

Hinkle reinvested some of their profits from a few months ago during the opening half-hour of Book 1 of the Keeneland November Sale Tuesday afternoon, going to $975,000 for White Sands (Into Mischief) (hip 21). The 3-year-old filly was consigned to the sale by Taylor Made, agent, and was offered in foal to boom sire Not This Time.

Trained by Wesley Ward for Mrs. John Magnier and Mrs. Paul Shanahan, White Sands won her maiden by a distance at first asking and followed up with a 13 3/4-length thrashing of the boys in the 2024 Prairie Gold Juvenile Stakes. Third when pitched in against males once again in the GIII Best Pal Stakes, she was bred to Taylor Made's leading stallion on a Mar. 3 cover.

“She was obviously very fast, she's by Into Mischief and in foal to Not This Time and Into Mischief looks like he's going to be a really wonderful broodmare sire,” the farm's Tom Hinkle said. “You don't need to say anything more about Not This Time.”

He continued: “She's well made, she had speed, was a good 2-year-old filly and she's in foal to one of the best stallions in the world. The market is really tough right now, it's very strong and that was probably a little bit more than I wanted to pay, but hopefully she'll be a nice mare and will produce some nice foals. I would think there are a lot of stallions we could breed her back to.”

Accomplished horses bred by Hinkle Farms include 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard Deterministic (Liam's Map), a $625,000 Keeneland September graduate who made the Fourstardave Stakes the first Grade I win of his career; More Than Looks (More Than Ready), victorious in the 2024 GI Breeders' Cup Mile; Shivaji (First Samurai), a Group 3-winning and Group 1-placed turf sprinter in Japan and his stakes-winning and multiple Grade I-placed full-sister Tarabi.

Success breeds success, and Hinkle Farm remains committed to bringing their product to the buying public.

“We've been fortunate to have some good yearling sales and we believe in putting back into the business,” Tom Hinkle said. “Our approach is that when we have a mare that becomes a good producer, to keep those kind and try to build for the future.” @EquinealTDN

Deja Vu All Over Again For Into Mischief Colt

Twelve months after his full-brother made $900,000 from Glen Hill Farm, a colt by Into Mischief out of the Grade III-winning Eres Tu (Malibu Moon) was hammered down for $950,000 to Gilded Age Stables during Monday's first day of trade at the Keeneland November Sale.

 

#KeeNov Book 1 – Tuesday: Hip 70 – A weanling Into Mischief colt out of ERESTU sells for $950,000 to Gilded Age Stables from the @TaylorMadeSales consignment. pic.twitter.com/GeF0rLjNOG

— TDN (@theTDN) November 4, 2025

 

The Apr. 8 foal was bred in Kentucky by Ed Seltzer, whose daughter Krista signed for second dam It's True Love (Yes It's True) for $72,000 as a yearling at the 2004 Keeneland September Sale. It's True Love, who took the Winter Melody Stakes during her racing days, bred four winners from five to race, including Allaire du Pont Distaff Stakes winner Eres Tu and SW & MGSP Pangburn (Congrats), the dam of SW & GISP 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard Caddo River (Hard Spun).

“He was a nice baby and everyone really liked his physical,” said Alex Payne of Taylor Made Sales, which consigned the colt as hip 70. “He came out and he showed well and a lot of people landed on him. His full-brother did extremely well as a weanling last year and he came in here and trumped that result.

“He had a great, long, clean neck and a great shoulder and a big, square hip when he walked,” Payne continued. “He was correct and showed himself the whole week. For how many times that horse got shown, he absolutely walked great every single time.”

Asked to compare this year's foal with last year's, Payne said: “The other one was stronger and had more substance and was kind of a more powerful horse. This one was a little more leggy, racier and just a little bit cleaner, but both very nice horses. They both showed up and showed themselves and sold well.” @EquinealTDN

Godolphin in the Weanling Game with $500k Justify Colt

Anthony Stroud, bidding on behalf of Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin, got the Keeneland November sale off to a quick start Tuesday when acquiring a colt by Justify–hip 1–for $500,000 from the Glennwood Farm consignment.

“No, we don't buy a lot of weanlings, but we do buy some from time to time,” Stroud said after signing the ticket on the bay colt.

The weanling, bred by John D. Gunther, Eurowest Bloodstock Services, and Justify Syndicate, is out of stakes-placed Take These Chains (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}). The mare is a daughter of graded stakes winner Take the Ribbon (Chester House).

“He is by Justify, who has done so well, and out of a Fastnet Rock mare,” Stroud said of the colt's appeal. “The cross goes very well. And he's from an excellent farm that has produced a lot of very good racehorses. He will stay here in the short term and then he will go back to Europe.”

Stroud was also in action during Monday's Fasig-Tipton November sale, acquiring Grade I winner Power Squeeze (Union Rags) (hip 133) for $2.5 million on behalf of Godolphin.

“She will stay in the U.S. and I think she's going to Into Mischief,” Stroud said of the 4-year-old broodmare prospect. @JessMartiniTDN

'More Than a Score': Fair Pays for Erik Johnson

Erik Johnson asked Claiborne Farm's Walker Hancock to shop for a mare for him at the Keeneland January sale earlier this year and Hancock thought he had found a good buy when Johnson acquired Remarqued (Arch), in foal to Nyquist, for $225,000. The purchase only looked better and better as the mare's 2-year-old daughter Cy Fair (Not This Time) swept through a campaign which culminated with a victory in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint Friday at Del Mar. And it looked like a positive steal when the mare, and her Nyquist weanling filly, went through the sales ring at the Keeneland November sale Tuesday. The weanling (hip 182) sold for $750,000 to Marc Gunderson's MWG, LLC, and she was followed into the ring by her dam (hip 183), who sold for $1.2 million to bloodstock agent Steve Young.

 

#KeeNov Book 1 – Tuesday: Hip 183 – Remarqued (Arch), the dam of GI @BreedersCup Juvenile Turf Sprint winner CY FAIR, sells for $1.2 million to Steve Young, agent from the @claibornefarm consignment.

She is in foal to Nyquist. pic.twitter.com/qiK2HdT96F

— TDN (@theTDN) November 5, 2025

 

“[Johnson] just said that he wanted to buy some mares in January and if I liked anything to let him know,” Hancock recalled. “She was one that certainly piqued my interest. She had some foals out there that I thought could maybe give her some nice updates–not knowing it would be this kind of an update. That was just the cherry on top.”

Of the mare's price tag just 10 months ago, Hancock said, “I thought he kind of stole her in January, to be honest. In foal to Nyquist, who was doing well at the time and was standing for $175,000, and by Arch, who is a great broodmare sire. And she was so young and super consistent. She has a great personality and she's a great mare to be around. I was thrilled that he got her. I wish he would have let me in on her.”

Remarqued had originally been intended as a long-term investment for Johnson's ERJ Racing broodmare band. Then Cy Fair won her debut at Saratoga impressively in July with a 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' effort. After a runner-up effort in the Bolton Landing Stakes, she returned to winning ways in the Algonquin Stakes at Woodbine in October and was victorious on the biggest stage on championship weekend in Del Mar.

“I think with the recent developments, the thought was, 'Let's put her in and if Cy Fair wins, we may have a score. And sure enough, that's more than a score.” @JessMartiniTDN

The post Domestic Buyers Fuel Powerful Keeneland November Opener appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

View the full article