Broodmares and broodmare prospects continued to be in demand through Book 3 of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale Nov. 9 in Lexington. The session topper, the Tapit mare Dreams Are Made, sold in foal to Ashford Stud's Gunite for $280,000 to Avocet Bloodstock from the Taylor Made Sales Agency consignment.
The 8-year-old mare was bred in Kentucky by Hill 'n' Dale Equine Holdings, and is out of the multiple graded stakes-producing Unbridled's Song mare Siren Serenade. Dreams Are Made is a half sister to Luminance, who ran second in the 2015 Santa Anita Oaks (G1), and multiple graded stakes-placed Stellar Sound.
"The market got strong on those kind of mares," said Alex Payne of Taylor Made Sales Agency. "She was just a pretty, pretty Tapit mare. We sold a Justify out of her for $525,000 that went off first time 3-1, ran third and then just had a little hiccup, but has come back and worked really well today for Mark Casse. That horse (Achieve) should go on and be something."
He continued: "I think the market is really good for these first-year sires—Gunite, and she just has a good pedigree. She has a great sales history, and Tapit is a really great broodmare sire.
"If you have something that has quality, is by something good, and is in foal to something good, then the market is going to show you what it's worth," said Payne on the competitive market.
The highest-priced weanling of the day was Hip 1602, a colt by McKinzie from the War Horse Place consignment. He is the third foal out of the So You Think mare Shirocca, and was bred by Areion Thoroughbreds in Kentucky.
McKinzie proved a popular sire during the fifth session. The Gainesway stallion accounted for the three highest-priced weanlings and was the leading weanling sire by average price (minimum two sold) with a $153,667 average for six sold from six offered. Eight mares in foal to McKinzie (from eight offered) averaged $138,125, second among covering sires with at least two sold.
Gross sales, average, and median were all up Saturday compared with the fifth session last year. The 262 horses sold accounted for a total of $19,835,500, including post-ring sales. The average was $75,708, with a median of $57,000. Sixty-seven horses failed to meet their reserve, resulting in an RNA rate of 20.4%.
"I think the market's been really healthy," said Keeneland's vice president of sales Tony Lacy. "We always keep referring to the median. We're up 20% again today on the nose, 21% on the average, and 20% above in gross over this session last year; 18.75% up on the median over the entire sale so far, so these are all really healthy, consistent numbers."
He continued: "The clearance rate was excellent. So, we've got to be very satisfied. I think everybody feels it is a very fair market, and the buyers are finding it difficult to buy the weanlings that they really want, and the mares that fit their program."
Keeneland sales statistics do not include post-ring sales.
Taylor Made Sales Agency topped the consignors selling 39 head for a total of $3,347,000. Gainesway was the leading buyer with four purchases totaling $735,000.
Last year's fifth session saw 261 horses change hands for a gross of $16,355,500, with an average of $62,665 and a median of $50,000.
"When you have a fairly broad, competitive environment, it just raises the tide for the next books as well," said Lacy. "It's very indicative of the health of the market right now. There are still a lot of people here who expect it to be strong through the end."
Keeneland's November Breeding Stock Sale continues Nov. 10 at 10 a.m. ET with the sixth session, and beginning of Book 4. Hips 1910-2328 are set to go through the ring. As of Saturday evening, Keeneland has reported 69 outs.
