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Dancing Shoes tops Keeneland at $400,000
Bob Feld, agent for Sagamore Farm, went to $380,000 to secure VIENNA AFFAIR (GB) (Red Ransom), a half-sister to 2008 Racing Post Trophy (Eng-G1) conqueror Crowded House (Rainbow Quest). The four-year-old is carrying her first foal. Bred to both Rahy and Sky Mesa, she was last served on April 11. Vienna Affair, who sported Hip 1076, was offered by Royal Oak Farm (Damian and Braxton Lynch), agent. Produced by Wiener Wald (Woodman), Vienna Affair is also a half-sister to French stakes scorer and Group 3-placed On Reflection (Rainbow Quest), English stakes-placed Riotous Applause (Royal Applause [GB]), and Argent du Bois (Silver Hawk), the dam of multiple Grade 1-winning millionaire Ticker Tape (GB) (Royal Applause [GB]). Vienna Affair's second dam, multiple Grade 2 victress Chapel of Dreams (Northern Dancer), is a half-sister to supersire Storm Cat (Storm Bird). The Overbrook Farm dispersal, which has been responsible for the sale's top lots over the past two days, fielded Friday's third-best seller in SANIBEL ISLAND (Capote), a three-quarter sister to champion Surfside (Seattle Slew). The 11-year-old graded stakes producer attracted a winning bid of $350,000 from Hargus Sexton. Consigned by Eaton Sales, agent for Overbrook, Hip 997 is in foal to Macho Uno on an April 1 cover. Sanibel Island is out of Flanders (Seeking the Gold), the champion two-year-old filly of 1994 who crossed the wire first in all five of her career starts. Flanders went on to produce an Eclipse Award winner in Surfside, the champion three-year-old filly of 2000 and a stakes producer herself. This is also the family of Grade 2 heroines Fiery Pursuit (Carson City) and My Boston Gal (Boston Harbor). All three of Sanibel Island's runners are winners, led by Grade 3-placed Island Warrior (Cherokee Run). Leading all weanlings during the session was Hip 1012, a $260,000 colt from the first crop of Grade 1 winner Corinthian (Pulpit). The February 28 foal hailed from the consignment of Highclere Sales, agent, and was acquired by Dowdy Draw Farm. The Kentucky-bred bay is the third registered foal from stakes queen Silver Lace (Silver Deputy), and he comes from the same female line as this year's Superlative S. (Eng-G2) winner Silver Grecian (Haafhd); French Group 2 scorers Majorien (GB) (Machiavellian), America (Ire) (Arazi) and Americain (Dynaformer); and further back, Grade 1 victor Jovial (GB) (Northern Jove). Gross receipts for the day rose by 23.2 percent compared to the corresponding session in 2008. On Friday, a total of 244 horses brought $20,399,700, while only $16,556,000 had been realized by 201 head on day four last year. The average inched up 1.5 percent, from $82,368 to $83,605. The median dropped, however, by 7.7 percent, from $65,000 to $60,000. "There is a sense of realism at this sale; it is much more consistent," Keeneland's Director of Sales Geoffrey Russell said. "There is a lot more American participation and a number of different people buying horses. Those are good and healthy signs. "People have come to an understanding of where we are in this market," he said, commenting on the not sold rate, which was down 46.13 percent on Friday. "The credit goes to the consignors in their appraisals. It's a very difficult market, but consignors have obviously adjusted very well." Cumulatively so far, 791 horses have sold for $118,884,200, down 9.4 percent from the $131,281,000 raked in by 724 horses through this point in 2008. The average price has decreased 17.1 percent, from $181,327 to $150,296, but the median has dipped just 5 percent, from $100,000 to $95,000. The 13-day auction continues Saturday, beginning at 10 a.m. (EST). For more information, as well as live video of the sale, log onto keeneland.com.
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