Azeri goes for $2.25 million at Keeneland

Azeri retired as the richest North American-based distaffer (Enzina Mastrippolito/Horsephotos.com) AZERI (Jade Hunter), the 2002 Horse of the Year and three-time champion older mare, brought a final bid of $2,250,000 from Katsumi Yoshida on Tuesday to lead all offerings at the first session of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale in Lexington, Kentucky. Consigned by Hill 'n' Dale Sales Agency, agent, the 11-year-old mare toured the ring as Hip No. 148. Produced from the Australian Group 3 winner Zodiac Miss (Aus) (Ahonoora), Azeri was the sixth filly ever voted Horse of the Year in a major poll and is the only female to earn three Eclipse Awards as champion older mare (2002-04). During four seasons of racing, the Allen Paulson colorbearer won 17 of 24 starts, including 14 graded stakes, and amassed earnings of $4,079,820. Her 11 Grade 1 victories included the Breeders' Cup Distaff, Apple Blossom H. (three times), Vanity H. (twice), Milady H. (twice), Santa Margarita H., Spinster S. and Go for Wand H.

Azeri, offered in foal to Distorted Humor on a June 8 cover, RNA'd for

$4,400,000 when last offered as a broodmare prospect at Keeneland in this year's

January Horses of All Ages Sale. Her first foal, the juvenile colt Take Control

(A.P. Indy), also failed to meet his reserve when bought back for $7,700,000 at

the 2008 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, but ultimately sold for $1,900,000

at the Keeneland April Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale. Azeri is also the dam of

a yearling filly by Giant's Causeway and a weanling colt by Ghostzapper.

Yoshida also secured the session's second highest seller, going to $900,000

for LOVES ONLY ME (Storm Cat), an unraced three-year-old in foal to Danehill

Dancer on a March 31 cover. Hip 244 was consigned by Lane's End, agent.

Loves Only Me, produced by Monevassia (Mr. Prospector), is a half-sister to

European champion juvenile filly Rumplestiltskin (Danehill). Her second dam is

the Hall of Famer Miesque (Nureyev), who produced multiple Group 1 winner and

sire Kingmambo (Mr. Prospector), French highweight East of the Moon (Private

Account) and Group 3 winners Miesque's Son (Mr. Prospector) and Mingun (A.P.

Indy). This is also the family of European highweight Six Perfections (Fr)

(Celtic Swing).

TEARS I CRY (Chester House), a stakes-winning five-year-old in foal on an

April 5 cover to dual Horse of the Year Curlin, was purchased by Vin Cox

Bloodstock for $735,000. The five-year-old mare was part of the Selected Sales,

agent, consignment and was offered as Hip 101.

Produced by Mount Helena (GB) (Danzig), Tears I Cry captured the 2008 Irving

Distaff S. and also placed in the Ouija Board Distaff H. (G3), both at Lone Star

Park. She ultimately bankrolled $157,168 from a record of 14-3-2-1. Tears I

Cry's second dam, English highweight Helen Street (GB) (Troy), produced Grade 1

winner Street Cry [Ire]), the sire of Horse of the Year candidate Zenyatta, and

is also the granddam of European champion and dual French classic winner

Shamardal (Giant's Causeway).

One notable offering who failed to meet her reserve was SWIFT TEMPER (Giant's

Causeway), whose bidding stalled at $2,050,000. The five-year-old mare, who

sported Hip 97, was the winner of the Ruffian H. (G1), Delaware H. (G2) and

Sixty Sails H. (G3) this season and most recently finished sixth in Saturday's

Chilukki S. (G2) at Churchill Downs.

On Tuesday, $26,291,500 was realized from the sale of 126 horses, a decline

of 45.2 percent from the corresponding session a year ago when $48,021,000 was

grossed from the sale of 149 head. The average was off 35.3 percent, from

$322,289 to $208,663, while the median dipped 13.5 percent, from $185,000 to

$160,000.

The 13-day sale continues Wednesday and runs through November 22. Sessions

begin at 10 a.m. (EST) daily. Live coverage and results can be found at

keeneland.com.