Keeneland's opening session posts strong gains

Three-time Canadian champion ONE FOR ROSE (Tejano Run) topped the list at Keeneland's

first session of the January Horses of All Ages Sale in Lexington, Kentucky, on

Monday. Aki Kato, agent for Isami Nakamura, went to $875,000 to purchase the

seven-year-old mare who was being sold as a broodmare prospect. Consigned as Hip

No. 320 by Three Chimneys Sales, agent, the dark bay is out of the winning mare

Saucyladygaylord (Lord Gaylord) and hails from the same female family as 1994

Preakness S. (G1) and Belmont S. (G1) victor Tabasco Cat as well as stakes

winner Amber's Way (Forest Wildcat).

In a racing career spanning four years, One for Rose earned the Sovereign

Award as champion

older mare in 2003, 2004 and 2005. She captured consecutive editions of the Maple Leaf S.

(Can-G1) in 2003 and 2004; the Seagram Cup S. in 2004 and 2005, the latter as a

Canadian Grade 3; the Ontario Matron H. in 2004 and 2005; and three straight runnings of

the Algoma S. She sports a line of 27-15-5-2 with

$1,291,303 in earnings.

PROUD BEAUTY (Ire) (Danehill) brought the second-highest price when selling

to Ahmed Zayat for $635,000. The six-year-old, consigned by Castle Park Farm,

agent, went through the ring as Hip 352 and is out of the English mare Honey Bun (Unfuwain),

who is a half-sister to Pilsudski (Ire), champion older horse in Europe and 1996 Breeders' Cup Turf (G1)

winner. Proud Beauty is herself a three-quarters sister to Japanese champion Fine Motion

(Danehill).

Proud Beauty raced over three seasons, from 2002 to 2004, compiling a record

of 16-4-3-2, including a victory in the 2003 Trampoli S., and shows earnings of

$154,192. She is currently in foal to Distorted Humor on a March 10 service.

The bay mare previously sold for $725,000 at the 2005 Keeneland November

Breeding Stock Sale.

Hip 348, a dark bay colt by Deputy Minister, brought the highest price for a

yearling during Monday's session. Consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, the May

15 youngster was purchased by Athens Wood for $340,000. Out of the

stakes winning mare Princess Mitterand (Seattle Slew), who was second in the

1993 Hollywood Starlet S. (G1), the yearling is a full brother to Grade 3-placed

French Envoy and is a three-quarters brother to 1995 Jerome H. (G2)

winner and champion-producing sire French Deputy. The colt's granddam, Mitterand (Hold Your Peace), captured the 1985 La Canada S. (G1)

as well as the El Encino S. (G3), Railbird S. (G3) and La Brea S. (G3), and she

finished second in the Hollywood Oaks (G1) and Santa Margarita Invitational H.

(G1).

There were 250 head sold during the first session for an aggregate

$22,373,100. This is up 41.3 percent from last year's comparative session when

251 head sold for $15,831,100. Average price increased 41.9 percent, from

$63,072 to $89,492, while the median price jumped 42.9 percent, from $35,000 to

$50,000.

The sale continues Tuesday at 10 a.m. (EST). Complete results can be found at

keeneland.com.