Medaglia d'Oro colt sells for $290,000

Medaglia d'Oro has gotten off to a solid start with his first-crop juveniles (Equi-Photo) Continuing a trend noticeable on Friday, weanlings topped the leaderboard at Saturday's sixth session of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale in Lexington, Kentucky. Hip No. 2112, a bay colt by Medaglia d'Oro, fetched $290,000 from Stockplace, while a son of Tiznow cataloged as Hip 2063 went to Ben Glass, agent, for $285,000. Both weanlings were consigned by Eaton Sales, agent. The Medaglia d'Oro weanling is the second foal from the winning Affirmed mare Vanity Flair, a half-sister to the stakes-placed Fogerty (Highland Ruckus). The March 4 colt hails from the family of Marlang (Langfuhr), hero of this year's Saranac S. (G3) and Breeders' S., and Canadian stakes scorers La Grande Mamma (Compadre) and Circulating (Bold Ruckus). Further maternal-line relatives include Group 1 winner Music Maestro (Song) and multiple Group 3 victor Saulingo (Sing Sing).

The Tiznow colt was produced by the winning Starboard Singer (Hennessy), a

full sister to the stakes-placed Cointreau and a half-sister to Grade 2-placed

First Lieutenant (Sea Hero). The February 21 foal comes from the same female

line as English stakes-winning stakes producer Stinging Nettle (Sharpen Up),

whose descendants include Grade 1 hero Stroll (Pulpit).

All told, seven of the session's top 10 sellers were weanling colts.

Frank Stronach secured the session's most expensive mare, RICH FANTASY

(Richter Scale), for $260,000. The five-year-old mare is carrying her first foal

on an April 8 cover to Street Sense. A three-time stakes victress, Rich Fantasy

placed in seven additional events, most notably the Churchill Distaff Turf Mile

(G3) and the Ouija Board Distaff H. (G3). She retired with a mark of 18-5-4-3,

$323,514. The gray, a daughter of Canadian stakes queen Fantasy of Caro (Caros

Love), was offered by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent, as Hip 2023.

On Saturday, 203 horses were sold for a total of $10,835,200, a 36.4 percent

drop from the comparable session last year, when $17,038,200 was realized by 251

head. The average fell 21.4 percent, from $67,881 to $53,375, and the median

declined 20.8 percent, from $53,000 to $42,000.

With six sessions in the books, 1,157 horses have changed hands for

$154,902,200, a plunge of 46.3 percent from this stage in the 2007 sale, when

$288,484,700 was commanded by 1,372 horses. The average is down 36.3 percent,

from $210,266 to $133,883, while this year's median of $70,000 represents a 30

percent dip from the $100,000 posted one year ago.

The 15-day auction continues Sunday, beginning at 10 a.m. (EST). For more

information, visit keeneland.com.