Prices continue to fall as Mushka leads Keeneland session

Grade 2 winner Mushka sold as a broodmare or racing prospect (Photo by Z/Keeneland Association)

MUSHKA (Empire Maker), whose signature victory occurred in the 2007

Demoiselle S. (G2) at Aqueduct, brought a final bid of $2.4 million by Brushwood

Stable on Tuesday, the second day of Keeneland's 15-session November Breeding

Stock Sale in Lexington, Kentucky. Offered as Hip No. 422, Mushka was part of

the consignment of Eaton Sales, agent for owner Zayat Stables.

Trained by Bill Mott, the three-year-old broke her maiden in her second

career start and followed up with a 4 1/2-length score in the Demoiselle.

Sidelined until July of this year, Mushka finished third in her comeback then

went unplaced in her next two starts in the Alabama S. (G1) and Pucker Up S.

(G3), but rebounded last month to take a turf allowance at Keeneland. Her record

currently stands at 7-3-0-2, $229,823.

Out of the stakes-winning Sluice (Seeking the Gold), who is a half-sister to

the stakes-placed In Excelsis (Fusaichi Pegasus), Mushka counts as a

half-brother the unraced two-year-old Miro (Fusaichi Pegasus). Mushka's second

dam, Lakeway (Seattle Slew), was the multiple Grade 1 winner of the Mother Goose

S., Santa Anita Oaks, Hollywood Oaks and Las Virgenes S. in 1994. This is the

family of undefeated Grade 1 winner Saratoga Six (Alydar).

Patrick L. Biancone Racing, agent, went to $1.8 million to secure the

session's second highest topper, BARONESS THATCHER (Johannesburg), also from the

consignment of Eaton Sales, agent for Zayat Stables. The four-year-old filly was

offered as Hip 562.

Out of the stakes-placed Natkeeta (Gulch) and a half-sister to stakes winner

Interminable Gold (Gilded Time), Baroness Thatcher captured an allowance at Keeneland last

month in her most recent start, and currently boasts a record of 21-3-5-4,

$531,889. Earlier in her career, the chestnut captured the Santa Ysabel S. (G3)

and placed in four Grade 1 events: the Humana Distaff, Las Virgenes S.,

Ballerina S. and Test S. Eight-times placed in graded stakes overall, Baroness

Thatcher is from the female family of the Grade 3-winning half-brothers Duluth

(Codex) and Real Courage (In Reality).

Baroness Thatcher finished second in the 2008 Humana Distaff (G1) and exits an allowance score at Keeneland (Photo by Z/Keeneland Associatio)

Lady Joanne, in addition to her score in Alabama, also won the Golden Rod S.

(G2) and Dogwood S. (G3) and placed second in the Mother Goose S. (G1) and

Spinster S. (G1). Trained by Carl Nafzger, she concluded her career with a

fourth-place effort in last year's Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1), retiring with a

mark of 11-6-2-2, $987,094. She was sold in-foal to Mr. Greeley on an April

cover.

CARRIBEAN SUNSET (Ire) (Danehill Dancer), offered as Hip 582 from the

consignment of Paramount Sales, agent, also brought $1.25 million, courtesy of

Jon Kelly. The sophomore filly was a multiple Group 3 winner this year and

placed in both the Irish One Thousand Guineas (Ire-G1) and Coronation S.

(Eng-G1). Her record currently stands at 13-3-1-3, $607,466.

Out of the winning Bonheur (Royal Academy), Carribean Sunset counts as her

second dam Grade 1 winner Queen to Conquer (King's Bishop), herself the dam of

German highweight Quebrada (Ire) (Devil's Bag) and her full brother, stakes

winner Court. Queen to Conquer is also the ancestress of German classic winner Silvester Lady (GB) (Pivotal).

Also in-foal to Mr. Greeley, on a February cover, YOU'RE BEAUTIFUL (Storm

Cat) went for $1.2 million to Denali Stud, agent. Consigned by Gainesway, agent,

Hip 536 is a half-sister to the following full siblings by Cee's Tizzy: 2000

Horse of the Year, dual Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) winner and noted sire Tiznow;

multiple Grade 2 winner and $2.8 million earner Budroyale; the Grade 2-winning filly Tizdubai; and the

Grade 2-placed stakes winner Tizbud.

Campaigned exclusively in Ireland, You're Beautiful compiled a record of

8-1-1-0, $18,711. She is in-foal to Mr. Greeley on a February cover.

On Tuesday, 150 head sold for $42,006,000, a decline of 39.5 percent compared

to last year's second session when 186 sold for $69,435,000. The average dropped

25 percent, from $373,306 to $280,040, while median fell from $220,000 to

$160,000, a 27.3 percent drop.

After the first two sessions, 299 horses have sold for $90,027,000 for an

average of $301,094 and a median of $170,000. This represents declines of 49.6

percent in gross, 35.9 percent in average and 32 percent in median. After two

days last year, this sale had sold 380 head for $178,499,000 for an average of

$469,734 and a median of $250,000.

HIP

SEX, AGE, PEDIGREE AND MATED TO (IF APPLICABLE)

422

3, Empire Maker-Sluice, by Seeking the Gold

Zayat Stables

562

Johannesburg--Natkeeta, by Gulch

Zayat Stables

agent

430

Unbridled--With Every Wish (in foal to A.P. Indy)

Takacs), agent

381

Orientate--Oatsee (in foal to Mr. Greeley)

Bentley Smith Revocable Trust

3, Danehill Dancer--Bonheur, by Royal Academy

536

YOU'RE BEAUTIFUL, m, 4,

Storm Cat--Cee's Song (in foal to Mr. Greeley)

556

Cat--Aishah (in foal to Pulpit)

agent

374

Holiday--Carson Jen, by Carson City

Zayat Stables