Weanlings highlight ninth session of Keeneland November

A trio of weanlings brought three figures during Wednesday’s ninth session of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale, topped by Hip No. 2892, a chestnut filly by Broken Vow who sold for $110,000 to Hidden Brook, agent.

Consigned by Bedouin Bloodstock, agent, the West Virginia-bred lass was foaled March 11 by the Curlin mare Whirl, who is a half-sister to multiple Grade 2-scoring millionaire Strike a Deal and a full sibling to this year’s Honeymoon Stakes (G2) third-placer Pacific Wind. This female line traces back to dual champion Alcibiades.

Later, a pair of weanlings from their sires’ first crops, each brought $100,000 to tie as the second-highest sellers on the day.

Hip 2910, a bay colt from the first crop of Tapiture, went to Madison River Thoroughbreds from the Hunter Valley Farm, agent, consignment. Born March 22 to the Distorted Humor mare All About My Girls, the Kentucky-bred colt is his dam’s first registered foal. His third dam is Half Queen, who produced champion Halfbridled, and this female family also boasts multiple Grade 1-winning millionaire Mshawish as well as dual Grade 2-scoring millionaire Lu Ravi.

Hip 3108, a bay filly from the first crop of Summer Front, sold to James Layden, agent, from the Brereton C. Jones/Airdrie Stud Inc., agent, consignment. The Kentucky-bred miss is out of the Majesticperfection mare Majestic Smile, who is a half-sister to Grade 3 heroine Silver Reunion. This female line includes Grade/Group 3-winning sires Comic Strip and Lucayan Prince.

For the ninth day, 228 horses sold for a total $3,952,400, a drop of 9.4 percent over last year’s corresponding session when 229 were purchased for $4,360,300. The $17,335 average fell 9 percent when compared to $19,041 a year ago, while the $12,000 median showed a slight 4.3 percent increase over the $11,500 median from 12 months ago.

Thus far, the 2017 Keeneland November Sale has seen 1,962 horses gross $197,734,300 for an average of $100,782. Those numbers represent declines of 5.1 percent and 6.9 percent, respectively, over this point last year when 1,924 horses had been sold for a total $208,371,300 and an average of $108,301. The median has remained steady at $45,000.

The Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale continues through Saturday with a 10 a.m. (ET) start time each day.