By Jessica Martini
The Book 4 section of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale concluded Sunday with figures largely in line with the same book in 2021. For the second day in a row, a weanling by Spendthrift's first-crop stallion Vekoma (hip 2355) topped proceedings when selling for $290,000 to Oreo Racing. The colt was consigned by Brookdale Sales on behalf of breeder Susan Anderson.
“He was leggy and attractive and a good size,” said Brookdale's Joe Seitz. “He looks like he will shape out to be a really nice yearling next year. He has that look. I can see a lot of potential in him. We were very happy with that result.”
Out of stakes-winner Female Drama (Indian Charlie), the weanling is a half-brother to multiple stakes-placed Startdfromdabottom (Kantharos). His dam is a half-sister to Argentinian Group 1 winner New Real Deal (Roy).
A filly by Vekoma (hip 2205) brought the top price of Saturday's session of the Keeneland November sale when bringing a final bid of $215,000 from Frankie's Stable. Through seven sessions of the auction, 21 weanlings by the stallion have sold for an average of $93,571. Winner of the 2020 GI Carter H. and GI Met Mile, Vekoma stands at Spendthrift for a fee of $15,000.
While Seitz said he has not seen many of Vekomas first weanlings yet, he did get many positive reviews on the stallion while showing hip 2355 this week at Keeneland.
“We got a lot of compliments on the stallion and a lot of positive feedback when we were showing that colt about how well received the stallion has been,” Seitz said. “So it was a nice crescendo, it built up all week and that really helped the horse.”
The weekend's Book 4 section of the November sale saw 532 horses sell for $19,112,800. The average of $35,926 was up 3.4% from 2021, while the median remained constant at $25,000.
During last year's two-session Book 4, 582 horses sold for $20,220,000. The section average was $34,742 and the median was $25,000.
As the November sale marched into its second week, Seitz said there was still plenty of activity on the sales grounds.
“It still feels great,” he said. “The foals especially have been out constantly with lots of showing. And even the mares are getting plenty of action.”
The November sale continues through Wednesday and is followed by a horses of racing age sale Thursday. Bidding begins daily at 10 a.m.
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