By Christina Bossinakis
Extending the activity that has been building through earlier sessions, the eighth day of selling at the Keeneland November Sale offered more of the same as witnessed by gross receipts closing at over $184.6 million (through the ring), well ahead of the $173,925,300 sold through this point in 2023.
Heading Tuesday, Music City Stables acquired a weanling filly (Hip 2935) from the first crop of stakes winner Nashville for $85,000 to record the highest purchase of the next-to-last session. Consigned by Buckland Sales (Zach Madden), agent, the filly is out of the winning Be a Lady (Cindago) and from the family of Grade III winners Stem the Tide, Gottcha Gold and American Freedom.
Topping the mares, Machmer Hall paid $75,000 for Secret Ballot (Courageous Cat) (Hip 2840), an 11-year-old mare carrying a member of the first crop of foals by champion Arcangelo. Out of Private Status (Alydar), she is a half-sister to GISW Secret Status and Grade III scorer Alumni Hall. Secret Ballot is the dam of stakes-placed Savoy (Honor Code).
Secret Ballot was consigned by Lane's End, agent, the session's leading consignor with sales of $492,500 for 25 horses.
Also during the penultimate session, Cem Sevim bid $50,000 for the stallion prospect Beatbox (Hip 3083), a Grade III-winning son of Pioneerof the Nile who is a half-brother to GISW Guarana (Ghostzapper). Consigned by Lane's End, agent, the 6-year-old is out of the winning Distorted Humor mare Magical World and from the family of GISW Pleasant Home and Grade II winner Country Hideaway.
Tuesday's leading buyer was Mahmud Mouni, who paid $191,200 for 11 horses.
For the session, a total of 236 head through the ring drew $3,184,100 (+3.88%) over $3,065,300 generated one year ago. Tuesday's average rose to $13,492, up 13.56% from last year while median increased 8.11% to $10,000.
When taking into account horses through the ring through eight sessions, 1839 horses averaged $100,405 (+8.13%), with a median of $45,000 (+12.50%).
Including four post sales on Day 8, the adjusted gross closed out Tuesday at $3,190,100 with an average of $13,292 and a median of $10,000.
Monday's Mandaloun Filly Purchase 'First of Many' for Perry
In the waning moments of Keeneland's seventh session of the November Sale Monday, Mary Claire Perry was on pins and needles. Having already been shut out in 10 prior attempts at Keeneland to make her initial auction purchase, the 17-year-old was at the uppermost limit of her budget while trying to land Hip 2708, a weanling filly by Mandaloun. After several heart-pounding moments, the daughter of dual stakes winner Keewatin Ice (Intidab) was knocked down to Perry and her partners for $105,000. One of seven horses to surpass the six-figure mark and the fourth highest-priced weanling of Monday's session, the Feb. 21 foal was consigned by Eaton Sales.
“This is just the first of many,” said Perry, a member of Coolmore's vast Kentucky-based team. “I am very excited!”
According to Perry, the high school student purchased the filly in partnership with several well-known industry professionals–Charlie O'Connor, Aisling Duignan and Gabriel 'Spider' Duignan.
Mary Claire Perry after signing her first ticket | O'Connor photo
“As I was bidding, Spider was sitting next to me and told me 'You have one more bid Mary Claire,'” she recalled. “At $100,000, I nodded my head to bid $105,000 and nobody else bid. My heart felt like it just stopped. That was the last bid we were going to put in for her. When they called 'sold' it was a bit emotional because all the spotters know me now because of how much I had been bidding up until that point. Many of them were so excited as well after I finally got one. Everyone started cheering. It was so sweet.”
Perry admitted that she and her partners logged a lot of steps this past week looking at a potential purchase.
“I started looking in Book 1. I've looked at pretty much all the hip numbers through Book 4,” she admitted. “It's been a very long process but I've learned a lot.”
When asked what she was looking for in her ideal weanling, she explained, “I'm pretty picky when choosing horses, but she's a great one so I am very excited about her.”
She continued, “I had a few sires that I was shooting for, including [first crop sires] Nashville and Mandaloun. There were a few sires that I wanted to potentially buy a weanling by. I went book by book.”
However, despite all the hard work, she admitted it wasn't always smooth sailing.
“We bid on 10 others before this one and we were outbid,” she said. “But I went for some really nice ones so I am not too upset about it.”
The bay filly is one of five foals out of Minnesota Oaks winner Keewatin Ice. Four of the mare's offspring have already found the winner's circle.
“She had a nice figure as well as her height and hip,” she explained. “She had a great walk. She has a great stride and overstep. She walks with purpose. She had the pedigree, too. Everything was pretty nice on her.”
Perry signed her initial ticket as Grooms Lane, which holds special meaning for her.
“It's special because we own a farm in Princeton, Kentucky and that's the lane that it is on,” she explained. “That has been in the family for generations, so I'd like to keep that name in the family.”
And it is abundantly clear that Perry's family has played an important part in her horse racing journey. Her father, Mark Perry, is a football coach at the University of Kentucky, while her mother Elizabeth is an educator.
“My family loves horse racing and they love to go to the races but they aren't really involved in the industry,” she said. “I've been so close to horses all my life. I started riding at three. I've always known what I wanted to do and that I wanted to own racehorses.”
Underscoring her family's support in the horse industry, she added, “I put in some of my money that I worked very hard to put in. My parents and grandparents are also involved. They are investing in me, my ideas and my dream. They have been amazing.”
In addition to her family, Perry points to her invaluable experience she has gained at Coolmore in addition to her sales work with Taylor Made Sales.
“Everyone is amazing. It's been so fun. At Coolmore, I work a little bit in the office and some with the mares and foals,” she explained. “Also, because I've worked with Taylor Made at the sales, I just find that I know a lot of people now. So when I was out looking a horses, everyone knew me by name. Everyone was so supportive.”
With only a year left to round out her high school education, Perry explained that the purchase of her first horse is just the beginning of her professional life and career with horses.
“I plan to go to UK and do the Equine Management program through them,” she confirmed. “I'll also be working for Coolmore. I am also shooting for programs like Darley Flying Start. If I can make it in, that would be the dream.”
But first things first. Perry admits that she is laser focused on a single thing at the moment. That is caring for her new purchase.
“I originally had planned on buying two [weanlings], but [the Mandaloun filly] is my top priority right now and I might just stick with the one for now,” she said. “I'll use it as a learning experience and go from there.”
Perry's purchase has already been shipped to Mesingw Farm on Old Frankfurt Pike in Lexington, where she will receive early instruction. According to Perry, the ultimate goal is to pinhook the filly at Keeneland next September.
“I picked her up [Tuesday] morning at 8 a.m. with the trailer,” she said. “I will do a lot of the work with her as well. I have been doing that with Taylor Made and now Coolmore. I've also helped prep horses as well. There are also awesome guys at the farm that will help with her prep too as we come closer to sale time.”
Looking back on an action-packed week of activity at Keeneland, Perry summed up, “Just being at the horse sales, I am so thankful for all the opportunities that I've gotten. It's been unbelievable.”
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
