Recent Maiden Winners Share Spotlight at Keeneland's Horses of Racing Age Sale

After announcing its presence with authority as a first-time seller on day one of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale, the fledgling Case Clay Thoroughbred Management signed for Friday's top two lots–a pair of last-out maiden winners for $350,000 apiece–at Keeneland's single-session Horses of Racing Age Sale Friday.

The co-topping Double Dream (Curlin), a winning 3-year-old half-sister to MGISW Verrazano (More Than Ready), GSW El Padrino (Pulpit), et al, will be heading to Australia for a client of Arrowfield Stud's, Clay said. Consigned by ELiTE, the Peter Brant homebred earned her diploma with a narrow, come-from-behind maiden win for trainer Chad Brown at third asking on dirt at Parx last out Oct. 3. Purchased by Case Clay/Jon Freyer, agent, Hip 4226 hails from the family of champion Queena and Grade I winners Chic Shirine, Serra Lake, Olympiad, Preservationist, Somali Lemonade and Harmonize.

“Double Dream is gonna go down to Australia, ultimately to be bred,” Clay said by phone nearing the conclusion of trade. “She's really well bred by Curlin out of a Giant's Causeway mare. Just an outstanding female family and she's really pretty as well. Looking forward to seeing her babies in Australia.”

Regarding if a potential mate has been decided for Double Dream, Clay said, “Not yet. She would suit a lot of them down there. Maybe she'll race a little bit down there, but ultimately, she will be for breeding purposes.”

The 2-year-old colt Edgartown (Quality Road), a last-out maiden winner for West Bloodstock and trainer Joe Sharp at third asking over the Churchill Downs lawn Nov. 4, brought the same leading figure from Clay on behalf of Wathnan Racing.

Bred in Kentucky by SF Bloodstock LLC and W. S. Farish, Edgartown is from the female family of the brilliant Hall of Famer Serena's Song. Consigned by Highgate Sales, Agent I, as Hip 4230, he is the first foal out of the Fed Biz mare Love Child.

Case Clay | Keeneland

“He's gonna race here in the U.S.,” Clay said. “Liked him for his form, really. Recent winner at Churchill Downs in his third start. Before that, he was second by a neck to a next-out Churchill Downs maiden special weight winner. In his debut, he was second to next-out GII Bourbon S. winner Can Group (Good Samaritan), who finished fourth, beaten two lengths for the win in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. Haven't picked out a trainer yet for him.”

Regarding the final price paid for the duo, Clay added, “Very happy to get them, but we were at the end on both of them.”

Case Clay Thoroughbred Management sold Puca (Big Brown), dam of this year's GI Kentucky Derby winner Mage (Good Magic), for $2.9 million at Keeneland November in a private, post-RNA transaction to John Stewart. Clay's operation also consigned $1.65-million seller Dalika (Ger) (Pastorius {Ger}) at the previously concluded nine-day auction.

“Very grateful to my clients,” Clay said. “Feel lucky to have participated in the sale and selling those two mares and also buying these two and another mare ($160,000 Avow for Tordrillo Ventures) earlier in the sale.”

Last year, Keeneland created the stand-alone auction for horses of racing age, who formerly were included in the November Breeding Stock Sale. The 2022 sale was topped by the then unraced 2-year-old colt Extortion (Into Mischief), who brought $1 million from Mick Wallace, agent, on behalf of Gandharvi Racing, to dissolve a partnership.

Friday, 155 horses sold through the ring for $7,864,000, for an average of $50,735 and a median of $30,000. The gross declined 28.47% from $10,994,500 paid for 160 horses, while the average was 26.17% lower than $68,716 last year and the median was 16.67% below $36,000.

With sales of $2,635,000 for 38 horses sold through the ring, ELiTE was the auction's leading consignor.

“Overall, it was a healthy day of trade,” Keeneland Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy said. “A diverse group of buyers from around the world representing breeders, bloodstock agents, racing interests and trainers participated. The clearance rate was right at 84% and trade was consistent throughout the day. Fillies and colts with good pedigrees and race records sold extremely well.”

He continued, “This is a sale that allows buyers to come in and do their homework. They can see these horses, vet them and put them through the scrutiny they need in this more stringent environment. That creates a very healthy transparency that is critical at this point. Overall, we are very satisfied.”

Tony Lacy | Keeneland

What They're Saying…

“When you bring a horse to this sale, you can take X-rays, scope them and (veterinarians) and buyers can lay their hands on them. You get top dollar because there is confidence buying them here. Hats off to Keeneland for having these sales.” —Jacob West of Highgate Sales, who raced and sold co-topper Edgartown in the name of West Bloodstock.

“I really like grass fillies, and we like to breed grass horses. I think she's a really nice mare. She's very physically fit, she's a nice one. I looked back at her races to see what she did. I liked that she started young and right away, and she's still going, which is pretty good. (For) as long as she's been running, (her record is) pretty solid.” —Dixiana owner William J. Shively on MSW & GSP Train to Artemus (Tapizar), who brought $250,000. Dixiana was the sale's leading buyer, spending $415,000 for two horses.

“He's been on our radar for quite a while. We've been looking for sons of Curlin. He's obviously starting off as a fantastic sire of sires. I think he's just super impressive. To have a graded stakes-winning son of Curlin is just a tremendous asset. The colt was absolutely beautiful; he could not have been better looking. I don't think I've bought a horse as good-looking as that. We're just delighted to have him.” —agent Chad Schumer on Grade III winner King Fury, who is heading off to stud in Saudi Arabia.