By Christina Bossinakis
Stakes winner Ocean Safari (Temple City) (Hip 2451) led the proceedings with a $190,000 final bid from Hugo Merry Bloodstock during Tuesday's seventh session of the Keeneland November Sale in Lexington. Purchased on behalf of Blue Diamond Stud, the 4-year-old, who was offered as a racing or broodmare prospect, was consigned by Taylor Made Sales, also the session's leading consignor with sales of $1,374,000 for 38 horses.
A daughter of Media Access (Devil's Bag), the dark bay is a half-sister to multiple stakes winner Access to Charlie (Indian Charlie) and SW Bear Access (Gators N Bears). Media Access is also related to a bevy of Midlantic black-type winners, including half-siblings Foufa's Warrior (Jade Hunter), Maryland Moon (Al Mamoon), Full Brush (Broad Brush) and Certantee (Known Fact).
Also during the Book 4 finale, Woods Edge Farm purchased Carats and Cake (Bernardini) (Hip 2666), in foal to Good Magic, for $155,000. From the family of Grade I winner Wild Rush and MGSW Lewis Bay, the daughter of Wild Summer (Unbridled's Song) also offers GSWs Summer Raven, Misconnect, Winslow Homer and Lost Raven on her page.
Heading the weanlings Tuesday, a colt by Tacitus (Hip 2714) realized a $125,000 final bid from ELC Investments. Offered by Sally Thomas, the colt out of Dreamed to Dream (Deputy Wild Cat) is a half-brother to SWs Dreamalildreamofu and Dream Central.
During Tuesday's session, a total of 272 head sold for $7,067,000, a 24.4% decline from the comparable session last year when 279 horses grossed $9,349,400. The average of $25,985 was 22.46% below $33,510 in 2022, while the median of $19,000 dipped 5% from $20,000.
Cumulative figures through seven days of selling weighed in at $170,860,000 for 1,615 horses sold, while averaging $105,796. The median for the sale so far is $50,000. The gross was 15.16% lower than the same period last year when 1,566 horses sold for $201,383,300. The average declined 17.73% from $128,597 last year, while the median is 16.67% below $60,000.
The sale continues Wednesday, beginning at 10 a.m. ET.
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