'When the Right Ones Come Up, They Are All Over It:' $900k Finesse Tops Solid Book 2 at Keeneland November

by Jessica Martini & Christina Bossinakis

LEXINGTON, KY – Solid trade continued right through the conclusion of the second and final Book 2 section of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale Thursday, with the 3-year-old broodmare Finesse (Street Sense) bringing the section's top price of $900,000 when selling to Dixiana Farms.

“It was really solid today,” said Keeneland Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy. “It was very competitive. I was speaking to a lot of buyers out there, and they were finding it very difficult to buy the foals that they liked. And the young mares were very competitive in the market. I followed a few up myself, just out of interest, and they were bringing probably 30-40% more than I would have expected them to bring. Which was great. It shows the demand for that quality through the market. It's really encouraging. When the right ones come up, they are all over it.”

Over the two Book 2 sessions, 413 horses grossed $63,236,500 for an average of $153,115 and a median of $125,000.

During last year's Book 2 section, 444 horses sold through the ring for a total of $69,520,000 for an average of $156,577 and a median of $120,000. Three Witches (Into Mischief) brought the book's highest price when selling for $1.7 million. The racing prospect was one of 10 during the section to sell for $500,000 or more. Five hit that mark this year.

Through both Book 2 sessions, 157 weanlings sold through the ring for an average of $135,395 and a median of $110,000.

During last year's Book 2, 148 weanlings sold through the ring for an average of $147,378 and a median of $120,000. A colt by Constitution and a filly by Justify shared the section's top price of $525,000.

Foals from the first crop of Breeders' Cup winner Life Is Good topped both Book 2 sessions this year, with a filly by the sire going the way of Classic Equine for $410,000 Wednesday and a colt selling for $400,000 to Flying Dutchmen late in the day Thursday.

Eight of the top 10 priced weanlings in Book 2 were by first-crop sires. A filly by Life Is Good shared the section's second highest price of $385,000 with a colt by first-crop sire Jackie's Warrior. Olympiad also had a pair of weanlings in the book's top 10, while Jack Christopher and Golden Pal each had one.

“I think the demand for first-crop sires is always high, but it's true that with the entry-level stud fee and some of the glitz and glamour that came with this class, it looks deep,” said Keeneland Senior Director of Sales Operations Cormac Breathnach. “There are several really well-credentialed first-crop sires this year and they are obviously throwing very good physicals because people are really responding. It bodes well. Hopefully they can run to their looks.”

Through three sessions, 556 head have sold for $125,606,500. The average of $225,911 is up 2.87% from the same point at last year's sale and the median of $170,000 is up 13.33%.

The buy-back rate through three days is 27.23%. It was 30.80% a year go.

“That's what we look for, more than anything, significant improvement in the median,” said Breathnach. “And the RNA rate through the ring is four points lower than last year through two books. Those are the best indicators of a healthy marketplace.”

Post-sale activity is brisk, according to Lacy.

“There are a lot of RNAs-to-sales that we are getting through,” he said. “So even though they might be listed as RNAs on the sheets right now, you will see those filtering in and there will be some really healthy numbers. There is a balance between the reserve set and what people want to pay for certain things. That then gets mitigated in the RNAs-to-sales. I think that is good and healthy.”

The Keeneland November sale continues through Wednesday with sessions beginning daily at 10 a.m.

'Perfect Storm;' Dixiana Buys Finesse for $900k

Bill Shively of Dixiana Farms admitted he has been doing plenty of shopping at Keeneland this week, but hadn't been getting much bought until he made the $900,000 bid to acquire the 3-year-old broodmare Finesse (Street Sense) (hip 983) Thursday. The unraced mare, who sold in foal to Nyquist, is out of Etiquette (Tapit) and is a half-sister to multiple Grade I winner Society (Gun Runner), who was second in the GI Breeders' Cup F/M Sprint last week. Finesse was consigned by Warrendale Sales.

Bill Shively | Keeneland

“She was just very pretty,” Shively said of the mare. “It's a good family. It was what we are looking for at Dixiana–quality. I think she will be great for a long time.”

Of the mare's future foal, Shively said, “If she has a nice Nyquist filly, she will probably be racing for Dixiana. If it's a colt, we might sell that.”

Finesse was Dixiana's second purchase of the week at Keeneland. The operation also purchased Wet My Beak (Union Rags) (hip 849) for $200,000.

“I've shopped a lot, but not bought much,” Shively said. “I think part of it is, how many good horses are there? The good ones bring a lot of money. Now it's at the point that you have to spend a little more money to get a few good ones. That's just the way the world is right now.”

Finesse, who was bred by Peter Blum, was purchased by Windancer Farm for $725,000 at the 2022 Keeneland September sale.

“We're over the moon,” Warrendale's Kitty Day said of the result. “It was fantastic. She was well past her reserve at that level, but she's just a beautiful physical, in foal to a horse that is on fire, with a family that goes with it and in foal on one cover with a filly. It was a perfect storm.” @JessMartiniTDN

Brunacinis Reinvest with $725k Veronica Greene

After a good weanling sale on Tuesday, Richard and Denise Brunacini came to Keeneland Thursday to reinvest some of their profits and went home with the 5-year-old broodmare Veronica Greene (Tapit) (hip 838). The couple purchased the mare, in foal to Triple Crown winner Justify, for $725,000. She was consigned by Elite, as agent for White Birch Farm.

“She had everything,” Richard Brunacini said of the mare. “She's by Tapit, she's in foal to Justify and she's just beautiful. She's a young mare, a stakes horse. I couldn't fault her.”

Richard Brunicini | Keeneland

The Brunacinis have 11 broodmares, many in partnerships at Taylor Made Farm, and are focused on breeding to sell.

“In my younger days, I trained them and we stood some stallions, but now we are breeding to sell,” Brunacini said.

During Tuesday's first session of the Keeneland November sale, the Brunacinis sold a colt by Epicenter (hip 71) for $225,000. They had purchased the weanling's dam Spirit Dance (Ghostzapper), with the colt in utero, for $160,000 at the Keeneland January sale this year.

“We've had a good year selling,” Brunacini said. “You could almost call me a CPA, I know what my tax situation is.”

Peter Brant's White Birch Farm purchased Veronica Greene for $260,000 at the 2020 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. The bay was third in the 2022 Winter Memories Stakes. On the board in six of 10 starts, she earned $195,500.

Two of the mare's half-brothers are expected to see graded action this weekend, with 3-year-old Cugino (Twirling Candy) entered in the GIII Hill Prince Stakes and 4-year-old Battle of Normandy (City of Light) entered in the GIII River City Stakes.

“I thought she was one of the best mares in the sale today,” said Elite's Liz Crow. “She has two half-brothers that are running in stakes this weekend. She's in foal to Justify, a tremendously good cover. She could run herself, she was stakes-placed behind a Grade I winner in New York. She's by Tapit. I just thought it was one of the better families in the catalogue today. She looked tremendous coming in here, so we were kind of expecting that she would be one of the top mares today.”

The Brunacinis warmed up for their big purchase just two hips before Veronica Greene went through the ring, purchasing Urgence (Into Mischief) (hip 836), in foal to Taiba, for $160,000 from the Gainesway consignment. @JessMartiniTDN

Shimokobe Extends to $525K for Connect's Witwatersrand

Midway through Thursday's session, Yukio Shimokobe, stationed by the back bidding stand, went up to $525,000 for Hip 861, Witwatersrand from the Bluewater Sales consignment.

A daughter of the graded stakes winning Carta de Oro (Medaglia d'Oro), the 3-year-old filly is a granddaughter of MGSW and GISP Communique (Smart Strike).

Yukio Shimokobe | Keeneland

“First of all, I saw the father, Connect, and she was very exactly like that–smooth-moving and light,” said Shimokobe, signing on behalf of Shimokobe Farm and Nobu Araki's Polo Green Stables. “I love that and she moves the same way. That is what I love.

“She had a good breeder and a good pedigree so everything was perfect to me, ” he continued. “We will see what stallion fits her. We will breed her [in the USA] and then take her back to Japan.”

Shimokobe Farm and Polo Green also bought Hip 833, Unifying (Union Rags) for $400,000 Thursday afternoon. One day earlier, the team purchased Swall (Ghostzapper) (Hip 418) and Barrier Island (Speightstown) (Hip 499), in foal to Life Is Good.—@CBossTDN

Life Is Good Weanling Heads Book 2 Finale

Late in Thursday's session, a colt by Life Is Good (Hip 1050) brought a $400,000 final bid from Flying Dutchmen. Consigned by Taylor Made Sales on behalf of breeder China Horse Club, the Feb. 18 foal was the highest-priced foal of the day. Hunter Rankin signed the ticket.

Hip 1050 | Keeneland

The bay is the first foal out MGSP Lady Aces (Constitution), purchased by China Horse Club for $200,000 at this venue in 2022. This represents the family of MGISW Paradise Woods.

“We are really excited with what the mare has produced right away,” said China Horse Club's Christie DeBernardis. “We are looking forward to a lot greater produce from her.”

Standing at WinStar for $75,000 in 2025, the four-time Grade I winner entered stud in 2023.

“We are excited that it is an Life Is Good since we raced him with WinStar and continue to partner with them,” DeBernardis continued. “His first crop has been impressing us one right after the other. We still have six of them ourselves and each one is better than the next.”

China Horse Club sold a pair of horses at Keeneland this week, including Tawaret (Hip 432), who sold for $175,000 shortly after exiting the ring. Also during Thursday's session, a colt by the sire (Hip 1074), consigned by Denali Stud, brought $300,000 from Rafey Racing.

“We also sold a mare here [Wednesday] in foal to Life Is Good, so we're out here trying to put him into the market,” she said. “Life Is Good has taken us on an amazing ride and we are excited for it to continue with his offspring. Mr. Teo [King] and the team have always been big believers and we will continue to support him.”—@CBossTDN

Grandview, Solis/Litt Return to the Well for Olympiad Weanlings Thursday

Grade I winner Olympiad (Speightstown) has been gaining traction since entering stud at Gainesway in 2023. Earning over $3 million on the track while collecting five graded races, highlighted by the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup, the 7-year-old was responsible for Thursday's second highest-priced weanling of the day, Hip 795, who brought $350,000 from Grandview Equine.

Hip 795 | Keeneland

“I like everything about him,” said Grandview's Robert Clay. “Like the sire, like the dam, like the family, like the colt. I thought he would be about that [price] range.”

Seated next to agent Jason Litt during the bidding, Clay signed the ticket on the colt out of MGSP Special Event (Arch), herself a daughter of GSW La Reina (A.P. Indy). The Mar. 7 foal was consigned by Gainesway, agent.

“We're all in with [Olympiad],” said Litt. “That foal was the spitting image of the sire.”

Dam of GII Swaps winner Chief Havoc (Giant's Causeway) and GSP Aurelias Maximus (Pioneerof the Nile), La Reina is a daughter of champion older mare Queena (Mr. Prospector), the dam of Grade I winner Brahms.

Bred by Emory Hamilton, the colt is a half-brother to the unraced Gun Carriage (Gun Runner), who sold to M.V. Magnier for $1.25 million at Keeneland September in 2023.

Grandview also purchased a weanling colt by Into Mischief, Hip 98, on Tuesday for $275,000. Additionally, it secured another Olympiad colt (Hip 313) for $185,000 at Fasig-Tipton Monday. During Book 1, Solis/Litt bought a filly by the sire (Hip 66) for $450,000. It represented the highest price for the sire at Keeneland this week.

“We bought [Olympiad], we raced him and we kept a good piece of the horse as a stallion,” explained Litt. “We have supported him each year with over 20 mares and we'll do the same for the third year. We're here to buy the ones that we think look good.”

A $700,000 KEESEP yearling purchase by Jason Litt and Alex Solis from the Gainesway consignment in 2019, Olympiad won eight of 13 starts through three seasons, including wins in the GII Stephen Foster and GII Alysheba, in addition to a runner-up finish behind Horse of the Year Flightline (Tapit) in his career finale in the 2022 GI Breeders' Cup Classic.

Owned by the partnership of Grandview, Cheyenne Stable and LNJ Foxwoods at the time of his retirement, the son of GSP Tokyo Time (Medaglia d'Oro), a homebred for Hamilton, stood for $35,000 in his first season at stud and will stand for the same amount in the upcoming season.

“His foals have good size, strength and length,” said Litt. “They have all the good qualities you want to see in them.”

Late in the session, another colt by Olympiad (Hip 1054) brought $325,000 from Whisper Hill Farm. On Thursday, a total of five weanlings by the sire sold for gross receipts of $1.02 million.—@CBossTDN