Lush Lips (GB), who won Keeneland’s Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) Presented by Dixiana last month, sold for $3.7 million to Dixiana Farm to top Tuesday’s Book 1 opener of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. A strong weanling trade and the sale of 17 horses for $1 million or more also marked the session, which posted double-digit increases across the board.
During the session, foals of 2025 by Gun Runner, Curlin and Into Mischief sold for $2.2 million, $1.25 million and $950,000, respectively, to be the highest-priced weanlings purchased at public auction in North America this year.
The $2.2 million colt is the most paid for a weanling at the November Breeding Stock Sale since 2015. The Curlin weanling, a filly, brought the highest price for a weanling filly at the auction since 2015.
“It was a really great day that felt strong from start to finish,” Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin said. “We had 17 horses that brought a million dollars or more. Eight of those brought $2 million or more. The weanling market was incredibly strong, with selling a $2.2 million weanling for the highest price since a decade ago.
“Today’s results showed an overall confidence and continuation of excitement about our sport and about our industry,” Arvin continued. “It was fun for us and rewarding in many ways because Keeneland is the only race track and sales company in the world, and top sellers Vahva, Kilwin and Buchu sold here as yearlings; Lush Lips, Vahva and Buchu won graded stakes here, and then they returned to the sales ring here. That’s a lot of fun, and we’re really happy for all the connections that did so well with them.”
On Tuesday, Keeneland sold 122 horses through the ring for $72,737,000, for an average of $596,205 and a median of $422,500. Compared to figures from the first session in 2024, the gross increased 16.62% from $62,370,000; the average rose 36.70% from $436,154; and the median was 20.71% higher than last year’s $350,000.
“We felt the energy around the back ring and here in the arena,” Keeneland Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy said. “The amount of enthusiasm we saw from buyers, both domestic and international, was very, very broad. I think a lot of people are a little frustrated trying to buy horses. Over 50% of the horses that went through that sold today sold for 50% or more above their reserve. That shows the market was strong.
“What was very encouraging is that the domestic breeders were very active,” Lacy added. “They were very much the main players here today. Most of those big mares that we always saw leave the country are now staying. It’s nice when we have the confidence from the domestic breeders to step up and spend this type of money to invest in the future.”
Lush Lips, who was consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent, is a 3-year-old filly by Ten Sovereigns out of Lamyaa, a winning daughter of Arcano.
“We got to see her win the Grade 1 here,” Dixiana owner William Shively said. “We’ve been trying to get grass fillies that really can run. We bought two today, and that’s the future for Dixiana. Brendan (Walsh, who has conditioned Lush Lips) trains for us already, so we’ll be keeping her at Brendan’s.”
Dixiana’s two purchases for $4.2 million led buyers, and Taylor Made Sales Agency led consignors with sales of $19,377,000 for 31 horses.
Grade 1 winner Vahva, who three days ago was second in the PNC Bank Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1), sold to Killora/Linton, agent for Boyd Racing, for $3.1 million. Lane’s End, agent, consigned the 5-year-old mare by Gun Runner whose dam is stakes winner Holiday Soiree, by Harlan’s Holiday.
“She was everything we could have wanted in a broodmare prospect,” Hannah Jennings of Killora Stud said. “Jenny and Randy Boyd, they’re getting into the game and they want to have a broodmare band at the top level and she fit the bill for sure.”
Cherie DeVaux, who trained Vahva, watched the mare sell.
“After she ran (in the Breeders’ Cup) and we got her on the plane to come here, it’s out of our control,” DeVaux said. “(Consignor) Lane’s End did a great job reaching out to us and making sure they were going to continue her care the way that we took care of her. The pressure’s off because I didn’t have to do any training. I didn’t have to give any jockey instructions. You get to just enjoy the moment without any expectation.”
Grade 1 winner Kilwin, a 3-year-old daughter of Twirling Candy who was supplemented to the sale, sold to Rick Howard for $3 million. Consigned by Royal Oak Farm (Damian and Braxton Lynch), agent for BBN Racing, she is out of Spanish Star, by Blame and is a half-sister to Grade 2 winner One Timer.
Two horses sold for $2.3 million each.
Payson Stud/River Oak, agent, paid the amount for Grade 2 winner Buchu, a 4-year-old daughter of Justify in foal to Not This Time. Out of Flowering Peach, a winning daughter of Galileo (IRE), she was consigned by Denali Stud, agent.
Summer Wind Equine went to $2.3 million to acquire the final horse in the ring, Super Simple, dam of Friday’s NetJets Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) winner Super Corredora. Supplemented to the sale, the 9-year-old winning daughter of Super Saver was in foal to Gunite. Super Simple was consigned by Denali Stud, agent for the Complete Dispersal of Woodford Thoroughbreds (Phase 1).
At $2.2 million, the session’s top-priced weanling was a colt by Gun Runner sold to Donato Lanni, agent for Zedan Racing. Consigned by Denali Stud, agent, he is out of Grade 1 winner Nickname, by Scat Daddy, and is a half-brother to Irish Group 3 winner Ides of March (IRE).
In other Tuesday sales, two horses sold for $2 million each.
Mandy Pope’s Whisper Hill Farm paid the amount for Grade 2 winner Justique, a 5-year-old daughter of Justify and a half-sister to Grade 1 winner and sire Mo Town. Out of the winning Bernardini mare Grazie Mille, Justique was consigned by Lane’s End, agent.
Noting Justique’s pedigree and talent, Pope said, “(I’m) just trying to get into some different families and get some nice race mares.” She added that Justique would join her broodmare band at Gainesway and be bred next year.
Pope, who last year acquired November Breeding Stock Sale topper Roses for Debra, for $2.4 million, said, “We’ve just had great success here. Shopping at Keeneland there is such a variety: dirt, turf, international, American — and at all different levels that you could possibly want. There are a lot of options.”
Also bringing $2 million was Grade 2 winner Chatalas, a daughter of Gun Runner in foal to Curlin, purchased by Raging Torrent Syndicate. Hill ‘n’ Dale at Xalapa, agent, consigned the 4-year-old mare, whose dam is Indian Safari, a winning daughter of Indian Charlie.
Two horses each sold for $1.5 million.
Mt. Brilliant Farm purchased Irish stakes winner Greenfinch, a 4-year-old daughter of Justify in foal to Gun Runner, for the amount. Out of Irish and French highweight Misty For Me (G1), by Galileo (IRE), she is a half-sister to European highweight U S Navy Flag and Group 3 winner Roly Poly.
“She’s by one of the top stallions in the world,” agent Marette Farrell, who signed the ticket, said. “(Mt. Brilliant owner Greg) Goodman’s M.O. over all the years I’ve worked for him is to buy into generational families, and this is a mare that hopefully can spawn some generations for Mt. Brilliant Farm. Lovely mare and we liked what Justify brought to the pedigree. I obviously know the family coming from Ireland. I watched Roly Poly, who was phenomenal. For me, it’s an incredible family.”
Whiskey Decision, a 4-year-old Grade 3-winning daughter of Into Mischief, sold for $1.5 million to Alpha Delta Stables. Consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent, she is out of the Distorted Humor mare Funny Song.
B. Flay Thoroughbreds went to $1.45 million for Sedona, a winning 4-year-old daughter of Curlin in foal to Into Mischief. Lane’s End, agent, consigned Sedona, a full sister to Grade 3 winner First Captain. Their dam is Grade 3 winner America, by A.P. Indy.
Justice Julia, a 5-year-old daughter of Medaglia d’Oro who is a half-sister to champion Malathaat, sold for $1.4 million to Albaugh Family Stable. In foal to Good Magic, she is out of Grade 1 winner Dreaming of Julia, by A.P. Indy, and is a half-sister to Grade 2 winner Julia Shining. Justice Julia was consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent for STH.
Wesley Ward paid $1.25 million for a weanling daughter of Curlin who is a half-sister to multiple Grade 1 winner Kopion, Canadian champion Amis Gizmo, Grade 3 winner Ami’s Flatter and stakes winner Aragorn Ami. Out of the Victory Gallop mare Galloping Ami, she was consigned by Hill ‘n’ Dale at Xalapa.
“She’s a special filly from one of our flagship broodmares,” said Colleen Dallos of Tall Oaks Farm, which bred the filly in partnership with The Curlin Syndicate. “I was hoping for the million dollars — (the price) went well over that — and I always just want them to go to a great home. We are thrilled that she’ll go to Wesley Ward.
“Lexington has become my favorite place to be, and I love Keeneland,” Dallos added. “It’s so special here. I love the people, I love the environment and this market is unbelievable right now, this entire year. It just shows you how vibrant horse racing is. We’re so thrilled to be part of it and I can't wait to see where we’re going to go next.”
Two horses brought $1.2 million apiece.
Heider Family Stables paid the amount for 2025 stakes winner Almostgone Rocket, a 4-year-old Into Mischief filly out of multiple stakes winner Bound, by Jump Start. ELiTE, agent, consigned the filly, who was cataloged as a racing or broodmare prospect.
“She was a very fast race filly, and she was a filly that Mr. Heider liked a lot,” agent David Lanigan said. “She was a good-looking filly; she showed herself very well and handled herself with a lot of class. Hopefully, she will be a nice mare to add to the broodmare band.
“We’ve got a lot of grass mares and she’s an out-and-out dirt filly, and she was very fast on the dirt,” Lanigan added. “That was something that we’re trying to expand upon: to find a few more dirt fillies like that to breed over here. This mare will probably go to Mill Ridge.”
Remarqued, a 9-year-old Arch mare whose daughter Cy Fair won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1) four days ago, sold for $1.2 million to Steven W. Young, agent. Claiborne Farm, agent, consigned Remarqued, who is in foal to Nyquist. A half-sister to Group 2 winner Crimson Advocate, she is out of stakes winner Citizen Advocate, by Proud Citizen.
Stonestreet Stables paid $1.05 million for Grade 2 winner and Chilean champion Richi (CHI), a 5-year-old daughter of Practical Joke who ran in Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint. Out of the winning Group 2-placed Rich Baby, by Scat Daddy, she was consigned by Hill ‘n’ Dale at Xalapa, agent.
Alpha Delta Stables purchased Rascality, a 4-year-old daughter of Into Mischief in foal to Not This Time, for $1 million. A half-sister to Grade 3 winner Taking Candy from the family of Grade 1 winner and sire Tapizar, Rascality is a winning Grade 3-placed filly consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent.
Gilded Age Stables spent $950,000 to obtain the Into Mischief weanling colt consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent. Out of Grade 3 winner Eres Tu, by Malibu Moon, he is from the family of Preakness (G1) winner Tank’s Prospect; Grade 3 winner Kays and Jays; and stakes winners It’s True Love, Pangburn, Caddo River and Ain’t Got Time.
At last year’s November Breeding Stock Sale, Glen Hill Farm acquired the colt’s full brother for $900,000 — the highest price paid for a weanling at the auction.
The November Sale continues Wednesday at 10 a.m. ET with the first session of the two-day Book 2.
