Keeneland realized increases in average and median prices on Saturday, the fifth day of its November Breeding Stock Sale, which was topped by the $550,000 paid by Evelyn Benoit’s Star Guitar Inc. for stakes winner Five Star Momma, in foal to Tiznow.
Five Star Momma is a 7-year-old daughter of Five Star Day out of the winning Nureyev mare Momma in Law.
It is the second consecutive session in which Benoit has purchased the highest-priced horse. She paid $850,000 on Friday for multiple stakes winner Moment of Majesty in foal to Curlin. Benoit’s homebred Star Guitar, a winner in 24 of his 30 career starts with earnings of more than $1.7 million, stands at Clear Creek Stud in Louisiana.
Five Star Momma’s colt by Violence brought the day’s top price for a weanling, selling to Mary A. Sullivan for $275,000.
Both Five Star Momma and her weanling colt were consigned by Select Sales, agent.
On Saturday, Keeneland sold 226 horses for a total of $13,975,700, just off last year’s session gross of $14,099,000 for 236 horses. The average price rose 3.51 percent from $59,742 in 2015 to $61,839. The median of $47,000 was up 4.44 percent from last year’s $45,000.
Through the first five days of the 13-day sale, 921 horses have been sold for $169,809,200, a dip of five percent from the same period in 2015 when 968 horses brought $178,778,000. The average price of $184,375 is nearly even with the $184,688 recorded in 2015, while the median of $95,000 is down five percent from last year’s $100,000.
Machmer Hall paid the day’s second-highest price of $360,000 for stakes-placed Addison Run, in foal to Constitution. Addison Run is a 6-year-old Unbridled’s Song mare from the family of 2016 Metropolitan Handicap (G1) winner Frosted and champion Midshipman. She was consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent.
Machmer Hall was the session’s leading buyer, purchasing five horses for $569,000.
Taylor Made Sales Agency ranked as the day’s top consignor, selling 33 horses for $2,548,000.
The November Sale continues through Sunday, Nov. 20. Sessions start at 10 a.m. ET. The entire sale is streamed live at Keeneland.com.