Keeneland’s January Horses of All Ages Sale closed Wednesday following three days of steady trade that produced solid results and signaled continued demand for quality individuals and confidence in the yearling market. Three horses sold for the top price of $700,000: broodmare prospect Delahaye and broodmare Pretty Birdie, carrying her first foal by Candy Ride (ARG), during Monday’s Book 1 and racing or broodmare prospect Love to Shop during Tuesday’s second session.

This year’s auction was three days versus four days in 2024.

Gross sales for horses sold through the ring during the January Sale, held Jan. 13-15, were $33,444,900 for 685 horses, down 13% from last year’s $38,330,300 for 831 horses. Cumulative average price of $48,825 rose 6% from $46,126 in 2024. Median price climbed 47% from $15,000 to $22,000. The RNA rate was 24% versus last year’s 20%.

Additionally, as of the close of the final session, 38 horses that did not meet their reserve price in the ring were sold privately for a total of $1,681,000 to push gross sales to $35,125,900.

“Overall, it was a good sale,” Keeneland Senior Director of Sales Operations Cormac Breathnach said. “We have to look at it in the context of the different format. If you look at through-the-ring numbers from last year’s four-day sale to this year’s three days, we have a much higher median. It was up 47% from $15,000 to $22,000, a significant showing that the lower end of the market has some substance to it. The RNA rate was a tick off; up 24% from 20% last year. This is all through-the-ring activity. We already have 38 horses sold for $1.6 million in post-sale with more to come. Average is off a tick with fewer horses. We’re down 13% in gross. So really results are in step with last year.”

Maureen Hewitt-Topp, through agent and trainer Dale Desruisseux, purchased a Classic Empire – Desk Job, by To Honor and Serve short yearling for $25,000.

Jay and Christine Hayden’s Saintsbury Farm purchased the seven-year-old mare Liberated Lady (Ire), a daughter of Ifraaj in foal to Corniche for $40,000.

Josham Farms paid $50,000 for Lola’s Light, a four-year-old mare by City of Light out of stakes winner Burg Berg, in foal to Arcangelo.

Francine Villeneuve signed the ticket for a short yearling filly by American Pharoah out of stakes winner Belle of the North, by Street Boss, a $9,000 purchase. The Ontario-bred’s third dam produced the great Zenyatta.

Desruisseaux paid $9,000 for an Ontario-bred short yearling filly by Karakontie (Jpn) – Kichita by Kitten’s Joy, bred by Tall Oaks Farm of Ivan and Colleen Dalos. He also purchased a pair of three-year-old colts, each for $12,000. One is Achilles Money, by Mitole, and the other is a Union Rags fellow named Apollo Mo Money. They are Kentucky-breds that were consigned by Cedar Brook Farm.

Dominic Dilalla of Centennial Farms Niagara paid $30,000 for an Audible short yearling filly from Riding Point by Speightstown.

Woodbine Stakes Winner Tops Session 2

Pin Oak Stud paid $700,000 for listed stakes winner and Grade 2-placed Love to Shop, a five-year-old daughter of Violence catalogued as a racing or broodmare prospect, to record the highest price of Tuesday’s second session of the Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale. The amount equals the $700,000 paid Monday during Book 1 for the two high sellers, broodmare prospect Delahaye and broodmare Pretty Birdie, in foal to Candy Ride (ARG).

On Tuesday, Keeneland sold 242 horses through the ring for $10,854,300, for an average of $44,852 and a median of $20,000. Cumulatively through two sessions, 442 horses have sold for $28,941,300, for an average of $65,478 and a median of $35,000. Comparisons for the second session are not applicable given this year’s three-day format versus last year’s four-day auction.

Trade during the day was brisk as evidenced by the RNA rate of 26.89%, which tracked similarly to 25.45% from Day 2 last year.

Claiborne Farm, agent, consigned Love to Shop, who won the Toronto Cup Stakes at Woodbine over males and was graded stakes-placed several times. Her dam, Tiffany Case, is also the dam of Nitrogen, who was third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf and Natalma Stakes, both Grade 1 races.

“That was huge,” said Jacob West, Stallion Seasons and Bloodstock Manager for Claiborne, about the sale. “She was a filly that was bought as a yearling for Mike Repole and Vinnie Viola. We always knew she was going to end up at a public auction to dissolve the partnership. To be quite honest, that [price] exceeded a little bit of our expectations. She was such a beautiful filly. We’re just happy to hear that Pin Oak got her. She’s going to a great home, and she’ll get every opportunity.”

With the purchase of Love to Shop, Pin Oak Stud was the session’s leading buyer.

Woods Edge Farm paid $310,000 for listed stakes winner Abrogate, a seven-year-old daughter of Outwork in foal to Good Magic. Consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent for STH LLC, she is out of the winning Burning Roma mare Hot Coffee and from the family of champion Big Drama.

Two yearling fillies sold for $300,000 each.

D.J. Stables/VBS, agent, paid the amount for a filly by Justify. Out of Grade 3 winner Chart, by Lea, and from the family of Irish highweight Spirit of Valor and Grade 2 winner Brilliant, she was consigned by Stoneriggs Farm, agent.

“She is very athletic, a great mover with a great attitude,” buyer Kim Valerio said. “From the first day I saw her to this morning, she was still walking like a champ, so I liked that.”

Chart raced for Len Green and his son Jon of D.J. Stables, Valerio said, “so that helped us spend a little more money on her.”

Rock Bloodstock purchased a daughter of Golden Pal consigned by Clarkland Farm, agent, for $300,000. Out of stakes-placed winner Fairyland, by Scat Daddy, she is from the family of Japanese champion Agnes Digital and European champion Blushing Groom (FR).

~ with files from Keeneland Sales media