Godolphin-bred mare From The Hood leads the way at Keeneland after $375,000 play

The pace at the start of Wednesday's opening session of Book 2 at the Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale was somewhat slowed compared to Book 1, but the penultimate day was not without its fast-moving highlights.

A total of 255 horses changed hands on Wednesday from 315 offered for receipts of $4,378,300 at an average of $17,170 and median of $7,000. The 60 horses that went unsold represented an RNA rate of 19 per cent.

As of Wednesday's conclusion, 727 horses from 935 offered have changed hands for gross receipts of $40,397,600 through the first three days of the sale.

"It's typical Book 2 January," said Mark Taylor of Taylor Made Sales. "You have one walk in there and it's life and death trying to get someone to raise their hand at $1,000. Then you have another walk in that's a good-vetting foal and you'll have ten people trying to bid, and there is a good bit of action.

"At Book 2 of January you get a little bit of everything. What I think is very, very apparent is that anything that is in the bottom 20 per cent of the market, nobody that is paying the fees and the bills that it takes in central Kentucky wants to be operating in that environment. They're fleeing to quality.

"Here it's about trying to find these horses a good home where they can go on and hopefully be successful in a regional market or elsewhere. That's the lay of the land, and that is where we are at right now."

With 54 horses sold for $1,108,800, Taylor Made ended Wednesday as leading consignor. The session-topper was consigned by the sales outfit as Hip 1019. Named From The Hood, the mare was purchased for $375,000 by Chris Baccari of Baccari Bloodstock.

Bred in Kentucky by Godolphin, From The Hood is a six-year-old daughter of Darley stallion Street Sense out of the unraced Storm Cat mare Contrive. From The Hood's half siblings include Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies winner and champion two-year-old filly Folklore, graded stakes-placed stakes winner Divided Attention and Grade 3 stakes-placed Delightful Quality.

The mare's extended female family includes multiple Grade 1 winner Essential Quality — who currently ranks first on the 2021 Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with 30 qualifying points —and Contrail, who was an undefeated winner of the 2020 Japanese Triple Crown. From The Hood was offered in foal to Three Chimneys Farm's Fast Anna.

Heavenly Sis: commanded second-highest price on Wednesday at $180,000Credit: Keeneland photo

Second-highest seller on the day was a daughter of Darley's Hard Spun out of the Forestry mare Enhancing. Consigned by Hill 'n' Dale Sales Agency, agent for the dispersal of Spry Family Farm, the mare — named Heavenly Sis — is a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Instilled Regard and was offered as a broodmare prospect. She was purchased for $180,000 by WinStar Farm.

Two daughters of Spendthrift Farm's leading stallion Into Mischief —racing or broodmare prospect Risk Model and broodmare Ten Demerits — sold for $160,000 a piece early in the session.

Hidden Brook, agent, purchased Risk Model, a four-year-old filly bred in Kentucky by Eico Ventures and consigned by ELiTE, agent. The filly is out of the graded stakes-placed Proud Citizen mare Boleyn and is a half-sister to stakes winner Hi Holiday.

Trackside Farm acquired Ten Demerits, a six-year-old daughter of multiple Grade 1 winner Pussycat Doll in foal to Ocala Stud stallion Girvin. Consigned by Hunter Valley Farm, agent, the mare is a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Aquaphobia from the family of additional Grade 1 winners Hookedonthefeelin and Jimmy Creed. She was bred in Kentucky by Mr and Mrs Roy Jackson.

"I think the market, for the most part, has been pretty good," said Baccari. "The foal prices looked like they were pretty good. I think it's like anything, if you have something they are looking for, it's very competitive to get them bought. If you miss the mark, you miss it completely, but if you are on the mark, you are probably going to be good to go."

The final session begins on Thursday at 10am local time.

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