Keeneland November Sale continued its strong performance through Monday’s seventh session, with cumulative gross sales reaching $234,253,000 — a significant increase from last year’s $181,460,500 through the same period.
The cumulative average price rose 25.34% to $141,886, while the median showed an even more dramatic improvement, jumping 40.35% to $80,000. RNA (Reserve Not Attained) figures decreased overall from 470 in 2023 to 424 this year.
Monday’s individual session results presented a slightly different picture, with 259 horses selling for $8,444,500, down marginally from the $8,464,600 generated by 278 horses sold during the comparable session last year. The day’s RNA count increased to 58 from 49 in 2023.
Repole Stable emerged as the session’s leading buyer, making a single significant acquisition for $475,000 — Hip 2313, Whitethorn, a recently-placed 3-year-old daughter of Not This Time.
“We had to fend off some serious players [to get her], so we were happy to buy her,” said agent Jacob West.
The dark bay filly was consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency on behalf of breeder Juddmonte. She is out of Cognitive (Uncle Mo), who has already produced Juddmonte’s dual stakes winner Show Card (Into Mischief).
This purchase complements Repole Stable’s earlier acquisition of Whitethorn’s dam Cognitive (Hip 349) for $500,000 in Book 2. The mare was sold in foal to Elite Power.
“She was a lovely filly,” West said. “We are obvious fans of the pedigree. We feel that she has major upside and it only helps to control her future.”
Trained by Michael McCarthy, Whitethorn finished third in her career debut over 8 1/2 furlongs at Churchill Downs in September. She recently improved to finish second — beaten just 1 3/4 lengths by American Pearl (Gun Runner) — in a one-mile test at the Louisville oval on November 5.
“We bought her mother earlier in the sale and part of the appeal to the team and to Mike was that we knew she had a current filly on the track showing promise,” West explained. “We already own the factory so to speak so we just bought the product.”
The filly will now join trainer Todd Pletcher’s stable.
Whitethorn comes from an exceptional female line. Her third dam Turbo Dream (Unbridled) produced dual Grade I winner Dream Rush (Wild Rush), who in turn produced Grade I winner Dreaming of Julia (A.P. Indy) — the dam of two-time champion Malathaat (Curlin). Julia Shining (Curlin) and Dream Pauline (Tapit) also descend from this productive family.
Through seven sessions, Repole Stable has purchased seven horses for total expenditures of $2,575,000, averaging $367,857 with a median of $475,000. Their November purchases also include Graded Stakes Winner Mo’ Green (Uncle Mo, in foal to Vekoma) for $550,000 (Hip 496) and Gate to Paradise (Arrogate) (Hip 789) for $500,000.
Taylor Made Sales Agency, which consigned Monday’s session-topper, led all consignors with sales of $1,141,500 for 25 horses.
A colt by first-season sire Gunite topped the day’s weanling action, bringing $160,000 from Louis Dubois, who was buying for trainer Wesley Ward. Offered as Hip 2485 and consigned by Wasabi Ventures Sales, the chestnut colt is out of Itgetsgreaterlater (Justify) and comes from the family of Grade I winner Cupid (Tapit) and Graded Stakes Winners Heart Ashley (Lion Heart) and Ashley’s Kitty (Tale of the Cat).
The Keeneland November Sale continues Tuesday at 10 a.m.
