Grade 3 winner FRIEL’S FOR REAL (Sword Dance [Ire]) sold for the top price of
$550,000 to Overbrook Farm at Wednesday’s session of the Keeneland November
Breeding Stock Sale in Lexington, Kentucky. The six-year-old mare, who was
cataloged as a racing or broodmare prospect, was consigned by Summerfield
(Francis and Barbara Vanlangendonck), agent.
Friel’s for Real has won six stakes races, including the 2004 Pimlico
Breeders’ Cup Distaff H. (G3). She’s captured the last two runnings of the Lady’s
Secret S. at Monmouth Park and two editions of the Gala Lil S. at Laurel Park.
To date, the dark bay has earned $674,544 from a record of 32-13-5-4.
A full sister to 2006 Artax H. winner Littler Thunder, Friel’s for Real
entered the sales ring as Hip No. 743. She is out of multiple stakes-placed Beaties for
Real (Unreal Zeal), who is a full sister to stakes winner Slick Lady and a
half-sister to Grade 2 winner Ivanavinalot (West Acre) and multiple stakes
winner Shananie’s Beat (Shananie).
A colt by first-crop sire Perfect Soul (Ire), Hip 914, was the highest-priced
weanling, selling for $370,000 to Grade 1 Bloodstock. Consigned by Darby Dan
Farm, agent, the colt is a half-brother to the stakes-placed winner Blu Spur
(Northern Spur [Ire]).
His second dam, Grade 1-placed Rose Diamond (Diamond Shoal [GB]),
produced Jim Dandy S. (G2) and Brooklyn H. (G2) runner-up Deputy Diamond (Deputy
Minister) and is out of 1974 Spinster S. (G1) and 1972 Coaching Club American
Oaks heroine Summer Guest. Deputy Diamond is a half-sister to multiple Grade 2-placed Key Witness (Key to
the Mint), herself the dam of Grade 1 hero and sire Key Contender (Fit to Fight)
as well as two-time Grade 1 heroine You’d Be Surprised (Blushing Groom [Fr]).
On Wednesday, 274 horses sold for a gross $44,677,000, a rise of 5 percent
over last year when 261 horses were bought for $42,564,000. The $163,055
average remained static compared with the 2005 average of $163,080, while the
median jumped 25 percent, from $120,000 to $150,000.
With three days in the books, a total of 616 horses have been purchased for
$194,352,000, a decline of 2.8 percent over 12 months ago when 633 were sold for
$200,002,000. The $315,506 average remained about the same compared to last
year’s $315,959 average, while the median fell 5 percent, from $200,000 to
$190,000.
The sale continues Thursday at 10 a.m. (EST). For complete results, visit
www.keeneland.com.