Rachel’s Star brings $220,000 at Keeneland third session

Rachel’s Star has already produced stakes winner Citizen (inside) (Coady Photography) RACHEL’S STAR (Seeking the Gold), the unraced dam of multiple stakes winner Citizen (City Zip) and in foal to Elusive Quality on an April 9 cover, brought a session-topping bid of $220,000 from Thoroughbred Advisory Group, agent, to lead all offerings at Wednesday’s third session of the Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale in Lexington, Kentucky. Consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent, the nine-year-old toured the ring as Hip No. 1051. Out of Brave Deed (Alydeed), who placed in the 1998 editions of the Acorn S. (G1) and Test S. (G1), Rachel’s Star hails from the family of multiple Grade 3 winner Belle’s Gold (Key to the Mint). Two horses brought $135,000 apiece. The first through the ring was STATE CUP (Elusive Quality), an unraced five-year-old mare in foal to Dixie Union on a March 20 cover. Consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent, Hip 763 was snatched up by Coronation Investments. Produced from the Grade 2-winning Avie’s Fancy (Lord Avie), State Cup is a half-sister to Grade 2 winner St Averil (Saint Ballado) and the stakes-winning producer Our Cozzette (Cozzene).

Vin Cox Bloodstock went to $135,000 to obtain MI CHIAMANO MIMI (Came Home),
who was sold as a racing or broodmare prospect by Bluewater Sales, agent. The
four-year-old filly, who sported Hip 1000, captured the 2008 Anoakia S. at Santa
Anita and placed later that year in the Moccasin S. at Hollywood Park. Last seen
taking an allowance/optional claimer at the latter course on November 19, Mi
Chiamano Mimi’s record currently stands at 5-3-2-0, $123,880.

Mi Chiamano Mimi was produced from the Grade 3-winning Fantasy Angel (Saint
Ballado), a half-sister to Panamanian champion Gris Grande (Silver Buck), Grade
2-placed stakes winner Vision in Flight (Montbrook) and the multiple
stakes-winning Ellusive Tales (Lucy’s Axe).

The session’s highest-priced yearling, and the only other offering on the day
to reach six figures, was a Scat Daddy filly knocked down to Twin Peaks Racing
for $120,000. Consigned by Three Chimneys Sales, agent, Hip 885 is a
Kentucky-bred foaled on February 21.

Out of the multiple stakes-placed Debbie’s Assault (Belong to Me), the
yearling counts as her second dam multiple Grade 3 winner Amal Hayati
(Seattle Song). The filly’s third dam, Grade 3 winner Night Fire (Cannonade), is
a half-sister to 1989 champion older male and French classic winner Blushing
John (Blushing Groom [Fr]).

After a strong second session on Tuesday, business nosedived on day three of
the five-day auction. On Wednesday, 211 horses sold for $2,560,100, a decline of
42.4 percent from the corresponding session a year ago when $4,443,800 was
realized from the sale of 230 head. The session average dipped 37.2 percent,
from $19,321 to $12,133, while the median was off 45 percent, from $10,000 to
$5,500.

After three days, 617 horses have sold for $20,553,900, a decline of 19.5
percent from last year when 642 head had grossed $25,535,400. The average is
down 16.2 percent, from $39,775 to $33,313, while the median has dropped 30
percent, from $20,000 to $14,000.

The sale runs through Friday with the fourth session beginning at 10 a.m.
(EST) on Thursday. For more information, as well as live video of the auction,
log onto keeneland.com.