JOYFULLY, a five-year-old mare in foal to 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah on a March 26 cover, brought a session-high bid of $575,000 Tuesday on day two of the Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale. Consigned by Paramount Sales, agent, Hip No. 389 was gaveled down to Oussama Aboughazale’s International Equities Holding.
Out of Rejoicing, by Forestry, Joyfully is an unraced half-sister to multiple Grade 3 winner Divine Oath and Grade 3 scorer Auntie’s Joy. Her third dam was the undefeated Hall of Famer and prolific broodmare Personal Ensign.
Minutes earlier, Joyfully’s yearling son by Uncle Mo was acquired by Key Palm Stable for $370,000. Hip 388 was also consigned by Paramount Sales.
“(Joyfully) is lovely and the foal sold very well just before her. I think it’s a good buy, I hope,” said Aboughazale, who revealed Joyfully would be bred later this spring to War Front. “I just bought my farm here, and we have to stock it up with nice mares. We want to start well; that’s why we are buying nice mares. There will be a few more (mares to buy) today and that’s it. I think we are very satisfied and have bought very well. We want to breed to sell and breed to race.”
CHOCOLATE POP, the dam of 2015 Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) hero Airoforce, commanded the second highest price of the session at $460,000. Springhouse Farm bought the 10-year-old mare from the Four Star Sales, agent, consignment.
Hip 686, in foal to Bernardini on a May 30 cover, is by Cuvee and out of White Chocolate, by With Approval. Multiple stakes-placed and a half-sister to the stakes-placed Jacolatt, she hails from the family of Grade 1 winner Sea Cadet and Grade 2 victor On Target.
Another yearling colt by Uncle Mo, Hip 745, brought $385,000 from Hillwood Stable. Warrendale Sales, agent, consigned the Maryland-bred, who is out of Gone to Utah, by Salt Lake. He’s a half-sibling to stakes winner Away We Go and to three others that are stakes-placed.
Business was again down across the board at the conclusion of trading on Tuesday, when 221 horses brought $11,059,600. That was a decline of 15.1 percent over last year’s corresponding session, when the sale of 193 head grossed $13,020,400. The session average dropped 25.8 percent, from $67,463 to $50,043, while the median dipped 28.6 percent, from $35,000 to $25,000.
After two days, 384 horses have sold for $21,573,600, a decline of 19.1 percent from this point last year when 375 sold for $26,651,600. The average is off 21 percent, from $71,071 to $56,181, while the median is down 14.3 percent, from $35,000 to $30,000.
The sale continues through Friday with daily sessions beginning at 10 a.m. (EST). Full results and live video can be viewed at keeneland.com.
