MRS MCDOUGAL, a Grade 2-winning daughter of Medaglia d’Oro and earner of $496,736, sold as a racing or broodmare prospect to Steven W. Young, agent, for $1.6 million on Tuesday at the second session of the 2018 Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale.
The last horse through the ring for the session, the six-year-old was consigned by Eaton Sales, agent, and sported Hip No. 781A.
Out of multiple stakes winner Distorted Passion, by Distorted Humor, Mrs McDougal captured the 2015 Lake George (G2) and 2016 Noble Damsel (G3).
“She is a terrific filly who, early in her career, was arguably the best three-year-old filly on the grass when she won at Saratoga,” said Young, who purchased Mrs McDougal for an undisclosed client. “She trained tremendous on the dirt for (trainer Richard) Mandella after he got her, and I think she has unlimited potential as a broodmare. She’s by Medaglia d’Oro; she crosses with a lot of horses. I think she’s got a heck of a chance. She wasn’t cheap; she was where she probably needed to be.”
A short yearling son of 2015 Triple Crown winner and Horse of the Year American Pharoah sold to Coolmore’s M.V. Magnier for $1 million, the third highest amount ever for a yearling in sale history.
Consigned by Paramount Sales, agent, as Hip No. 533, the February 21 gray is a half-brother to multiple Group 1 winner Caravaggio and the Grade 2-winning filly My Jen. All were produced by stakes winner Mekko Hokte, by Holy Bull.
“American Pharoah doesn’t need any explaining and Aidan O’Brien always believed Caravaggio to be the best sprinter he ever trained, so when our team considered this colt the best individual in the sale it was an easy decision for us to make,” Magnier, who is attending sales in Australia, said in a statement issued after the purchase. “We’re incredibly lucky to have two great partners in Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith who are fully committed to finding the next Caravaggio. We’ll leave it until later in the year before we discuss where this colt will be trained.”
Multiple Grade 3-placed BANREE, a five-year-old daughter of Macho Uno, brought $450,000 from Andre Lynch, agent, as a broodmare prospect. Hip 730 was consigned by Eaton Sales, agent.
A half-sister to Grade 3 winner Gloryzapper, Banree was produced by Grand Glory, by Distorted Humor.
SPRING ECLIPSE, a nine-year-old offered in foal to Gemologist on an April 14 cover, was gaveled down to Green Leaf Farm for $425,000. Hip 634 was consigned by Shawhan Place, agent.
“We bought her for American Pharoah,” Tim Hyde Sr., who signed the ticket, said. “She is a lovely mare. We like the mare, we like the page and we are going to breed her to American Pharoah. I did not expect to pay that much but at the same time I am glad to have her.”
Produced by stakes-placed Coragil, by Metfield, Spring Eclipse is a daughter of Unbridled’s Song and a half-sister to Grade 2 winner Softly and Grade 3 victor Coragil Cat. Spring Eclipse has already been represented by 2017 Arlington-Washington Lassie winner Bet She Wins.
At the conclusion of trading Tuesday, Keeneland reported receipts of $15,036,900 from the sale of 229 horses during the session, an increase of 36 percent over last year’s second day when 221 horses brought $11,059,600. The session average was up 31.2 percent, from $50,043 to $65,663, while the median was unchanged at $25,000.
Midway through the auction, 415 horses have sold for $28,302,000, a rise of 31.2 percent from this point a year ago when 384 horses grossed $21,573,600. The average is up 21.4 percent, from $56,181 to $68,198, while the median has increased 23.3 percent, from $30,000 to $37,000.
The sale continues Wednesday and Thursday with sessions beginning at 10 a.m. (EST). Full results can be found at keeneland.com.
