Three Witches, who six days ago finished third in the $1 million PNC Bank Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) at Santa Anita, sold today for $1.7 million to Rifa Mustang Europe to lead the third session of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. The purchase of the 4-year-old daughter of Into Mischief, who was consigned by Indian Creek, agent, increased the number of seven-figure purchases at the auction to 12.

On Friday, Keeneland sold 231 horses for $35,092,000, a 13.89% decline from the third session of the 2022 sale when 214 horses grossed $40,754,000. The average of $151,913 was 20.23% lower than last year’s $190,439. The median decreased 31.25% from $160,000 to $110,000.

Through three sessions, 564 horses have sold for $123,860,000, which was 13.27% lower than the corresponding period of 2022 when the gross was $142,807,000 for 547 horses. The average of $219,610 was 15.88% below $261,073 from 2022, and the median of $150,000 was 14.29% lower than $175,000. The first three sessions of last year’s auction produced 12 seven-figure horses in addition to the $4.6 million sale of a fractional interest in eventual Horse of the Year Flightline.

“Today was a solid day of trade,” Keeneland Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy said. “From start to finish, the market felt a little more consistent and healthy today, and the clearance rate was better. Everybody felt very pragmatic about it, and people were not disappointed. A lot of people had a very good day. 

“When we saw Three Witches go through the ring for $1.7 million, going to a client that is pretty established internationally, that’s really encouraging,” Lacy added. “We’re seeing that international investment is still here. The money is still here for the right horses. That’s the consistent theme that we’ve seen so far. Justify had a huge day and some of the pinhookers are getting very active. Overall, we’re very pleased.”

Rifa Mustang Europe purchased Three Witches, who won the Oct. 7 Princess Rooney Invitational (G3) at Gulfstream Park., via internet bidding. Out of the Tale of the Cat mare Layreebelle, she is a half-sister to Grade 2 winner Spellbound and Grade 3 winner Kid Cruz and from the family of Grade 2 winner Soothsay and 2023 Woodward (G2) runner-up Film Star.

“She was bought on behalf of a significant investment based in Australia and Europe,” said Barry Bowditch, Managing Director of Australia’s Magic Millions and Keeneland’s Australasian representative, who spoke on behalf of the buyer. “She’ll stay here in America, and we’ll try again on the race track, which is exciting. For a mare that raced (six) days ago in one of the strongest Breeders’ Cup races of the weekend, she looked so well and handled (the trip from California to Kentucky) so well. You just feel that the best of her racing is yet to come. It will be great to have a new investor racing horses here in America. We’re discussing who (will) train her at the moment.”

“I thought (the sale of Three Witches) was pretty fantastic,” said Sarah Sutherland of consignor Indian Creek. “Obviously, the filly was well received, and we knew she was a standout both physically and with her race record and pedigree. Any time you get over a million dollars, it’s pretty special. It exceeded our expectations, and we’re just thrilled.”

With the purchase of two horses for $1.9 million, Rifa Mustang Europe was the session’s leading buyer.

CSWV acquired the day’s top-selling weanling when it paid $525,000 for a daughter of Justify out of the winning Algorithms mare Ada Lovelace. Ada Lovelace is out of 2021 Broodmare of the Year Indian Miss and a half-sister to champion Mitole and Grade 1 winner Hot Rod Charlie. The filly was consigned by ELiTE, agent. 

“We’ve been trying to buy really nice horses like that from the beginning of the sale,” buyer Paul Sharp said. “That was a legit family, and (she is a) very athletic, really nice filly from one of the best sires in the world at this time. We’re very happy to have her.”

Wish It, a 3-year-old winning daughter of Tapit in foal to Street Sense, sold to Barry and Judith Becker and Jeffrey Mischka for $500,000. Gainesway, agent, consigned the mare, who is out of Grade 3 winner Graeme Six, by Graeme Hall. Wish It is a half-sister to Grade 3 winner Cali Star and a full sister to Grade 3 winner Delightful Joy, dam of Grade 2 winner Window Shopping.

The next three most expensive horses were consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent, the session’s leading consignor with sales of $5.88 million for 33 horses.

Siena Farm paid $440,000 for Medaglia Mo, a 4-year-old daughter of Medaglia d’Oro in foal to Not This Time. She is out of Grade 2 winner Mokat, by Uncle Mo, and from the family of Grade 2 winners Smok’n Frolic and Frolic’s Dream. 

Sycamore Hall Thoroughbreds/David Wade, agent, spent $435,000 for Belle of Paree, a 3-year-old daughter of City of Light in foal to Early Voting with a member of the first crop of foals by the Preakness (G1) winner. Out of the stakes-winning Graeme Hall mare Belle of the Hall, she is a half-sister to Grade 3 winner Share the Ride and from the family of Grade 1 winner Blushing K. D. and Canadian champion Ambitious Cat.

CHC Inc. spent $430,000 for Rose All Day, a 4-year-old daughter of More Than Ready carrying a member of the first crop of Grade 1 winner Life Is Good. Out of multiple Grade 1 winner Ask the Moon, by Malibu Moon, she is a half-sister to stakes winner Belgrano and from the family of First World War, who captured his career debut at Kentucky Downs in September and was second yesterday in a Churchill Downs allowance race.

A weanling colt by Justify sold to Randy Hartley and Dean De Renzo’s AAA Thoroughbreds for $425,000. Consigned by Hill ‘n’ Dale at Xalapa, agent, he is the first foal out of the Curlin mare Saralin and from the family of Grade 1 winner Salutos Amigos.

“He’s just a beautiful horse; we’re just such big fans of Justify,” Hartley said. “When Scat Daddy (sire of Justify) passed away, we never dreamed that we would have another stallion that would replace him – let alone a Triple Crown-winning son of his. So we came here in September and tried to buy every (yearling by Justify) that we could get our hands on. We bought (four). I came here with the same goal in mind. And the Breeders’ Cup weekend (when Justify sired two winners of World Championships races) just did it for us. He’s like a stallion that we haven’t seen in a long time.”