The market continued to show strength on Day 5 of Keeneland’s November Breeding Stock Sale, which concluded with significant across-the-board increases and was led by the sale of Dreams Are Made, a winning daughter of Tapit carrying a foal from the first crop of Grade 1 winner Gunite, for $280,000 to Avocet Bloodstock. 

Consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent, Dreams Are Made is an 8-year-old mare out of Siren Serenade, by Unbridled’s Song, and is a half-sister to stakes winner Smart As Me. She is from the family of Grade 1 winners Versailles Treaty, George Vancouver and Mongolian Groom and Grade 2 winners Saarland and Dragon Bay. 

With sales of $3,347,000 for 39 horses, Taylor Made Sales Agency was the session’s leading consignor.

On Saturday, Keeneland sold 255 horses through the ring for $19,551,500, up 23.16% from $15,875,500 for 251 horses sold last year. The average of $76,673 increased 21.22% over $63,249 last year, and the median rose 20% from $50,000 to $60,000.

Through five sessions of the nine-day November Breeding Stock Sale, 1,055 horses sold through the ring have grossed $163,353,500, a 5.56% increase from the same period in 2023 when Keeneland sold 1,058 horses for $154,748,000. The average of $154,837 is up 5.86% from last year’s $146,265 The median rose 18.75% from $80,000 to $95,000.

Two horses sold on Saturday for $270,000 each. 

Vucchella, a 3-year-old winning filly by Bernardini from the family of multiple Grade 1 winner It’s Tricky, sold for that amount to Cove Springs. Consigned by Hill ‘n’ Dale at Xalapa, agent, she is out of Heartofthematter, by Medaglia d’Oro, and a half-sister to multiple stakes-placed Cielo d’Oro. She was offered as a racing or broodmare prospect. 

Hampton Yard, a 3-year-old filly by Uncle Mo out of the Tapit mare Amagansett, sold for $270,000 to Four Pillars (Jes Sikura) for Hill ‘n’ Dale at Xalapa. She is from the family of Irish highweight and Group 1 winner Misty For Me (IRE) and French highweight and Group 1 winner Ballydoyle (IRE). She was consigned by Royal Oak Farm (Damian & Braxton Lynch), agent, as a racing or broodmare prospect. 

Gainesway Farm purchased Bird Empress, a 5-year-old winning mare by Empire Maker in foal to Blame, for $245,000. Out of the winning Boston Harbor mare Bird Harbor, Bird Empress is from the family of Broodmare of the Year Dear Birdie, champion Bird Town and Belmont (G1) winner Birdstone. She was consigned by Gainesway, agent for the Estate of John Hendrickson.

With purchases of four horses for $735,000, Gainesway Farm was the day’s leading buyer.

En Fuego Stables paid $235,000 for the session’s top-priced weanling, a colt by McKinzie consigned by War Horse Place, agent, Out of Shirocca (IRE) by So You Think (NZ), he is from the family of Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) winner Shirocco (GER), Group 2 winner Subiaco and Group 3 winner Swacadelic.

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The November Sale continues Sunday and runs through Wednesday, Nov. 13 with all sessions beginning at 10 a.m. ET.

On Thursday, Nov. 14, Keeneland will hold the November Horses of Racing Age Sale. The auction starts at noon.

All Keeneland sales are streamed live on Keeneland.com.