Several offspring of Claiborne stallions lit up the bid board with big prices at the Keeneland November breeding stock sale, including War Front, Blame, and Trappe Shot.
War Front, whose offspring have made headlines throughout the year on the racetrack have also commanded attention in the sale ring.
Twenty-three horses by War Front were bought for a gross of $8,861,000, a median of $260,000 and an average of $385,261.
His biggest sellers were a weanling colt and 4-year-old mare, each purchased for $1.45 million.
The colt (Hip No. 408) is the first foal out of the Australian-bred Encosta de Lago mare Drifting Cube and is from the family of Australian champion and top sire Redoute’s Choice. Consigned by Hill ‘n’ Dale Sales agency, agent, he was bought by Coolmore’s M V Magnier.
Drifting Cube is a full sister to TDN Rising Star and G2 winner Rubick (Aus). The mare was purchased by Hill ‘n’ Dale for $1,018,000 at a Magic Millions auction in 2014.
War Front’s other $1.45 million offspring is G1 winner Peace And War (Hip No. 32), who was purchased by Katsumi Yoshida. Consigned by Hunter Valley Farm, agent, she is out of the Smart Strike mare More Oats Please and is in foal to Tapit.
The offspring of Flatter also brought some strong prices. The stallion had 10 horses sell for a gross of $1,810,400 and an average of $181,040.
Flatter’s top seller was his grade I-winning daughter Paola Queen, who fetched $1.7 million and was the fourth highest-priced horse sold during the second session.
Offered as Hip 274 by Brookdale Sales, agent, the 3-year-old filly was bought by SF Bloodstock.
Paola Queen was produced from the multiple stakes-winning and grade III-placed Kafwain mare Kadira. She is one of five graded stakes winners in 2016 for her sire Flatter, who will stand for $35,000 in 2017.
Blame was best represented by Cut in Stone, a mare carrying his foal who commanded an impressive price of $900,000.
Consigned by Burleson Farms, agent, Cut in Stone is a winning daughter of Speightstown and was bought by Reynolds Bell for Alpha/Delta Stables. The 4-year-old mare is a half-sister to Preakness Stakes-G1 winner Oxbow and other stakes winner Awesome Patriot (both by Awesome Again).
Overall, Blame had 15 offspring sell for $828,500. The Eclipse champion and three-time G1 winner will stand for $25,000 in 2017.
Claiborne’s late stallion Arch was represented by 30 offspring at the Keeneland November sale that sold for a gross of $2,399,200. His top seller was Canadian Horse of the Year Arravale, who was bought for $490,000 by Merriebelle Stable from the consignment of Valkyre Stud, agent for Robert Costigan.
Kentucky Derby winner Orb had 12 offspring sell for a gross of $851,000, including a $175,000 weanling colt out of the Dixieland Band mare Tally Ho Dixie. He was bought by Trabu Purchases from Brookdale Sales, agent, for Copper Penny Stables. Orb will stand for $25,000 in 2017.
Trappe Shot had 10 horses go through the ring, including Admiralty, a half-brother to G1 Breeders’ Cup Mile winner Tapizar who fetched $135,000. Consigned by Mill Ridge Sales, agent, the unraced 3-year-old gelding was bought by Triton Thoroughbreds. He is out of the Deputy Minister mare Winning Call, whose dam is G2 winner Call Now (by Wild Again).
Trappe Shot will stand for $7,500 in 2017.