Debut Juvenile Winner Federal Case Brings $650,000 Tuesday at Keeneland November Sale

By Amy Owens —-

LEXINGTON, KY (Nov. 13, 2018) – Federal Case, a 2-year-old son of Gemologist who won his career debut in October at Keeneland, sold for $650,000 to West Bloodstock, agent for Robert and Lawana Low, to be the most expensive horse of Tuesday’s ninth session of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale.

Keeneland sold 244 horses on Tuesday for $6,337,000 for an average of $25,971 and a median of $12,000. There are no comparable figures from 2017.

Cumulatively through nine days of the sale, 2,049 horses have grossed $184,287,600 for an average of $89,940 and a median of $37,000.

WinStar Racing, agent, consigned Federal Case, who is out of the Elusive Quality mare Delilahjane and from the family of Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) winner Very Subtle and Grade 1 winner Pool Land. The colt, a graduate of Keeneland’s 2017 September Yearling Sale, made his first start Oct. 19 at Keeneland, winning an about 7-furlong race by a half-length for owners WinStar Farm, China Horse Club and SF Racing and trainer Rodolphe Brisset.

“It was hard to part with him because he won so well first time out, but all the smart guys were on him,” WinStar President, CEO and Racing Manager Elliott Walden said. “We put him in this sale in August. We hate scratching horses, so we felt like we should bring him.

“(Winning at Keeneland is) what made him sell the way he did today,” Walden added. “People buy 2-year-olds (at training sales that breeze) an eighth of a mile and spend twice as much, and this horse won at seven eighths (of a mile). This is a real horse.”

Jacob West, who signed the ticket for Federal Case, said the colt would continue his racing career for trainer Todd Pletcher.

“You’ve gotta tip your cap to WinStar because they brought a horse here to sell that obviously has ability and talent,” West said. “When everybody got to see him, they all started dreaming of the first Saturday in May – that’s what he reminded us of. Mr. and Mrs. Low obviously have a history with Todd, winning the (2018) Arkansas Derby (G1) with Magnum Moon. We hope we just bought the Arkansas Derby winner.”

With the purchase of Federal Case, the colt’s new owners were the day’s leading buyers.

WinStar Racing, agent, led all consignors, selling 12 horses for $1,115,000.

At $230,000, the day’s second high seller is Lady Suebee, a 3-year-old, stakes-placed daughter of First Defence sold to Ingordo Bloodstock. Consigned by ELiTE as a racing or broodmare prospect, Lady Suebee is out of the stakes-winning Touch Gold mare Freeroll and from the family of Canadian Horse of the Year Izvestia.

WinStar also sold She Will Rock, a 2-year-old filly by Will Take Charge, for $200,000 to Rosilyn Polan. Out of the Storm Cat mare Whichwaydidshego, She Will Rock is a half-sister to stakes winners Mark My Way, Hard to Stay Notgo and Haul Anchor and from the family of Grade 1 winner Joking and Grade 2 winners and sires Fed Biz and Tale of the Cat.

Two weanling colts brought $90,000 apiece.

Machmer Hall purchased the first, a son of Speightster out of the Maria’s Mon mare Bear’s Lightning and from the family of Grade 1 winners Overanalyze and Meadow Breeze. He was consigned by Ledgelands, agent.

Fred M. Allor paid $90,000 for a son of Kitten’s Joy who is a half-brother to stakes winner Five Iron. Consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent, he is out of the Thunder Gulch mare Tee Off and from the family of Grade 1 winners Only Queens and Tactile.

The November Sale continues through Friday with all sessions beginning at 10 a.m. ET. The entire auction is streamed live at Keeneland.com.

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For more than 80 years, the Keeneland Association has devoted itself to the health and vibrancy of the Thoroughbred industry. The world’s largest Thoroughbred auction house, Keeneland conducts four sales a year, in January, April, September and November, and its sales graduates dominate racing globally at every level. In April and October, Keeneland offers some of the highest caliber and richest Thoroughbred racing in the world. Keeneland hosted the Breeders’ Cup World Championships in 2015 and will hold the event again in 2020. Uniquely structured, Keeneland is a private, for-profit corporation that returns its earnings to the industry and the community in the form of higher purses and millions of dollars donated in support of horse industry initiatives and charitable contributions for education, research and health and human services throughout Central Kentucky. To learn more, visit Keeneland.com.