BY BROCK SHERIDAN

Florida-bred graded stakes-placed Epona’s Hope, who raced for Leon Ellman, Glassman Racing LLC and Laurie Plesa, sold for $580,000 Wednesday during the second session of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. Cataloged as Hip 388 from the Hidden Brook as agent consignment, by 4-year-old daughter of Ocala Stud stallion Adios Charlie was purchased by Richard and Connie Snyder’s Cove Springs LLC of Versailles, Ky.

Trained by Eddie Plesa Jr. throughout most of her career, this year Epona’s Hope won the $135,000 Ladies Turf Sprint and $108,000 Captiva Island at Gulfstream Park and was third behind Florida-bred winner Queen Maxima in her track record performance in the $329,000 Unbridled Sidney presented by Cygames (Grade 3) at Churchill Downs. She retired with earnings of $402,918.

 

Bred in Florida by Ocala Stud and Edward Wiest and William J. Terrill, Epona’s Hope is out of the Trippi mare Alotofappeal and is a half-sister to Florida-bred multiple stakes-winner King Cab, stakes-winner B C’s Train, Florida-bred graded stakes-placed runners Talk Logistics and Schivarelli and stakes-placed Florida-breds Sonoma Crush and Big Rings.

She was sold as a racing or broodmare prospect.

Hip 307, Florida-bred stakes-winner Belle’s Blue Bell dropped the gavel at $300,000 on a final bid from Larkin Armstrong as agent. Sold as a broodmare prospect, the Jacks or Better Farm Inc. homebred Belle’s Blue Bell won the 2024 Maryfield Stakes at Monmouth Park and retired last year with earnings of $210,000 from four wins in 12 starts with two seconds.

She is by Girvin out of the Awesome of Course mare Awesome Belle, a half-sister to multiple graded stakes-winning Florida-bred Midas Eyes, winner of the Grade 1 Forego; multiple graded stakes-winning Florida-bred Bayou’s Lassie, multiple stakes-winning Florida-bred Best Plan Yet, stakes-winning Florida-bred Bourbon N Blues and Group 1-placed Florida-bred Al Zir.

Belle’s Blue Bell was sold as a broodmare prospect.

Graded stakes-placed and multiple stakes-winning Florida-bred Beth’s Dream sold for $200,000 to James Schurman as Hip 310 from the consignment of Francis and Barbara Vanlangendonck’s Summerfield.

Bred in Florida by Dr. and Mrs. James Gamble and raced by Virginia Gamble, Beth’s Dream is by Jess’s Dream out of out of the stakes-winning Milwaukee Brew mare Gator Brew. Beth’s Dream won the 2024 Sheer Drama Handicap, won the 2023 Heavenly Cause Stakes and was second in the 2024 Princess Rooney Invitational (G2) won by next out PNC Bank Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1)-winner Soul of An Angel.

Hip 463, the Florida-bred mare Lailoni, dam of Florida-bred graded stakes-winner Mythical, was purchased by Jane Lyon’s Summer Wind Equine for $200,000. Consigned by Four4M Ranch as agent, Lailoni is by Arindel stallion Brethren out of the Grade 3-winning mare Dat You Miz Blue, by Cure the Blues. Lailoni is a half-sister to Grade 3-placed Amigo, graded stakes-producer Mystic Blue and Miso Blue.

Arindel homebred Mythical this year won the Grade 3 Adirondack, was the first filly since 1995 to win the $145,000 Tremont (Listed), both at Saratoga Race Course; and in her last start set a stakes record in winning the $200,000 Susan’s Girl at Gulfstream Park. 

Sales of $47 million at Wednesday’s second session of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale—led by Raging Torrent Syndicate’s $1.3 million purchase of the broodmare Anywho in foal to Not This Time — nearly doubled the gross recorded on Day 2 of the auction last year. Anywho is the first seven-figure horse sold during the second session since 2022.

On a day of consistent trade with continued strong participation of domestic buyers at the top end of the market, Keeneland sold 235 horses through the ring for $47,362,000, an increase of 60.88% over the second session last year when 201 horses brought $29,440,000. The average climbed 37.60% from $146,468 to $201,540, and the median rose 33.33% from $120,000 to $160,000. 

Cumulatively, 357 horses have grossed $120,099,000, a 30.81% increase from last year’s $91,810,000 for 344 horses sold. The average of $336,412 rose 26.05% compared to $266,890 in 2024 while the median of $225,000 is 12.50% higher than $200,000.

The Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale continues today through Nov. 11.

–Portions of this report were taken directly from a Keeneland press release.

Return to the November 6 issue of Wire to Wire