November Weanling Pinhookers Well-Rewarded
The market for weanlings was competitive during the 2022 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale, and those pinhookers willing to take risks to acquire some of the strongest offerings were well rewarded when those foals were offered at this year’s Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
The 264 weanling to yearling pinhooks bought for an aggregate $22,038,400 in 2022 grossed $38,757,700 during this year’s robust September Sale, a return of 71.3% in the sales ring.
2022 Keeneland November Weanlings in Review
| Pinhooked Weanlings | 264 |
| Keeneland November Purchases | $22,038,4400 |
| Keeneland September Returns | $38,757,700 (+71%) |
St George Yearlings Stand Out
The St George Sales pinhooking team knocked it out of the park with two pinhooks sold for seven figures. The pair that had been bought at the November Sale for a total $925,000 grossed $2.8 million in September.
The team stepped up to pay $550,000 for an Into Mischief colt consigned to the 2022 November Sale by Havens Bloodstock Agency. The colt, produced from Grade 2-winning mare Princess Haya, was later sold as a yearling to MV Magnier of Coolmore Stud for $1.8 million.
Their strategy paid off again when they sold a Not This Time colt that had been purchased from Brookdale Sales, agent for Virginia breeder Audley Farm, for $375,000 to West Point Thoroughbreds and Mike Talla for $1.05 million.
The beauty of buying at the November sale is the depth of the market. It’s the primary place to buy foals.
Hunter Valley’s Good Magic Colt Scores
The partners at Hunter Valley Farm have a propensity for finding weanlings and developing them into yearlings attractive to September Sale shoppers. A Good Magic colt that was a $210,000 acquisition last November blossomed into a promising athlete that was sold for $725,000 to the partnership of Eclipse Thoroughbreds/Walmac Farm/Bridlewood Farm/Robert LaPenta.
Since we started Hunter Valley, we have always tried to bring our most forward foals to the marketplace. It seems year after year, domestic and international buyers and pinhookers like to shop at Keeneland.
Woods Edge Pinhooks Popular
Peter O’Callaghan’s Woods Edge Farm is consistently one of the most successful pinhooking consignors of yearlings bought at the November Sale. Two foals purchased for $260,000 each, a Twirling Candy colt and a son of Maclean’s Music—as weanlings were sold as yearlings for $700,000 and $625,000 respectively. Both were purchased by Donato Lanni, agent for SF Bloodstock/Starlight Racing/Madaket Stables.
Gainesway Continues Pinhooking Success
Brian Graves is another astute judge of young horses and this year two of the most profitable yearlings sold in September came from Gainesway, where Graves is General Manager.
A Curlin colt from the family of Sea Hero that had been acquired as weanling for $300,000 went to the account of Donato Lanni, agent for SF Bloodstock/Starlight Racing/Madaket Stables, for $700,000 at this year’s September Sale.
A Liam’s Map yearling colt purchased for $600,000 by Paul Neatherlin, agent for Alliance Ranches LLC, had been a $230,000 weanling acquisition on behalf of the Gainesway pinhooking group.
