Mandy Pope goes to $600,000 for half-sister to Grade 1 winner at Keeneland

Mandy Pope's Whisper Hill Farm added another prospect to the broodmare band, going to $600,000 for the three-year-old filly Adoptable at the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale in Lexington on Friday. 

The unraced daughter of Curlin was consigned by Claiborne Farm, agent.

Adoptable was bred in Kentucky by Don Alberto Corporation out of the multiple stakes-producing Ghostzapper mare American Story, making her a half sister to Grade 1 winner American Gal, stakes winner Americanize and Grade 3-placed Magic Tap.

"I own part of the family [American Gal] and have been happy with the foals," said Pope. "She's good-looking and we're just trying to keep the family going. She could have been in Book 1 or Book 2, she qualified for that."

Pope purchased American Gal at Fasig-Tipton's November Sale in 2018 for $3 million. Her first foal, a filly by Curlin named Weather Delay, sold for $500,000 to Repole Stable at the 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Last year, her Into Mischief colt sold for $1.1m to Grandview Equine at the Keeneland September sale.

"Very happy with the sale," said Bradley Purcell, farm manager at Claiborne. "She was a $450,000 yearling [sold at the 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale] so we were thinking maybe $250,000 or $300,000. 

“Very pleased with the outcome and with the home she got. She was a standout with her pedigree and her looks. She was in the right spot."

The fourth day of the sale produced a gross of $18,612,500 from the 255 horses that changed hands, with an average of $72,990 and a median of $55,000; all up from last year's results. The clearance rate was 81 per cent.

The November Sale continues on Saturday, with the fifth session beginning at 10am local time (3pm GMT). 

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