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Love To Shop tops second day of Keeneland at $700,000 to Pin Oak Stud

Love To Shop tops day-two proceedings at Keeneland
Love To Shop tops day-two proceedings at Keeneland Credit: Keeneland photo

The hammer dropped at $700,000 to Pin Oak Stud for multiple Graded stakes-placed Love To Stop during the second session of Keeneland's January Sale on Tuesday. She joins Monday purchases Pretty Birdie and Delyahaye as the co-sale topper.

The five-year-old daughter of Violence was bred in Kentucky by DJ Stable and consigned by Claiborne Farm, agent. She is the second foal out of the Uncle Mo mare Tiffany Case, making her a half sister to multiple Grade 1-placed Nitrogen, who won the Ginger Brew Stakes this month at Gulfstream Park.

Love To Shop was purchased for $200,000 as a yearling at Keeneland's September Sale in 2021, by Repole Stable and St Elias Stables.

"That was huge," said Jacob West, Claiborne Farm's stallion seasons and bloodstock manager. 

"She was a filly that was bought as a yearling for Mike Repole and Vinnie Viola. We always knew she was going to end up at a public auction to dissolve the partnership. To be quite honest, that exceeded a little bit of our expectations. She was such a beautiful filly.

"This was a very rare case of putting her into a spot here where she could stand out. At the end of the day, a lot of people try to hold onto their quality horses. That is the market we're in. They get rewarded when they sell them or sell yearlings out of them, but she happened to be the prize jewel of the sale so far, in our minds, and it worked out well."

Love To Shop raced three times for Todd Pletcher and was transferred to the care of Woodbine-based Kevin Attard after she broke her maiden at Belmont Park. She hit the board in all of her ten career starts, winning a Listed race in Canada and finishing second or third there in four Graded stakes.

After recently shipping into Turfway Park and coming up with a foot abscess, the mare was scratched and sent to Margaux Farm, where she was prepped coming into the sale.

"Those guys have done an incredible job with her," said West. "They've had her for the last 30 days ticking her over and keeping her in light training. She shipped in to us and looked incredible. Kevin Attard had her and she looked unbelievable.

"As Claiborne, we ended up just selling on one day and it worked out well," he said. "This was obviously a highlight. I think she's the co-sales topper, which is just an awesome result for everyone involved. 

“Kudos to Kevin and his team getting her to be worth this much, and I know Mr Repole and Mr Viola are ecstatic. A plan came together, they don't always do that, but in this instance it did. We're just happy to hear that Pin Oak got her. She's going to a great home and she'll get every opportunity."

Day 2 produced solid trade with short yearlings and well-bred broodmares, particularly in demand. The second session saw 249 head sell for $11,013,300, with an average of $44,230 and a median of $20,000. Eighty-two horses failed to meet their reserve, resulting in an RNA rate of 24.8 per cent.

Last year's second session saw 218 horses change hands for a total of $14,574,200, including private sales, that produced an average of $66,854. The median was $30,000. The RNA rate was 20.7 per cent, representing the 57 horses who failed to meet their reserve.

Keeneland's January Sale saw a change in format for 2025, decreasing from four sessions to three. Book 1 took place on Monday, with Book 2 on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Taylor Made Sales Agency was the leading consignor on Tuesday, with 38 head selling for $1,762,000.


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