Following a global gathering of top talent at the Breeders' Cup World Championships in Lexington, Oct. 30-31, 15 participants from the two-day event are headed to the upcoming November auctions at Fasig-Tipton and Keeneland. Two winners, Kathynmarissa and Ways and Means, will headline the sale action when they go through the ring at Fasig-Tipton's The November Sale, Nov. 2.
Perhaps the most impressive performance by fillies and mares headed to auction was Klaravich Stables' Ways and Means (Hip 161), who took the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) by an authoritative 6 1/4 lengths for trainer Chad Brown. The 5-year-old daughter of Practical Joke is consigned by ELiTE.
"The fact that we get to represent Klaravich Stables every year is an honor and a privilege, because it seems like every year they come up with grade 1-winning fillies," said Bradley Weisbord, founder and managing partner of ELiTE Sales. "They have a top-class racing operation and we don't take this lightly.
"This year specifically, the idea that we're getting a chance to sell a (Breeders' Cup) champion for them is special, and it's rare."
ELiTE is in their 10th year of consigning horses and has sold the sale-topper at The November Sale in 2020 and 2023-24. The highest-priced horse they ever sold at The November Sale was 2018 and 2020 Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) winner Monomoy Girl, who brought $9.5 million in 2020.
"We got a chance to sell Monomoy Girl and Goodnight Olive, and now shipping in Ways and Means this morning, this mare brings those sort of vibes to the consignment," Weisbord said. "We're selling three grade 1 winners, but even when this mare gets off the truck, she brings a boost not only to the consignment, but even the vibes to the sales grounds as a whole."
Weisbord expressed his gratitude to Seth and Beth Klarman of Klaravich Stables and Brown for their trust and support, year after year.
In addition to Ways and Means, ELiTE will also offer Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) participant In Our Time (Hip 203) at Fasig-Tipton. The 5-year-old daughter of Not This Time has earned just shy of $2 million. Her 2026 season was highlighted by a win in the Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf Sprint Stakes (G1T).
Ways and Means' stablemate Kathynmarissa (Hip 208), winner of the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1T), will be available just a few barns down from ELiTE at Gainesway's consignment. The 5-year-old daughter of 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah bested the top domestic and European turf fillies and mares with a thrilling late run under Jose Ortiz.
"It's a special rarity and privilege to sell a mare like Kathynmarissa," said Gainesway Farm general manager Brian Graves. "I can't express how grateful we are to (co-owner) Mr. (Michael) Dubb for the call on that, and we realize how important that is; she really is one of a kind."
Graves said her performance in the Filly and Mare Turf will likely make her a top choice for the Eclipse Award's champion turf female.
"The performance she put in was amazing," he said. "I haven't shown her to many people who didn't tell me that she was one of the most beautiful mares here physically, as well. So, she's got the athleticism and the performance, and she's got the looks."
Gainesway will also offer last year's champion female sprinter and Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint winner Shisospicy at the November Sale. The 4-year-old daughter of Mitole was bumped at the start of Saturday's Turf Sprint and was never a factor.
Graves shares a long history with the filly, having selected her as a short-yearling for $100,000 at the 2023 Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale. Gainesway then sold her as a yearling later that year for $200,000 at the Fasig-Tipton July Selected Yearling Sale and again last year at The November Sale, for $5.2 million to Morplay Racing.
"She's a beautiful mare. It wasn't her day (on Saturday), but she's a champion and she'll always have that to lay back on," Graves said.
R Disaster, who finished eighth in the Filly and Mare Sprint, rounds out Gainesway's Breeders' Cup offerings at The November Sale. The Florida-bred daughter of Awesome Slew had a breakout year for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr., winning three graded stakes races, including the Derby City Distaff (G1T) at Churchill Downs.
Taylor Made Sales Agency will offer four Breeders' Cup runners in the November sales, led by Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint runner-up Cy Fair. The 3-year-old Not This Time filly put in a courageous effort to finish second to the speedy Bacio. Last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1T) winner, Cy Fair, is offered as a racing or broodmare prospect and has immense upside as both a current top-tier athlete and a filly with significant long-term residual value.
prepares for the Breeders' Cup at Keeneland.
She will be consigned as Hip 182 in The November Sale.
"Cy Fair is just automatic. You know she's going to show up," said Mark Taylor, president and CEO of Taylor Made. "She went eight-wide and put in a massive run. You've got to tip your hat to Wesley Ward's horse (Bacio). He's a freak of nature, but for a 3-year-old filly to go up against that group of males and fight down the lane, and she didn't let them get by, that validated how good she is. We're very proud of her."
Taylor said it is a rare opportunity to find a young horse in peak form who is ready to take the next owners to new heights.
"She's unique in here in that she's leaving a lot of blue sky for people to chase next year," he said. "Whether it's Ascot or going down to Australia for the Everest (Stakes), or another Breeders' Cup run, somebody can have a lot of fun with her next year."
Taylor Made will offer three other Breeders' Cup runners during Day 1 of Keeneland's November Breeding Stock Sale, Nov. 3. Foie Gras (Hip 80), runner-up in the Filly and Mare Sprint (G1), leads the group.
The 4-year-old daughter of Volatile hit her stride this year, earning two graded stakes placings. Saturday was her first time against grade 1 company, and she proved she belonged with the best.
"It was a very deep field and she put in a great run," Taylor said. "She's 4, so I think the sky's the limit for her next year. (Trainer) Mike Maker has done a great job with her, and she's had an incredibly consistent and productive year, and it looks like the best days are ahead of her.
"(Breeder) Beau Lane is a legend. That had to make him happy yesterday."
Expensive Queen, fourth-place finisher in the Filly and Mare Turf, will be consigned as Hip 243 for the Taylor Made team at Keeneland. The daughter of Lope de Vega won the Jenny Wiley Stakes (G1T) at Keeneland during the spring meet in a dead heat with Segesta.
Taylor pointed out Lope de Vega's influence over the Breeders' Cup as broodmare sire of Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) winner Benvenuto Cellini and sire of Expensive Queen.
"When you have these European-bred horses come to America and win a grade 1, it's interesting to see how they stack up against the best from Europe when the Europeans come over for the Breeders' Cup," he said. "(Expensive Queen) really validated her grade 1 win. She ran fourth, but she got nipped for third, and she was not far off the winner."
Taylor Made's final Breeders' Cup offering is Majestic Oops (Hip 133), selling at Keeneland. The California-bred daughter of Majestic Harbor was sixth in the Filly and Mare Sprint. She hit the board in five of her seven starts this year, highlighted by a win in the Azeri Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn Park where she bested champion Nitrogen.
Third-place finisher in the Filly and Mare Turf, Jancis will sell as Hip 219 at The November Sale with Brookdale Sales. Fifth-place finisher Bless the Broken (Hip 171) and ninth-place finisher Classic Q (Hip 176) will sell with Hunter Valley Farm, agent and Bluewater Sales, agent, respectively.
Seventh-place finisher in the Filly and Mare Sprint, Simply Joking, will sell at Fasig-Tipton Monday night as Hip 150 with Ballysax Bloodstock.
Kilwin, who was a late-running fourth in the Filly and Mare Sprint, will be offered at Keeneland Nov. 3 by Royal Oak Farm at Hip 114. The 4-year-old daughter of Twirling Candy was making just her third start this year. The versatile filly is a stakes winner on the dirt and the turf. Her career is highlighted by a gritty victory in last year's Test Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course.
She was purchased by Rick Howard at last year's November Breeding Stock Sale for $3 million.
A 50% fractional interest in Stellify (Hip 268) will also be offered at Keeneland's November sale by Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa, agent. The 4-year-old daughter of Justify was 10th in the Filly and Mare Turf.
