NEWS
Phone Chatter sells for $3.6-million at Keeneland
Posted: Tuesday, November 06, 2001
Until 3:30 p.m. EST on the second day of the Keeneland November breeding stock sale, the name of John Magnier was conspicuously absent from the buyers list, at least until the master of Coolmore Stud made his usual grand entrance, paying $3.6-million for 1993 champion two-year-old filly Phone Chatter. Sold in foal to winner Dixie Union, the ten-year-old daughter of Phone Trick was consigned by Fred Seitz's Brookdale Farm, agent for the breeding stock reduction of Herman Sarkowsky.
Winner of the 1993 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) and Oak Leaf Stakes (G1), Phone Chatter is already dam of 2001 Nassau County Stakes (G2) winner Cat Chat.
"I had her pegged at $3-million," said Joe Seitz, son of Fred Seitz. "We're really delighted for Mr. Sarkowsky. He's a really nice man."
Phone Chatter is the fifth mare sold for $1-million or more so far in the second session and 14th overall. At the same sale last year, 35 mares sold for $1-million or more.
Dancing Mahmoud, dam of multiple Grade 2 winner Guided Tour, and Grade 1 winner Golden Ballet fetched seven-figure prices prior to the midpoint of the second session of the Keeneland November breeding stock sale, which continued to set a slightly stronger pace than the first session.
Dancing Mahmoud, an 11-year-old Topsider mare who is half-sister to three stakes winners in addition to producing millionaire Guided Tour, elicited a $3-million bid from agent Reynolds Bell, who was seated with his biggest clients Richard Santulli and George Prussin, owners of Jayeff B Stable.
Following the reticent trend of the day, Bell declined to talk to the press and asked photographers not to take pictures. Consigned by Eaton Sales, agent, Dancing Mahmoud is in foal to Seeking the Gold.
Golden Ballet, who swept Santa Anita Park's three-year-old filly series this spring before suffering a career-ending injury after her second-place finish in the Ashland Stakes (G1), went to Aaron Jones for $1.6-million.
Consigned by Craig Bandoroff's Denali Stud, Golden Ballet, by Moscow Ballet out of Golden Jewel Box, by Slew o' Gold, has not been bred.—John P. Sparkman
