Although fewer horses have sold at this stage of the auction than last year, the gross and average post gains. Through five sessions, 1,119 horses have grossed $228,414,200, including post-ring sales—a 2.4% increase over last year's $223,025,500.
Geldings Mercante and Kupuna turned the six-horse River City Stakes (G3T) into a bit of a match race Nov. 7 at Churchill Downs with Mercante edging to a half-length victory in the 1 1/8-mile turf race for 3-year-olds and up.
Considering she is a full sister to an older brother who won his first graded stakes by 23 lengths at Belmont Park, the bloodlines said it was quite logical that Tap to Open would also notch her initial graded stakes win at the Elmont, N.Y., oval.