$14,000 is Today's Price for a Nice Thoroughbred Mare

Back when the Keeneland November catalogs came out, I spent a lot of time perusing the offerings, and one that was offered on Day 11 -- today! -- caught my eye.  She seemed to be poorly placed, as far as I could tell -- her sale catalog page looked more impressive than many broodmares from a couple of books ahead of her.

Here she is:  TWILITE TRYST (pedigree, catalog page). 

Now, I admit, I'm a fool for Afternoon Deelites (SRO).  What's not to love -- you get Private Terms and his unbeatable female influences (the La Troienne line plus the Shenanigans family of Ruffian)... with broodmare sire line influences of Secretariat and Northern Dancer and Ack Ack.  Put that all together and Afternoon Deelites was a grade I-level runner at 2, 3, and 4, and a millionaire when he retired.

But Twilite Tryst brought more to the table than a good regional sire.  She has a female family that's been successful in recent generations.  Her granddam, Landera, was a fine mare who produced multiple grade I-winning millionaire Cutlass Reality, and was also granddam of grade I winner and classic-placed Ten Most Wanted (SRO). 

Twilite Tryst herself was a grade III-placed winner of over $225,000.  One thing that impressed me was 17 times in the money (including six wins) from 25 starts.  I like a mare with a solid race record.

At 10 years old, she's still young enough to serve quite a while in a good broodmare band.  She's got a nice foaling history and is in foal to a decent second-year Kentucky stallion.

I was at the sale to watch her go through the ring.  Big, correct, well put-together chestnut mare with no real physical downside.

Folks, to me, this catalog page says she'd be a bargain at $50,000.  She RNA'd for $14,000 today.

It's a buyers' market out there.