Tiffany Case: A $3.2 Million "Bombazo" to Kick Off Keeneland January

The mother of G1 winner Nitrogen reached the top price during the opening session of the January mixed sales, acquired by Mandy Pope for her Whisper Hill Farm

Tiffany Case Commands Highest Price at Keeneland January Since 2019 / KEENELAND

LEXINGTON, Kentucky.— The start of the Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale couldn't have been more spectacular. Tiffany Case, the dam of Nitrogen (Medaglia D'Oro)—a finalist for the Eclipse Award as Champion 3-Year-Old Filly of 2025—and in foal to the highly coveted Not This Time, stole the show on Monday. She was acquired by Mandy Pope’s Whisper Hill Farm for a staggering $3,200,000, marking the top price of the opening session.

The first session of this two-day auction also featured other major milestones: $2,000,000 was paid for G1 winner Simply in Front (Summer Front), and $800,000 for a Gun Runner short yearling.

The price tag for Tiffany Case represents the highest disbursement at a January sale since 2019, when the champion and elite broodmare prospect Abel Tasman (Quality Road) was purchased by M.V. Magnier for $5,000,000. Meanwhile, the Gun Runner colt recorded the highest price for a foal of his age at this sale in the last 11 years.

During Monday's session, Keeneland sold 319 horses in the ring for a total of $31,706,400, representing a 75.30% increase over the first session of 2025 ($18,087,000 for 200 head). The average rose to $99,393 (up 9.91% from last year's $90,435), while the median of $42,000 was 35.38% below the $65,000 recorded in 2025. Notably, two horses surpassed the million-dollar mark this year, whereas last year’s opening day peaks barely reached $700,000.

"It was a great day," said Tony Lacy, Keeneland Vice President of Sales. "I think the structure of creating two big sessions generated momentum that held until the end. Seeing the last Gun Runner sell for $575,000 at the close reflects a very positive day at all levels."

Cormac Breathnach, Senior Director of Sales Operations, added: "It’s a new year, and the January sale offers many possibilities. We had a great international and online presence. Seeing it come to life this way is very encouraging for the rest of 2026."

The Jewel in the Crown

Tiffany Case, a 13-year-old daughter of Uncle Mo, is also the dam of stakes winner Love to Shop (Violence). Consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, Frank Taylor noted: “(Her Gun Runner filly born in July) is a beauty. She will be retained by the Greens (D.J. Stable) to race. Since they already have Nitrogen, they decided to sell the dam. Tiffany Case is an incredible mare; she always produces Class A individuals. Plus, she’s in foal to Not This Time, who had 17 yearlings sell for over a million in 2025.”

Taylor Made led the consignor standings on Monday with sales totaling $7,602,500 (44 head), while Whisper Hillwas the leading buyer with its single acquisition of the day.

Other Notable Prices

Greg Tramontin’s Greenwell Thoroughbreds spent $2,000,000 for Simply in Front, a 5-year-old daughter of Summer Front who won the First Lady (G1) at Keeneland and amassed nearly $2.9 million in earnings. The mare will be bred to Not This Time. “We believe she will be a foundation mare for our farm,” Tramontin stated.

In the yearling category, the top price was $800,000, paid by MWG (Marc Gunderson) for a son of Gun Runner and G2 winner Deceptive Vision (A.P. Indy), from the family of Canadian champions Eye of the Sphynx (Smart Strike)and Eye of the Leopard (A.P. Indy).

Finally, two other offerings hit the $625,000 mark:

• Just Soaring: A 5-year-old mare by Justify (family of Giant’s Causeway) in foal to Practical Joke, acquired by Hunter Valley Farm.

• A colt by Into Mischief, a half-brother to G1 winner Cogburn (Not This Time), purchased by Glen Hill Farm.