$650,000 Conquest Eclipse Another Keeneland Session Topper For Justify

A day after buying a mare in-foal to Triple Crown winner American Pharoah for $700,000 at the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale, Clarkland Farm’s Fred Mitchell was back again on Thursday to purchase the session topping Conquest Eclipse in foal to 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify.

Sold for $650,000 from Summerfield’s consignment, the Grade I placed mare is in foal to the undefeated Justify on a March 3 cover. She is a half-sister to stakes winner and Grade III-placed Bear’sway and hails from the family of Grade I winner Colonel John and Grade I-placed Mr. Hot Stuff.

Mitchell told Keeneland that he was specifically after a mare in foal to Justify at this sale.

“She was a gorgeous mare, and she was in foal to Justify. I really wanted a Justify,” he said. “We just hope luck stays with us. We hope those mares throw beautiful foals for us.”

Triple Crown winners have been good to Clarkland Farm with the operation selling an $8.2 million filly by American Pharoah out of Leslie’s Lady at Keeneland in September.

This is the second session topper for Justify at Keeneland September after Take Charge Brandi sold in foal to last year’s Horse of the Year for $3.2 million during Book 1 on Wednesday.