Spangled Banner Sells for $1 Million at Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale

Spangled Banner Sells for $1 Million to Al Ruwais Stables at Keeneland November Sale

Spangled Banner, the dam of Champagne Stakes (G1) winner U.S.S. Valor, sold for $1 million to Al Ruwais Stables during the fifth session of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale on Nov. 7, becoming the first horse to reach seven figures in that session, Yahoo Sports reported.

The 15-year-old daughter of Tiz Wonderful was consigned by Bluewater Sales and purchased by Bertie Butler on behalf of Al Ruwais Stables. She is in foal to Tiz the Law and is the dam of U.S.S. Valor, who captured the Oct. 3 Champagne (G1) at Belmont Park by 6½ lengths.

A Mare with a Championship Pedigree

Spangled Banner hails from the family of Grade 1 winner Curalina and is out of the Eastern Echo mare Eastern Ruckus. She is also a half-sister to stakes winner Ladyecho and produced the Grade 1-placed Expressman. According to Bloodhorse.com, the mare has produced five winners from six to race and does not look her age.

Butler credited U.S.S. Valor’s recent Champagne victory as the driving force behind the purchase. “That pushes you a lot. He’s a very good horse,” Butler said, according to Bloodhorse.com. “She had bred a good horse previously (Expressman), and she doesn’t look her age. She’s a very nice mare and the boss wanted her; he really liked her. The update’s good. I think he could be a very good horse.”

Topping Saturday’s Auction Prices

At this year’s November Breeding Stock Sale, Spangled Banner became the 25th horse to command $1 million or more, while 18 horses reached seven figures in 2025. She topped Saturday’s fifth session, which saw 246 horses sell through the ring for $21,397,000, an average of $86,980 and a median of $70,000, Yahoo Sports reported. The session’s gross was down 15.52% from $25,328,500 in 2025, while the median fell 17.65% from $85,000.

Through five days, 1,038 horses had sold for a gross of $217,742,700, an average of $209,772 and a median of $115,000—figures that put the total 1.34% above the $214,871,000 generated from 1,125 horses over the same period last year, though the median dipped 11.54% from $130,000.

Other Notable Sales on Saturday

At $375,000, the session’s highest-priced weanling was a colt by Tiz the Law purchased by Tioga Bloodstock. Consigned by Blandford Stud, the colt is out of Teasin’ Tesla, by Will Take Charge, and comes from the family of Grade 1 winners Cotton Blossom and Ceiling Crusher.

Wellston, whose half-sister Troienne won Keeneland’s Bank of America Valley View (G2) on Oct. 23, sold in foal to Sierra Leone to Springland Farm for $335,000. A weanling filly by Golden Pal consigned by Paramount Sales sold to Caitlin Dunne, agent for Wesley Ward, for $285,000, while Shared Value, a 3-year-old daughter of Gun Runner in foal to Mindframe, sold to Four Star Sales for $280,000.

Al Ruwais Stables Leads Buying

Al Ruwais Stables led all buyers, purchasing two horses for a combined $1,110,000. In addition to Spangled Banner, the stable bought Wild Mint, a 12-year-old daughter of Medaglia d’Oro in foal to Mindframe, for $110,000. Wild Mint, a full sister to leading sire Violence, was consigned by KatieRich Farms. Gainesway led consignors by selling 39 horses for $3,364,000.

According to Bloodhorse.com, Spangled Banner had been sold at six prior Keeneland November auctions, with her most recent transaction coming via the Fasig-Tipton August Digital Sale in 2022 when Barry and Kathleen Irwin acquired her for $225,000.