Lush Lips tops Keeneland November at $3.7 million

Fresh off a win in the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup, private purchase Lush Lips topped the Keeneland November Sale in Kentucky when sold for $3.7 million to Dixiana Farm.

The Ten Sovereigns filly was a private purchase by Avenue Bloodstock on behalf of Medallion Racing, Parkland Thoroughbreds, Hoffman Thoroughbreds, Mrs. Paul Shanahan and Mrs. M.V. Magnier. Lush Lips began her career with Donnacha O’Brien, for whom she was second at Tipperary. She was purchased to go to the US following that run and having joined the barn of Brendan Walsh, went on to win the Listed Tepin Stakes and run second in the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks prior to landing the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland.

She was sold at the November Sale through Taylor Made Sales Agency.

“We got to see her win the Grade 1 here,” Dixiana owner William Shively said. “We’ve been trying to get grass fillies that really can run. We bought two today, and that’s the future for Dixiana. Brendan (Walsh, who has conditioned Lush Lips) trains for us already, so we’ll be keeping her at Brendan’s.”