Keeneland has cataloged a record 5,555 yearlings – the largest ever offered – for the September Sale, to be held September 8-23. Sessions begin daily at 10 a.m. ET; no sale will be conducted Friday, September 12.
Reigning Horse of the Year Curlin, the second-leading money-earner of all time and winner of six Grade 1 stakes, including the Dubai World Cup (G1), Preakness (G1), Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) and recent Woodward Stakes (G1), is a graduate of the 2005 September Sale. Among other 2007 champion alumni are Rags to Riches, War Pass, Wait a While, Midnight Lute, English Channel and Maryfield; Good Ba Ba, Horse of the Year and champion miler in Hong Kong; and Canadian Horse of the Year Arravale.
The winners of the first two Grade 1 filly stakes of 2008 – Mani Bhavan (Spinaway Stakes) and Stardom Bound (Del Mar Debutante) – were sold at last year’s September Sale. Other recent stakes-winning alumni include Ariege, Benny the Bull, Casino Drive, Desert Party, Divine Park, Dixie Chatter, Eight Belles, Forever Together, Frost Giant, Intangaroo, Mrs. Lindsay, Rio de La Plata, Street Boss, Unbridled Belle, Zaftig and Zenyatta.
“Keeneland September Sale graduates have distinguished themselves on every racing front,” Russell noted. “We were represented last year by six Eclipse Award winners, including Horse of the Year; two classic winners in Curlin and Rags to Riches; five winners of the Breeders’ Cup, including a 1-2 finish with Curlin and Hard Spun in the Breeders’ Cup Classic; and War Pass, the highweighted colt on the Experimental Free Handicap. It was an extraordinary year, and the momentum has continued into 2008 with 17 Grade 1 winners to date.”
The world’s most prominent sires are represented by September Sale yearlings, including A. P. Indy, Awesome Again, Danehill Dancer (IRE), Distorted Humor, Dixie Union, Dynaformer, El Prado (IRE), Elusive Quality, Empire Maker, Forestry, Fusaichi Pegasus, Galileo (IRE), Giant’s Causeway, Gone West, Harlan’s Holiday, Johannesburg, Kingmambo, Malibu Moon, Medicean (GB), Mineshaft, Montjeu (IRE), More Than Ready, Mr. Greeley, Peintre Celebre, Pivotal (GB), Pulpit, Rahy, Sadler’s Wells, Seeking the Gold, Smart Strike, Storm Cat, Street Cry (IRE), Theatrical (IRE), Tiznow, Unbridled’s Song and Vindication, among others.
Also cataloged are yearlings by such top young sires as Afleet Alex, Candy Ride (ARG), Chapel Royal, Closing Argument, Congaree, Consolidator, Eddington, Eurosilver, Forest Danger, Friends Lake, Ghostzapper, Leroidesanimaux (BRZ), Limehouse, Lion Heart, Medaglia d’Oro, North Light (IRE), Offlee Wild, Pollard’s Vision, Pleasantly Perfect, Purge, Rock Hard Ten, Roman Ruler, Saint Liam, Smarty Jones, Speightstown, Strong Hope, Tapit and Value Plus, among others.
Keeneland Productions and HRTV are partnering to provide live coverage of the opening two days of the September Yearling Sale, September 8-9. Keeneland.com will stream the live auction signal each day of the 15-day sale. During the opening two days, a second stream also will provide enhanced coverage and commentary.
Last year’s auction produced total sales of more than $385 million, the second-highest grossing September Sale in Keeneland history. An industry record 3,799 yearlings were sold, including 32 for $1 million or more. Demi O’Byrne, on behalf of John Magnier and Coolmore Stud, purchased the sale topper, bidding $3.7 million for a colt by Unbridled’s Song out of Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Secret Status, from the consignment of Lane’s End, agent.