Keeneland September Yearling Sale 2015 Overview

Keeneland September Yearling Sale 2015 Overview: Every year, owners, trainers, bloodstock agents, and breeders alike are all in search of that one special horse that could change their lives. For the last 72 years, Keeneland has put together one of the most massive sales in North America. This year, Keeneland has cataloged 4,164 yearlings, all being sold within a two-week time span consisting of twelve sales days and sessions. The average number of horses that will be sold each session will be 347 yearlings.

This year, the sale is represented with established stallions such as Distorted Humor, Giant’s Causeway, Tapit, Arch, Curlin, and War Front. The sale will also see the last yearlings of Harlan’s Holiday and Unbridled’s Song be sold this year. There are also multiple offspring from the only standing sire to have produced a Triple Crown winner, Pioneerof the Nile. He will be strongly represented in this sale in which his offspring are likely to skyrocket in price and value.

The Keeneland Sale is also the only North American sale to sell first-crop yearlings of the “World’s Greatest Racehorse,” Frankel. He is well represented throughout the sale, along with other foreign bloodlines, including Sepoy (AUS), Galileo (IRE), So You Think (NZ), Dansili (GB), and Redoute’s Choice (AUS).

In addition, this sale is loaded with new stallions and new bloodlines to be played with by horsemen. Freshman sires with their first crop of yearlings in this sale include Algorithms, Astrology, Bodemeister, Excelebration (IRE), Jersey Town, Union Rags, Shackleford, and The Factor, among others. These hot young sires include a Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes runner-up in Bodemeister, a precocious but stamina-geared Belmont winner in Union Rags, and a speedy Preakness winner who could run at any distance competitively in Shackleford.

While the sale is happening, so will be some fun events for the clients of Keeneland. While enjoying the sale, try the Keeneland Fall Ale. Keeneland and Country Boy Brewing have partnered to produce Keeneland Fall Ale. The small-batch brew, which was popular when introduced last fall, will be available at Keeneland during the September Sale, Fall Meet, Prelude to the Cup, Breeders’ Cup, and November Sale. Keeneland Fall Ale will also be available at more than 40 local restaurants and bars during that time.

The sale is one of the highest regarded sales in the country. To date, Keeneland September Yearling Sale graduates have won more that 268 stakes races, including 25 Group/Grade I stakes winners. Some popular, well-known horses such as Beholder, Carpe Diem, Jack Milton, Liam’s Map, Keen Ice, Lady Eli, Private Zone, Secret Circle, and Undrafted have passed through the Keeneland sales ring before becoming well respected Grade I winners.

While September is the month of the largest yearling sale, Keeneland hosts other sales that have sold 19 Kentucky Derby winners, 21 Preakness winners, and 18 Belmont winners. Other horses have won multiple Breeders’ Cup races, including Zenyatta, Curlin, A.P. Indy, Sunday Silence, and Alysheba.

The format for the Keeneland September Sale will consist of six books. Book One will include the first three sessions in which 724 yearlings will be sold within the first three days of the sale. Each yearling will be sold in alphabetical order according to the dam. Book One begins on Monday, September 14, and will span through Wednesday, September 16. Thursday is considered a dark day where no sales will take place.

Book Two begins Friday, September 18, and finishes up on Saturday, September 19. Book Three through Six will take the entire second week of the sale. Sunday, September 20, through Saturday, September 26, will conclude the sale for the year. Book One and sessions one through three will begin at 11 a.m. on their scheduled days. Beginning Friday, September 18, through the end of the sale, September 26, the sale will begin at 11 a.m. While attending the sale, don’t forget to try out some of the local food and coffee trucks that will be on scene, offering their services at 7 a.m.