Keeneland Sales Week One: Numbers are Up!

Keeneland Sales Week One: Numbers are Up!– Every year, the Keeneland September Yearling Sale attracts some of the riches men and women in the world, all hoping to buy that one horse who could change not only the face of racing, but lives. Horses with only the best pedigrees and confirmations are selected into the sale. For 2015, there are 4,164 yearlings cataloged to pass through the sales ring. While some will be withdrawn from the sale, not purchased for their reserve price, or sold privately, thousands of horses and millions of dollars are spent. In the first week of the 2015 sale, 968 horses were sold for a total of $204,918,000. For one week of sales, or five sales sessions, those numbers speak wonders. In the first week of the 2015 sale, numbers are up substantially. In 2014, only 767 horses were sold for a total amount of $177,787,000 in the first five sessions of the sale. The sales topping sires from 2014 were Bernardini, Unbridled’s Song, Dubawi (IRE), Tapit, and Trappe Shot. This year, only Tapit returned to be a sales topping sire for the first five sessions in the first week.

In session one, a filly by War Front sold for $1.45 millions to Shadwell. Timber Town consigned the filly. Out of the Galileo mare Betterbetterbetter, the filly is likely to be raced on the turf and retained to join an elite broodmare band after her racing career. Betterbetterbetter sold for $5.2 million in the 2013 Fasig-Tipton, while in foal to War Front.

As the sales moved along, in session two, a colt by Distorted Humor sold for $1.525 million to Three Chimneys Farm. The colt is a full brother to Maclean’s Music, a stallion standing at Hill n’ Dale in Kentucky. Maclean’s Music was retired after his only start, in which he won, due to complications on the removal of a fractured splint bone. Lanes End Farm consigned the colt.

In session three, the first, and so far only, horse to surpass the two million dollar mark was sold. A son of Tapit was sold for $2.1 million dollars to Mandy Pope, who has a reputation for having built one of the most elite broodmare bands in Kentucky. Gainesway consigned the colt, where the elite stallion Tapit stands stud. The colt is likely to take to the dirt, as he is out a mare that was produced by Winning Colors, winner of the 1988 Kentucky Derby.

On Friday, September 18, the fourth session of the sale took place. A colt topped the session, selling for $700,000. The colt by Uncle Mo was consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, and purchased by Triple Crown winning trainer, Bob Baffert. Uncle Mo currently stands at Ashford Stud in Kentucky for $25,000. He is the #1 First Crop sire, as of now. The colt is out of a Quiet American mare. The colt may take to either dirt or turf, but is likely to find his niche in sprint races.

On Saturday, the fifth session took place. It concluded the first week of the September Keeneland Yearling Sale. A colt by Mineshaft sold for $485,000 and became that session’s top seller. The colt is out of the Menifee mare, Letgomyecho. The colt is likely to be fast, finding his home in shorter to middle distance races. The colt was consigned by Betz Thoroughbreds, and purchased by Kempton Bloodstock. Betz is best known as being the co-breeder of both Mine That Bird and Hoppertunity.

The sales continue through Saturday, September 26, concluding for another year. Champions have come and gone through the sales ring at Keeneland, including horses such as Texas Red, Grand Arch, Hoppertunity, I’m a Chatterbox, Keen Ice, and Lady Eli. If these yearlings make it the track and have half the talent some of the graduates of the Keeneland Sales, we will be hearing about them! There is more to come from Keeneland this week! Find a horse that catches your eyes and try to follow them through their careers. It is an adventure within itself!