Keeneland September

Lane's End's outstanding Quality Road became the fifth sire to be represented by a seven-figure yearling at Keeneland September when hip 286 was hammered down to bloodstock agent David Ingordo for $1.15 million Tuesday afternoon. The February-foaled bay colt is the first produce from Grade III-placed Brielle's Appeal (English Channel), whose MGSW/MGISP half-sister Authenticity (Quiet American) is the dam of the recently retired MGISW 'TDN Rising Star' Charlatan (Speightstown) as well as SW Hanalei Moon (Malibu Moon). Hip 286 was bred and consigned by William Shively's Dixiana Farms. American Pharoah,...

A filly by perennial leading sire War Front dropped the hammer at $1.2 million from Eddie Woods, agent for Seahorse Stables, to get day two of the Keeneland September Sale off to a positive start Tuesday in Lexington. The Mar. 24 foal is a daughter of the stakes-winning Vaulcluse (A. P. Indy), the dam of Sovereign Award winner Lukes Alley (Flower Alley) as well as SW & GSP 'TDN Rising Star' Arrifana (Curlin). Hip 223 was bred and consigned by Gainesway, who acquired Vaulcluse for $600,000 at the 2016 Fasig-Tipton...

by Jessica Martini, Brian DiDonato & Christie DeBernardis LEXINGTON, KY - The Keeneland September Yearling Sale, led by a trio of million-dollar yearlings, opened with a day of steady trade in Lexington Monday. A total of 95 yearlings sold during the session for $38,172,000, at an average of $401,811 and a median of $325,000. "I think the trade was really strong," Keeneland's new vice president of sales Tony Lacy said at the close of business Monday. "The numbers may have stacked very comparably to last year, but I think there...

A colt by leading sire Into Mischief that was bred by and consigned to the Keeneland September sale by Greg Goodman's Mt. Brilliant Farm was knocked down to Winchell Thoroughbreds for $1.35 million towards the end of the first day of trade in Lexington. A Valentine's Day foal, hip 177 is out of Ballymacoll's Superioritycomplex (Ire) (Hard Spun), a maiden winner over the Chelmsford all-weather in five starts for trainer Sir Michael Stoute before being purchased by Marette Farrell on behalf of Mt. Brilliant for 400,000gns ($566,076) at Tattersalls December...

After paying $575,000 for a Speightstown colt (hip 17) earlier in the session, Don Adam's Courtlandt Farm waded into seven-figure territory as the opening session at Keeneland September neared its midpoint, going to $1.1 million for a filly by Uncle Mo. The dark bay is a daughter of Nikki's Choice (Forestry), a half-sister to GSP Moyo Honey (Mizzen Mast), whose own dam Charming Lauren (Meadowlake) was a full-sister to Grade I-winning juvenile Greenwood Lake. Easily the most popular of her dam's four foals to be offered at public auction, hip...

Bidding on behalf of owner Joe Allen, Alan Quartucci was extended to $1.4 million for an American Pharoah half-sister to Grade I-winning 'TDN Rising Stars' Echo Town (Speightstown) and recent Spinaway S. heroine Echo Zulu (Gun Runner) to lead the early returns during Monday's opening session of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale in Lexington. Hip 43 is a daughter of GSW Letgomyecho (Menifee), whose eight winners from 10 to the races also includes Grade III-winning sophomore J Boys Echo (Mineshaft), GSP Unbridled Outlaw (Unbridled's Song) and SP Dragic (Broken Vow)....

Since Wootton Bassett's sale to Coolmore was announced just over a year ago, the son of Iffraaj has continued to go from strength to strength. This Wednesday will mark another milestone for the former French champion 2-year-old when his first yearling at a North American sale goes through the ring at Keeneland September. Conceived in France and shipped in utero to Kentucky by breeder Bonne Chance Farm, hip 688 was foaled last February at his owner's farm in Versailles. He is the third foal out of Eldacar (Ire) (Verglas {Ire}),...

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency 1st-KD, $135K, Msw, 2yo, f, 1mT, post time: 1:20 p.m. ET CARIOQUINHA (Gun Runner), listed as a $475,000 Keeneland November weanling, is the latest to make the races for her dam Pure Clan (Pure Prize), a three-time Grade I winner on turf who was purchased by Torrealba Holdings for $4.5 million in foal to Bernardini at KEENOV in 2012. Undefeated at two and also a three-time GSW on the main track, Pure Clan is the dam of two winners from three to start, including Three...

When 2020 came to a close, Ashford Stud's GISW Mo Town (Uncle Mo - Grazie Mille, by Bernardini) sat in prime position to see his best book yet as his first crop became yearlings and he began his third year at stud. Sons of Uncle Mo were at the forefront of breeders' minds as esteemed young stallions Nyquist and Laoban finished one-two in the freshman sire standings and were both represented by Grade I winners, while another Uncle Mo prodigy in Outwork ended up a close fourth on the same...

As the agent for the powerful partnership of Mike Repole's Repole Stable and Vinnie Viola's St. Elias (involved in $10,435,000 worth of Keeneland September '20 expenditures, mostly together on Classic-leaning colts); the buyer for upper-market players Robert and Lawana Low ($1,535,000 on four head last September); and in his role as Vice President, Bloodstock for Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners (part of $4,267,000 in buys at KEESEP '20 including the $2-million topper), there aren't many, if any, agents with more money behind them these days than Jacob West. Considering Eclipse partnered on...

The daily number of U.S. deaths from the COVID-19 virus neared 1,000 per day last week, the highest level the country has seen since February. The seven-day moving average of COVID-19 cases reported by the CDC, is at 149,263, and continues to rise. There are currently four variants circulating in the United States; Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Gamma, with Delta making up over 99% of all cases. It seems like every day, someone we know in racing has contracted COVID, from trainer Todd Pletcher to the TDN's own Christina Bossinakis,...

With thousands of horses on offer from the top of the market and on down, Keeneland September is unlike any other yearling sale and requires serious hard work and focus to shop effectively. We've caught up with several prominent buyers to find out how they attack the auction from pre-sale preparations and into the two weeks of selling. This installment features Conor Foley, whose Oracle Bloodstock is active in all segments of the yearling market acquiring horses for both domestic and foreign clients. At last year's September sale, Oracle was...