Keeneland September Sale

'Rising Star' Sweet Rebecca Leads Home American Pharoah 1-2 at Keeneland

5th-Keeneland, $123,056, Alw, 4-25, (NW2$X), 4yo/up, f/m, 1mT, 1:38.58, yl, neck. SWEET REBECCA (f, 4, American Pharoah--Sweet N Discreet {SW & GSP, $366,447}, by Discreet Cat), a latest fifth to the commonly owned Pounce (Lookin At Lucky) in the GIII Lake George Stakes at Saratoga last July, led home a 1-2 finish for her Coolmore-based stallion in a salty allowance on closing day of the spring stand at Keeneland. Off at a penny shy of 4-1, the $250,000 Keeneland September yearling was given a positive ride by Flavien Prat and...

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$1.5-million Tiz the Law Colt Puts Exclamation Point on Record-Setting OBS Spring Sale

by Jessica Martini & Stefanie Grimm OCALA, FL - The Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training had one more seven-figure juvenile up its sleeve with a colt by Tiz the Law bringing a sale-topping $1.5 million during the final session of the four-day auction which concluded with it third straight record average Friday. "We are very appreciative and glad and happy--all of the adjectives you can apply to the week," OBS Director of Sales Tod Wojciechowski said at the close of business Friday. "It was a...

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Monday Insights: More Than Ready Filly Goes For D'Angelo At Keeneland

5th-KEE, $110K, Msw, 3yo, f, 6f, 3:08 p.m. ET. Sprinting over the main track is first timer MIDNIGHT MYTH (More Than Ready). The filly was taken home by Kerri Radcliffe for $550,000 at the Keeneland September Sale. Out of GII Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes heroine Fioretti (Bernardini), the Jose D'Angelo trainee hails from an extended female family which includes GISW Fault (Blame). TJCIS PPS 1st-KEE, $90K, Msw, 2yo, 4 1/2f, 1:00 p.m. ET. More first-crop sires will have their initial runners exit the Keeneland chute, as the 'baby races'...

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The Pride Of Iowa: Cyclone State Steps Up To International Stage In Saudi Derby

When Iowa-bred Cyclone State (McKinzie) breaks out of the starting gate for Saturday's $1.5-million G3 Saudi Derby, part of the Saudi Cup undercard at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh, odds are that the loudest cheers will be emanating from halfway across the world at the Iowa State University (ISU) Equine Farm. That is where the colt, bred by Allen Poindexter, was born on April 29, 2022. It's an evening foaling that Nikki Ferwerda, a faculty member of the ISU Animal Science department and manager of the university's equine facilities, still...

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Dec. 1 Insights: Half-Brother to Mage, Dornoch Debuts at Del Mar

9th-DMR, $54k, Msw, 2yo, 1mT, 7:28p.m. ET Looking to add to Puca (Big Brown)'s remarkable streak of runners, BAEZA (McKinzie) will go to post in the turf night cap at Del Mar. Racing for the partnership of C R K Stable and Grandview Equine, the John Shirreffs trainee has big shoes to fill as the half-brother to MGISW Dornoch (Good Magic) and his full-brother, GI Kentucky Derby hero Mage. Even before those two, their dam had produced another stakes runner, namely Gunning (Gun Runner). She was placed in the Listed...

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Second-Timer Golden Gamble Romps for McPeek in 'Rising Star' Performance Beneath the Twin Spires

Golden Gamble (f, 2, Laoban--Me and Mine, by Bernardini) stamped herself as a filly to watch for trainer Ken McPeek with a 'TDN Rising Star' performance at second asking traveling around two turns in the Churchill nightcap Saturday. The 5-2 chance found a perfect spot beneath Brian Hernandez, Jr. in an outside fourth through fractions of :23.60 and :48.17. Traveling nicely rounding the far turn, she made a flashy, three-wide move to stick her head in front approaching the quarter pole, and, despite racing a bit green as they straightened,...

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'TDN Rising Star' Two Sharp Is Too Fast In Chilukki Stakes Under Twin Spires

Coming out of the chute at Churchill Downs in the GIII Chilukki Stakes, Two Sharp (Twirling Candy--Double Sharp, by Distorted Humor) had a singular mission ahead as she stretched her legs on the one-turn mile dirt course--make the front. The 3-year-old accomplished that task in spectacular fashion and cruised home for her first black-type and graded stakes score amid what continues to be a promising career at the races. The $925,000 Keeneland September grad taken home by Richard Rigney was named a 'TDN Rising Star' at second asking when she...

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Saturday Racing Insights: Pricey Twirling Candy Colt Yinzer Rehearsed for Churchill Downs Bow

7th-CD, $120K, Msw, 2yo, 6 1/2f, 3:55 p.m. ET. A $1-million buy at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling Sale, YINZER (Twirling Candy) takes the racing stage for the ownership group of West Point Thoroughbreds, CJ Stables and Bill Farish. The Steve Asmussen trainee is out of Rehearsed (Tapit) who is a full-sister to GISP Closing Bell and a half-sister to GII San Felipe Stakes hero Hear the Ghost (Ghostzapper). Also making the races is Aerate (Candy Ride {Arg]). The Stone Farm homebred trained by Brian Lynch was produced by Ducru...

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Friday's Racing Insights: Pletcher Stablemates Unveil Their Own Eras Tour At Gulfstream

2nd-GP, $60K, Msw, 3yo/up, f/m, 6f, 12:52 p.m. ET. A pair of 3-year-olds from the shedrow of Todd Pletcher will make their debut with Lasix from the inside gates. Exiting the rail spot is RUMOURS HAVE IT (Tapit). The filly is a Whisper Hill homebred who is out of dual champion Songbird (Medaglia d'Oro). Mandy Pope went to $9.5 million to acquire this dam at the 2017 Fasig-Tipton Fall Mixed Sale. Rumours Have It is her third foal and second to make the races. Emanating from next door is Taylor...

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Saturday's Racing Insights: Gate Appointment For Madame Secretary Confirmed At Seaside Oval

7th-DMR, $54K, Msw, 2yo, f, 5fT, 6:30 p.m. ET. MADAME SECRETARY (Constitution) makes her first start for MyRacehorse and Brook Smith after she was purchased at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Yearling Sale for $900,000 by Rocket Ship and Gandharvi. Sent to Richard Mandella, the filly is out of MSP Nina Fever (Borrego), who was taken home by Blandford Bloodstock for $500,000 while Madame Secretary was in-utero. This dam produced GI Frizette Stakes heroine and $3 million Fasig-Tipton Mixed Sale buy Nickname (Scat Daddy), who herself is responsible for Irish group stakes...

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Friday's Insights: $1.4M Into Mischief Colt Debuts at Churchill Downs

3rd-CD, $120K, Msw, 2yo, 7f, 2:02p.m. Winchell Thoroughbreds' MISCHIEVOUS INTENT (Into Mischief) kicks off for trainer Steve Asmussen at Churchill Downs Friday. He has been working steadily at the Louisville oval of late, including a three-furlong move in :37 2/5 Oct. 28. Out of MGISW Guarana, the 2-year-old brought $1.4 million at Keeneland September in 2023.His dam, a daughter of Ghostzapper, realized $4.4 million at the Fasig-Tipton November sale in 2021 and a colt by Charlatan out of the mare brought $1.4 million at Keeneland this past September. Erik Asmussen...

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International Buyers Encounter Same Strong Market at Keeneland

At a record-breaking Keeneland September Sale, there were very few hidden gems throughout the two weeks of trade and buyers shopping at all levels had to dig deep to land any of the treasures they came to find. 31 different countries were represented on the Keeneland results sheets, but just like some domestic buyers, there were also international buyers that came away without signing a ticket. The way Newmarket-based trainer Dylan Cunha chooses to look at it, leaving empty handed just means you're landing on the right horses. "Our shortlist...

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