KEESEP

A colt from the first crop of Triple Crown winner Justify (Hip 580) became his sire's first seven-figure offspring in North America when summoning $1.55 million from Talla Racing and West Point Thoroughbreds. Trainer John Sadler was standing alongside West Point's Terry Finley as he signed the ticket. Bred and consigned by Stonehaven Steadings, the bay colt is out of GSP True Feelings (Latent Heat), who is already the dam of SW Feeling Mischief (Into Mischief) and GSP Royal Act (American Pharoah).

LEXINGTON, KY--The Keeneland September Yearling Sale starts its 11-day run Monday with the first of two Book 1 sessions, beginning at 1 p.m. The five-book catalogue offers a total of 4,032 yearlings by a variety of stallions, such as Triple Crown heroes American Pharoah and Justify; the red-hot Into Mischief; perennial leading sire Tapit; stalwarts like Medaglia d'Oro, War Front and Candy Ride (Arg); and top freshman sire Gun Runner. "I think when you get this volume of horses and there are a lot of really nice horses, there is...

Three yearlings in the Keeneland September Sale catalogue received big updates over the weekend when their year-older siblings captured Grade Is at two of America's premiere race meets over the holiday weekend. GI Runhappy Del Mar Futurity S. winner Pinehurst's (Twirling Candy) yearling half-brother by Cairo Prince sold prior to the juvenile's breakout score, bringing $120,000 from pinhooker Randy Bradshaw at Fasig-Tipton's New York-Bred Yearling Sale in mid-August. However, the winners of the GI TVG Del Mar Debutante S., GI Spinaway S. and GI Hopeful S. will be represented by...

One of the highlights of Book 1 of the Keeneland September Sale each year is the opportunity to view and purchase the first foals out of some of the top racemares in recent years. This year is no exception with six such offerings available in Book 1. Below we feature six yearlings who are the first foals out of Grade I-winning mares, such as two-time champion Unique Bella (Tapit).   IT TIZ WELL - War Front colt (Hip 15) It Tiz Well won five of her 10 starts and was...

Thank you for publishing all of those comments on Covid protocols at the upcoming sales. Something that I think is worth mentioning that no one spoke about is the role that veterinarians play and the risk they take going into stalls to perform endoscopic and physical exams. Often vets are shoulder-to-shoulder with people they don't know and have no idea if they are vaccinated or even if they are sick. The use of videoscopes has greatly reduced contact, but vets are still in very close proximity with sales help and...

2nd-SAR, $100K, Msw, 2yo, f, 1 1/16mT, 1:41 p.m. LOVE TO RUN (Connect) debuts for Breeze Easy LLC and trainer Mark Casse, who enjoyed is year-delayed induction into the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Friday. Piloted by Tyler Gaffalione, who is striking at a 19% clip at the current meet, the half to MSP Thanks Mr. Edison realized a $640,000 final bid from agent Tom McGreevy following a 10 2/5 breeze at the OBSAPR Sale. The price represented the top price for a 2-year-old filly and the second-highest...

Keeneland has announced the official daily schedule for its marquee September Yearling Sale, which will begin Monday, Sept. 13 with the first session of a two-day Book 1 opener, a schedule update that was reported in the TDN June 26. Also included in the changes to Book 1's schedule is the ability for sellers to send horses who RNA'd on the first day back through the ring on day two. The sale will start at 1 p.m. for both Book 1 sessions Monday and Tuesday, while the two Book 2...

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency MOTT UNVEILS EXPENSIVE COLT BY 'POPULAR' YOUNG SIRE 1st-BEL, $90K, Msw, 2yo, f, 5 1/2f, 1:00p.m. Bill Mott unveils an expensive daughter of Constitution in LNJ Foxwoods' $725,000 KEESEP purchase POPULAR VOTE. The dark bay is a half-sister to Grade I winner Hog Creek Hustle (Overanalyze) and GSW Majestic Dunhill (Majesticperfection). She prepped for this with a best-of-11 half-mile move in :48 3/5 over Saratoga's Oklahoma training track June 17. Christophe Clement also saddles an intriguing firster in Arrogant Lady (Arrogate). Out of MSW &...

While there were bright spots and plenty of successes, Keeneland's bellweather September Yearling Sale saw significant drop-offs in trade from last year's strong renewal as the Thoroughbred industry and world at large reel from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Conducted over 12 days this year compared to 13 last term and with strict safety protocols in place, the 2020 September sale grossed $238,454,300 from 2,346 head sold. The gross 12 months ago was $359,789,700 from 2,850 sellers. This year's average dipped 19.49% from $126,242 to $101,643; the median dropped...

A colt from the second-crop of young sire Not This Time (Hip 3839)  topped the penultimate session of Keeneland September Thursday, selling to Royal Flush Racing for $115,000. The dark bay is out of Race Hunter (Dixie Union), who is a half-sister to MGSW & MGISP Paid Up Subscriber (Candy Ride {Arg}). He was consigned by Trackside Farm for Tenlane Farm, who purchased the colt's dam for $180,000 with this yearling in utero. A total of 169 yearlings changed hands during Thursday's session for a gross of $2,086,800. The median...

A colt from the first crop of Grade I winner Cupid (Hip 3391) topped Wednesday's trade when selling for $200,000 to bloodstock agent Larry Zap, who was acting on behalf of Michael Mellen. The topper and the day's third-highest purchase, a son of fellow first-season sire American Freedom (Hip 3196), were both sold by Shawhan Place, who was the session's leading consignor by average. "Both of them are big, strong colts, especially the Cupid," said Shawhan's Matt Koch. "He is a good walking colt. We foaled and raised him at...

A colt by Karakontie (Jpn) (Hip 2814) achieved a very rare feat in Keeneland September's Book 5 opener Tuesday, summoning a session-topping $500,000 from Marsha Naify. The Gainesway stallion had another yearling in the top five lots of the day with a full-sister to graded stakes-bound Spanish Loveaffair (Karakontie {Jpn}) (Hip 3161) bringing $220,000 from Ballyfair Bloodstock. A total of 253 yearlings brought $6,484,100 Tuesday with an average of $25,629 and a median of $15,000.Fifty-five horses failed to meet their reserves Tuesday. Throughout the first nine days of trade, 1,880...