Thoroughbred buyers from around the world descended on Lexington, Kentucky for the 74th edition of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale. The sale runs from September 11 – 23 and has more than 4,000 yearlings (one year old thoroughbreds) catalogued for purchase.
I was in Lexington last week and had a chance to participate in the inspection process that takes place prior to the sale. As I walked the barn area it was interesting to see the various trainers (Todd Pletcher, Chad Brown, Bob Baffert) and bloodstock agents (representing owners) who were inspecting the confirmation of yearlings they had an interest in buying. In addition to performing physical inspections, buyers were reviewing x-rays and other information catalogued by Keeneland in a central repository.
As the sale got underway it was apparent many of the largest racing operations in the world were present. Several yearlings were sold for more than $1 million with Sheik Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s Shadwell Estate Company Ltd., Coolmore’s M.V. Magnier and Godolphin Racing’s Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum all actively bidding.
We (Woodford Racing) bought two colts with impressive bloodlines. One was sired by European Horse of the Year Giant’s Causeway and the other by graded stakes winner Quality Road. Both colts will ship to Ocala, Florida next week to join the four colts we (Woodford Racing) previously purchased at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Preferred Yearling Sale in August. All six will be broken (learn how to be racehorses) by the McKathan Brothers.
Quality Road
Lemon Drop Kid
Giant’s Causeway
Union Rags
Malibu Moon
Broken Vow