Keeneland September Yearling Sale Next Week

Media Release - Thursday September 9

Keeneland’s internationally important September Yearling Sale opens for the 78th time on Monday, Sept. 13 at 1 p.m. ET with the first of 11 sessions of top-class Thoroughbred racing prospects. A total of 4,037 yearlings have been cataloged to the sale, which runs through Friday, Sept. 24 and again will offer online bidding and telephone bidding to accommodate those unable to attend.

Keeneland has arranged Week 1 of the September Sale to present a large concentration of premium horses to as many of the prominent domestic and international buyers who annually participate in the auction as possible. A total of 1,102 yearlings were cataloged to Books 1-2 during the first four sessions on Sept. 13-16 before the sale takes a one-day hiatus and resumes Sept. 18-24.

“The importance of the September Sale to the health of the Thoroughbred industry and to the economy of Central Kentucky cannot be overstated,” Keeneland Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy said. “The finest yearlings from this year’s crop will be offered during the two weeks of the sale, giving buyers from around the world the opportunity to select racing prospects at all price points to race in the U.S. or in their home countries. Keeneland has elevated the sale atmosphere to enhance the full experience for sellers and buyers and to celebrate all the Bluegrass has to offer those  who are passionate about horses.”

Graduates of the September Sale excel in the world’s most important races. Through Labor Day, the sale had produced the winners of 249 stakes this year, including the winners of 34 Grade/Group 1 races. Among them are holiday weekend Grade 1 winners Echo Zulu (Spinaway), Max Player (Jockey Club Gold Cup) and War Like Goddess (Flower Bowl) at Saratoga along with Pinehurst (Runhappy Del Mar Futurity) at Del Mar.

The half-sister to Echo Zulu (Hip 43, a filly by American Pharoah) is among the siblings to a number of recent Grade 1 winners of 2021 at Saratoga and Del Mar that highlight the September Sale catalog. Others include the half-brother to champion and Ketel One Ballerina winner Gamine (Hip 486, a colt by Kantharos), the full sister to Hopeful winner Gunite (Hip 539, a filly by Gun Runner), the half-brother to Forego winner Yaupon (Hip 73, a colt by Good Magic) and the half-brother to TVG Del Mar Debutante winner Grace Adler (Hip 99, a colt by Into Mischief).

Among the notable stallions with their first crop of yearlings in this year’s September Sale catalog is 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify. Other first-crop stallions include Accelerate, Always Dreaming, Bolt d’Oro, City of Light, Cloud Computing, Collected, Good Magic, Good Samaritan, Mendelssohn, Mo Town, Mor Spirit, Oscar Performance, Tapwrit and West Coast.

Cataloged yearlings represent such leading sires as American Pharoah, Australia (GB), Bernardini, Candy Ride (ARG), Churchill (IRE), Constitution, Curlin, Distorted Humor, Empire Maker, Fastnet Rock (AUS), Flatter, Galileo (IRE), Ghostzapper, Gun Runner, Highland Reel (IRE), Into Mischief, Kingman (GB), Kitten’s Joy, Le Havre (IRE), Lope de Vega (IRE), Malibu Moon, Mastercraftsman (IRE), Medaglia d’Oro, More Than Ready, Munnings, No Nay Never, Not This Time, Nyquist, Pioneerof the Nile, Quality Road, Saxon Warrior (JPN), Speightstown, Tapit, Tiznow, Twirling Candy, Uncle Mo, Union Rags, War Front, Wootton Bassett (GB) and Zoffany (IRE).

COVID-19 protocols

For the September Sale, Keeneland’s grounds are open to sales participants and the public, and the Sales Pavilion and Arena will operate at full capacity. Keeneland continues to follow the direction of local and national health guidelines that pertain to the COVID-19 pandemic to create the safest environment possible for sales participants.

Keeneland strongly encourages vaccinations for all eligible individuals.

Consistent with current CDC guidelines, Keeneland strongly recommends that all sales participants, regardless of vaccination status, wear a mask when indoors. Masks and hand sanitizer will be available.

For additional safety, all Keeneland employees regardless of vaccination status will wear masks while indoors. Unvaccinated employees will continue to be tested weekly.

“Rising Stock” preview show airs Saturday; follow the sale on TVG2, Keeneland.com

Coverage of the September Sale begins Saturday, Sept. 11 at 11 a.m. when TVG2 will air “Rising Stock,” an hourlong preview show hosted by Gabby Gaudet and Scott Hazelton at Keeneland with Christina Blacker in the TVG studio. “Rising Stock” will be rebroadcast Sunday, Sept. 12 at 7:30 a.m. on TVG and at 11 a.m. on TVG2.

TVG2’s live coverage of the September Sale will take place the first four days of the auction:

Sept. 13-14: 1-7:30 p.m.          

Advertisement

Sept. 15: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Sept. 16: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

As always, Keeneland will livestream the entire September Sale at Keeneland.com.

2021 September Sale schedule

The September Sale will take place as follows:

Week 1

Book 1 – Monday-Tuesday, Sept. 13-14. Sessions begin at 1 p.m. A total of 404 yearlings, including five supplements, are cataloged over the two days.

New for 2021 is the RNA Reoffer, which will begin immediately following the final hip of the Sept. 14 session as an option for sellers of yearlings that do not meet their reserves during the first session. (Click here for information about the RNA Reoffer.)

Book 2 – Wednesday-Thursday, Sept. 15-16. Sessions begin at 11 a.m. A total of 698 yearlings are cataloged over the two days.

Friday, Sept. 17 – A “dark day” when no sale will be conducted.

Week 2

Book 3 – Saturday-Sunday, Sept. 18-19. Sessions begin at 10 a.m. A total of 827 yearlings are cataloged over the two days.

Book 4 – Monday-Tuesday, Sept. 20-21. Sessions begin at 10 a.m. A total of 829 yearlings are cataloged over the two days.

Book 5 – Wednesday-Friday, Sept. 22-24. Sessions begin at 10 a.m. A total of 1,279 yearlings are cataloged over the three days.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Thursday July 3
Here is the full list of 27 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Istataba adds international flavour to National Online Breeding Stock Sale
Buyers can currently bid on 11 stakes-performed mares in the National Online Breeding Stock Sale on Gavelhouse Plus, including one that brings South American bloodlines and Singaporean racetrack performance.
Quality Cambridge Stud draft in National Online Breeding Stock Sale
The need for Cambridge Stud to control the size of their star-studded broodmare band has opened up some special opportunities in the 2025 National Online Breeding Stock Sale on Gavelhouse Plus.
High-flying Pencarrow Stud offers well-bred mares in Online Breeding Stock Sale
The 2024-25 season has been one of the best ever for Pencarrow Stud, and some of the renowned bloodlines that have underpinned that success are now available for purchase in the 2025 National Online Breeding Stock Sale on Gavelhouse Plus.
How Much for a Snitzel Colt from Winx?
The record price for a yearling by the late champion sire Snitzel stands at $2.8million, but that benchmark looks set to be smashed at Inglis Easter next year.
Third Winner for Peltzer
Twin Hills Stud’s young sire Peltzer added a third winner to his tally with a debut victory at Canberra on Friday for the well named gelding I Show Speed.
So You Think 3YO Wins $100,000 Inglis Xtra Bonus
Good placement from the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable for progressive three year-old So You Think gelding Aloysius, who cast off maiden status at Hawkesbury on Thursday in a race that featured a lucrative Inglis Xtra maiden bonus.
One to Watch – Hawkesbury
Super Seth has had three G1 winners in Australia this season and John O’Shea and Tom Charlton have trained two of them, so when they produce a lightly raced maiden winner by this exciting young sire we want to know more.
G1 Winning Champion 2YO Velocious to be Offered on Inglis Digital
The G1-winning Champion 2YO Velocious (Written Tycoon) will be offered for auction in the Inglis Digital July (Late) Online Sale.
Spring Potential for Darby Racing's Raging Force
Unplaced in the Group III ATC Breeders’ Plate last spring on debut, Raging Force came out of that race with an injury that required significant time on the sidelines, but since returning to full work his progress has been swift.