Airoforce bought on roll of the dice at Keeneland November sale

Airoforce, a graded stakes winner on both dirt and turf, sold to Texas-based Jeff Jeans for $12,000 on Tuesday at the Keeneland November breeding stock sale in Lexington, Ky.

The 4-year-old Colonel John colt was offered during the racing-age portion of the November sale. Prior to entering the ring, he was announced as being on Kentucky’s veterinarian’s list and awaiting test results to be taken off. The results of the test were due to be announced Thursday.

He was placed on the vet’s list on Oct. 14 after scratching out of a Keeneland allowance, and he has breezed three times since then, most recently covering four furlongs in 50.60 seconds on Nov. 11 at Churchill Downs.

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Julie Rini, who signed the ticket as agent for Jeans, said the vet’s list issue was on the buyer’s mind, but the price point warranted taking a shot.

“He’s going to see how sound he is and make a decision from there,” Rini said. “We know there was a deal with him on the vet’s list. At this point, if he decides he’s not sound enough, he might go to Indiana or Louisiana and let them stand him.”

Airoforce has won three of 12 starts, all for owner John Oxley and trainer Mark Casse, and has earned $679,130. He won three of four starts at 2, taking his debut at Kentucky Downs, then following up with a win in the Grade 3 Bourbon Stakes and a second in the 2015 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Keeneland, and a victory in the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at Churchill.

At 3, the colt ran second in the Grade 2 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes at Saratoga and Grade 3 Penn Mile Stakes at Penn National.

Taylor Made Sales Agency consigned Airoforce, as agent.