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Among this year's first-crop yearling sires, the obvious headliner has been unbeaten Horse of the Year Flightline, who garnered a stellar book of mares in his first season at stud and is already garnering strong commercial results. But he is by no means the only accomplished racehorse in this class.
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Although bidding can take place online, the yearling market has remained largely a brick-and-mortar one, with horses presented physically on the sale grounds and through the sale ring. Nowhere is that more evident than at Keeneland September, which brands itself as the world's marketplace. Buyers representing 31 countries purchased horses at the 2024 edition of the auction, which set records for gross and average and tied the record median.
Fasig-Tipton has already hosted three yearling sales to start the season, including its marquee Saratoga selected sale. The bellwether Keeneland September yearling sale has cataloged 4,692 yearlings – more than 28 percent of this foal crop, according to estimates from The Jockey Club. However, the season will by no means be over when the hammer falls on Sept. 20 at Keeneland.
The 12-session Keeneland September yearling sale kicks off with two intensely focused days. The Book 1 portion of the auction consists of those yearlings the sales company's inspections teams have judged to be the finest, based on their pedigrees and physical conformation. While a seven-figure bidding war could easily erupt on any of the yearlings in this book, here are a few to watch based on their pedigrees, compelling storylines and page updates, or the commercial histories of their families.
Although the seven-figure horses emerging in Books 1 and 2 during the first days of the Keeneland September yearling sale will garner the majority of headlines, stellar racehorses can, and do, come out of the second week of the auction. In keeping with that history, Keeneland has rebranded the book groupings for the final days of this year's September sale.
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Arthur Boyd Hancock III was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame last month as a Pillar of the Turf, honoring those who have made extraordinary contributions to the Thoroughbred industry. He called the event a “profound and humbling experience.” But even as Hancock stood before a full house at his induction ceremony in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., the day-to-day work didn't stop back at his Stone Farm in Paris, Ky.
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As is customary on closing day at Emerald Downs, the year of racing will end with a glimpse into the future. While there are two marquee stakes, the Muckleshoot Tribal Classic and the Muckleshoot Tribal Distaff, for older horses on Sunday's card, they will be bracketed by babies in the Muckleshoot Juvenile Filly Stakes and Gottstein Futurity.
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Francis Lui and Manfred Man will have eyes on Hong Kong and South Korea this Sunday (7 September) when both trainers seek their first overseas wins as the 2025/26 racing season gets underway at Sha Tin.
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Fresh from an impromptu riding cameo in Great Britain, Harry Bentley hopes to spark a successful start to the 2025/26 Hong Kong season when he partners Victor The Winner in the HK$3.72 million Class 1 HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup Handicap (1200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (7 September).
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The $300,000 Del Mar Futurity is buried early on the Sunday's closing-day card as race 4. But while the Futurity may be squirreled away, the race favorite is front and center. Brant became instantly famous after he was purchased for $3 million. When he popped a 101 Beyer Speed Figure first time out, his reputation grew.
