Keeneland catalogs 3,908 for September sale, catalogs available Aug. 9

Keeneland has cataloged 3,908 yearlings for the reformatted September yearling sale, to be held Sept. 9 through 21.

The number represents an 8 percent increase from 3,604 cataloged last year. The catalog will be available online beginning Tuesday, Aug. 6, and print catalogs will be mailed the week of Aug. 19.

Yearlings representing 239 sires have been cataloged, including standouts such as Awesome Again, Distorted Humor, Dynaformer, Elusive Quality, Galileo, Ghostzapper, Giant’s Causeway, Harlan’s Holiday, High Chaparral, Indian Charlie, Kitten’s Joy, Lemon Drop Kid, Majestic Warrior, Malibu Moon, Medaglia d’Oro, Midnight Lute, More Than Ready, Pulpit, Speightstown, Stormy Atlantic, Street Cry, Tale of the Cat, Tapit, Tiznow, Unbridled’s Song, and War Front. Offerings also include representatives from the first crops of Blame, Desert Party, Discreetly Mine, Eskendereya, Lookin At Lucky, Majesticperfection, Makfi, Munnings, Quality Road, Super Saver, Tale of Ekati and Warrior’s Reward.

The two-week September Sale has been reformatted for 2013 to reflect three distinct market segments. The sale opens with 875 yearlings in the premier Book 1 catalog, spanning Monday, Sept. 9, through Thursday, Sept. 12, with sessions beginning at 12 p.m. Eastern daily. Following a dark day on Friday, Sept. 13, the sale continues with Book 2 on Saturday and Sunday, with sessions beginning at 10 a.m. Books 3 through 5 span Monday, Sept. 16 through Saturday, Sept. 21, with sessions beginning at 10 a.m.

“We strive to continually adapt the September sale to meet the current needs of our consignors, and to facilitate the sales process so that we engage buyers from beginning to end,” Keeneland Director of Sales Geoffrey Russell said. “We believe these changes will aid consignors in marketing their horses to their fullest potential, and allow buyers to better navigate today’s competitive marketplace.”

Seven of the past nine Triple Crown races have been won by September sale graduates, including 2013 Preakness winner Oxbow and 2013 Belmont winner Palace Malice. Other standout graduates on the track this season include Animal Kingdom, Beholder, Elusive Kate, Game On Dude, Graydar, Marketing Mix, and Verrazano,

“The September sale is the one sale that shapes the sport,” Keeneland Vice President of Sales Walt Robertson said. “September Sale graduates have competed in 42 of the 47 Grade 1 stakes held in North America so far this year. Buyers who want to compete at the highest levels shop the September sale."