New York breeding: N.Y.-breds on sale at Keeneland

On the heels of a successful regional sale last month in Saratoga Springs, 64 horses foaled in New York are among the 4,367 yearlings in Keeneland's September sale, which begins its 12-day run on Monday.

At Fasig-Tipton's two-day sale of New York-breds in August, 108 yearlings sold for $5,345,500 and an average of $49,495. The sale, which was expanded to two days for the first time, set records for gross, average, and median. Eleven yearlings sold for $100,000 or more.

New York breeders hope the momentum from the regional sale carries over to Keeneland's boutique sale of yearlings, which draws a different set of buyers.

Dennis Brida, the executive director of the New York Thoroughbred Breeders Inc., said the lucrative New York-bred program, which pays bonus money to owners of statebreds who compete successfully in open company, may not hold the same allure as it does at regional sales.

"It being a Kentucky sale, there are people from throughout the country and overseas buying, and they may not necessarily be looking for a New York-bred," Brida said. "But the individuals sell themselves, and I think New York-breds might go for a little more [money] because of the advantages of our program. I don't think anyone will be shying away from New York-breds."

Among the New York yearlings in the Keeneland sale are several by fashionable sires, including A. P. Indy, Storm Cat, Deputy Minister, Unbridled, and Our Emblem.

The freshman sires with yearlings from the Empire State include Grand Slam, Stravinksy, and Swain. Among the New York-based stallions represented are Distinctive Pro, Goldminers Gold, Incurable Optimist, Regal Classic, Rodeo, Take Me Out, and Tomorrows Cat.

Champion sprinter Artax, whose first foals are yearlings, has four New York-bred yearlings in the sale. Artax's yearlings have been selling well this summer, including the sales topper - a $170,000 filly - at the first session of Fasig-Tipton's New York-bred auction.

Here is a look at some of the notable New York-bred yearlings in the sale.

Hip No. 121 - A daughter of A. P. Indy out of a graded stakes winner and a stakes producer, With a Wink.

Hip No. 342 - A Deputy Minister colt whose dam, Seeking Regina, is a graded stakes winner and producer.

Hip No. 594 - A half-sister to Grade 2 Arkansas Derby winner Private Emblem.

Hip No. 674 - Capote colt is the first foal out of Seeking the Sky, a graded stakes winner and a daughter of Storm Cat.

Hip No. 773 - A son from the next-to-last crop of Unbridled out of a graded winner.

Hip No. 1225 - A Swain colt who is a half to Fourth and Six, a winner of more than $500,000.

Hip No. 1726 - A Sky Classic filly named Aurora Too, who is a half to stakes winners, Too Scarlet and John Paul Too.

Hip No. 2080 - A Gulch filly out of a Hold Your Peace mare, Horsafire, who has produced eight winners, including graded winners Incinerate and Fan the Flame.

Hip No. 2759 - A filly by champion Fly So Free out of Cardonessa, the dam of restricted stakes winner Lilly's Moment.

Last year, 55 New York-breds sold for a total of $1,036,700 at the 13-day Keeneland September sale. The average was $18,849.

The New York-bred sales topper was a Tabasco Cat colt ($205,000) out of Notice Me, a black-type winner and a stakes producer.

Schwartz named N.Y. breeder of the year

Herbert T. Schwartz was named New York's breeder of the year for 2001 at a dinner on Friday in Kentucky, hosted by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association.

TOBA annually recognizes breeders from around the country with an award. The NYTB board of directors selects the New York winner.

Schwartz bred and owns Critical Eye, who last year won the Grade 1 Hempstead and Grade 2 Sheepshead Bay and earned $339,736. Schwartz also bred and raced Tom's Thunder, who won a division of the New York Stallion Stakes in 2001.