With juveniles battling a persistent headwind throughout the day, four horses tied for the fastest furlong and three tied for the fastest quarter mile during the first session of the under-tack preview show for the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co's spring sale of 2-year-olds in training.
Liam’s Map set a track record when winning the 2015 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Keeneland in his career finale. At least one of his offspring has inherited his affinity for the track. A colt from the first crop of Liam’s Map breezed a furlong in 10 seconds during the under-tack preview for the Keeneland April sale, tied for the fastest time at the distance, and then parlayed that into the highest price tag for a freshman sire at the sale.
A Tapit filly sold for $1.3 million to lead the day as action returned to the Keeneland sales pavilion with the auction company's re-imagined April sale of 2-year-olds in training and horses of racing age on Tuesday.
A trio of juveniles tied for the fastest furlong work on dirt, the traditional yardstick for 2-year-old in training sales, at the Keeneland April sale's under-tack preview show on Monday.
Following are horses to watch during the Keeneland April sale's 2-year-olds in training portion. Horses were selected based primarily on their pedigrees and the racing or commercial results of notable family members.
There's no time to take a breath after Keeneland's opening weekend featuring eight graded stakes races. The track's dark days this week bring the return of the Keeneland April sale following a four-year hiatus.
An auction of 2-year-olds in training will be held next Wednesday at Lone Star Park near Dallas. The sale, sponsored by the Texas Thoroughbred Association, has a catalog of 135 young prospects. The under-tack show is scheduled for Sunday.
Sky Kingdom was a late-blooming runner who thrived at long distances. But the freshman sire, standing at Darby Dan Farm, was represented by a precocious and speedy colt who fetched a high price tag after blitzing a furlong at the Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream sale.
Triple Crown winner American Pharoah’s first crop continued to perform in blockbuster fashion in the sale ring, as a $1.65 million colt sold to Coolmore at Wednesday's Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream sale became the ninth horse from his crop to garner a seven-figure price tag.
The Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream sale of 2-year-olds in training posted double-digit gains, including all-time record and average median figures, on Wednesday, led by a $3.65 million colt by prominent classic sire Curlin.
