Keeneland September: Book 1 horses to watch on Sept. 12
The Keeneland September yearling sale begins a nearly two-week run with its two-session Book 1 on Monday and Tuesday.
Nicole RussoSep 11, 2022
The Keeneland September yearling sale begins a nearly two-week run with its two-session Book 1 on Monday and Tuesday.
Keeneland will be a hub of Thoroughbred activity in North America this fall, and yearlings have arrived on the grounds for the Keeneland September yearling sale, which begins its marathon run Monday and runs through Saturday, Sept. 24.
Download our special edition, available now as a PDF, to learn about Keeneland September's format for this year; to preview the marketplace; to take a closer look at first-crop yearling sires, including some flying under the radar, and view a complete chart of those young stallions represented in fall sales; to read about successful sires hoping for a strong season; take a closer look at our exclusive Beyer Sire Performance Standings; and more.
Not This Time is one of the most exciting young sires in the country, and he, half-brother Liam’s Map, and the family behind him will be well represented at the Keeneland September yearling sale.
The breakout star of the 2021 Keeneland September yearling sale was hands-on lifelong horsewoman Rosilyn Polan. At her small Sunday Morning Farm in Woodford County, Ky., she bred, raised, and prepped a colt from the first crop of City of Light who sold for a sale-topping $1.7 million. A year later, Polan, who also bred and sold multiple graded stakes winner Wit, is bringing a six-horse consignment to Keeneland September.
Three first-crop sires come into their first Keeneland September yearling sale already sporting a six-figure sale average for their yearlings. Multiple Grade 1 winner Omaha Beach, who stands at Spendthrift Farm, boasts the highest average of this North American class, sitting at $185,989 from 16 sold. Those include a $500,000 filly at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga selected yearling sale by this versatile son of War Front, who earned his top-level victories around both one and two turns.
Flameaway flew a bit under the radar among the sons of the late Scat Daddy retiring to stud in recent years. But Flameaway, who entered stud at Darby Dan Farm in Lexington, Ky., in 2020, is now striking a spark with his own first-crop yearlings.
The North American yearling sale season got off to a strong start this summer, with three Fasig-Tipton yearling sales in Kentucky and New York all posting strong figures, led by a record-smashing edition of the boutique Saratoga selected sale that showed the strength of the upper marketplace. While Keeneland September offers the largest piece of the marketplace, there is still plenty of action remaining this fall, with sales hosted by a variety of companies and breeders' associations around the country.
Two-time Horse of the Year Curlin enjoyed a monster summer at Saratoga – both on the racetrack and in the sales ring. The stallion has a stellar group, including full siblings to two of his Eclipse Award champions, set for the Keeneland September yearling sale.
Consistency will be the watchword for the Keeneland September yearling sale. The bellwether auction, to be held for the 79th time from Sept. 12-24, will keep a similar format to last year’s record-setting renewal.