The respective last crops of yearlings by classic sire Pioneerof the Nile and his own influential sire, Empire Maker, both major losses from the North American stallion ranks in the last two years, will be represented at the upcoming fall yearling sales, including Keeneland September.
Some virtues were born out of necessity in the pandemic-challenged Thoroughbred sales marketplace in 2020. With limits on travel and attendance for buyers – particularly international buyers – in play, consignors and sales companies worked to fill in the gaps by providing a virtual picture of yearlings to potential buyers via expanded photography, walking videos, and more.
Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al-Maktoum, owner of champions internationally through his Shadwell Stables, died in March at age 75. The owner had been a force in the sport since entering Thoroughbred ownership in 1980, and his absence will be strongly felt at Keeneland.
It is a measure of the depth of the young stallion class at the Farish family's Lane's End Farm in Versailles, Ky., that West Coast finds himself somewhat overlooked.
Luck plays a part in getting a yearling to the sales ring successfully, just as luck plays a part in success on the racetrack. A horse's placement within the sale catalog can be compared to the luck of the draw in assigning post positions.
With Scat Daddy's first sons to stud having justified – pardon the pun – the hype, Triple Crown winner Justify will represent the late sire in this year's class of first-crop yearling stallions.
As the season moves into the fall and the leaves on the oak trees change colors to mark the passing of time, so, too, will there be a season of change in the Thoroughbred world. Josephine Abercrombie's Pin Oak Stud announced in early August that it would take the most serious steps yet to end its commercial operations, dispersing the bulk of its stock.
The Stonestreet Farm broodmare band is always noteworthy, boasting multiple champions and championship producers in its ranks. But this year, in particular, Barbara Banke's operation has been on a roll, listed on the breeder line for such major winners as Kentucky Oaks heroine Malathaat, continually successful Eclipse Award champion Gamine, and Metropolitan Handicap winner Silver State. Off a summer of success, Stonestreet now comes into the Keeneland September yearling sale looking for continued scores at that venue.
The Keeneland September yearling sale, the biggest dedicated yearling auction in North America, also bills itself as the world's yearling sale. This year, with a strong start to the North American yearling marketplace, Keeneland hopes to indeed welcome the world back to Lexington.
Following are horses to watch during the 2021 Keeneland September yearling sale.
