Want to run in the Breeders’ Cup? Well, like many of the homebred programs showcased in this year’s event, you could develop or purchase a mare, select a stallion, wait about 11 months for the foal to be born, and in another two-plus years, during which a myriad of issues could crop up, you might have yourself a racehorse – and they might be an elite one. Or, you could show up at the Keeneland Championship Sale and have a serious rooting interest less than 72 hours later. Keeneland debuted the Championship Sale last year at Del Mar, a highly curated event designed to offer outright ownership or percentages in horses at a truly elite level, particularly those with direct connections to the Breeders’ Cup. This nine-offering sale, which Keeneland president Shannon Arvin describes as a party with a horse sale, not a horse sale with a party, begins at 6:30 p.m. Pacific on Wednesday in the paddock at Del Mar, where the Breeders’ Cup takes place Friday and Saturday. The long-term plan is for this sale to become a traveling road show that follows the Breeders’ Cup to its various sites. Next year, Keeneland hosts the event. Minority ownership interests in Bentornato and Mullikin, millionaires who hit the board in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Del Mar and who are expected for this Saturday’s edition, are among the highlight offerings. Also on offer and of keen interest will be a stallion share in Not This Time, the current second-leading general sire, and a minority interest in reigning Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna as she commences her broodmare career. ON SALE NOW: DRF Breeders' Cup Packages! Get everything you need to win and save big. All offerings are presented remotely, meaning the horses in training for the Breeders’ Cup won’t be walked over from their barns to a busy paddock environment at an unusual evening hour, a risky proposition during race week. A strong interest in Thoroughbred ownership, particularly in partnerships, was mentioned as a fueling factor in this year’s strong yearling marketplace. That could come into play with the minority interests in active racehorses at this Championship Sale, particularly with those hoping to break into the high end with Breeders’ Cup candidates and “immediately have action on one of grandest stages for Thoroughbred racing anywhere in the world,” Keeneland vice president of sales Tony Lacy said. “The Championship Sale invites creativity to connect buyers with elite occasions.” Bentornato is owned by Leon King Stable Corp., which is offering a 25 percent interest in the ridgling. The 4-year-old Florida-bred son of Valiant Minister was second by a length in the 2024 Sprint to champion Straight No Chaser. In his lone start since, he came off a long layoff to win the Louisville Thoroughbred Society Stakes in September. He comes into the Sprint having won 6 of 10 races and never having finished worse than third, and trainer Jose D’Angelo, who is handling the consignment of this interest as agent, expects him to have a 5-year-old campaign. Mullikin finished 2 1/2 lengths behind Bentornato in third in last year’s Sprint. His signature victory came in the Grade 1 Forego last year at Saratoga. The 5-year-old son of Violence will retire to stud next year for owner WinStar Farm, which is consigning a 25 percent interest in him, to participate in both the Breeders’ Cup and his future career. “Our participation in the Keeneland Championship Sale with our Breeders’ Cup Sprint entrant, Mullikin, is an opportunity to run for $2 million in 72 hours and have a stallion to boot,” WinStar executive Elliott Walden said in a release. “We’re offering more than just a percentage of a Breeders’ Cup contender. This is an interest in an accomplished racehorse with a promising stallion career ahead at WinStar Farm.” A stallion share led the inaugural Championship Sale, with a $2.5 million interest in Horse of the Year Flightline. Leading that type of offerings this year is one stallion share in Not This Time, whose fee will rise to $250,000 next season at Taylor Made Farm. Not only is he in the midst of a career year, sitting in second on the general sires list, he has 10 Breeders’ Cup pre-entrants, giving one some rooting interests. A stallion share in multiple Grade 1 winner Mindframe, who will start in the Breeders’ Cup Classic before heading to Claiborne Farm, is also on offer from that historic operation, providing another rooting interest. Although she is not here this year to cheer on, the 20 percent interest in reigning Horse of the Year and 2024 Kentucky Oaks and Breeders’ Cup Distaff winner Thorpedo Anna is also a major opportunity. The filly concluded her career in October for Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm, which became her majority owner in August; Magdalena Farm, the family operation for trainer Kenny McPeek; breeder Judy Hicks; and Mark Edwards. While the first three intend to remain involved with her broodmare career, Edwards planned to exit the partnership. While typically, broodmare prospects would be run through a sale ring to dissolve such a partnership, the design of the Championship Sale became the perfect spot to offer Edwards’s 20 percent interest, as Thorpedo Anna now does not have to ship to an auction. The other offerings in the championship sale include a lifetime breeding right to prominent young sire Constitution and one stallion share in Life Is Good, both of whom stand at WinStar, which is heavily supporting this sale; a lifetime breeding right to Darley’s rising star sire Nyquist; and a 25 percent interest in stakes winner Bracket Buster. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? 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