Upstart breeding share among offerings at Keeneland April sale

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Keeneland is unique in its role as both a racetrack and a sales company. Both roles will be front and center Friday as the spring meet comes to a close and buyers head to a revamped April sale.

The Keeneland April sale was a popular 2-year-old auction for decades before the economy sent that sale into hiatus following its 2014 edition. The sale returned in 2019 as a combined event for 2-year-olds and horses of racing age. After a pandemic-forced cancellation in 2020, the April sale was held the week following the conclusion of the spring race meet in 2021.

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Horses of racing age make up the bulk of Friday’s catalog. Young racing stock has been in high demand at the fall and winter mixed sales and this spring’s 2-year-old sales.

The sale will be hosted immediately following the final card of Keeneland’s spring meeting, and on the eve of the Kentucky circuit moving to Churchill Downs. First post for the track’s closing day on Friday has been moved up to 12:30 p.m.; the last race will thus take place at approximately 5:09 p.m., with the sale set to begin at 6:30 p.m.

“By hosting the April sale on a race day, we will introduce some race fans to the sales arena and hopefully develop new participants over time,” said Tony Lacy, Keeneland’s vice president of sales. “We also can showcase the sale before industry focus moves to Louisville and Kentucky Derby week.”

Further capitalizing on the excitement of the spring classics, the final offering at the sale will be a breeding share in the young stallion Upstart, who has leading candidates for both the Kentucky Derby and Oaks. Multiple graded stakes-winning millionaire Upstart, by Flatter, stands at the Jones family’s Airdrie Stud, where, from his first crop, he sired Grade 3 winner Masqueparade and Grade 1-placed Reinvestment Risk. From his second crop, he is the sire of Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes winner Zandon, the favorite on the line for Daily Racing Form’s Derby Watch, and undefeated Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks winner Kathleen O.

Upstart began the 2022 season for an advertised fee of $10,000 before moving to a private fee as interest skyrocketed.

“The interest in Upstart as those two have progressed has been incredible,” Airdrie vice president Bret Jones said. “We’ve been run over with seasons. He’s got a full book, it’ll be the best book of mares that he’s ever bred. And he’s taking those steps toward being a really good sire. The finish line’s a long way off, but he’s showing those signs that he can take that next step.”

Friday’s catalog highlights include Western River, a 3-year-old full brother to 2016 Belmont Stakes winner Creator. The Tapit colt, who has been a workmate for Kentucky Oaks-bound Yuugiri, scored a 3 3/4-length maiden victory going two turns on April 2 at Oaklawn Park, earning an 87 Beyer Speed Figure. Trainer Rodolphe Brisset, whose wife co-owns Western River, has been eyeing the Grade 3 Peter Pan Stakes on May 14 at Belmont Park while also entering this sale to keep options open.

“He was just a very immature horse, and I think he’s on the upside,” Brisset said. “We’re putting him in the Keeneland sale as an option. We like to have options. After he won, I talked to Keeneland and we put him in the book. We’ll see what happens.”

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Also seeking to capitalize on recent victories are a number of winners from the current Keeneland meet, including B Dawk, a 3-year-old colt who won a maiden special weight by 11 1/4 lengths on April 24, earning a 92 Beyer. Atras, Emerald, Mystic Night, Rational Choice, and Shannon also were Keeneland winners.

The April sale will be presented as an integrated event, with horses located both on-site at Keeneland and off-site at their training locations, per the consignors’ choice. For example, of horses consigned by trainer Steve Asmussen, Halo Again and Whiskey Double will be at Keeneland while Concept, Tenfold, and Totalizer are stabled at Oaklawn Park and Mesabi is at Lone Star Park. Keeneland auctioneers will present and preside over all offerings on-site. Buyers both on-site at Keeneland and remote using telephone or internet bidding will be able to bid on all offerings.

Horses who have been training at Keeneland pre-sale have done so in numbered saddle towels so they are easily identifiable.