LEXINGTON, Ky. – Keeneland’s September yearling sale, which opens Monday and runs through Sept. 21, will prove the biggest test yet of a yearling market that sellers hope will continue early-season positive trends.

Grade 3 winner Maram, winner of the inaugural Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf in 2008, has died at age 6.

Maram died Thursday of “an acute illness,” according to a statement issued by her owner, Karen N. Woods. Woods owned the mare and bred her in partnership with the late Saud bin Khaled, with whom she also operated Chanteclair Farm in Kentucky.

Maram produced her first foal, a Giant’s Causeway colt, on April 30, and that colt is doing well. Maram had been bred back to Elusive Quality, but was not in foal, according to Chanteclair manager Ron Wallace.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – There isn’t much doubt the star of the 2012 Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society’s annual yearling and mixed sale this Tuesday at the Thunderbird Show Park in Langley is Hip No. 44.

After all, the yearling filly is a full sister to Taylor Said, who recently won the Grade 3 Longacres Mile. She is also a half-sister to Taylors Deal, who will be one of the favorites in the Grade 3, $200,000 British Columbia Derby at Hastings on Sunday. Her other sibling to race is Afleet Deal, a full brother who has won nine races and earned $148,751.

Legendary Keeneland auctioneer George Swinebroad probably said it best: “You never know where your money’s going to come from.”

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Three-time Canadian champion Rainbows for Life has died in the Czech Republic at age 24, the Racing Post reported.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – A $275,000 colt by English Channel topped the selected sessions of the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society’s annual yearling sale at the Woodbine sales pavilion Monday and Tuesday.

Bear Stable bought the sale-topper near the end of the long Tuesday session. Consigned by agent Richard Hogan, the chestnut is the second foal from stakes winner In Return, a daughter of Horse Chestnut.

Fasig-Tipton has cataloged 254 horses for its inaugural Saratoga fall mixed sale in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. The auction will take place in the Humphrey S. Finney pavilion on Tuesday, Oct. 9, at 11 a.m.

Catalogs are online now at www.fasigtipton.com. Hard copies are available at Fasig-Tipton offices and at the New York Thoroughbred Breeders office in Saratoga.

Theatrical, the 1987 champion turf male and winner of that year’s Breeders’ Cup Turf, has died at age 30.

The Nureyev horse was euthanized on Friday night due to the infirmities of old age, according to a release from Hill ’n’ Dale farms in Lexington, where Theatrical had been pensioned since 2009.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Dancing in Silks, winner of the 2009 Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Santa Anita, has been retired – again.

Winless in 12 starts since the 2009 BC Sprint, Dancing in Silks made his final start at the Betfair Hollywood Park meeting, finishing eighth in the Robert Kerlan Handicap for turf sprinters on July 1. In recent months, he has resided at trainer Anthony Saavedra’s home near Santa Anita, where he is expected to spend the winter.

“No more racing,” Saavedra said of Dancing in Silks earlier this week.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario — A total of 387 Canadian-bred yearlings are cataloged for this week’s Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society’s annual yearling sale at the Woodbine Sales Pavilion.

The selected portion of the sale is divided into two sessions, on Monday beginning at 7 p.m. and on Tuesday at 1 p.m. Saturday’s open session commences at 3 p.m.