Keeneland September

8th-Churchill Downs, $130,041, Alw (NW2X)/Opt. Clm ($125,000), 9-14, 3yo, 6f, 1:09.85, gd, 4 lengths. GUNS LOADED (c, 3, Gun Runner--Sky My Sky {GSP-Can, GSP-USA, $204,011}, by Bernardini) debuted at the Spa during his juvenile year and overcame a stumble at the start to finish as the runner-up. Shipping to Louisville in mid-November, the colt posted an 88 Beyer and broke his maiden by 2 3/4 lengths, which resulted in him earning a 'TDN Rising Star' badge. Guns Loaded was then seen winning the Mucho Macho Man Stakes at Gulfstream Park...

In this continuing series, we take a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this weekend running at Hanshin and Nakayama Racecourses: Sunday, September 14, 2025 6th-HSN, ¥14,250,000 ($97k), Newcomer, 2yo, 1800m WAYNY SU (c, 2, Into Mischief--Cariba, by Cairo Prince) is set to become the second starter for her Caress Stakes-winning dam, a full-sister to 'TDN Rising...

Coffee, pens, chapstick, maybe an occasional hat. Consignors often hand out little tokens to give the memories of potential buyers a nudge into recalling their barn and their horses. But chances are you've seen someone emerging from Barn 9 on the Keeneland sales grounds in the last day or two with ice cream, which likely sounds mighty good after a day going from barn to barn inspecting horses in the full sun of an early September in Central Kentucky. Jennifer and Zach Phillips of Zen Equine, who may have their...

by Jessica Martini, Christina Bossinakis and Jill Williams LEXINGTON, KY - The Keeneland September Yearling Sale continued to churn out double-digit year-on-year gains as its second Book 2 session concluded Thursday night with yet another son of Gun Runner leading the way. Through four sessions of the 12-day auction, 671 yearlings have grossed $307,639,000. At this same point a year ago, 640 head had sold for $252,528,000. Asked about the gross surpassing the $300-million mark after day four, Keeneland Senior Director of Sales Operations Cormac Breathnach laughed and said, "It's...

The million-dollar parade at the Keeneland September sale continued early in Thursday's fourth session of the auction when April Mayberry went to $1.4 million to acquire a colt by Flightline (hip 794). The bay colt, bred and consigned by Dixiana Farms, is out of Layla (Union Rags), a full-sister to Grade I winner Express Train. Mayberry was bidding on behalf of C R K Stable's Lee Searing. The colt was the 49th of the auction to bring seven figures and the eighth from the first crop of Lane's End's champion...

After Three Chimneys sensation Gun Runner sired the session toppers of the Keeneland September sale both Monday and Tuesday, he was back at it again Wednesday. With approximately 30 hips left to go, a Gun Runner colt hammered for $1.9 million Wednesday to Spendthrift Farm. Consigned by Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa, agent, hip 731 is out of stakes-placed Ginga (Quality Road). The mare is a half-sister to 2014 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies runner-up Top Decile (Congrats), who sold to Shadai Farm for $950,000 at the 2017 Keeneland November...

A colt by Hill 'n' Dale's Curlin out of SW & GISP Cherry Lodge (Bernardini) sold for $1.4 million to Mike Ryan Wednesday during the third session of the Keeneland September yearling sale. Consigned by Gainesway and sold as hip 652, the chestnut was bred in Kentucky by Gainesway Thoroughbreds LTD. The March colt's dam is a full-sister to GSW Gala Award and a half-sibling to GISW Stormello (Stormy Atlantic) and to additional GSW My Best Brother (Stormy Atlantic), as well as to the dam of Canadian champion Curlin's Voyage...

Spendthrift's first-crop yearling sire Jackie's Warrior cracked the seven-figure barrier Wednesday at the Keeneland September sale when a bay colt out of the placed Taking Aim (Trappe Shot) sold for $1.3 million to West Bloodstock, agent for Robert and Lawana Low. A half-brother to GSW Taking Candy (Twirling Candy), while his dam is a half to GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner Tapizar (Tapit), hip 546 was bred by Dixiana Farms and consigned by Woods Edge Farm, agent. He had previously gone through the Keeneland November ring for $385,000 when...

A Not This Time colt out of the winning Ridingwiththedevil (Candy Ride {Arg}) sold to Albaugh Stable, St Elias, West Point Thoroughbreds, and Railbirds for $1.35 million Wednesday during the first session of Keeneland September's Book 2. The chestnut colt, consigned by Gainesway, is a half-brother to MGISP Reinvestment (Upstart). Bred in Kentucky by Whisper Hill Farm, LLC, Gainesway Thoroughbreds LTD, and Brian Graves, the April-foaled colt went through the ring as hip 480. Taylor Made's Not This Time had an additional six yearlings top the $1-million mark during Book...

The third day at Keeneland's September sale, the first of two Book 2 sessions, kicked off with a bang Wednesday when April Mayberry signed for a Tapit colt to the tune of $1.3 million before the first hour had passed. Consigned by Gainesway as hip 413, the gray colt is out of the placed Manki (Arch). The mare has already produced GI Woody Stephens Stakes winner Drain the Clock (Maclean's Music), a young stallion who has his first yearlings this year and stands alongside Tapit at Gainesway. Bred by Nick...

About three-quarters of the way through the second session of the Keeneland September sale's Book 1 Tuesday, a filly by Horse of the Year Flightline out of MGSW & GISP Four Graces (Majesticperfection) hammered for $2.2 million to the Sarf family's LSU Stables. Consigned by Gainesway, hip 338 was bred in Kentucky by Mandy Pope's Whisper Hill Farm LLC. A half-sister to MGSW McCraken (Ghostzapper), Four Graces was purchased by Whisper Hill at the 2022 Keeneland November sale for $2.3 million. Tuesday's $2.2-million dark bay filly, a March foal, is...

by Jessica Martini, Christina Bossinakis and Jill Williams LEXINGTON, KY - Led by a $3.3-million son of Gun Runner, the Keeneland September Yearling Sale powered through a record-setting opening session Monday in Lexington. When the dust had settled after the first of two elite Book 1 sessions, 106 yearlings had sold for $69,240,000. The average was $653,208--the highest ever at a single September session--and the median was $537,500. With just 28 horses reported not sold, the buy-back rate was 20.90%. Those figures are ahead of last year's opening session, when...