Keeneland

Prior to this year's Keeneland September Sale, John Stewart was largely unknown in racing circles. That changed when Stewart, the founder and managing partner of MiddleGround Capital, a private equity firm, spent $8.425 million on 13 horses. He was just getting started. Stewart returned to the fall breeding stock sales at Fasig-Tipton and Keeneland where he once again opened his check book, purchasing 11 mares and weanlings for a total of $17.35 million. The list included the two-time GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint winner Goodnight Olive (Ghostzapper). Stewart...

Stakes winner Ocean Safari (Temple City) (Hip 2451) led the proceedings with a $190,000 final bid from Hugo Merry Bloodstock during Tuesday's seventh session of the Keeneland November Sale in Lexington. Purchased on behalf of Blue Diamond Stud, the 4-year-old, who was offered as a racing or broodmare prospect, was consigned by Taylor Made Sales, also the session's leading consignor with sales of $1,374,000 for 38 horses. A daughter of Media Access (Devil's Bag), the dark bay is a half-sister to multiple stakes winner Access to Charlie (Indian Charlie) and...

Three Witches (Into Mischief) (hip 936), just a week removed from a third-place finish in the GI Breeders' Cup F/M Sprint, became the 12th seven-figure filly of the Keeneland November sale when selling for $1.7 million to the internet bid of Rifa Mustang Europe, Ltd. The 4-year-old filly is expected to stay in training in the U.S. next year. "She'll stay here in America and we'll try again on the racetrack," said Keeneland Australian representative Barry Bowditch. "For a mare that raced five days ago, in one of the strongest...

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 Kyoto and Tokyo Racecourses: Saturday, November 11, 2023 5th-KYO, ¥13,720,000 ($91k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1800mT OSCAR BRAVE (c, 2, Oscar Performance--Russian Symbol {Ire}, by Danehill Dancer {Ire}), a $17,000 Keeneland September yearling turned $240,00 OBS April juvenile, is the latest foal...

by Jessica Martini & Christina Bossinakis LEXINGTON, KY - The first of two Book 2 sessions of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale saw marked polarization, as the demand for the perceived quality remained strong, but fell off for the less desired offerings. "It's been a realistic, selective market today," said Keeneland Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy. "I think it was pretty evident throughout the day, people knew what they wanted and they were very specific about what they were willing to invest in. Speaking to a lot of...

Keeneland has added 16 horses to its single-session Horses of Racing Age Sale which boasts 320 entries and begins at noon ET on Friday, Nov. 17, the auction company said in a release Thursday. The latest round of supplements includes: Happy Baytown (hip 4312), a 2-year-old Runhappy filly who won a maiden special weight race at Charles Town Oct. 19. Consigned by McEntee Racing, agent, she is a half-sister to multiple stakes performer Spicy Marg. Rastani (hip 4308), a 3-year-old filly by Good Magic who won a Gulfstream Park allowance...

BBA Ireland's Michael Donohoe secured Grade I-producing mare White Hot (Galileo {Ire}) at the Keeneland November Sale Wednesday for Yuesheng Zhang's Yulong Investements. Yulong's Chief Operating Officer Sam Fairgray confirmed the news to The Thoroughbred Report overnight. Hammering down for $2.1 million, White Hot, the dam of GISW Pizza Bianca (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), was offered in-foal to multiple leading sire Into Mischief by Stone Farm (hip 170). The purchase was part of a quartet of mares that went to Yulong for a combined total of $3,525,000. All options remain open...

Grade I Kentucky Derby longshot hero Rich Strike will be retired and offered as a stallion prospect at the Keeneland November Horses of Racing Age Sale on Friday, Nov. 17, the organization said in a release Thursday. The 4-year-old colt by Keen Ice will be consigned by Candy Meadows Farm, agent and is available for inspection in Lexington by appointment. "Effectively immediately I am announcing the retirement of Rich Strike from racing," owner Rick Dawson said. "Over the past few months, Rich Strike was given the opportunity to rehab and...

by Jessica Martini & Christina Bossinakis LEXINGTON, KY - The Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale gained momentum throughout its opening session and concluded a day of competitive bidding Wednesday evening with 11 seven-figure mares and a median up 30% from its 2022 counterpart. "It was a good day. It was a really good day," said Keeneland President Shannon Arvin. "We were really pleased with the session overall. The theme of the century seems to be that the quality sells and there was really high demand for the quality. There was...

It's been a roller coaster year for White Abarrio (Race Day), but it ended on the highest of possible notes, with a victory in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic. To talk about the Breeders' Cup, future plans for the horse, the decision to hire Rick Dutrow as the trainer and more, co-owner Mark Cornett was the Green Group Guest of the Week on this week's TDN Writers' Room Podcast, which is presented by Keeneland. With the status of Saffie Joseph, Jr. in limbo after he was temporarily banned by Churchill...

Keeneland Association and Cross Gate Gallery of Lexington, Kentucky, will collaborate to host the eleventh annual Sporting Art Auction on Saturday, Nov. 18, at 12 p.m. ET in the Keeneland Sales Pavilion, the gallery said in a release Wednesday afternoon. Le Grand Prix a Longchamp by French artist, Jean-François Raffaëlli, will serve as the headliner. The event coincides with the 50th anniversary of Secretariat's Triple Crown campaign and an array of works will be offered to mark the occasion. The sale will also include works by renowned masters of the...

With the Breeders' Cup wrapping up an action-packed weekend at Santa Anita, all eyes turn to Lexington for the nation's preeminent breeding stock sales. Keeneland's November sale gets underway Wednesday, and as has become the custom, offers an enticing selection of mares and foals over the course of its five-book run. "For the long-term plan, we are trying to get the quality is there for the buyers we are recruiting, Keeneland Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy said. "We spend many months throughout the year meeting our potential customers and...