August, 2022 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Keeneland Catalogs 4,147 Horses For 2022 September Yearling Sale

Keeneland has cataloged 4,147 horses for the 79th annual Keeneland September Yearling Sale, the world's largest and most significant marketplace for Thoroughbred racing prospects.

The auction, which covers 12 sessions from Sept. 12-24, kicks off nearly three months when Keeneland will be the focus of the global Thoroughbred industry with events that continue with the Fall Meet, Breeders' Cup World Championships and November Breeding Stock Sale.

Click here for the online September Sale catalog, which will include walking videos and photographs of yearlings.

Print catalogs are expected to arrive in the mail around Aug. 20.

“The September Sale is a bellwether event on the annual sales calendar, and we at Keeneland are excited to once again provide a stable and successful marketplace for consignors and buyers,” Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin said. “Last year's September Sale was vibrant from start to finish, resulting in record average and median prices and a record high clearance rate. This year, we look forward to welcoming back more international buyers who haven't been here in a few years due to COVID travel restrictions.”

Format is consistent with last year

Similar to the 2021 September Sale, Week 1 of this year's auction will feature Books 1 and 2 during the first four days, and more than 1,100 horses judged the sale's finest individuals based on pedigree and conformation are cataloged. The aim of the format is to position the largest number of exceptional horses possible before major domestic and foreign buyers prior to the “dark day” on Friday, Sept. 16 when no sale will be held.

“We've been listening to our buyers, both from the U.S. and abroad, and they have expressed a desire that we put forward more horses which are top physicals early on, and so we have emphasized that aspect,” Keeneland Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy said. “Book 1 encompasses more highly graded horses than in recent years, so buyers who come into town for only a short period of time will be able to see a larger percentage of really nice horses.”

Yearlings cataloged to Book 1 are out of 36 Grade 1 winners and out of a total of 89 graded stakes winners overall; 50 are half-siblings to Grade 1 winners and to 99 graded stakes winners overall.

The September Sale will present the following schedule:

Week 1

Book 1 – Monday-Tuesday, Sept. 12-13. Sessions begin at 1 p.m. ET. A total of 362 yearlings are cataloged over the two days.

Book 2 – Wednesday-Thursday, Sept. 14-15. Sessions begin at 11 a.m. A total of 751 yearlings are cataloged over the two days.

Dark Day – Friday, Sept. 16. No sale will be conducted.

Week 2

Book 3 – Saturday-Sunday, Sept. 17-18. Sessions begin at 10 a.m. A total of 828 yearlings are cataloged over the two days.

Book 4 – Monday-Tuesday, Sept. 19-20. Sessions begin at 10 a.m. A total of 822 yearlings are cataloged over the two days.

Book 5 – Wednesday-Thursday, Sept. 21-22. Sessions begin at 10 a.m. A total of 807 yearlings are cataloged over the two days.

Book 6 – Friday-Saturday, Sept. 23-24. Sessions begin at 10 a.m. A total of 577 yearlings are cataloged over the two days.

Keeneland will livestream the entire September Sale at Keeneland.com. As always, online and phone bidding will be available.

Barn renovations and hospitality

Keeneland's multi-year project to renovate the stable area resumed this year following a three-year hiatus because of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020-2021 and improvements made to The Thoroughbred Center in 2022, which meant horses who resided there relocated to Keeneland for several months while new barns were constructed. In this second phase of the renovation, Barns 20-27 now feature new roofs, re-graded walking rings, a new drainage system, upgraded LED lighting, new electrical wiring and new trees.

“We were very pleased to continue our stable area renovation this summer, which, when combined with Barns 11-19 that were renovated in 2019, makes for a total of 14 upgraded barns at this point,” Keeneland Director of Sales Operations Cormac Breathnach said. “While we work to enhance the entire barn area, our goal is to put the walking rings and areas where consignors present horses for inspection on par with the caliber of horses being presented. These renovations are among the capital improvements our sales clients will see around Keeneland.”

The September Sale will mark the return of the Saddling Paddock Chalet, which also will be in use for the Fall Meet, Breeders' Cup and November Breeding Stock Sale. Located adjacent to the Sales Pavilion and extending the entire length of the Paddock, the Chalet will expand the number of hospitality offerings for sales clients. It will include a dining room, where a buffet lunch will be available Sunday, Sept. 11 through Thursday, Sept. 15, as well as a lounge and bar open the entire auction. Additional private conference rooms in the structure also will be available.

World's leading sires have yearlings in catalog

The September Sale catalog has a total of 2,102 colts, 2,044 fillies and one gelding. Among them are 21 yearlings bred outside North America, exemplifying the auction's international appeal to overseas breeders.

Yearlings in the catalog represent 199 of the world's most established stallions, including American Pharoah, Bated Breath (GB), Candy Ride (ARG), Caravaggio, Constitution, Curlin, Distorted Humor, Flatter, Frankel (GB), Galileo (IRE), Ghostzapper, Gun Runner, Hard Spun, Into Mischief, Kingman (GB) Kitten's Joy, Maclean's Music, Medaglia d'Oro, More Than Ready, Munnings, No Nay Never, Not This Time, Nyquist, Quality Road, Speightstown, Street Sense, Tapit, Twirling Candy, Uncle Mo, Upstart, Violence, War Front and Wootton Bassett (GB).

In addition, a number of exciting young stallions are represented by their first crop of yearlings in the catalog such as Grade 1 winner Audible, multiple Grade 2 winner Catalina Cruiser, multiple Grade 1 winner Catholic Boy, multiple Grade 1 winner Divisidero, multiple graded stakes winner Enticed, Grade 1 winner Leofric, champion Mitole, multiple Grade 1 winner Omaha Beach, Grade 1 winner Preservationist, champion Vino Rosso and multiple Grade 1 winner World of Trouble.

The catalog also includes progeny of other stallions who were accomplished on the race track and whose first runners are excelling this year. Among them are Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Always Dreaming, Grade 1 winner Army Mule, multiple Grade 1 winner Bolt d'Oro, Grade 1 winner Girvin, champion Good Magic, multiple graded stakes winner Good Samaritan, Triple Crown winner and Horse of the Year Justify, Grade 1 winner Mendelssohn, multiple Grade 1 winner Mor Spirit, Grade 1 winner Mo Town, multiple Grade 1 winner Oscar Performance, Grade 1 winner Sharp Azteca and champion West Coast.

Graduates win stakes around the world

Through Aug. 8, graduates of the September Sale have won 224 stakes globally in 2022. Victories include graded stakes across the U.S. and in Canada, Japan, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates.

Leading the Grade 1 winners are two winners of Triple Crown races: Early Voting (Preakness-G1) and Mo Donegal (Belmont-G1). At premier meets this summer at Del Mar and Saratoga, graded stakes-winning sales graduates are American Theorem (Bing Crosby-G1), Big Invasion (Quick Call-G3 Presented by Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation), Cabo Spirit (La Jolla-G3), Epicenter (Jim Dandy-G2), Golden Pal (Troy-G3), Heywoods Beach (Cougar II-G3), champion Jackie's Warrior (Alfred G. Vanderbilt-G1), Just Cindy (Schuylerville-G3), Life Is Good (Whitney-G1), Naughty Gal (Adirondack-G3), Nest (Coaching Club American Oaks-G1) and War Like Goddess (Glens Falls-G2).

Other major North American Grade 1 victories were recorded by sales graduates Casa Creed (Jaipur), Colonel Liam (Pegasus World Cup Turf Cup Invitational Presented by Baccarat), Express Train (Santa Anita Handicap Presented by Yamaava' Resort & Casino), Jackie's Warrior (Churchill Downs Presented by Ford), Life Is Good (Pegasus World Cup Invitational Presented by 1/ST BET), Nest (Central Bank Ashland) and Zandon (Toyota Blue Grass).

Winners of Group 1 races abroad include Country Grammer (Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline), Emblem Road (Saudi Cup) and Switzerland (Dubai Golden Shaheen Sponsored by Atlantis Dubai).

The post Keeneland Catalogs 4,147 Horses For 2022 September Yearling Sale appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Ohio Trainer Suspended 365 Days For Class 1 Stimulant Positive

Trainer Alejandro Murillo Rodriguez has been issued a 365-day suspension and $1,000 fine by the Ohio State Racing Commission's Board of Stewards after one of his trainees tested positive for a metabolite of Nikethamide, according to a ruling posting on the Association of Racing Commissioners International website. The stimulant, classified by the ARCI as the highest-level Class 1, penalty A drug, was originally intended for use to treat overdoses of sedatives, especially barbiturates, but it has since been replaced with safer treatments.

Nikethamide is listed by the World Anti-Doping Agency as a banned substance. Use of Nikethamide, or nicotinic acid diethylamide, was more prevalent in the 1980s. According to the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium, it is considered “very dangerous” in horses since there is a possibility of complications that could result in death, but it is believed to have been a widely abused drug in horse racing in the 1960s and '70s because it quickly metabolized and was difficult to detect in post-race testing.

In South America and Europe, Nikethamide is commonly available in lozenge form as a respiratory stimulant. but the RMTC told bloodhorse.com it is not aware of any U.S. company that manufactures or distributes it for human or veterinary use.

Rodriguez's trainee Two Eagles won Thistledown's eighth race, a $7,500 claiming contest, on June 21, 2022. The 6-year-old was claimed out of that race; while the Horseracing Safety and Integrity Authority has instituted a nationwide Voided Claim rule, it did not go into effect until July 1, 2022. Prior to that in Ohio, a horse was considered claimed as soon as it starts the race, regardless of whether it finishes or tests positive for a prohibited substance.

The trainer's one-year suspension is slated to begin on Aug. 18, 2022, and run through Aug. 17, 2023. Two Eagles was ordered unplaced and disqualified from all purse monies. The case was referred to the OSRC for further action.

Rodriguez has appealed the penalty.

According to Equibase, Rodriguez has been training since 2018 and has saddled 109 winners from 587 starters for earnings of $1,741,044.

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‘I Have My Head On Straight Again’: Recovered From Serious Injury, David Cabrera Gearing Up For Remington

Despite suffering injuries to his brain, spinal column and face in a fall during racing on April 8 at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark., jockey David Cabrera is looking forward to trying to capture his fifth riding title in a row at Remington Park when the season opens Aug. 19.

“I feel very good about it,” Cabrera said. “I really have my head on straight again and am about 75-85 percent right now. I expect to be 100 percent when the meet starts.”

Cabrera was the leading rider at Oaklawn Park on the day of his accident and somehow held on to win his first riding title there even though he missed the final month of the season. On the final day of racing at Oaklawn on May 8, he led Francisco Arrieta by one win and the second-leading rider would have to be shut out for Cabrera to win the trophy.

“I really didn't think there was a way,” Cabrera said, “so I just relaxed, said my prayers that morning and took my daughter (Erandy) to the park. I knew there were a couple of races left, so I went to the track to find out. I couldn't believe he hadn't won a race that day. He still had the final race of the meet left and was second turning for home, but couldn't get there.

“I had mixed feelings about the whole thing. I had gone to the track earlier in the day and Arrieta is such a classy guy. I told him with all my heart I wished him luck.”

Cabrera finished with 62 wins from 371 starts and Arrieta had 61 from 379 mounts.

He has been working a lot of horses in late July and early August for trainer-owner-breeder C.R. Trout of Edmond and says he is just now “feeling like myself again.”

Cabrera, who lives in Jones, Okla., rode 32 times at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas, after being laid up for three months. He only won three of those races, an unlikely percentage for him. It's understandable, however, when back in April, he lay unconscious on the Arkansas track after his mount reportedly was cut off at the top of the lane, clipped heels with another horse and fell. Cabrera was thrown hard to the racing surface. He did not wake up until he arrived at the hospital.

“You know what, I don't remember the spill at all,” Cabrera said. “In fact, I don't remember the week and a half after the injuries. Nothing.”

Regardless of the extent of his injuries, the hospital released him the day after the spill.

“At the time, I was riding so good at Oaklawn,” Cabrera said. “I was a freak. My thinking was so sharp, not making any mistakes and then that happened. It gives you a lot of time to think.”

He said he still wants to ride in the Kentucky Derby and try a meet at Churchill Downs in the spring, but there's an old saying, “you want to make God laugh; tell him your plans.”

Cabrera understands completely.

“Maybe I shouldn't after the accident, but I do,” he said. “So I'm going to eat really good, exercise a lot and I'm hungry. I want to win some big races.”

He said his record at Lone Star Park after his comeback isn't an indication of what he can do at Remington Park.

“You have to be (riding) fit when you come back,” he said. “I thought I could come back and just pick up where I left off. But I wasn't thinking right and wasn't physically ready.”

He said the things he was doing instinctually at Oaklawn before the spill, he was now thinking about before doing them and that wasn't bringing the same success.

One guy that Cabrera won't have to be looking in his rear-view mirror for this Remington Park meet is his rival Ramon Vazquez, who has moved his tack to the West Coast.

“Ramon and me, we had good spice between us,” said Cabrera. “But Cristian Torres is coming over this meet from Oaklawn (15th leading rider there this spring with 19 wins) and he is another Ramon, a really good rider.”

As for Cabrera's future, he has bought a farm in Jones, the same one at which he shoveled manure in his first job after coming to the United States at 14 years old. He wants to turn that farm into a 42-stall training facility from the 10-stall farm it was.

“I want to be like (Remington Park all-time leading rider) Cliff Berry and retire while I'm still young, about 50,” he said. “That's my dream. That and riding a nice, safe meet at Remington is all I want.”

Other expected new faces among the riding colony at Remington Park are Jansen Melancon, Erick Medellin, Maicol Inirio, Wilmer Garcia and Gerardo Mora.

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Gosden Team Hand Nashwa and Inspiral French Targets

Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}), one of the shining lights of the Flat season, is set to tackle the G1 Prix de l'Opera on her next start while fellow John and Thady Gosden-trained filly Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}) will take on the boys in the G1 Prix Jacques Le Marois at Deauville on Sunday after pleasing connections in a key workout on Tuesday.

The Prix de Diane winner Nashwa lit up Goodwood when successful in the Nassau S. and, according to Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager for the filly's owner Imad Al Sagar, a return to France has always been the plan.

He said, “She came out of the Nassau really well so we're just looking at the various options. She's in very good form. She certainly has the scope to make a nice 4-year-old, but that would be entirely up to Imad in terms of how she is.

“The main thing is there is a bit of running to do this year and then take a look at the options, but she'd look a very interesting 4-year-old prospect.”

He added, “I think the Prix de l'Opera has been in John's mind since the Diane, really, so that is on the cards. But we'll keep our eyes open.

“She's not dissimilar to Frankel when you look at her head, and she certainly has a good turn of foot-her sectionals were most impressive at Goodwood.”

Meanwhile, Inspiral will face something of a retrieval mission at Deauville on Sunday as she bids to bounce back from a poor run in the Falmouth S. at Newmarket last month.

Chris Richardson of Cheveley Park Stud, who own Inspiral, said, “I think we're heading for Deauville, all being well. We were pleased this morning and Frankie [Dettori] was very happy with her.

“Obviously it's a tough race, as all those sort of races are. You've got Coroebus (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and William's (Haggas) colt (Maljoom (Ire) (Caravaggio), who was obviously a bit unlucky in the St James's Palace, but she seems in good form and the plan is to roll the dice.”

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