Keeneland November Sale | Horse Racing Free Tips

Long Weekend, Keeneland’s Haggin Turf Course Hosts A Trio Of Graded Races

Keeneland's lawn debuted during the 1985 Fall meet in an era when American turf courses were just coming into vogue.

According to a back issue of the track's media guide, through 2016 they had two names for their grass course. The Keeneland Course referred to the one with rail up, while the normal configuration with it down was called the Haggin Course.

Named for Louis Lee Haggin II, who was not only Keeneland's President from 1940-1956, but the decade before had purchased the 550-acre Sycamore Farm in Woodford County. Serving as board chairman of the Keeneland Association beginning in 1970, he was a decedent of the gold rusher and California stud farm innovator James Ben Ali Haggin.

As for the Keeneland turf course records, they recognized various distances and rail settings, but for the 2016 Fall meet, the inside rail was replaced on the Haggin Course with a portable fence that can be placed a variety of distances to protect the inside portion of the course. So, beginning with the 2017 Spring meet, Keeneland amalgamated records into one set based on distance.

Now that we mowed through a bit of turf history, the Haggin will take center stage starting on Friday, as the Association cards a trio of graded grass races which will headline another weekend of racing action.

On Friday at Keeneland, a key distance test will be renewed when turf specialists contest the GIII Sycamore S. going 12 furlongs. Grizzled veterans like GISW Red Knight (Pure Prize) and MGISW Channel Maker (English Channel) are present, but so are up and comers like MGSP Limited Liability (Kitten's Joy) and GSP Red Run (Gun Runner). Add in Godolphin homebred Bold Act (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}), who is group stakes placed in England and France for trainer Charlie Appleby, and this should set up as quite a late scramble.

Lindy | Coady Photography

Heading to Saturday in the Bluegrass, it is the annual invitation-only GI Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup S. for 3-year-old fillies. The nine-furlong run over the Haggin includes several invaders with European form. Elusive Princess (Fr) (Martinborough {Jpn}) made her U.S. debut a good one when she captured the GIII Saratoga Oaks Invitational Aug. 4 after running second in the G1 Prix Saint-Alary S. at ParisLongchamp May 14 and when she was fifth behind G1 Prix de l'Opera Longines heroine Blue Rose Cen (Churchill {Ire}) in the G1 Prix de Diane S. June 18 at Chantilly.

Shifting from Jean-Philippe Dubois to Arnaud Delacour, the bay filly will face another who recently changed yards in Lindy (Fr) (Le Harve {Ire}). She made the switch from Christophe Ferland to Brendan Walsh over the summer after finishing second in the G1 French 1000 Guineas S. to Blue Rose Cen and then a well-beaten eighth in the Prix de Diane. Under Walsh, she successfully shipped into Kentucky Downs and won an optional claimer at a short price going a mile.

Other imports into this field include Sounds of Heaven (GB) (Kingman {GB}), who was third at the Royal Meeting in the G1 Coronation S. for Jessica Harrington, French stakes winner for Jean-Claude Roget Elounda Queen (Ire) (Australia {GB}) and finally, Mawj (Ire), who was last seen winning the G1 1000 Guineas S. at Newmarket May 7 for Godolphin and trainer Saeed bin Suroor. Incidently, this will be bin Suroor's first trip to Keeneland since 2014.

“You have to send the right horse to run here,” bin Suroor said. “This is the right place for her. This was the plan to come here and then go to the Breeders' Cup. Either the [GI Breeders' Cup] Mile or the [GI Breeders' Cup] Filly & Mare Turf. I want to see how she runs here and then on to L.A. Mawj had a little chest infection before Ascot [in the summer] and she had a break,” bin Suroor said of the five months between starts.

As for the American contingent, Chad Brown will be well-represented with pair of entries in GSW Liguria (War Front) and GISP Prerequisite (Upstart). Brown has won four of the last five editions of this race.

Finally, on Sunday it will be time to go sprinting at Keeneland when the GII Franklin S. goes off at five and a half furlongs for older females. MGISW Caravel (Mizzen Mast) returns to her favorite course, the site of her upset win last fall in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, as she attempts to repeat in the Franklin S. for trainer Brad Cox. The accomplished 6-year-old, who will be offered at the Keeneland November Sale, will once again face GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint victoress Twilight Gleaming (Ire) (National Defense {GB}). The 4-year-old bay filly is looking to get back on track for Wesley Ward after an unsuccessful trip to Del Mar July 28 in the Daiseycutter S. Also of note is the presence of GII Ladies Turf Sprint winner Bay Storm (Kantharos), who had her own way at Kentucky Downs, and the untested Godolphin homebred from England for Charlie Appleby, Star Guest (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}).

Eternal Hope | Chelsea Durand

The stakes docket is not restricted to just Central Kentucky as both Aqueduct and Woodbine host their own graded races on Saturday.

With rain in the forecast later in the day and Sunday's GIII Knickerbocker S. moved to next week as a consequence, we will get to see the GII Sands Point S. early on the Belmont at the Big A card. Out of 10 entrants and three also-eligibles, Neecie Marie (Cross Traffic) will get another crack at Godolphin's Eternal Hope (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), who bested her by only a neck in the Sept. 16 GIII Jockey Club Oaks Invitational.

Joining the fray are a pair of alums who ran second and third in last month's Virginia Oaks at Colonial Downs. Jeff Drown's Root Cause (Into Mischief) and Don Alberto homebred Alpha Bella (Justify) have proved they can handle nine furlongs as they look to win their first graded race.

Ranging up the Canada, Woodbine has a pair of Grade IIIs scheduled over their Tapeta on Saturday when SW Mouffy (Uncle Mo) takes on MGSW Souper Hoity Toity (Uncle Mo) in the Ontario Matron S. and GSW Loyalty (Hard Spun) battles MGSW Our Flash Drive (Ghostzapper) in the Ontario Fashion S.

The post Long Weekend, Keeneland’s Haggin Turf Course Hosts A Trio Of Graded Races appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Keeneland November Sale Supplements Seven Horses

Keeneland has supplemented seven horses, including SW Her World (Ire), carrying her first foal by Uncle Mo, to Book 1 of the 80th November Breeding Stock Sale on Wednesday, Nov. 8, the auction house said in a release Thursday.

Consigned by Paramount Sales, agent, Her World (Hip 239) is a 4-year-old daughter of Caravaggio who opened her career with a 6-length victory for trainer Wesley Ward in the 2022 Tyro S. at Monmouth Park. Third in Keeneland's TVG Limestone S. in her next start, Her World won consecutive allowance races at Turfway Park and Keeneland earlier this year.

Additional supplements to the November Sale are:

Hip 238 is a weanling colt by Yaupon who is a half-brother to 'TDN Rising Star' V V's Dream (Mitole), the runner-up GI Darley Alcibiades S. Consigned by Gainesway, agent, he is out of Quay, a winning daughter of Tapit;
Hip 240 is a weanling filly by Essential Quality consigned by Lane's End, agent. She is the first foal out of Anukis (Pioneerof the Nile), and from the family of GISW Sean Avery (Cherokee Run);
Hip 241 is the SP Badge of Silver mare Oaks Lily, who is in-foal to Olympiad. Consigned by Vinery Sales, agent, she is the dam of a weanling colt by Justify who is cataloged to Book 1 as Hip 85.
Hip 242 is Excused (Aus), a 7-year-old SP daughter of Medaglia d'Oro in-foal to Constitution. Consigned by Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa, she is from the family of Grade I winners.
Hip 243 is stakes-placed Fearless Angel, a 3-year-old daughter of More Than Ready. A half-sister to GISP Neptune's Storm (Stormy Atlantic), she is consigned by Gainesway, agent.
Hip 244 is a weanling colt by Into Mischief from the family of champion Storm Song (Summer Squall) and European superstar Order of St George (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Out of the Bernardini mare Sunshiny Day, he is consigned by Paramount Sales, agent.

With a catalogue of 3,576 horses over a total of nine sessions through Nov. 16, Keeneland will continue to accept supplements to Book 1 until the auction begins. The Keeneland November Horses of Racing Age Sale will take place the following day.

The post Keeneland November Sale Supplements Seven Horses appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

MGISW Caravel and Dam Zeezee Zoomzoom Entered In Keeneland November Sale

Consigned by Hunter Valley Farm, agent, MGISW and MGSW Caravel (Mizzen Mast), who has earned nearly $2 million, and her dam, Zeezee Zoomzoom (Congrats), who is in foal to Justify, have been cataloged to Book 1 of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale on Nov. 8, the sales division said in a release Friday afternoon.

“Both Adrian and I are delighted to be selling such a unique package on the same day,” Fergus Galvin of Hunter Valley said. “We feel both will complement each other well. Obviously Caravel is a world-class turf sprinter, and her dam, Zeezee Zoomzoom, is in foal to Justify, who is having a phenomenal year. We're delighted to be selling this pair.”

Campaigned by Qatar Racing, Marc Detampel and Madaket Stables, Caravel scored a half-length victory against the boys in the 2022 GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Keeneland during a five-race win streak that began a few weeks earlier on the same track in the GIII Franklin S. Earlier this year, the 6-year-old mare defeated males again in both the GII Shakertown S. and the GI Jaipur S. at Belmont Park.

“Keeneland is excited to welcome back a star the caliber of Caravel, who turned in some of her most memorable performances here and, as a three-time stakes winner, raced into track history,” Keeneland Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy said. “Both Caravel and her dam, Zeezee Zoomzoom, will attract global attention from owners and breeders.”

Caravel is the first foal out of 11-year-old Zeezee Zoomzoom, who scored her maiden victory on the turf at Saratoga. The mare, who also produced multiple stakes winner Witty, by Great Notion, has four winners from four starters.

“She's not a big mare herself,” said Caravel's breeder, Elizabeth Merryman, about Zeezee Zoomzoom, “but she throws very big foals that are very correct, lovely, good movers – she's a really good mover. They all get a lot of natural speed from her. Some of them want to go long, and some want to sprint. They're really talented, smart, lovely horses that are well put together. I love the nick to Justify; I think it's just right for her.”

The catalog for the November Breeding Stock Sale will be posted Oct. 3.

The post MGISW Caravel and Dam Zeezee Zoomzoom Entered In Keeneland November Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Mage’s Dam Puca and GISW Dalika to Keeneland November; Both Offered by Case Clay

Puca (Big Brown–Boat's Ghost, by Silver Ghost), the dam of GI Kentucky Derby winner Mage (Good Magic), will be among the lots at the upcoming Keeneland November sale in an exclusive two-mare initial consignment offered by Case Clay's Case Clay Thoroughbred Management. The other mare in Clay's consignment will be 2022 GI Beverly D. S. winner Dalika (Ger) (Pastorius {Ger}–Drawn To Run {Ire}, by Hurricane Run {Ire}).

Puca is carrying a full-sibling to Mage, who has also placed in the GI Preakness S., GI Florida Derby and GI Haskell Invitational S. from six career starts and is scheduled to go postward in Saturday's GI Travers S. Puca's first foal is MSP Gunning (Gun Runner), while she also has a 2-year-old full-brother to Mage named Dornoch, who is entered in Monmouth Park's Sapling S. Saturday.

Dalika, who won races from 5 1/2 to 11 furlongs, is carrying her first foal to the cover of 2022 Horse of the Year Flightline (Tapit). In addition to her Beverly D. win, in which she set a new course record at Churchill Downs of 1:46.31 for the nine furlongs, Dalika won an additional three graded stakes, including the 2022 GIII Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf S., the 2022 GIII Cardinal S., and the 2021 GIII Robert G. Dick Memorial S. She won 10 races in three countries for earnings of $1.465 million and also set a course record at Kentucky Downs for one mile and 70 yards in 1:37.45.

“It's an honor to bring Puca and Dalika to the market and to be associated with such quality mares and quality pregnancies,” said Clay. “I am associated with these two particular mares already, so it's a natural extension of my business in an area in which I have been lucky enough to have experience in selling top mares. I'm looking forward to showing them to potential buyers in November.”

Both Puca and Dalika are part of Keeneland's Book 1 and are scheduled to go through Keeneland's ring Wednesday, Nov. 8.

“Keeneland is excited that Case has chosen us to offer these two exceptional broodmares in Book 1 of the November Breeding Stock Sale–and mark the debut of Case Clay Thoroughbred Management,” said Keeneland Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy. “While at Three Chimneys Farm, when it was owned by his family, Case oversaw the sale of a large number of million-dollar-plus broodmares over many years, including the great Take Charge Lady here at Keeneland in 2004. Along with this experience at the top end, he has an extraordinary number of connections and relationships with domestic and international buyers.”

“It's really just a vertical integration to my business for my clients, in an area in which I am lucky enough to have a lot of experience, as Three Chimneys used to consign a lot of mares when I was there full-time,” Clay said. “It is similar to my equine insurance business, which began during Covid, when one of my clients asked how he should insure his filly. There wasn't a lot going on at the time, so I got my license.”

Harkening back to his days at Three Chimneys, Clay amassed quite a record selling million-dollar-plus mares to the top players in the business. He said he has no plans to expand into the yearling consignment business.

“The November Sales were my favorite, since they follow the Breeders' Cup and everyone is in good spirits,” Clay said. “Selling high-quality fillies and mares is always a charge.”

The November Breeding Stock Sale catalogue will be released online Tuesday, Oct. 3.

The post Mage’s Dam Puca and GISW Dalika to Keeneland November; Both Offered by Case Clay appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post