Tag: Mark Taylor

Something For Everyone As Keeneland November Wraps

The seasonal foliage was about the only thing falling at the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale, which concluded a wildly successful run in Lexington Friday afternoon. Over the course of 10 days of trade, sales officials reported gross receipts of $203,585,500 for 2470 horses sold, good for an average of $82,423. Further demonstrating the strength of middle market, the median price of $37,000 established a new November record, eclipsing the previous mark of $35,000 set on five previous occasions, but most recently in 2014. The buyback rate closed at a very manageable 17.4%.

The November sale was topped by the supplemented GI Coaching Club American Oaks winner Paris Lights (Curlin) (hip 224D), who was consigned by Brad Weisbord and Liz Crow's EliTE, as agent for WinStar Farm/WinStar Stablemates. Despite the passing of its founder B. Wayne Hughes this past August, Spendthrift Farm continued an aggressive buying spree dating back to last year's breeding stock sales, going to $3.1 million for the daughter of Paris Bikini (Bernardini). Paris Lights was one of seven mares that eclipsed the seven-figure mark at Keeneland, each of which was secured by a different buyer, while the 41 horses that sold for a pricetag in excess of $500,000 were acquired by some 30 unique entities.

The 2021 November Sale also warmly welcomed the return of a broad international buying bench, as the United States conditionally opened its borders on the eve of the auction Nov. 8. Bidding was spirited at every level of the sale, across each of the five books that was capped by Friday's equally vibrant Horses of Racing Age Section (see related story). So lively was the bidding that by the time the dust had settled on the Book 3 finale Nov. 14, the sale had already soared past the gross for the entire COVID-impacted event in 2020.

The weanling section of the sale also featured competitive bidding, with end-users and resellers alike making their presence felt. Four Star Sales sold the highest-priced foal of the sale (hip 144), an $800,000 Frankel (GB) half-sister to MGSW Nay Lady Nay (Ire) (No Nay Never) and GSW/MG1SP Arizona (Ire) (No Nay Never) to Midlantic-based trainer Phil Schoenthal, agent for Matt Dorman's D. Hatman Thoroughbreds.

The level of engagement augurs well for horse racing and breeding, Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin said.

“Excitement for racing and confidence in the future of our sport globally are positive trends for the entire horse industry,” she commented. “The November Sale continued the optimism we saw in September with great energy on the sales grounds, smiling faces all around and people having fun doing what they love. As in September, Keeneland worked to elevate the sales atmosphere with many little touches that we hope consignors and buyers really enjoyed, and that helped create a terrific environment to showcase the quality individuals that breeders and sellers brought to market. We are delighted with the enthusiastic response of buyers.”

Opening of Borders Comes In The Nick of Time…

Following an 18-month interruption owing to the coronavirus, the United States officially re-opened its borders to fully vaccinated international travelers Monday, Nov. 8, one day prior to the Fasig-Tipton November Sale and two days before the start of Keeneland November. The sales sheets bear out that the international buying bench contributed mightily to the overall sales performance at all price points.

On the heels of two landmark victories at the Breeders' Cup at Del Mar, Japanese interests were active at the top and middle levels of the market–as is their custom–with Masahiro Miki signing for three lots for $3,675,000, topped by the $2.3 million Pink Sands (Tapit) (hip 183). Katsumi Yoshida added New Jersey-bred Horologist (Gemologist) (hip 200) to his formidable broodmare band at Northern Farm, paying $800,000 for the MGSW and MGISP mare.

Keeneland November grad Gypsy Robin (Daaher, $750,000, 2013) became the dam of G1 A. J. Moir S. hero Wild Ruler (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}) at Melbourne's Moonee Valley Racecourse late last month, the latest major success of American-sourced bloodstock Down Under. Looking for lightning to strike again–and hopefully again and again–that 4-year-old colt's part-owner Newgate Farm (Henry Field) teamed with SF Bloodstock on no fewer than five purchases, led by MGSW Tonalist's Shape (Tonalist) (hip 46). Australian horsemen Julian Blaxland, Will Johnson, Bruce Slade and Craig Rounsefell were prominent players, as were trainers Richard and Michael Freedman.

 

The sale's back books drew buyers from Central America, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Korea and Turkey, a function of Keeneland's aggressive strategy to recruit buyers from these 'emerging' racing jurisdictions.

As with any sporting event, it's great to watch on TV and all, but nothing beats being there in person, said Keeneland Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy.

“The opening of the U.S. borders just two days before the sale really created an atmosphere and brought back a feeling of probably 10-15 years ago, when you had a really vibrant international market,” said Lacy. “The presence of the Australians was really welcomed, because American broodmares have been doing exceptionally well in their gene pool. It was great to see the Europeans coming back here and spending money again. The attraction of American pedigrees is starting to gain traction again. I think going forward there is real momentum and I think we've got a real good base to work off in the future.”

Added Keeneland Director of Sales Cormac Breathnach, “American bloodlines are so valuable around the world and are huge contributors to studbooks in various jurisdictions. We are privileged and fortunate to be able to present that market to the world here at Keeneland and with the support of all the breeders and consignors that send us such quality stock. The market has been very strong, the international participation is consistent and very valuable to us and it's exciting for us to be on this end of it.”

'Cool' Marketplace Fosters Confidence, Stability…

Another positive in Lacy's eyes is the re-emergence of buyers at the November Sale who had availed themselves of a break of as many as 15 years from the sales.

“I think what is really encouraging is that you're seeing some people that might have been inactive for a number of years [buying horses],” he offered. “I'll use Bill Casner as an example. Bill has been active, but at a slightly lower level. This year he came back and bought at a significant level. If you look at the results through Books 1 and 2, you see people who have purchased farms that were active and really doubling down, stocking up for their farms.”

And that helps to maintain a relatively even keel, according to Lacy.

“I think even if we have a correction in the market over the next few years, you won't have the same panic in the market because of the fact that this is real money that's being invested,” he said. “There's confidence. Prize money being up has really helped and the fact that we have partnerships that are buying racehorses has invigorated the yearling market. When you have a vibrant yearling market, the reaction is that people think 'alright, it's valuable to breed these horses' and to have a market to sustain it. That's extremely encouraging. I don't think the market is overheating in any way. If you look at the results from 2018-2019–eliminate the results from 2020–but look at 2021, you actually see a straight line. There's a very consistent line of growth. 2020 was a bit of anomaly, but last year was actually better than what we thought it might be. There was a demand for young stock and it's carried over here.”

Breathnach concurred.

“There's a lot of help in the industry, from the sporting end with high purses and handle has been very good and there is a lot of energy around the sport again,” he explained. “People made money in September and now they're reinvesting now with confidence, because like Tony said, it feels like a very fair, sound market and something that is sustainable, because there is a balance between supply and demand and there is a real appetite to buy and to fill orders and they're not getting them filled in many cases. They're getting pushed back in the books and now they're going to be back in January to try to fill their orders there.”

Following Through On A Vision…

In a TDN interview with Katie Petrunyak after being named to his new role earlier this year, Lacy said he was committed to enhancing the buying experience for the auction house's clientele, making it fun and exciting. With Keeneland's two biggest sales now in the rearview, it is clear Lacy very much intends on seeing that task through.

“We've been really focused on creating a little more energy, a little more excitement and a little more of an atmosphere around the grounds,” he said. “In September, we had to duct tape a lot of things together to make this work, starting in early summer. It's been well received. A lot of international and out-of-town customers have really enjoyed themselves and I think that's something we want to try to build on.

“It's a transactional business, but we also realize that there is a lot enjoyment in trying to source and buy quality stock,” he continued. “That's something we'll be focusing on more and more. We want make sure that people realize that when you invest here, it increases prize money, it allows us to do more development. We're also really excited about having the Breeders' Cup here next year. Next November is going to be a really exciting time and we're already planning for what we can do then.”

An ELiTE November Topper…

One might think that selling a horse for $3.1 million wouldn't necessarily elicit a significant reaction from ELiTE Sales' Brad Weisbord within the context of having consigned the likes of champions Monomoy Girl ($9.5 million) and Midnight Bisou ($5 million) and Uni (GB) ($4.1 million) on a single night a little more than a year ago. But Weisbord, who said has seen his baby daughter a grand total of 'one day in the last five weeks,' was still basking in the afterglow of the sale of Paris Lights nine days after she went through the ring at Keeneland November.

“It's been a great November,” said Weisbord. “It was a pleasant surprise to hear from Elliott Walden two weeks before the sale, saying that he was giving us Paris Lights to sell. We put our heads together and seeing all those headliners at Fasig-Tipton, we thought it was best to bring Paris Lights to Keeneland because she would have a chance to shine there. This was a case of being the last big fish in the sales ring and everybody lined up on her. To sell a $3-million mare, even in a healthy market, is a giant deal and we were very appreciative of the opportunity.”

Like so many others, Weisbord has been taken by the performance of the market over the last week and a half.

“This, for me, is the best market we've ever participated in,” he said. “I thought the same thing last year and this year is even better. The health of the worldwide economy is continuing to strengthen. We have probably never seen this strong a market at the upper end. We had five millionaires and there was very active bidding well above our reserves for all five of them.”

 

Taylor Made Tops Among Consignors…

There are a few constants in life: death, taxes and Taylor Made Sales topping the consignors' table at Keeneland November.

And so it was in 2021, as the agency sold 246 head for $23,873,200 to reign as king of that particular hill for the 25th time since 1990.

“We've got a great base of customers, many of whom have been with us for decades and continually give us good horses,” Taylor Made's Mark Taylor commented. “We've got a hell of a team. A lot of the people that work for us could run their own consignments, they know what they're doing. Us Taylors are just the conduits between the employees and the customer. We're very lucky. Thanksgiving is coming up, so we're very grateful.”

Given the strength of the year's previous auctions, Taylor said the overall results of the November sale were not totally unexpected, yet simultaneously a bit surprising.

“What was encouraging was that it was strong from start to finish and there was demand for horses at all levels. It was really good,” he said. “It exceeded my expectations in this way. I thought that our high six-figure and seven-figure horses, that we would be selling into a very healthy market. The middle market commercial breeders–what we have been seeing is signs of them shrinking down. Wherever they are in the market, they want to sell off and have higher quality. The cost of keeping them and raising them keeps going up and then also the veterinary scrutiny continues to get more intense.

“It's totally out of their control,” he added. “You're raising this animal that you're bringing to the market and there's so much intense vet scrutiny that a lot of the commercial breeders just can't stomach it. It's so hard to hit a home run, and even when you have a horse that's capable of it, sometimes it takes just one or two opinions and instead of hitting a home run, you're striking out. It's a hard business model because there is so much unpredictability in that way. I was pleasantly surprised that there was so much demand for those mares. I thought it was going to get really thin and really weak once we hit Book 3, but that was not the case. It's a testament to how much people love this game. That they're willing to reinvest and plow money back in.”

Ingordo: Buying Horses 'Was Not Easy'…

Noted bloodstock agent David Ingordo was one of many buyers who found the sledding to be pretty tough at the November sale. That being said, he wasn't complaining and also sees a bright future for the sport.

“On the heels of as good a September sale as I've ever seen and a yearling sales season that was phenomenal, quite frankly, it was expected that November would be a good market,” he said. “I'm usually a foal buyer, but I was not able to get anything bought in my price range and at my comfort level for what my needs were. We got outbid quite a bit, I thought the foal market was quite strong, and deservedly so. Pinhookers had a good year, end-users are buying more weanlings now than they ever have and there is just a lot of competition for good foals.

He continued, “On the mare side, again it goes back to good yearling sales. A lot of people are reinvesting in mares, making key acquisitions for broodmare bands, and that was difficult to do as well. On the value side of the broodmare market, there were a lot of people supporting their various sires and we saw a lot of mare competition and it was tough. We were able to buy horses that we wanted, but it was not an easy process.”

Ingordo signed 19 tickets to support new Lane's End stallion Code of Honor (Noble Mission {GB}) and another half-dozen in the name of Gage Hill II in partnership with Lane's End.

“Code of Honor is a very attractive horse and stands over a lot of ground,” he explained. “Physically we're thinking to add some strength and some body to the mares we breed to him. He won what is historically one of the best 2-year-old races at Saratoga and got beat a lip in the Champagne, so he has 2-year-old form. We're looking to try to make him a commercial horse and try to get some runners out there early. We bought some speedy types of physicals from sire lines we felt would bring additional precocity that he himself had. He's a wide-open horse to breed to pedigree-wise, so we were able to find a wide variety of mares that fit him. As is becoming our model, we are committed to supporting these horses with mares, we're going to buy yearlings and weanlings by him, we're going to buy 2-year-olds. And people that breed to him, we're going to support those that breed to the horse by buying horses off them as well.”

The sales are a means to an end and Ingordo is encouraged not only by the results of the past week-plus, but also by the state of the horse racing business.

“That winning post about a quarter-mile up from the pavilion and the winner's circle is what drives this,” he said, referring to the Keeneland finish line. “Racing is healthier than is sometimes reported, we seem to always focus on the negatives. I personally race horses and we make our racing stable work based on the prize money we can win. It covers the bills and hopefully we create a product that we can sell as a stallion or a broodmare or whatever. Purses are good and there is a demand I haven't seen for some time. It is quite refreshing to see just how many people want to race horses at whatever level they're able to do it. Even if you have a claiming horse, you can still make it make sense. That is something we need to focus on as a big positive and realize that is what is driving all this demand. Someone has to produce those horses, so the breeders are being rewarded for producing a nice horse, and whatever region they're in, people want to race.”

What They're Saying At The Sales…

“I think I'm like everyone else…OMG is the explanation for it. The strength of the market is mind-boggling, the strength of the stock market is mind-boggling. There's just so much money in the world right now and you combine that with the accelerated depreciation we're getting, purse money is up and overall gambling on racing continues to move forward. We've got as close to a perfect storm in the horse business probably since all that crazy money in the early 80s. It's as good as it's been since the turn of the century.

“The increase in the $10,000 to $60,000 horse, which was sometimes unsellable, there now seems to be a fervent market for those horses. I don't know where the money is coming from, but it's great for the industry.”

–Bradley Thoroughbreds' Peter Bradley

 

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Return To The Ring: Keeneland September’s RNA Re-Offer Sparks Trade In Different Ways

The catalog order was out of sorts at the end of Tuesday's session at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale in Lexington, Ky.

Hip 399 was followed by Hip 399A and 399C, as one would expect when the main catalog turns into the supplemental catalog. Then, Hip 6 entered the ring, followed by Hips 72, 111 and 179.

The four horses causing the catalog detour were the inaugural class of Keeneland's RNA Re-offer program, which allowed sellers of horses that finished under their reserve during the auction's first session the opportunity to run them the ring a second time at the end of Tuesday's second day of trade.

Though each of the RNA Re-offer horses had a common touching point, each one took a unique path to and from it.

The quartet that went through the ring on Tuesday evening was narrowed down from an original group of seven yearlings that were announced by Keeneland at the end of Monday's session. Consignors had to notify Keeneland Sales officials of their intentions to run their horses through again within 30 minutes of the close of Monday's session. Buyers were then made aware of the horses to be offered through Keeneland's social media channels and advertising.

For a few of the horses, that little extra boost of promotion was all they needed to make a sale happen. Mill Ridge Sales had two horses entered in the RNA Re-offer, but neither made it to the ring.

“The one that was early, Hip 70, was for a partnership, and we thought we had action, but didn't have enough,” said Price Bell of Mill Ridge. “We RNA'd it for $125,000 and we wanted to support new ideas. Keeneland promoted it last night, and they promoted it today, and it probably let people know we wanted to sell these horses, that they weren't RNAs to race. This morning, we had three people ask us about her, and we got it done.

Hip 70, a First Samurai filly, sold privately to Madras Bloodstock on Tuesday morning for $90,000.

Bell said the other Mill Ridge horse set to go through again, Hip 195, an Uncle Mo filly who was a $140,000 buyback, was offered late on Monday, and was entered for the second chance mostly to hold the spot until the consignor could talk it over with the breeder, who elected to keep the filly to race. Still, Bell said the filly had an inquiry from a potential buyer on Tuesday morning after the initial list was revealed.

“It was effective to get more eyes on them, and positions them to be buyable,” he said. “It's not Plan A, but this late in the yearling season, sometimes you don't have a Plan B. For this to be a Plan B for that draw and that day, is great.”

Ramsey Farm also had a potential re-offer turn into a private sale, with Hip 197, a Nyquist colt, go to Daniel Pita for $70,000 after hammering for $80,000 in the ring.

For the remaining four horses, it was a slightly different pre-sale experience than their first go-around. Book 1 of Keeneland September is often filled with all-shows and extensive vetting, as high-level buyers attempt to leave no stone unturned. By Tuesday, however, most shoppers have moved on with their inspections to the horses in Book 2.

It was largely business as usual for Taylor Made Sales Agency, which had two horses entered in the re-offer: Hip 72 by Justify (RNA at $200,000), and Hip 179 by American Pharoah (RNA at $140,000). The consignment regularly keeps its buybacks from the first session of Book 1 on the property for an extra day in an attempt to woo a private sale before taking them home. Taylor Made's Mark Taylor said the discussion with the sellers to re-offer was not much different than it would be for any other RNA situation.

“It's the same conversation you would have if this re-offer wasn't in existence,” he said. “We always sit back and say, 'Okay, we've got the horse back. Have you reevaluated what you would take for the horse, and if so, where do you think that is?' Then, we go and start calling people that were interested. A lot of times, those people seek you out, too. In this case, I would say there's no downside for putting them in. If someone calls you at noon and gives you the hammer price, and you want to go ahead and sell it, Keeneland's going to allow you to do that.”

For both horses, Taylor said he expected them to bring more the first time around. He theorized that buyers might have thought that as well, which might have made them think the horses were out of their budget and look elsewhere. Multiple potential buyers made private offers in about the same price range, but all of them were slightly lower than the what seller was looking for, prompting the decision to let the hammer sort it out.

Catalog placement came into play for Hip 6, an Into Mischief colt who was bought back on Monday with a final bid of $340,000. It can take a while for a buyer's bench to build up momentum, and the colt was re-entered with the hopes of catching the market once it's warmed up.

“It's been busy enough,” consignor Pat Costello of Paramount Sales said about an hour before the colt's second trip through the ring. “He's been out five or six times today. Hopefully, we'll get something done.”

Though the shoppers had largely moved on to horses later in the sale, Kerry Cauthen of Four Star Sales said he worked on getting the minds of potential customers back to day one for a moment. Cauthen had Hip 111, a More Than Ready colt who was bought back at $145,000 after his first trip through the ring on Monday.

“People have obviously moved on to the next spot,” Cauthen said. “We mentioned it to everyone at Barn 42 (Four Star's Book 2 barn), letting them know the horse was going to be offered again. A lot of people would have seen him, and it gets back in their head, and we had three or four people say, 'I'm gonna watch him.' I don't know if it'll work or won't work, but there's no harm in letting them have a look.”

Cauthen's strategy was successful. Of the four horses that went through the ring for a second time on Tuesday, the More Than Ready colt was the only one to change hands at the fall of the hammer, improving his price from $145,000 on Monday to $150,000 on Tuesday.

The remaining three horses hammered for less the second time around, with Paramount's Hip 6 getting the closest at $335,000 after initially bringing $340,000.

One of the caveats of the re-offered section was that reserves had to be set with 15 percent above or below the initial reserve on Monday, which could have affected the sale status of some of the horses that hammered for less. As horses clearly marked to sell, it is likely they will find buyers privately before the sale is through.

Tony Lacy, Keeneland's vice president of sales, said he was pleased with what he saw with the re-offer program, between the private and public sales.

“I think there was a little bit of uncertainty over what it really was, but now that we're at the stage of the day where you had a few people that felt the market didn't treat them the way they expected, they can come back, and hopefully there will be better reception,” he said.

“There was anxiety amongst a group of sellers about being early in the sale, and as a former consignor, it definitely felt there was a lack of safety net in certain parts if you had a horse that may be perceived as having less marketability, or less appeal,” he continued. “Quite frankly, I think it really helped, and it helped solidify people's confidence that if they didn't get one sold early, that they had options.”

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Keeneland September Sale Kicks Off Monday

LEXINGTON, KY–The Keeneland September Yearling Sale starts its 11-day run Monday with the first of two Book 1 sessions, beginning at 1 p.m. The five-book catalogue offers a total of 4,032 yearlings by a variety of stallions, such as Triple Crown heroes American Pharoah and Justify; the red-hot Into Mischief; perennial leading sire Tapit; stalwarts like Medaglia d'Oro, War Front and Candy Ride (Arg); and top freshman sire Gun Runner.

“I think when you get this volume of horses and there are a lot of really nice horses, there is opportunity for the buyers,” said Taylor Made's Mark Taylor. “I think buyers need to realize there are opportunities to find really good horses at good prices from Book 1 all the way to the end of the sale. There is quality from start to finish, maybe even more now than in recent memory.”

The barns were buzzing with activity over the weekend as buyers made their way through Book 1 and 2 offerings. Todd Pletcher, Steve Asmussen, Bob Baffert and Jonathan Thomas were among the trainers seen inspecting yearlings. Of course, bloodstock agents could be seen left and right, such as Steve Young, Jacob West, Donato Lanni, Kerri Radcliffe, Justin Casse, China Horse Club's Michael Wallace and Mike Ryan. The teams from Coolmore, WinStar, Spendthrift and Summer Wind Farm were spotted on the grounds checking on their offerings as well as shopping for new stock. Pinhookers were also out in full force, such as Niall Brennan, Steve Venosa, Ciaran Dunne, Lynne Boutte, Randy Hartley and Brandon and Ali Rice.

“We are very optimistic. The traffic is very good,” said Tony Lacy, Keeneland's Vice President of Sales. “The reception of the quality of horses has been excellent. There is a good, diverse group of horses for a varied marketplace, whether it is domestic or international. It is great to see so many international participants here, even in a challenging travel year. Credit applications are coming in at a higher rate than in recent years. I think the outlook is quite promising. We always have to be cautious about what the market will be at the end of the day, but, quite honestly, at this point the indicators are very good.”

The yearling market was strong all the way through at the three previous major yearling sales this year–Fasig Tipton's July, Saratoga Select and New York-Bred sales–and sellers are confident that trend will continue at Keeneland.

“The first three sales of the year are really three domestic sales,” said Denali Stud's Conrad Bandoroff. “The domestic market has been very strong with a lot of diverse competition across the board. There has been a strong level of interest and activity in the middle market as well as the top. That will carry over. I know Keeneland has been working very hard to ensure that all of the international buyers and agents will be able to come in and be here for the sale. You have to expect we will have a strong market in September and see more of what we have seen in the first three yearling sales.”

The Keeneland team worked diligently with local and national government agencies last year to bring international buyers in for the sale despite travel restrictions and bans across the globe. The sales company brought in as many foreign buyers as possible and others relied on their U.S.-based teams or took advantage of the phone or online bidding.

Lacy said this year it was even more difficult to acquire travel waivers for European buyers. However, Japanese agents had no issue entering the U.S. as their country only requires a negative COVID-19 test for travel back and forth to America, according to Lacy.

“We've got a number of buyers here from England and Ireland and some from France,” Lacy said. “We've had to go through different procedures this year. Last year, we worked with the Department of Homeland Security and this year we had to go through the State Department. Waivers had to be processed. Unfortunately, with Afghanistan, the State Department has been overloaded and it has pushed some of our applicants further down the line. But, we have been persistent and had a lot of help from our local representatives in [Washington] D.C. We have been able to get a number of people in [to the U.S.] and some of the waivers from last year were still current, so buyers were able to travel on those as well. We would love to have gotten more people in, but under present circumstances, it has been very restrictive. It was a lot more difficult this year than last year. But, we've got a good number of people here, which is very positive.”

In 2020, Keeneland put a number of protocols in place to protect against the spread of COVID-19. Only buyers and sellers were allowed to attend and had to submit a recent negative COVID-19 test to be approved for a pass. Capacity inside the pavilion was limited to 40% and all attendees were required to wear face masks on the grounds. The auction house also added online and phone bidding and an additional bidding spot in the back show ring. With the rise of vaccinations, the protocols will not be quite as strict this year, but Keeneland is still doing its best to provide a safe environment for all those in attendance.

“The bidding in the back show ring was last year and we don't have it this year,” Lacy said. “We are encouraging people to go into the pavilion more. There have been less people in the pavilion over the past few years and there is plenty of room for spacing in there. It is a more comfortable environment with less chance of congregating. I think out in the back ring can certainly be a congested area at times. We also have internet and phone bidding, so there are a lot of different ways people can partake in the sale.”

The 2020 September Sale went on as scheduled despite many of the year's previous auctions being canceled or postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It ran back-to-back with the Fasig-Tipton Yearling Showcase, which was a combination of that auction house's July, Saratoga and New York-Bred Sales held across town.

After a record-setting 2019 renewal of KEESEP, the economic and travel impacts of the virus were seen at the 2020 auction, but it still held its own. A total of 2,481 yearlings grossed $248,978,700 with 15 of them bringing seven figures. The average was $100,354 and the median was $37,000. The sale was topped by a $2-million Tapit colt out of GISW Tara's Tango (Unbridled's Song)

“I would certainly expect it to be more of a normal year,” said Lacy. “Again, 2019 was a very strong year, so I think it would be unfair to compare 2020 completely with 2019. But, in comparison to last year, I think it will be a more stable year in 2021, especially in Books 1 and 2. I feel there is more activity. People are learning to live with COVID in certain ways. We have tried to create a lot of spaces around the grounds where people can social distance. We have created an environment that allows people to be as safe as possible and remain as close to normal as possible.”

Keeneland has continued to adjust the sale format over the years. In 2019, Book 1 was three days and it was cut down to two for 2020. It will be two days once again for 2021, but with a new feature. Any horse that RNAs during the first session can be sent back through the ring again at the conclusion of day two's 200-horse session. A total of 399 horses are catalogued in Book 1, which will be followed by a two-day Book 2 comprised of 698 yearlings. The lone dark day of the auction follows Book 2 on Friday, Sept. 17. Book 3 picks up Sept. 18 and the sale runs straight through Sept. 24.

“We wanted a consistent format,” Lacy said. “That is one thing that everybody wants. We originally wanted a three-day Book 1 this year, but as the entries came in it became more apparent that we were better suited to having a two-day Book 1 and a two-day Book 2. So, we had to pivot. With the cooperation of the CBA and a lot of our breeders and clients, we were able to make a two-day Book 1 very viable. You want it to be representative of Book 1 horses and have good, solid quality with plenty of diversity.”

He continued, “Having been able to have almost 1,100 horses on the grounds at one time, it gives buyers the opportunity to inspect a large number of horses over four days. With the new format, they are able to get two days of showing for Book 3. You have a lot of good Book 3 horses as well, and this way they are not getting overlooked or rushed. It worked out logistically quite well and was well received by both buyers and sellers. Being able to showcase each individual in the proper manner is very important. If this format works well, it may be something we consider in the future.”

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Curlin Looking to Follow Up on Memorable 2019 Saratoga Success

The last time the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Selected Yearlings Sale was held, Curlin recorded a memorable trifecta with the auction's top three seven-figure yearlings. Leading the way was the $1.5-million co-topper First Captain, who was tabbed a 'TDN Rising Star' and captured  the GIII Dwyer S. The Hill 'n' Dale stallion will be represented by five yearlings when bidding returns to the Humphrey S. Finney pavilion in upstate New York next week.

“Curlin is truly a Classic sire,” said Mark Taylor of Taylor Made Sales Agency, which will consign two fillies by the stallion during the two-day boutique sale. “He can come up with a good 2-year-old, but when I think Curlin, I am thinking about big-time route races.”

The first of Taylor Made's offerings by Curlin is hip 63, a daughter of Classofsixtythree (Include) and a half-sister to graded stakes winner and Grade I placed Gunmetal Gray (Exchange Rate).

“This filly has grown up on Taylor Made and I have always loved her,” Taylor said. “She is a May foal and is only scratching the surface of what she will be in time. This filly is out of an Include mare and is a half-sister to Gunmetal Gray, who was a Grade I-placed 2-year-old and a top-tier 3-year-old a few years back. This filly looks like she will be a Classic two-turn filly. She's a very nice Curlin.”

Also from the Taylor Made consignment is hip 181, a daughter of Curlin whose dam Rose Garden (Pioneerof the Nile) is a half-sister to GI Preakness S. winner Exaggerator, also by Curlin.

“This filly is a late April foal,” Taylor said. “She has a ton of size and strength. For anyone trying to find an Oaks type 3-year-old, she will hit their radar. Her dam is a half-sister to Exaggerator, so Curlin has already produced a Classic winner from this immediate family. She was born and raised at Twin Creeks Farm. They have produced a bunch of classy horses over the years, including Tiz The Law last year.”

Taylor Made is no stranger to dealing with talented daughters of Curlin.

“We have sold some talented Curlin fillies in the past,” Taylor said. “The one who jumps out at me as the prototype of what I think Curlin produces is Grade II winner Point of Honor. She had strength, scope and balance. She ran to those looks and has just come up short at the Grade I level. Spice Is Nice is another beautiful Curlin filly. We did not sell her, but she was rehabbed with us for a few months. She had the same qualities as Point of Honor–just beautiful fillies.”

Rounding out the three Curlin fillies in the Saratoga catalogue is hip 128, a daughter of Leslie May (Tapit), who is a half-sister to multiple graded stakes winner Uncaptured (Lion Heart). The gray filly is consigned by Warrendale Sales as agent for her breeder Stonestreet, which campaigned two-time Horse of the Year Curlin.

A pair of colts by Curlin are catalogued for Tuesday's second session of the Saratoga sale. Lane's End will consign hip 166, a son of Often (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who is a half-sister to Giant's Causeway.

Gainesway consigns hip 207, a chestnut colt out of stakes winner Sweet Seventeen (Hard Spun).

Taylor is happy to have the Saratoga sale back in the line-up after a year's hiatus caused by the pandemic.

“It's great to be back at Saratoga this year,” Taylor said. “It's an important sale for buyers, sellers and consignors. Having the racing and selling all in one great town is a unique combination.”

Taylor Made has had many memorable moments at the Saratoga sale, which celebrates its 100th renewal this year.

“We have so many great memories at Saratoga,” Taylor said. “All the sale toppers over the years have been exciting and consigning  great racehorses like Rushing Fall, American Pharoah, Vindication and so many others  makes the effort not seem like work at all.”

The post Curlin Looking to Follow Up on Memorable 2019 Saratoga Success appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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