It’s not only about action trackside at Keeneland each spring.
There may be but 30-odd lots in its catalogue – this is no November Breeding Stock Sale – but Keeneland’s April Selected Horses of Racing Age Sale still serves as a suitable curtain closer for April racing action on the other side of the grandstand.
“The April Sale really captures the momentum of spring racing at its peak,” Keeneland Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy stated when the catalogue was revealed, explaining that it not only falls on the final day of Keeneland’s Spring Meet, but also about a week before the Kentucky Derby.
History suggests that buyers are in with a good chance of landing a decent performer here, top level Spirit Of St Louis and recent Jebel Ali Mile hero Masmak having both graduated from previous editions.
Leading consignors ELiTE and Taylor Made show the way in draft sizes, with ELiTE sending the likes of Lot 3, an Upstart-sired racing or broodmare prospect by the name of Collect The Data, and Taylor Made bringing such entries as Lot 29, Sweet Scorecard, a racing or broodmare prospect by Vekoma.
Away from ELiTE and Taylor Made, Kenny McPeek sends four offerings, Grovendale Sales are responsible for two, Lane’s End sends Lot 23, a Liam’s Map colt named Question Answered, and Hunter Valley Farm consigns Lot 31, Tricky Kitty, a winner by Kitten’s Joy.
Taylor Made, however, also sends such offerings as Lot 30, a four-time winner named Talbingo, who’ll follow Sweet Scorecard into the ring and who’s out of the Natalma Stakes heroine Northern Passion.
Lot 18, the Grade 3-placed Medaglia D’Oro colt Megalodon, is also consigned by the operation, as is the four-year-old Dare To Fly (Lot 5), a winning filly by Daredevil, and Lot 20, a dual winning Practical Joke gelding named Multiverse.
Additionally, Taylor Made’s draft includes two lots by the late Uncle Mo, Lot 8 being the winning Epic Desire, out of the Grade 2 runner-up Brooklynsway, and Lot 13 the Grade 3-placed Garamond.
Other lots of interest include:
Lot 11, the Candy Ride filly Faena, a three-year-old who has success this year to her name.
Lot 14, General Graham, a three-year-old Omaha Beach colt consigned by Kenneally Racing who has already won twice this season.
Lot 15, Lemon’s Law, a three-year-old Constitution half-brother to the Gotham Stakes victor Raise Cain.
Trade begins after racing on Friday.
The catalogue can be viewed here.
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