2017 Keeneland September

[Sparrow Castle]

Baker and Mack purchased the Orb with the flaxen mane

He sure is a flashy one!

[mariasmon]

I think I'd keep the Tapit 1/2 sister to Danza and Majestic Harbor unless she's a total trainwreck. Hammered $285k.

[mariasmon]

Any thoughts on how the Noble Missions have been received so far?

[Sparrow Castle]

Noble Mission is one I've been anxious about. I love his breeding and I think he could be such a bargain at $25k. I'll likely follow a few of these, like that Godolphin purchase out of a Dynaformer mare and the Ender's Sister who was withdrawn. Surprised the fillies aren't selling as well as the colts though.

[Sparrow Castle]

The Tapit x Daisy Devine was a late out (Hip 1157). He was already in the walking ring.

[mariasmon]

The Tapit x Daisy Devine was a late out (Hip 1157). He was already in the walking ring.

Anybody say why? Maybe he fell or something.

[mariasmon]

Eric Fein bought the Tapit 1/2 brother to Taris for $900k.

Eclipse and LaPenta (Whitehorse Stables) partnered on 1149, a Curlin 1/2 bro to Weep No More, for $725k.

[Sparrow Castle]

The Tapit x Daisy Devine was a late out (Hip 1157). He was already in the walking ring.

Anybody say why? Maybe he fell or something.

This is all I could find.

Nicole Russo‏ @DRFRusso 1h1 hour ago
Hip 1157, Tapit x Daisy Devine, a late out. Arrived at back walking ring, made a few laps, went home. Huh. #KeeSept

Edited to add: Although now I wonder what these folks are looking at.

Nicole Russo‏ @DRFRusso 1h1 hour ago
Tapit colt o/o G1W Daisy Devine checking things out upon his arrival at the walking ring. #KeeSept

[mariasmon]

Eric Fein bought the Tapit 1/2 brother to Taris for $900k.

Eclipse and LaPenta (Whitehorse Stables) partnered on 1149, a Curlin 1/2 bro to Weep No More, for $725k.

This one's pretty fancy, too.

[Sparrow Castle]

Keeneland September: Book 2 wraps up with gains

Keeneland aimed to start its September yearling sale with a bang and carry the momentum through the first week when it changed the look of the auction’s front end. At the close of Thursday’s trade, it was apparent that goal had been achieved, with all measurables up and the most seven-figure transactions at the sale since 2014.

Thursday’s fourth session of the Keeneland September sale wrapped Book 2 of a revamped catalog. Books 1 and 2 of this year’s renewal were arranged with an ultra-select, single-session first book followed by three Book 2 sessions before the auction’s traditional dark day. By comparison, last year’s sale featured a three-day Book 1, followed by the dark day, then two Book 2 sessions.

The concentration of boutique-level horses into Book 1 also pushed plenty of high-end horses and buyers into Book 2, as evidenced by five seven-figure lots changing hands during the second book.

“We’ve had million-dollar horses throughout, which I think just shows you the strength of the market at the moment,” Geoffrey Russell, Keeneland’s director of sales operations, said. “I think there is a hunger for those top-end horses at the moment, so it was nice to have those two million-dollar horses today. I think the table has been very well set for the rest of the sale based on this first week.”

This year’s Book 2 closed with 585 horses sold for revenues of $142,470,000. The cumulative average sale price for the second book rose 64 percent to $243,123 from $148,672, the median grew 57 percent to $185,000 from $117,500, and the Book 2 buyback rate finished at 32 percent compared with 33 percent last year.

In addition to the five horses sold for seven figures, the number of yearlings to bring $750,000 or more in Book 2 rose to 20 from two, while horses to cross the $500,000 threshold rose to 68 from nine.

http://www.drf.com/news/keeneland-septe ... raps-gains

[BaroqueAgain1]

Is the sale still ongoing...and is anyone watching?
TVG just relayed news of a Scat Daddy colt, half to Beholder and Into Mischief, going for $3 million, if I heard correctly.

[Sparrow Castle]

Is the sale still ongoing...and is anyone watching?
TVG just relayed news of a Scat Daddy colt, half to Beholder and Into Mischief, going for $3 million, if I heard correctly.

Today's a dark day. Sale resumes tomorrow.

[BaroqueAgain1]

So, where did that $3 million sale news come from? Is it an old sale from a different auction, or maybe from last year?
I'm confused.

ETA: Answered my own question:
https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing ... -3-million
And now that my coffee is kicking in a little, I think this $3 million colt is Coolmore's Mendelssohn, who is running tomorrow at Doncaster in the Champagne Stakes.
https://www.racingpost.com/racecards/15 ... -16/681037
I think this race goes off at 7 AM Pacific. TVG is covering the whole card, which includes the St. Leger..

[middleground]

Mendelssohn, the Scat Daddy half to Beholder, is entered in the Champagne at Doncaster this weekend:

http://www.brisnet.com/content/2017/09/ ... doncaster/

[ThreeMustangs]

Mendelssohn, the Scat Daddy half to Beholder, is entered in the Champagne at Doncaster this weekend:

http://www.brisnet.com/content/2017/09/ ... doncaster/

Finished last. Maybe time to try dirt?

[mariasmon]

Mendelssohn, the Scat Daddy half to Beholder, is entered in the Champagne at Doncaster this weekend:

http://www.brisnet.com/content/2017/09/ ... doncaster/

Finished last. Maybe time to try dirt?

I didn't see how the ground was officially listed, but it looked really, really soft. I wondered if maybe he just didn't care for that going. I will be interested to see whether they decide to bring him over for a BC race. And, if so, which one.

[BaroqueAgain1]

The ground was rated 'good to soft,' so that could have been a factor. Interestingly, the Champagne was won by a Scat Daddy colt (Seahenge), just not the really expensive one.
I don't think O'Brien has a great track record (pun intended) on dirt. If Mendelssohn keeps under-performing on turf, perhaps his owners might consider sending him over The Pond to someone like Baffert?