(Edited press release)
Keeneland has cataloged 212 juveniles for its April Two-Year-Olds in training sale, to be held Monday and Tuesday evenings, April 6-7. Sessions begin at 7 p.m. ET. The Preview Show will be held Thursday, April 2, beginning at 10:30 a.m.
Big Brown , the 2008 champion and Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner, is a graduate of the 2007 April sale. The Boundary colt, an earner of $3.6 million in his career, was purchased for $190,000 by Hidden Brook, agent for Paul Pompa Jr. He was consigned by Eddie Woods, agent.
The April Sale also counts a second Kentucky Derby winner, Thunder Gulch, among its graduates, as well as two Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) winners--Gal in a Ruckus and Keeper Hill.
Other recent graded stakes-winning alumni include current 3-year-old hopefuls Haynesfield , Roshani, Elusive Bluff, Passion, Stream Cat, Sunshine for Life, Noonmark, and Sweet Home Gap.
“Everyone was very happy with the format change we initiated last year,” said Geoffrey Russell, Keeneland’s director of sales. “And this year we’ve further tweaked the format by holding the preview show prior to opening day of the meet, allowing buyers time to properly evaluate the horses. The sale now falls between the Ashland (gr. I) and the Toyota Blue Grass (gr. I), Stakes, grade I preps for the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby, respectively.”
Juveniles by such established sires as A.P. Indy, Distorted Humor , Dynaformer, Elusive Quality , Empire Maker , Giant's Causeway , Lemon Drop Kid , Malibu Moon , Medaglia d'Oro , Mineshaft , Mr. Greeley, Pulpit, Sky Mesa , Smart Strike, Speightstown , Storm Cat, Street Cry, Tiznow , and Unbridled's Song, among others, will be offered.
Also cataloged are 2-year-olds by such top young sires as Afleet Alex , Closing Argument, Eddington , Eurosilver, Forest Danger, Ghostzapper , Kitten's Joy , Leroidesanimaux, Limehouse , Offlee Wild, Purge, Rock Hard Ten, Saint Liam, Value Plus, and Woke Up Dreamin, among others.
A PDF version of the April Sale catalog will be available Feb. 20 at Keeneland.com; print catalogs will be mailed the week of March 2. The entire sale as well as Preview Show works will be streamed live at Keeneland.com.
