"We look forward to a good sale; we've got all the buyers here," said Rogers Beasley, Keeneland's director of sales. "However, having seen the last two or three 2-year-old sales, you certainly anticipate there might be a little bit of a roller-coaster. Still, we think it will be a good one. We've been complimented about the quality of horses we have here. We think it's one of the best groups that we've had here. But the stock market does affect us a little bit, and it won't just be the 2-year-olds that are affected, it will be all the sales.
Holy Gate, a son of Holy Bull, turned in the fastest quarter-mile work Monday during the final under tack show for Keeneland's April sale of 2-year-olds in training. He was clocked in :21 2/5 seconds over a main track that was listed as fast.Consigned by Niall Brennan Stables, agent, Holy Gate was produced from the stakes-winning Gate Dancer mare Teddy's Top Ten. He was purchased by Ed Frederick for $50,000 from Jonabell Farm at the 2000 Keeneland September yearling sale.Five juveniles stopped the clock in :10 2/5, the fastest eighth-mile time over the main track. They were a Hennessy–-Real Jenny colt, a Saint Ballado -- Right Chanel filly, a Forest Wildcat -- Carrie's Prospect colt, a Mr. Greeley -- Dancing Naturally colt, and a Cozzene -- Gwedda colt.The fastest clocking for three-eighths of a mile, :36, was posted by a Red Ransom -- Slew Song colt.The times were slower than those recorded in the first under tack show on April 9, when the fastest clockings on dirt were :10 for an eighth-mile, :21 for a quarter-mile, and :34 1/5 for three-eighths of a mile. A brisk breeze blew throughout the second under tack show, and horses worked into a headwind for part of the day.Justa Briann, a Lear Fan -- Quick and Smooth filly, and Numbers Fool, a daughter of Polish Numbers -- Foolish Today, turned in the fastest eighth-mile works on grass, both covering the distance in :10 2/5. A Spinning World -- Chelsea colt was the fastest worker at a quarter mile on turf, stopping the clock in :21 3/5. The fastest times during the first under tack show on grass were :10 for an eighth-mile and :21 2/5 for a quarter mile.The Keeneland sale is scheduled for Tuesday. It will start at 1:30 p.m. (EDT).