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The second session saw 249 head sell for $11,013,300, with an average of $44,230 and a median of $20,000. Eighty-two horses failed to meet their reserve, resulting in an RNA rate of 24.8%.

by Jessica Martini & Stefanie Grimm

Lexington, Ky – The Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale concluded its three-day run Wednesday in Lexington with figures largely in line with its four-day 2024 edition. Through three days, 685 head grossed $33,444,900 for an average of $48,825 and a median of $22,000. The average increased 6% and the median rose 47% from last year's four-day sale when 831 horses grossed $38,330,300 for an average of $46,126 and a median of $15,000. The buy-back rate was 26.34% this year compared to 22.84% a year ago.

“I think it was a good sale,” said Keeneland's Senior Director of Sales Operations Cormac Breathnach. “I think we have to look at it in the context of the different format. So if you look at the through-the-ring numbers from last year's four days to this year's three days, we had a much higher median. It was just $22,000 from $15,000, but significant, showing the lower end of the market had some substance to it. The RNA rate was a tick up. The average was up a tick. We offered about 14% fewer horses and we are down 14% on gross. So really things were in step with last year.”

Post-sale transactions saw 38 horses sell for an additional gross of $1,681,000, bringing the total auction gross to $35,125,900 for an average of $48,584. In 2024, 33 post-sale transactions sold for $2,289,000 for a total gross of $40,619,300 and an average of $47,013.

That steadiness of the market is a positive for the industry, according to Keeneland Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy.

“What is encouraging is that there is nothing overheating or depressed,” Lacy said “It's very steady and consistent. The sellers, for the most part, have been very happy with the way the market has been. It's fair. It's very fair. And you can't ask for more than that. Consistency is the key. Increases are great, but consistency is very important.”

Hip 1301, Lil Drummer Girl | Keeneland

Lil Drummer Girl (Street Sense), a 3-year-old unraced broodmare or racing prospect (hip 1301), brought the top price of Wednesday's session when selling for $200,000 to Iapetus Racing. Consigned by Denali Stud on behalf of River Bend Farm, the filly is out of Beat the Drums (Smart Strike) and is a half-sister to graded winner Dynamic One (Union Rags).

“[The market] was solid for the catalogue that was here,” said Mark Taylor of Taylor Made Sales Agency. “Quality maiden mares are very difficult to buy. We had a lot of clients that were shopping for those. There was a mare that just brought $200,000 and we followed her up. We thought maybe she was going to bring half of that. Then we thought maybe she was going to be 75% of that. And then she ended up bringing $200,000.”

Taylor continued, “As far as the mares are, you see the shrinking foal crop. And one of the reasons you're seeing the shrinking foal crop is the carrying costs and the upkeep of these mares that are under $75,000, it's not making sense [financially] for a lot of people. So there's this flight to quality. And even in our own customer base, we're having customers that used to buy those kind of mares. Now, instead of buying a mare for $100,000, they'd rather partner with some people and buy a leg of a mare for $100,000 and buy a $400,000 mare. I think the carrying costs are really what's keeping the market a little depressed at those lower levels.”

Hip 951 in the ring | Keeneland

Short yearlings by Tiz the Law topped the third session of the January sale, with a colt by the Coolmore stallion (hip 912)  consigned by Hunter Valley Farm bringing a final bid of $160,000 from Najd Stud and a filly by the GI Belmont Stakes winner (hip 951) consigned by Mulholland Springs selling for $110,000 to Dixiana Farm.

Najd Stud, the breeding and racing operation of Prince Faisal Bin Khaled Bin Abdulaziz, purchased 17 head at the three-day sale for a gross of $696,000 and an average of $40,941. The Saudi operation, fourth leading buyer at the auction, led a deep bench of international buyers who worked through snow, ice and frigid temperatures to participate in the sale.

“There were a lot of international buyers,” Lacy said. “More so from Europe than we've seen or expected, and great participation from the Middle East, and Australia. There was activity from Japan. There was great, broad-based support, which is great. The weather didn't stop anybody. It obviously adds a little extra challenge, but it didn't stop anyone from being here. I want to thank our crew and consignors and agents who went out there and worked the sale because it was a little challenging leading up to it just to get the place ready. We are just really proud of the crew that got the grounds ready and the consignors and agents that got here.”

Through three days, 360 short yearlings sold at this year's January sale for an average of $44,055 and a median of $25,000. A colt by Tapit was the auction's top-priced yearling when selling for $400,000.

During the 2024 January sale, 382 short yearlings sold through the ring for an average of $38,866 and a median of $12,000. An additional 22 were post-sale transactions, bringing the average to $37,774. Three yearlings sold for $400,000.

There were 48 six-figure yearlings in this year's sale, compared to 42 in 2024.

Keeneland's Cormac Breathnach and Tony Lacy Wednesday | Keeneland

“I think the single biggest positive was the yearling market was really tough to buy in,” Breathnach said. “There are a lot of reasons to feel good about the yearling market for next year based on what we saw here. That plays into the international participation because we hear from people from other countries who are interested in diversifying into pinhooking and different opportunities in the U.S. because the market has been solid and the racing product and purses are good. It all feels like it has positive momentum. And there are always ways to find value in the market. It's a very large market here and they like that.”

Both consignors and buyers continued to remark on familiar themes in the January market.

“It's the same trend as usual,” said Gabriel Duignan of Paramount Sales. “The ones they are on are selling good, but the bottom end is sticky. It's a January sale and it's probably what I expected. It's not easy to buy and it's not easy to sell. If you follow one up that you really like, there is a lot of competition. If you are trying to sell one that isn't hitting, it's tough going and you better be realistic. I think that's where we are.”

Asked for his impression of the market at Keeneland this week, bloodstock agent David Ingordo said, “We weren't shopping that hard, but we always look. I thought anything that was perceived to be quality brought a good price, so I don't think it's a lack of interest. Short yearlings were tough to buy. There was a lot of interest in those. The mares, it wasn't the deepest catalogue we've ever had in January, so what was good brought prime plus and broodmare prospects that you could breed to what you wanted, or if she was in foal to a nice horse, it brought good money. I just think this was a good sale to move some horses along.”

The post ‘Consistency Is Key:’ Keeneland January Sale Produces Steady Results appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Eoin Harty's world is chock full right now. For starters, his home is situated in the midst of one of the worst wildfires in California history, but somehow it has survived the nightmarish ordeal.

Then, there is his role as the president of the California Thoroughbred Trainers, a position he has held since 2019. What that means is he is at the forefront of trying to turn around the declining fortunes of racing in the state, which he admits is no easy task.

The good news is that he has two serious candidates for the GI Kentucky Derby in GII Kentucky Club Stakes winner First Resort (Uncle Mo) and GII Remsen Stakes winner Poster (Munnings). The former was given top billing in T.D. Thornton's first edition of his Derby Top Ten rankings.

Harty was this week's guest on the TDN Writers' Room podcast presented by Keeneland. He was the Gainesway Guest of the Week.

Concerning the wildfires, Harty knows that he has been very fortunate. Several homes in his neighborhood have been destroyed, while his has so far been left unscathed.

“I was one of the lucky ones,” he said. “My house survived. A lot of my neighbors didn't. It's been a very traumatic time. I don't want to feel selfish. It's been hard on me and my family. When you think about the people, the thousands of families that have been just completely upended, I know they have it so much worse.”

Looters have also been a problem in neighborhoods ravaged by the fires. Taking matters into his own hands, Harty has stood outside his house brandishing a baseball bat.

“I was there every night and patrolling the neighborhood with my little baseball bat,” he said.

Like so many others, he is concerned about the future of racing in California. Unlike most tracks, Santa Anita, Del Mar and Los Alamitos do not receive any revenue from slot machines or other casino games. That has meant that their purses have fallen way behind those in Kentucky, New York and Arkansas. The situation has made it difficult to keep California-based owners from seeking greener pastures, and it's very hard to attract new owners to the sport.

“Well, I think I'd be a fool and a liar if I said I wasn't very, very concerned about the future of California racing,” he said. “I think everybody involved in racing globally should be concerned about what's going to happen in California. I'm not sure what the outcome is going to be. Obviously, we need to increase purse money in order to attract more horses. Because of the purses they offer in Kentucky and in New York, in California we're seeing a drain on an already draining gene pool. I hope there are people a lot smarter than me working on these issues here in California. But it's something that needs to be addressed and it needs to be addressed very, very promptly.”

As for Harty's two legitimate Derby candidates, both are owned by the mighty Godolphin stable. Poster and First Resort have been based in Kentucky, where winter weather has made training difficult and it has been tough for the conditioner to map a schedule for the pair.

Plans for Poster could include a start in the Listed Withers Stakes at Aqueduct Feb. 1, which offers 20-10-6-4-2 Derby qualifying points to the top five finishers.

Still, it is early and Harty has plenty of time to get them ready for early May. For now, he reports that First Resort is his best prospect.

“Poster, he's a really, really beautiful, big, strong colt,” Harty said. “He's got the ability to go with that. But he never struck me as talented as First Resort. But in every race, he's improved and he's impressed me. He's going to have distance limitations. He's a bit busier in the mind than First Resort, but it doesn't seem to affect him. He's very manageable that way.”

In our weekly breeding spotlight section, we zero in on one of the latest editions to WinStar stallion roster in Cogburn, who is entering his first year at stud.

Elsewhere on the podcast, which is also sponsored by 1/ST Racing, the Pennsylvania Horse Breeders' Association, West Point Thoroughbreds, and XBTV.com, the team of Zoe Cadman, Bill Finley and Randy Moss discussed the alarming trainer trend where so many are getting out of the business.

Also up for discussion was the story out of Florida concerning the potential decouple of racing and gaming at Gulfstream Park. Moss gave an in-depth analysis that explained the situation. He said he did not think it would spell the end of racing at the South Florida track.

Finally, are you ready to bet the Derby this soon? The team went over the Las Vegas winterbook odds and agreed that recent maiden winner Rodriguez (Authentic), who was named a 'TDN Rising Star' for his effort, might be the play at 25-1.

To watch the Writers' Room, click here. To view the show as a podcast, click here.

The post Eoin Harty Joins TDN Writers’ Room Podcast appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA) will hold their annual 'Off to the Races' online benefit auction featuring VIP racing experience packages beginning Thursday Jan. 23 at 10 a.m. ET and closing Friday, Jan. 31 at 10 p.m. ET, the aftercare organization said in a Wednesday press release.

With the proceeds going directly to accredited aftercare, the online event provides a chance for the public to bid on 19 VIP racing experience packages. The auction items grant access to major race days at tracks across North America in 2025 and 2026. Each package features an exclusive itinerary of horse racing-related activities.

“We are thrilled to announce the opening of our 2025 VIP Auction, where fans can bid on exclusive experiences at some of the most iconic racetracks in North America,” said TAA's Director of Funding & Events Emily Dresen. “Not only does this provide a unique opportunity to celebrate the sport of horse racing, but every dollar raised goes directly to supporting the aftercare of retired Thoroughbred racehorses.”

Click here to view the auction packages.

The post TAA’s ‘Off To The Races’ Online Benefit Auction Opens Jan. 23 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Legendary figures from the sport of horse racing are to be featured in a new podcast hosted by Ferrin Peterson. 'The Boundless Podcast' will feature interviews with Hall of Fame jockeys Steve Cauthen, Chris McCarron, Pat Day, and Sandy Hawley.

Available on all recognized platforms, including Apple Podcast, Spotify, and YouTube, the series will kick off Jan. 16 with an hour-long interview with Cauthen, whose outstanding career in the saddle included a historic Triple Crown success on Affirmed in 1978, when he was just 18 years old, before he became the only jockey to win both the GI Kentucky Derby and G1 Epsom Derby.

It will be the first of 12 episodes to air in a series filmed and produced in Kentucky by Peterson and videographer Jacob Ames.

Patti Cooksey, who became the second female jockey to ride in the Kentucky Derby, and the remarkable septuagenarian Perry Ouzts are scheduled for later in the series.

“I've always wanted to be able to educate and inspire,” said Peterson. “Since becoming a jockey I have wanted to build a platform as an athlete. I see that more in other sports but not a lot among U.S. jockeys.

“The people I have talked to have inspiring stories,” she said. “They were able to go deep into their struggles and how they overcame them.”

Peterson continues to ride on the Kentucky circuit while also working as an ER veterinarian across the state's small animal clinics.

“Boundless is a podcast that explores the stories of individuals who have accomplished the seemingly impossible by breaking molds and redefining success through unique challenges, pivotal moments, and unbreakable determination,” the Kentucky-based jockey said.

The post Jockey Ferrin Peterson To Launch ‘The Boundless Podcast’ Jan. 16 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Every week, the TDN posts a roundup of the relevant Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) related rulings from around the country.

The following rulings were reported on HISA's “rulings” portal and through the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit's (HIWU) “pending” and “resolved” cases portals.

Resolved ADMC Violations
Date: 01/10/2025
Licensee: John Thomas Toscano, trainer
Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Admission.
Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO)–a controlled substance (Class C)–in a sample taken from Runninsonofagun, who finished second in the Fall Highweight Stakes at Aqueduct on 11/29/24.

Pending ADMC Violations
01/15/2025, Michael Simone, trainer: Explainer: Medication violation for the use or attempted use of a Class C controlled medication on Viking Queen during the race period.

01/15/2025, Howard Rubin, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Methocarbamol–a controlled substance (Class C)–in a sample taken from Midnight Metal on 11/24/24.

01/14/2025, Eric Ramaekers, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone–a controlled substance (Class C)–in a sample taken from Hurts so Good, who finished fourth at Zia Park on 12/9/24.

01/13/2025, Kenneth Miller, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Triamcinolone–a controlled substance (Class C)–in a sample taken from Overstatement, who finished second at Keeneland on 10/4/24.

Violations of Crop Rule
Mahoning Valley
Luis Perez–violation date Jan 9; One-day suspension, $250 fine.

Penn National
Carlos Lopez–violation date Jan 9; Two-day suspension, $500 fine.

Turf Paradise
Matias Bravo–violation date Jan 9; One-day suspension, $250 fine.

The post Weekly National Regulatory Rulings, Jan. 9-15 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

He is 22 months into a two-year contract to train privately in Saudi Arabia for Prince Faisal bin Khalid Al Saud, a move that rejuvenated his career, but Jimmy Jerkens said he is ready to come home.

Jerkens told the TDN that when his contract expires in March he will return to U.S. and resume his career at the NYRA tracks.

It's not that Jerkens hasn't done well in Saudi Arabia. He's had 21 winners during his time there. And it's not that he doesn't have any quality horses.

“We've been doing good here,” he said. “We're winning at about the same clip as last year, winning at about 16%. That's good for here. They have big fields and you end up running in a lot of spots where you don't really fit into the race. We're a little down when it comes to the money won, but we've kept up the winning percentage.”

Music Critic (hip 379) | Fasig-Tipton

He also has a potential star in Music Critic (Maclean's Music), a $650,000 purchase at the 2024 Fasig-Tipton Timonium sale. He was an easy debut winner Jan. 9 in a 1400-meter race in Riyadh.

But Jerkens admits that he's home sick. He said his situation is particularly difficult because his wife Shirley has not been able to join him on a permanent basis.

“I miss back home,” Jerkens said. “It just wasn't working out for me the last couple of years in the U.S. I'm glad I did this. But my contract is up in March. I'll probably go home then and end up staying. I thought Shirley would be with me and it didn't work out for her. She said she couldn't stay because she didn't have a job here and she said that she didn't have anything to do. She got bored. So she would go home. At one point, it looked like she had a job here but it didn't pan out.”

Jerkens never would have left for Saudi Arabia if he were having more success in the U.S. Once among the top trainers in New York, he won just four races in 2022 and 10 in 2021. He's going to have to find a way to build a bigger, more successful stable this time around.

“I don't know what I'm going to do when I get there, but I'll figure it out,” he said.

Saudi owners have been much more active at U.S. sales of late as they try to improve the overall quality of their stock. Jerkens said that his owner still prefers to buy at European sales, but reached out last year to pick up a couple of horses stateside.

That has certainly been true at the Midlantic sale, where Jerkens picked up Music Critic. Middle Eastern interests have been focused on the sale as a source of 2-year-olds in recent years.

In 2024, a dozen horses were purchased by U.A.E. interests at the Midlantic sale. Eleven went to Saudi Arabia, including Music Critic. Others went to Bahrain, Libya and Qatar.

“It's unbelievable how many horses they are buying in the U.S.,” he said. “That's really getting big here. We just had a couple run last week. One was Carmel Road (Quality Road). Bob Baffert had him back home. And there are some Peter Blum horses running over here.”

As far as Music Critic goes, he's been a tough horse to figure out. Jerkens said he was slow to get going, and he wasn't sure why.

Jimmy Jerkens | Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia

“We had a lot of problems with him when he first got here,” he said. “We thought his knees were just immature. He was in Taif, where they race in the summer and we couldn't really do much with him there. But once he got back to Riyadh he really started to come around. We didn't do anything with him. No surgeries, no procedures, not anything. He just came around on his own. He started holding up during training and we went step-by-step. All of a sudden he just got there in a rush. He stayed sound and had plenty of work going into his first start. Especially first time out going 1400 meters, because the tracks are slow here, you really have to be ready.”

Jerkens said he would like to run Music Critic in the GII UAE Derby, but likely won't get in because the colt will not have run enough times to qualify under the rating system in Dubai.

Before he hit the prolonged slump, Jerkens compiled an impressive resume. He won 78 black-type stakes and trained horses like Quality Road (Elusive Quality), Artie Schiller (El Prado {Ire}), Wicked Strong (Hard Spun), Corinthian (Pulpit) and many others. Can he do it again and build the type of stable that will be competitive on the New York circuit against the Todd Pletchers and Chad Browns of the world? He's ready to give it a try.

The post Jimmy Jerkens To Return To U.S. In March appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Irad Ortiz Jr. has been handed a three-day stewards' suspension in the aftermath of his disqualification for interference in the Jan. 11 Pasco Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs.

Ortiz will sit Jan. 19, 22, 23, as per his agent, Steve Rushing. Dave Grening of Daily Racing Form was first to report this news via a posting on the X social media platform.

Ortiz has led North America in victories in each of the last eight years and was voted the Eclipse Award for outstanding jockey in 2018-20 and 2022-23. He is a finalist for the 2024 award, which will be announced on the evening that his suspension concludes next Thursday.

Ortiz rode the 1-2 favorite, Owen Almighty (Speightstown), in that Tampa stakes last Saturday. His mount came in on the 7-2 third choice, Rookie Card (Adios Charlie), causing that rival to check hard under jockey Junior Alvarado while near the inner rail at the three-eighths pole.

The Equibase chart stated that Owen Almighty “bumped and forced Rookie Card to take up sharply.” As Rookie Card dropped out of contention, the head-on replay showed Ortiz looking back over his left shoulder to see what happened.

Ortiz and Owen Almighty went on to cross the finish wire first by a length. Rookie Card finished fifth, beaten 23 lengths. He was elevated to fourth when the stewards DQ'd Owen Almighty and placed him fifth.

Rookie Card was reported to be “fine” by Alvarado after the incident.

The three Tampa officials who issued the suspension are state steward Reese Howard and association stewards Joelyn Rigione and Brook Hawkins.

#5 NAUGHTY RASCAL ($8.20) was elevated to first in the $150,000 Pasco Stakes at @TampaBayDownsFL after the disqualification of Owen Almighty.

This is the third stakes victory for the three-year-old Rogueish colt. @EdwinGonzalz1 was aboard for trainer Gerald Bennett. pic.twitter.com/90gH75wQnu

— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) January 11, 2025

The post Ortiz Suspended Three Days In Aftermath Of Stakes DQ At Tampa appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Fasig-Tipton has released the first group of supplemental entries for its Kentucky Winter Mixed Sale–adding 27 head to the auction–which will take place on Monday, Feb. 3, beginning at 10 a.m. ET in Lexington, Kentucky, the company said via a press release on Wednesday.

These latest entries, catalogued as hip 349-375, include:

• Greavette (Astern {Aus}) (Hip 356): 4-year-old MSW is consigned as a racing/broodmare prospect by Grovendale Sales, agent.
• R Harper Rose (Khozan) (Hip 364): Four-year-old who won the GIII Forward Gal Stakes last year. Consigned as a racing/broodmare prospect by Gainesway, agent.
• Connie Swingle (Grazen) (Hip 367): Multiple stakes winner in California and a full-sister to GSW S Y Sky & SW Grazen Sky. Consigned as a racing/broodmare prospect by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent.
• Accommodate Eva (Munnings) (Hip 374): SW at 2 & 3 from the family of GISW Bell's the One (Majesticperfection). Consigned as a racing/ broodmare prospect by Four Star Sales, agent.

Also included in the supplement are short yearlings by Corniche, Hard Spun, Practical Joke, Street Sense, Violence, and War of Will.

These entries may now be viewed online and will also be available in Equineline catalogue app.

The post First Group Of Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Winter Mixed Supplemental Entries Online appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

The Retired Racehorse Project (RRP) made two new additions to their board at their December meeting as Robert Hartman and Chris Knehr were elected, according to a Wednesday press release from the nonprofit.

Hartman is the chair of the University of Arizona's Race Track Industry Program (RTIP). After holding marketing and management positions with NYRA, Santa Anita Park, and Golden Gate, he joined the RTIP program as chair in 2021. In this role, Hartman oversees the direction of the RTIP program, as well as the hosting of the annual Global Symposium on Racing.

“Over the past two years, we have included the RRP and Thoroughbred Makeover into our RTIP curriculum, emphasizing the importance of aftercare,” said Hartman. “I have been impressed by the servant leadership of Kirsten [Green, RRP executive director], and look forward to contributing to the organization.”

With a background in the hunters and jumpers, Knehr has served in a variety of roles at breeding farms and consignments before joining Lane's End Farm's stallion season sales team in 2021. As an aftercare proponent with an appreciation for the Thoroughbred sport horse, he has supported his wife Erin's participation in the Thoroughbred Makeover in 2018 and 2024.

“Thoroughbreds are bred to be amazing athletes, and the RRP is a leader in highlighting the ability of these horses to go on to a second career in a variety of disciplines,” said Knehr.

Several RRP board members have completed their terms of service at the end of last year, including Treasurer Amanda DaBruzzo and directors Anita Motion and Judy Hartman. Existing board member Sarah Williams was elected to take over DaBruzzo's spot.

The post Retired Racehorse Project Elects New Board Members Hartman And Knehr appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Hip 810, a short yearling daughter of Violence bred by Rockridge Stud, Chesapeake Farm, Matthew Nestor and Three Times A Charm, sold for $90,000 Tuesday at Keeneland. Photo courtesy of Vinery Sales.

A short yearling filly by Violence from the family of multiple graded stakes winner, millionaire and potential Pegasus World Cup contender Newgrange sold for $90,000 to lead all New York-bred offerings during the second session of the Keeneland January horses of all ages sale Tuesday in Lexington.

DR Investments purchased the filly, sold as Hip 810 out of the Vinery Sales consignment. Bred by Rockridge Stud LLC, Chesapeake Farm, Matthew Nestor and Three Times A Charm and foaled at Rockridge Stud in Hudson, the filly is the second foal out of the winning More Than Ready mare Rockin Ready.

A half-sister to the 6-year-old Violence gelding Newgrange, Rockin Ready is also the dam of a 2-year-old colt by Violence.

Hip 826, a son of Ghostzapper, brought the top price for a New York-bred yearling colt Tuesday on a bid of $80,000 from Boyd Racing. Bred by Nathan McCauley, William Minton and Steve Rohrlick, foaled at Sequel Stallions New York in Hudson and consigned by Warrendale Sales, agent, the colt is the first foal out of the Maclean’s Music mare Senate Dance.

Keeneland reported sales on all 11 New York-bred short yearlings through the ring Tuesday for a total of $367,000, an average price of $33,364 and median of $22,000. Overall, 22 of the 26 short yearlings have sold for $1,223,500, an average price of $55,614 and median of $45,000.

Tuesday’s other top sellers included the unraced Ready for the Ball for $60,000 and stakes-winning Central Banker mare Dream Central for $45,000.

Dream Central, winning the 2022 Cupecoy’s Joy division of the NYSS, sold for $45,000 Tuesday at Keeneland. Coglianese Photo/Chelsea Durand.

Chad Frederick purchased Dream Central, offered as Hip 623 as a racing or broodmare prospect out of the Brookdale consignment. A 6-year-old out of the stakes-placed Deputy Wild Cat mare Dreamed to Dream, Dream Central went through the ring with two wins in 19 starts and $209,577 in earnings.

Bred by and foaled at John Jayko’s Fedwell Farm in Saratoga Springs, Dream Central won the Cupecoy’s Joy division of the New York Stallion Series Stakes at Belmont Park and inaugural running of the Suzie O’Cain Stakes at Saratoga Race Course for owner Eddie Fazzone’s Eddie F’s Racing and trainer Gary Sciacca in 2022.

Foundation Bloodstock purchased Hip 876, the 5-year-old More Than Ready mare Ready for the Ball. Offered as a broodmare prospect out of the Taylor Made Sales Agency consignment, the half-sister to multiple graded stakes winner Horologist is out of the Stephen Got Even mare Cinderella Time.

Bred by GMP Stable, Dutchess Views Farm and C. Robert Valeri and foaled at Irish Hill Century Farm in Stillwater, Ready for the Ball originally sold for $260,000 at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga New York-bred yearling sale before being purchased by Town & Country Racing LLC for $380,000 at the 2023 OBS April sale.

Ready for the Ball is the fourth foal produced by Cinderella Time. Horologist won nine of 27 starts, including the Grade 2 Beldame Stakes and Grade 3 Molly Pitcher Stakes in 2020 and the Grade 3 Monmouth Oaks in 2019, and earned $962,939. Horologist sold for $800,000 to Katsumi Yoshida at the 2021 Keeneland November breeding stock sale.

The Keeneland January sale concludes with the final session at 10 a.m. Wednesday.

The post Yearlings by Violence, Ghostzapper; Central Banker stakes winner Dream Central among top sellers Tuesday at Keeneland appeared first on New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. News.

Two yearling fillies brought $300,000 apiece during the second session of Keeneland's January Horses of All Ages Sale Jan. 14—Hip 578, a filly by Triple Crown winner Justify, and Hip 641, a filly by Golden Pal.

The Race for Education announced its newly elected officers and board appointments, as well as plans for 2025 scholarship distributions.

The Midwest was hit hard by winter weather during the week of Jan. 6-12, and racetracks that were impacted are beginning to adjust their schedules to make up for lost cards.

Porter on Pedigrees

Maiden Watch: Week of Jan. 6-Jan. 12

Famed equestrian and longtime Thoroughbred trainer Rodney Jenkins was honored by the Maryland racing community Jan. 14 in a memorial service at Laurel Park.

Tickets to the Jan. 23 Eclipse Awards, hosted at The Breakers Palm Beach, are sold out. Those not in attendance will still be able to watch the ceremony from a variety of sources, including on bloodhorse.com.

Colonial Downs' new spring meeting March 13-15 is highlighted by the $500,000 Virginia Derby and $250,000 Virginia Oaks, which for the first time are points races on the "Road to the Kentucky Derby" and "Road to the Kentucky Oaks".

The first two foals by Equinox, the reigning Longines World's Best Racehorse, have arrived in quick succession in Japan.