Racing Sales

Keeneland September Yearling Sale Barn Notes

September 12, 2012

• BARN QUOTES
• VICTOR DAVILA RETURNS TO KEENELAND IN SEARCH OF ANOTHER I’LL HAVE ANOTHER
• SALES NOTES
• LOUISIANA NATIVE “POSSUM” CONTINUES LONG REIGN AS YEARLING HANDLER
• SPOTLIGHT ON SEPTEMBER SALE GRADUATE
• 2012 SEPTEMBER SALE QUICK LINKS
• CATALOG UPDATES FOR BOOK 2, SESSION 4
• TUESDAY STATS SUMMARY

BARN QUOTES

Trainer Steve Hobby, trainer for Alex Lieblong, who bought two horses on Tuesday for a total of $480,000

“This is the premier place to buy a yearling. The young horses are what your future is all about. I love to come to Keeneland. It’s a great place to be and I love seeing everybody.”

Bob Feld, agent for Amerman Racing and Sagamore Farm, among others

“The sale is strong. We [the buyers] are all landing on the same horses as usual. The nice horses are going for a lot more money than we had hoped. We’re all getting pushed back a little further than we expected. It seems like business as usual. You are always hoping for a buyers’ market but it really isn’t. We’ll be pounding the pavement through the entire sale. I have clients all the through the final day.”

VICTOR DAVILA RETURNS TO KEENELAND IN SEARCH OF ANOTHER I’LL HAVE ANOTHER

Before he became famous for his wins in the 2012 Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness (G1), Keeneland September Yearling Sale graduate I’ll Have Another was known simply as “Cheetos” during his early training with Victor Davila at his 10-acre farm in Ocala, Florida.

Davila’s daughter Bianca, now 14, gave the colt the nickname because his chestnut coat reminded her of the bright orange cheese-flavored snack.

“Bianca nicknames the horses when I bring them from Keeneland,” Davila said.

Davila, who purchased I’ll Have Another for $11,000 at the 2010 September Sale from Brookdale Sales, is once again at Keeneland shopping for more future stars. He scouts yearlings for both himself and Dr. Barry and Shari Eisaman, for whom he has worked since 2006.

I’ll Have Another’s exciting run through the Triple Crown, which was halted just prior to the Belmont (G1) when the horse sustained a tendon injury, solidified Davila’s reputation as a hardworking, astute horseman. Through the years, Davila has parlayed four- and five-figure purchases into six-figure resales as two-year-olds. But none have brought the attention of I’ll Have Another.

Davila first saw I’ll Have Another when he was paraded into Keeneland’s back show ring as Hip 3660, his first stop in the way to the auction ring. While other yearlings appeared overwhelmed by all the noise and excitement, I’ll Have Another was a cool customer.

“When he walked into the ring, he was relaxed. He had a nice walk,” Davila.

Despite having only about 20 minutes to assess the colt, Davila trusted his instincts and started bidding. His confidence was rewarded when he gave the colt his early lessons in Florida.

“He was always relaxed and the first couple of days when he galloped, he showed me he had talent,” he said. “When he first started breezing, if you asked him to go fast, he would go fast. But if you just sit there, he will just go the same speed.”

Davila’s ultimate satisfaction came when I’ll Have Another stormed to victory in the Kentucky Derby.

“That means I am doing a good job,” he said.

SALES NOTES

The nation’s leading trainers have been out in force at Keeneland in search of the next generation’s superstars. Those shopping for racing prospects at the September Sale include Steve Asmussen, Bob Baffert, James Bond, Chad Brown, Patrick Byrne, Bret Calhoun, Josie Carroll, Christophe Clement, Neil Drysdale, Ron Ellis, Steve Hobby, Jerry Hollendorfer, Eddie Kenneally, John Kimmel, Bruce Levine, Michael Matz, Ken McPeek, Carl Nafzger, Victoria and Phil Oliver, Dan Peitz, Todd Pletcher, Tom Proctor, Dale Romans, John Shirreffs, Ian Wilkes, and Nick Zito.

LOUISIANA NATIVE “POSSUM” CONTINUES LONG REIGN AS YEARLING HANDLER

Through the years, familiar faces return each year to the Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

One of those regulars is Kathryn Normand, better known as “Possum,” a horse handler who worked her first Keeneland sale in 1977.

As a handler, her chief responsibility is parading and standing yearlings for inspection, presenting them so that they look their best for potential buyers. For the past 12 years, Normand has been showing horses for Gainesway, who perennially ranks among Keeneland’s leading consignors.

When she’s not showing Thoroughbreds, she’s working cattle, assisting her husband, Miles Kingdon, who manages a massive cattle ranch near Quilchena, British Columbia.

“Everything we do there is on horseback,” Normand said of chores like moving and sorting cattle and tending to the herd’s needs.

Normand’s easy-going nature has a calming effect on horses that are often nervous or overly exuberant at the sale. That laid-back attitude inspired the nickname she has carried since childhood. 

“People used to tell me I had a grin like a Louisiana possum,” she said.

Normand traces her initial association with Gainesway General Manager Neil Howard to her very first Keeneland sale. She had been working with Thoroughbreds in her native Louisiana when her boss recommended her for a job with legendary consignor Lee Eaton. At the time, Howard was overseeing Eaton’s operations. 

She said working for Gainesway is especially enjoyable because of their reputation for high standards within the Thoroughbred industry.

“They do things right,” Normand said. “I love coming back every year. I get to see my old friends. Neil Howard and the whole Gainesway crew are just so good to me. It’s a working vacation.”

SPOTLIGHT ON SEPTEMBER SALE GRADS

Five of the top 10 juvenile fillies ranked by earnings are graduates of Keeneland’s 2011 September Yearling Sale, led by the undefeated Executiveprivilege and Kauai Katie.

Executiveprivilege boasts a perfect record in four career starts, punctuated by wins in the Del Mar Debutante (G1) and Sorrento Stakes (G3). The First Samurai filly was purchased by Hubert Guy, agent, for $23,000 from Betz Thoroughbreds, agent (auction video).

Kauai Katie won impressively in both career starts, breaking her maiden by 12 lengths on opening day at Saratoga, and returning three weeks later to win the Adirondack Stakes (G2). Grade Enterprises paid $90,000 for the daughter of More Than Ready at the September Sale. She was consigned by Warrendale Sales, agent for Spendthrift Farm (auction video). 

2012  SEPTEMBER SALE QUICK LINKS

Catalog Updates

Live Coverage

Media Kit

Outs

Owners Journal

Photo Gallery

Results

CATALOG UPDATES FOR BOOK 2, SESSION 4

Since The Catalog  . . .

Here’s a list of horses with black type, 1st dam updates for Book 2, session 4. For a full list of updates, go to http://flex.keeneland.com/updates/updates.html

TUESDAY STATS SUMMARY

September 11 Session

No. Sold          186                 

Gross               $32,240,000    (-1.58%)

Average           $173,333         (+5.83%)

Median            $150,000         (+17.65%)                  

Top 5 Consignors

Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent        16        $3,180,000

Lane’s End Farm                                 18        $2,389,000

Gainesway                                             7        $1,990,000

Denali Stud                                           7        $1,840,000

Paramount Sales                                  11       $1,720,000     

Top 5 Buyers

Shadwell Estate Company Ltd              8        $2,160,000

Steven W. Young, agent                        5        $1,625,000

Stonestreet Stables                                3        $1,310,000

Maverick Racing                                    3        $1,090,000

David Redvers Bloodstock                    4           $970,000

Top 5 Session Prices

402      Colt by Tapit – Tempting Note 

            Gainesway, agent for McMillin Sales and Tapit Syndicate

            $700,000         Stonestreet Stables

213      Colt by Giant’s Causeway – Questress 

            Gainesway, agent

            $550,000         Maverick Racing

208      Colt by Tapit – Que Belle

            Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent

            $500,000         Demi O’Byrne

349      Filly by Tiznow -- Storminthegarden

            Sweezey and Partners, agent

            $500,000         Shadwell Estate Company Ltd.          

364      Filly by Pulpit – Stylish Wildcat

            Indian Creek, agent

            $450,000         Martin Anthony