November Sale is Window to the Future
The future of racing will be on display during the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. Horsemen and horsewomen from around the world will have the opportunity to acquire mares carrying the first offspring of recently retired racing stars as well as weanlings from the first crops of other promising young stallions.
Among horses that entered stud in 2023 and are represented by their first in-foal mares is Horse of the Year Flightline, who capped off an undefeated career with an impressive victory in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) at Keeneland. The group also includes champions Corniche, Epicenter and Jackie’s Warrior, and classic winners Early Voting and Mo Donegal.
Mares in Foal to Freshman Sires
Epicenter - 37
Jackie's Warrior - 23
Flightline - 10
Stallions whose first foals are being offered at the November Sale both that resellers and end-users will find appealing include Horse of the Year Knicks Go, two-time champion Essential Quality and Grade 1 winners Charlatan, Maxfield, Silver State and Yaupon.
First-Crop Weanlings for New Stallions
Yaupon - 46
Silver State - 37
Knicks Go - 27
Essential Quality - 10
'Impressive Collection’ of Mares for Flightline
Acclaimed as the “World’s Best Racehorse” in 2022, Flightline was retired after winning all six career starts and amassing earnings in excess of $4.5 million. In addition to his Breeders’ Cup Classic triumph, the son of Tapit romped by 19 1/4 lengths when winning the Pacific Classic (G1) and won the Malibu Stakes (G1) by more than 11 lengths. Intense breeder interest in Flightline led to the horse being bred to an illustrious group of mares, 10 of whom are cataloged in the November Sale.
Mares in foal to Flightline at Keeneland November include:
Graded Stakes winners Another Broad, Lady Scarlet; G1 winner and Graded Producer Centre Court; G1 winner Dalika (GER) and more
Flightline was held to 152 mares in his first season, with a book containing an impressive collection of Grade 1 winners and producers.
First In-Foal Mares for Champion Epicenter
Epicenter joined the stallion roster at Ashford Stud following his championship 3-Year-Old campaign in which the colt was victorious in the Runhappy Travers Stakes (G1) at Saratoga and was a major player on the Triple Crown Trail, finishing second in both the Kentucky Derby (G1) Presented by Woodford Reserve and Preakness Stakes (G1). The son of Not This Time is represented by 37 in-foal mares entered in the November Sale.
Epicenter was solid all year and the Travers was the breakout performance he needed and deserved, and he did it in an emphatic way. He put everything together on a grand stage.
Speedy Saratoga History Maker
For three seasons, Jackie’s Warrior displayed his talents on the biggest stages in North American racing. From 18 starts he garnered 12 victories and earned more than $2.9 million. The winner of five Grade 1 stakes, Jackie’s warrior was named 2021 Champion Male Sprinter and had the distinction of becoming the first horse in history to win Grade 1 stakes in three consecutive seasons at Saratoga. From his first book of matings, the Spendthrift Farm stallion is represented by 23 in-foal mares at Keeneland.
He's incredible. The thing you love about him is his demeanor and the way he goes about everything.
Yaupon Tops First-Crop Weanling Sires
Among first-crop sires of weanlings cataloged for the November Sale is Spendthrift Farm’s stallion Yaupon, who has sired 46 foals entered in this year’s sale. The speedy son of leading sire Uncle Mo won six of eight career starts, highlighted by a hard-fought victory in the Forego Stakes (G1). In that race, Yaupon dueled late with Firenze Fire and won despite being savaged by his rival in deep stretch.
Absolutely stunning physical … best we’ve ever owned when you combine speed, pedigree and conformation.
A True Horse of the Year
November Sale buyers will have an opportunity to evaluate the first crop sired by Knicks Go, the 2021 Horse of the Year who has 27 foals of 2023 cataloged. A son of Paynter, he was trained by Brad Cox for the Korea Racing Authority and earned more than $9.2 million. His victories include the Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) and Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1). The wins book-ended his championship season in which he was also voted an Eclipse Award as Outstanding Older Dirt Male.
He was a true Horse of the Year. It was a tremendous year.
Quality Abounds
Essential Quality was a versatile racehorse, winning multiple Grade 1 stakes at 2 and succeeding at classic distances as a sophomore for owner-breeder Godolphin. The son of Tapit parlayed victories in the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (G1) and TVG Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance—both at Keeneland—into an Eclipse Award as Champion 2-Year-Old Male. The following year, Essential Quality earned Champion 3-Year-Old honors after winning the Belmont Stakes (G1) Presented by NYRA Bets and the Runhappy Travers Stakes (G1). His record includes victories in 8 of 10 starts with earnings of more than $4.7 million. He was retired to stud at Darley and is the sire of 10 November Sale weanlings.
A Silver Lining
Claiborne Farm stallion Silver State—second by number of weanlings cataloged for the November Sale with 37—won half of his 14 starts and earned more than $1.9 million. Highlighting the three seasons of competition for the son of Hard Spun was a victory in the Hill ‘n’ Dale Metropolitan Handicap (G1) over Horse of the Year Knicks Go.
