Keeneland’s renowned September Yearling Sale produced five horses entered in the 156th running of the $2 million Belmont Stakes (G1) Presented by NYRA Bets at Saratoga Race Course on Saturday. Post time for the 1¼-mile race, which was moved from Belmont Park to allow for the uninterrupted construction of its new facility, is 6:41 p.m. ET.
Twenty-three graduates of Keeneland sales have captured the Belmont, including the past two winners: Mo Donegal (2022) and Arcangelo (2023).
Graduates of the 2022 September Sale counted among the 10 horses entered in the Belmont are:
Antiquarian (Preservationist-Lifetime Memory): Breeder Brereton C. Jones/Airdrie Stud, agent, consigned the Peter Pan (G3) winner to the September Sale, where he sold to owner Centennial Farms for $250,000. Trained by Todd Pletcher, Antiquarian will be ridden by John Velazquez.
Dornoch (Good Magic-Puca): Winner of the Remsen (G2) and the Coolmore Fountain of Youth (G2), the colt was bred by Grandview Equine. Consigned by Runnymede Farm, agent, to the September Sale, he sold to Oracle Bloodstock, agent, for $325,000. Danny Gargan trains Dornoch for owners West Paces Racing, R. A. Hill Stable, Belmar Racing and Breeding, Two Eight Racing and Pine Racing Stables. Luis Saez will ride.
Honor Marie (Honor Code-Dame Marie): Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent, consigned the winner of the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) and runner-up in the Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby (G2) to the September Sale, where he sold for $40,000 to Legion Bloodstock, agent for In the Trees. Royce Pulliam bred Honor Marie, who is trained by Whit Beckman for owners Ribble Farms, Michael H. Eiserman, Earl I. Silver, Kenneth E. Fishbein and Dave Fishbein. He will be ridden by Florent Geroux.
Mindframe (Constitution-Walk of Stars): Owners Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable paid $600,000 for the colt at the September Sale from the consignment of Betz Thoroughbreds, agent. Bred by R. Larry Johnson, he is trained by Todd Pletcher and will be ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr.
Protective (Medaglia d’Oro-Grace Hall): West Bloodstock, agent for owner Repole Stable, spent $250,000 for the colt, who was third in both the Wood Memorial (G2) Presented by Resorts World Casino and the Peter Pan (G3), from Book 1 of the September Sale. Bred by Alpha Delta Stables, he was consigned by Lane’s End, agent. Tyler Gaffalione will ride Protective for trainer Todd Pletcher.
Since its first race meet more than 85 years ago, the Keeneland Association has devoted itself to the health and vibrancy of the Thoroughbred industry. The world’s largest Thoroughbred auction house, Keeneland conducts five sales a year, in January, April, September and November. Graduates of Keeneland sales dominate racing across the globe at every level. In April and October, Keeneland offers some of the highest caliber and richest Thoroughbred racing in the world. Keeneland hosted the Breeders’ Cup World Championships in 2015, 2020 and 2022. Uniquely structured, Keeneland is a privately held company with a not-for-profit mission that returns its earnings to the industry and the community in the form of higher purses and millions of dollars donated in support of horse industry initiatives and charitable contributions for education, research, and health and human services throughout Central Kentucky. Keeneland also maintains Keeneland Library, a world-renowned public research institution with the mission of preserving information about the Thoroughbred industry. To learn more, visit Keeneland.com.
For more information contact:
Amy Gregory at 859 361-3490
Amy Owens at 859 421-2566