Buy TicketsKeeneland sales have produced a group of standout 3-year-old colts who have been entered in Saturday’s $5 million Kentucky Derby (G1) Presented by Woodford Reserve at Churchill Downs and accomplished sophomore fillies who have been entered in the $1.5 million Kentucky Oaks (G1) to be run the day before.
Winners of the 1¼-mile Derby include 24 graduates of Keeneland sales. Recent winners are champion Nyquist (2016), Always Dreaming(2017), Triple Crown winner and Horse of the Year Justify (2018), Horse of the Year Authentic (2020) and Mage (2023).
A total of 21 horses were entered in the Derby, including these eight Keeneland sales graduates:
American Promise (Justify-Tapella): On behalf of breeder Candy Meadows, Candy Meadows Sales sold the Virginia Derby winner to owner BC Stables for $750,000 during Book 1 of the 2023 September Yearling Sale. D. Wayne Lukas trains the colt, who will be ridden by Nik Juarez.
Citizen Bull (Into Mischief-No Joke): Robert and Lawana Low bred Citizen Bull, the champion 2-year-old male following wins in the FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance and the American Pharoah (G1) Presented by DK Horse and this year’s winner of the Robert B. Lewis (G3). Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent, consigned the colt to the 2023 September Sale, where he sold for $675,000 to Donato Lanni, agent for SF/Starlight/Madaket. Bob Baffert trains Citizen Bull for SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stable, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stud, Robert E. Masterson, Tom J. Ryan, Waves Edge Capital and Catherine Donovan. Martin Garcia will ride Citizen Bull.
Flying Mohawk (Karakontie [JPN]-Bonbons Fleur): Second in the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3), Flying Mohawk is a graduate of two Keeneland sales. Vinery Sales, agent for Milestone Farm, consigned him as a weanling to the 2022 November Breeding Stock Sale, where he sold to East Side Investments for $25,000. Consigned by Hunter Valley Farm, agent, to the 2023 September Sale, he sold to Legion Bloodstock, agent, for $72,000. Whit Beckman trains Flying Mohawk, who was bred by John O’Meara, for Two Eight Racing, Berry Family Racing and Kaleta Racing. He will be ridden by Joe Ramos.
Grande (Curlin-Journey Home): Breeder KatieRich Farms sold the runner-up in the Wood Memorial (G2) Presented by Resorts World Casino for $300,000 to West Bloodstock, agent for owner Repole Stable, during Book 1 of the 2023 September Sale. Todd Pletcher trains Grande, who will be ridden by John Velazquez.
Owen Almighty (Speightstown-Tempers Rising): Mark Stanley bred the winner of the Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby (G3) and Ellis Park Juvenile Stakes, who races for Flying Dutchmen Breeding and Racing. Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent, consigned him as a weanling to the 2022 November Sale, where he sold to Sycamore Hall Farm/David Wade, agent, for $360,000. Brian Lynch trains Owen Almighty, who will be ridden by Javier Castellano.
Rodriguez (Authentic-Cayala): Kingswood Farm and David Egan bred the Wood Memorial winner, who is trained by Bob Baffert. Consigned to the 2023 September Sale by Indian Creek, agent, he sold for $485,000 to Donato Lanni, agent for SF/Starlight/Madaket. Mike Smith will ride Rodriguez, who is owned by the same partnership that races Citizen Bull.
Tiztastic (Tiz the Law-Keesha): The Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby (G2) winner is a graduate of two Keeneland sales as a yearling. Consigned to the 2023 January Horses of All Ages Sale by Hunter Valley Farm, agent, he sold to McMahon and Hill Bloodstock, agent, for $80,000. At the September Sale, he was consigned by Denali Stud, agent, and sold to M.V. Magnier and Ron Winchell for $335,000. Capital Bloodstock bred Tiztastic, who is owned by Winchell Thoroughbreds, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor and Derrick Smith. Joel Rosario will ride for trainer Steve Asmussen.
Also-eligible:
Baeza (McKinzie-Puca): A half-brother to the aforementioned Mage as well as to 2024 Belmont (G1) winner Dornoch, Baeza was second in the Santa Anita Derby (G1). Bred by Grandview Equine, he was consigned by Runnymede Farm, agent, to the 2023 September Sale and sold for $1.2 million to Mayberry Farm. C R K Stable and Grandview Equine own Baeza, who is trained by John Shirreffs and will be ridden by Flavien Prat.
Another Derby entrant is Whitham Thoroughbreds’ homebred Burnham Square, who won Keeneland’s $1.5 million Toyota Blue Grass (G1) on April 8.
The Derby is the 12th of 14 races at Churchill on Saturday. Post time is 6:57 p.m. ET.
Five Keeneland sales alumni entered in Kentucky Oaks
Keeneland sales have produced these recent winners of the 1 1/8-mile Kentucky Oaks: champion Abel Tasman (2017), champion Monomoy Girl (2018), Serengeti Empress (2019), Shedaresthedevil (2020) and champion Malathaat (2021).
The five Keeneland sales alumni among the 14 horses entered in the 2025 Kentucky Oaks are:
Drexel Hill (Bolt d’Oro-Ascot Walk): Tuscany Bloodstock bred Busher (L) winner Drexel Hill, who is a graduate of two Keeneland sales. Warrendale Sales, agent, consigned her as a weanling to the 2022 November Sale, where she sold to David Bechtol for $20,000. Consigned by Warrendale Sales, agent, to the 2023 September Sale, she was purchased by Legion Bloodstock, agent, for $50,000. Whit Beckman trains Drexel Hill for Legion Racing. Ben Curtis will ride.
Quickick (McKinzie-Graeme Six): Gainesway Thoroughbreds and Whisper Hill Farm bred the Darley Alcibiades (G1) runner-up, who is a graduate of two Keeneland sales. Gainesway, agent, consigned Quickick as a weanling to the 2022 November Sale, where she sold for $275,000 to Whisper Hill. Gainesway, agent, consigned the filly to Book 1 of the 2023 September Sale and sold her to Greg Tramontin for $550,000. Greenwell Thoroughbreds owns Quickick, who is trained by Tom Amoss. Umberto Rispoli will ride.
Simply Joking (Practical Joke-Imply): The Fantasy (G2) runner-up was consigned to the 2023 September Sale by Ballysax Bloodstock, agent, and sold to Grantley Acres for $65,000. Bred by Barlar, Simply Joking is owned by Grantley Acres, Ryan Conner, Berkels0813 and CMNWLTH. Florent Geroux will ride for trainer Whit Beckman.
Take Charge Milady (Take Charge Indy-Price too High): Trainer Kenny McPeek, agent, purchased the runner-up in Keeneland’s Central Bank Ashland (G1) for $60,000 at the 2023 September Sale. She was consigned by Bluegrass Thoroughbreds Services, agent for breeder Merriebelle Stable. James Ball, Magdalena Racing and Kenneth Rhodes own Take Charge Milady, who will be ridden by Brian Hernandez Jr.
Tenma (Nyquist-Amagansett): Bred by B Flay Thoroughbreds, Tenma won the FanDuel Racing Del Mar Debutante (G1), the Starlet (G2), the Santa Anita Oaks (G2) and the Las Virgenes (G3). Stone Farm, agent, consigned her to the 2023 September Sale, where she sold to All Star Bloodstock for $200,000. Baoma Corp. owns Tenma, who is trained by Bob Baffert and will be ridden by Juan Hernandez.
Second choice in the Oaks is Tracy Farmer’s homebred La Cara, who won Keeneland’s $750,000 Central Bank Ashland on April 7. La Cara is bidding to become the 15th filly to win the Central Bank Ashland and the Oaks.
The Oaks is the 11th of 13 races at Churchill on Friday. Post time is 5:51 p.m.