Keeneland Sales has become the presenting sponsor of the Alabama (G1) at Saratoga Race Course and, as recently announced, the Sorrento (G3) at Del Mar. Additionally, Keeneland November will present the Jessamine (G2) on opening day of the 2023 Fall Meet. Support of these key filly stakes further enhances the synergy between premier racing and Keeneland sales.
“Keeneland is excited to team with NYRA and Del Mar in sponsoring these prestigious summer stakes, and for Keeneland November to sponsor our Jessamine Stakes in the fall,” Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin said. “This initiative supports our mission to better the industry and aligns our globally important September Yearling Sale and November Breeding Stock Sale with these world-class race tracks.”
“Partnerships such as these allow us to celebrate Keeneland sales graduates on a national stage and to promote our sales opportunities, especially for fillies competing in graded stakes company,” Keeneland Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy said. “As the world’s leading auction house, Keeneland continually looks for creative ways to highlight the connection between racing and sales.”
Inaugurated in 1872, the $600,000 Alabama Presented by Keeneland Sales will take place Aug. 19 at Saratoga. The past three winners of the 1¼-mile race for 3-year-old fillies – Nest, Malathaat and Swiss Skydiver – are all Keeneland September Yearling Sale graduates who earned Eclipse Awards as division champions.
“The Alabama is one of the nation’s oldest and most important filly stakes, and we are pleased to further showcase its prestige though our partnership with Keeneland,” NYRA Senior Vice President, Racing Operations Frank Gabriel said.
The first race of the trio is the 55th running of the $200,000 Sorrento (G3) Presented by Keeneland Sales on Aug. 12 at Del Mar. For 2-year-old fillies racing 6 furlongs, the Sorrento has been won by such horses as Racing Hall of Famer Silverbulletday and champions Chilukki, Phone Chatter and Brave Raj.
“Del Mar and Keeneland are synonymous with quality, and we share a rich history of working together to better racing,” Del Mar Executive Vice President of Racing Tom Robbins said.
The $350,000 Jessamine Presented by Keeneland November will be held Oct. 6, opening day of Keeneland’s Fall Meet. At 1 1/16 miles on the turf, the race is for 2-year-old fillies. The winner earns a berth to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1).
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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 the 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