This spring Kenny McPeek became the first trainer since Ben Jones in 1952 to win the Kentucky Oaks (G1) and Kentucky Derby (G1) in the same year with Anna Thorpedo And Mysterious Dan respectively.
He is highly regarded for finding racehorses at reasonable prices at auctions. He is responsible for finding horses such as Horse of the Year twice. Curlin , Anna Thorpedo Harlan’s Vacation, My dear son, Swiss skydiver , Take charge of the girl et cetera.
McPeek was the top buyer in sessions six through eight of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale from Sept. 15 to 17. He bought eight yearlings on Tuesday for $1,057,000, bringing the total number of horses sold to 26 yearlings and $4,887,000, for an average of $187,962.
“I’m really pleased,” McPeek said. “We’ve been able to close a lot of good deals over the past few days and we’ll have a few more before the sale ends. We love coming to the Keeneland September Sale. It’s hard work, it’s tiring at times, but the rewards are well worth it.”
Keeneland’s September auction is a long process, and McPeek said he couldn’t have done it without the help of Dominic Brennan, one of his assistant trainers, who helped him compile the shortlist. McPeek and Brennan have worked together on the auction for 30 years.
“Dominic has become like Batman’s Robin to us. He’s been a huge help and has been for a long time.”
McPeek purchased Hip 1863, a Maxfield colt, at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale
McPeek is known for finding great stallions, and this sale was no exception. He bought yearlings from a variety of stallions, including four yearlings from early season stallions. Maxfield .
“I think (Maxfield) has really made his mark, they all seem to have speed and class,” he said. “And I’m really big on hindquarters and balance, and he really impressed me as a young stallion.
“I was actually the lowest bidder at the auction where Donato Lanni bought (Hip 1108) for $575,000.”
McPeek was also impressed by the ponies of Rock your world He said that physically they stand out and he is a big fan of Candy Trip and his influence continues through his sons.
“I think Independence Hall is a really good early season stallion. I think between Independence Hall, Maxfield, Rock Your World, those are the stallions at this stage that have caught my interest. We weren’t looking for those stallions, it just happened to be the stallions that we ended up with,” McPeek said.
“When I see a horse that I really like, I look at that page. And then I try to figure out where it comes from. What am I looking at? Am I looking at a racehorse, a dirt horse, a sprinter, a runner?
“I think there’s a certain method to the madness in the way they’re bred and the way they’re made, so you want to see a pattern.”
McPeek did not work on Book 1 or Book 2 due to conflicts, including being in Saratoga Race Track for Thorpedo Anna’s workout before her start in the Cotillion Stakes (G1) at Parx Racing this weekend
“She really is a special mare to be around,” he said. “She’s modestly priced, has all the right parts, and she’s a queen.”
Thorpedo Anna was worth just $40,000 when McPeek picked her up at the Fasig-Tipton Auction in October 2022; she has career earnings of more than $2 million.
“I’ve made a career out of working with old books. As a young trainer, I only worked with Books 5, 6 and 7 (when they had Book 7). When you find a good horse in those old books, I think that trains your eye a lot to prepare you for the earlier books,” McPeek said.
“I have a really strong mid and low clientele, I mean really strong. I like to call them my foundation. I’m going to continue to work hard for those guys. They’re the ones who helped me get to where I’ve gotten to. I’m going to continue to try to find good horses for them.”
Number and sales figures for the 8th day
A mare of Nyquist topped the eighth auction on September 17. Legion Bloodstock, agent for Icon Racing, paid $375,000 for Hip 2611, consigned by St George Sales, agent.
Nyquist mare consigned as Hip 2611 to the auction block
This mare is bred in Kentucky by Pursuit of Success. She is out of the mare Awesome Again. Raise the flag half-sister to champion 2-year-old and multiple Grade 1 winner Storm Flag Flying.
“She’s got very good form from a very good stallion (Nyquist). A great pedigree, arguably one of the better pedigrees out there,” said Archie St George of St George Sales.
“(The market) is very good, very active. Horses are selling well, there’s a lot of activity in the backcourt, and we’re very busy in the stables. It’s good from top to bottom,” St George said.
The average for session eight was $72,823, for a total of $20,827,500. The average was $55,000, as 286 horses changed hands on the final day of Book 4, out of 363 horses offered. Seventy-seven failed to reach their reserves, resulting in an RNA of 21.2%.
Taylor Made was the leading consignor with 32 heads sold, bringing in $2,540,000. McKinzie led the stallion standings for the second consecutive day with 11 foals sold for a total of $1,560,000.
Total sales were down slightly from last year’s $21,786,500, but the average and median prices rose from $70,279 and $50,000, respectively. A total of 310 horses were sold.
“I think we have a chance to make this the best year for Keeneland September in 20 years. Today alone, it’s really strong, the market continues to grow,” said Mark Taylor, president and CEO of Taylor Made.
