Flightline. (Ernie Belmonte/Past The Wire)
Keeneland Championship Sale to Offer Stallion Share in Horse of the Year and Sire Flightline
Keeneland Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Keeneland has cataloged a stallion share in Horse of the Year and sire Flightline, whose first foals are weanlings of 2024, for the inaugural Keeneland Championship Sale, to be held the evening of Wednesday, Oct. 30 in the Paddock at Del Mar, site of the 2024 Breeders’ Cup World Championships on Nov. 1-2.
The share is offered by an original owner of Flightline who retains multiple shares in the stallion and wishes to support the inaugural Championship Sale with this unique opportunity.
Flightline sparked worldwide attention in 2022 with dominating wins in three Grade 1 stakes: the Hill ‘n’ Dale Metropolitan by 6 lengths; the TVG Pacific Classic by 19¼ lengths; and the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland by 8¼ lengths.
The colt’s legendary accomplishments on the track earned him Eclipse Awards as Horse of the Year and champion older male of 2022. He was undefeated in two seasons of racing, with earnings of more than $4.5 million.
A son of leading sire Tapit, Flightline retired to Lane’s End Farm in Versailles, Kentucky, with the same global fanfare that surrounded his racing career. On Day 1 of Keeneland’s November Breeding Stock Sale, just days after his romp in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, a 2.5% ownership interest in Flightline sold for $4.6 million.
Flightline continues to create excitement at stud, breeding a full book of 152 mares in each of his first two seasons (2023 and 2024).
In 2023, Flightline’s book included more than 50 Grade 1-winning or Grade 1-producing mares and ranked as the highest covering sire average for a first-year stallion in the last 15 years: $1,183,333 average with a top price of $3 million.
Flightline’s Comparable Index (CI) of 6.98 led all stallions by 2.36. His Class Performance Index (CPI) of 7.41 led all first-year stallions by 2.31 and ranked third overall in 2023.
In 2024, Flightline’s first crop of weanlings sold in Japan for an average of $974,057. His top-priced weanling brought $1,305,651.
Six weanlings by Flightline are cataloged to Keeneland’s upcoming November Breeding Stock Sale.
“Offering this share in Flightline in Keeneland’s Championship Sale gives breeders a truly special chance to invest in one of the most exciting young stallions in our industry,” said Bill Farish of Lane’s End Farm. “The class and quality he possesses is readily evident in his progeny – Flightline is represented by an outstanding first crop of foals which have already received tremendous support in the commercial market abroad, with a top selection of weanlings cataloged to sell in November. Now, Keeneland provides buyers the option to invest in him from every possible angle.”
“Flightline’s brilliance on the race track made him a global superstar, and now fans around the world are excited by his offspring coming of age,” Keeneland Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy said. “Keeneland is honored to offer this uniquely special opportunity to purchase a share in Flightline at the Championship Sale.”
Keeneland Championship Sale
Horses may be entered in the Keeneland Championship Sale at any time prior to the auction by contacting the Keeneland sales team, who will provide concierge entry services. The catalog for the Keeneland Championship Sale will feature:
- Horses entered in the Breeders’ Cup or Breeders’ Cup undercard races; may include full sale or fractional ownership interest.
- Bloodstock closely related to contenders in the World Championships.
- Stallion shares or breeding rights in hot sires.
Given the sale’s proximity to the Breeders’ Cup races, all cataloged horses will be offered remotely but will be available for inspection by appointment with the seller in their respective locations. Video of each hip also will be available to prospective buyers.
Participation in the Keeneland Championship Sale is by invitation; buyers and sellers will be contacted individually by Keeneland sales representatives. Interested parties also are encouraged to visit championship.keeneland.com for more information.
Interested bidders must register and be approved for credit in advance and meet such additional requirements as Keeneland may request. Qualified bidders may bid in person at the sale, online via the Keeneland Sales Portal atKeeneland.com/sales or by phone with a Keeneland representative.
