General Graham Tops Keeneland April HORA Sale

On the final day of Keeneland's spring meet April 24, the action closed out with General Graham (Hip 14) topping the Keeneland April Selected Horses of Racing Age Sale, selling for $375,000 to Jethorse.

General Graham, a 3-year-old colt by Omaha Beach  , broke his maiden on debut March 16 for trainer Eddie Kenneally and owner Red Gate Racing at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots by 4 3/4 lengths. He followed up that effort with a 1-length win in a starter allowance race at Keeneland. 

"We're delighted with General Graham," Kenneally said. "Two-for-two, hasn't done anything wrong, beautiful, big horse. He's a horse that we bought in a package as a yearling, and the intent was to sell. That's kind of what we do. We run these horses. Try to get some success at the track and sell them when they appear as though they're moving forward. (General Graham) certainly does appear as though he's moving forward. I think he's got a big career ahead of him."

Kenneally purchased the colt as a yearling for $35,000 at the 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. 

"Beautiful mover, very big, imposing horse," Kenneally said of what stood out about him as a yearling. "Very, very kind and a big, pretty horse with a very easy, good-moving action, a lot of quality about him."

Kenneally said the colt was big and took some time to develop before his first start.

"We were patient with him. We stopped on him and gave him some time off, and started again in the wintertime. Got him ready (to make) his first start in March and, thankfully, he got it right. He won in an impressive fashion, first time out, in a quick time. We liked him all along, but we just had to wait for him because he was such a big horse." 

Kenneally's keen eye and patience paid off. 

The second-highest-priced horse of the session was Peak Perspective , a 2-year-old filly by Mineshaft . David Meah of Meah/Lloyd Bloodstock signed the ticket for $310,000 on behalf of TCC Stables.

The filly was recently a game third in a maiden special weight April 15 at Keeneland for owner Marina Colebrook and trainer and breeder Ben Colebrook, who consigned the filly under Colebrook Stables. She is entered in the Kentucky Juvenile Stakes April 29 at Churchill Downs.

Meah confirmed Peak Perspective would stay in training with Colebrook.

"She was definitely on our radar (after her Keeneland debut)," Meah said. "Immediately after the race, Mike and I had a phone call about 'Hey, we need to keep an eye on this horse, try and buy her privately.'

"I called Ben, and Ben told me we're going to the Keeneland sale. Everybody wants to support Keeneland, it's a great place, right? So we're going to leave her with them, and we're going to run next week."

At the end of the evening's trade, 12 horses had changed hands for gross receipts of $1,697,000. The average price was $141,417, with a median of $102,500. 

Taylor Made Sales Agency sold five from their draft for a total of $595,000, leading the consignors. Jethorse's single purchase of General Graham led buyers by gross.

"The April Horses of Racing Age Sale was a lively and fitting close to the spring meet," said Keeneland vice president of sales Tony Lacy. "There was a big crowd in the sales pavilion with a lot of people coming down from the races and carrying that same energy right into the sale. It was an engaging way to cap the day and send off the spring meet in celebratory style."