Sept 23, 2022 – After completing five impressive acquisitions in July and August, Canuck Racing Club members were wondering if September would be another important month in the evolution of the club and the potential of its racing stable. The Keeneland 2022 September Yearling Sale is the most important thoroughbred auction in the world and the leading source of champions and stakes winners around the world. There was no question that the Canuck Racing Club would be well represented with managing partner Donato Lanni on site and assessing each of the 4,100 horses that went to auction in six books over the course of 12 days between September 12th to the 24th. Gross sales from this year’s sale were $418,221,200, the highest in Keeneland auction history.
“I’ve found some gems and high-performers before in the later books, so I’m always there start to finish”, said Donato who bought more than 70 horses at the sale for numerous clients, including five that sold for over a million dollars each. “Honestly, it was thrilling to find a colt of this calibre in book 6, the last round on the second to last day of the auction. Given his power, maturity, and mechanics, I think this Ontario-bred definitely flew under the radar. I really liked what I saw. This colt just has the things you look for.”
In the ensuing bid, Lanni had to battle aggressively with a knowledgeable agent who also recognized the quality, but he got the deal done with a winning bid of $70,000 for the Exaggerator-I’m The Reason colt.
“Canuck Racing Club members should be really excited about getting this colt,” Donato added. “He’s now at Margaux Farm where four of our other thoroughbreds are developing.”