Keeneland announced Oct. 21 that Miss Yechance, a rapidly improving 3-year-old filly and recent group 1 winner targeting the $1 million Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T), has been supplemented to the third Keeneland Championship Sale Oct. 28 at historic Castleton Farm.
Trained by Karl Burke, Miss Yechance captured the Prix de l'Abbaye (G1) at Longchamp Oct. 4, defeating a quality field to earn her third consecutive victory and her first group 1 victory. She enters the Breeders' Cup World Championships as one of the leading contenders for the Turf Sprint Oct. 31 at Keeneland.
The daughter of Cotai Glory has enjoyed a remarkable rise through the sprinting ranks this season. After winning a valuable handicap at York's Ebor meeting in August, she captured the Dubai International Airport World Trophy (G3) at Newbury in September before stepping up to group 1 success at Longchamp. She is rated 115 by both Timeform and the Racing Post.
"She has been an absolute revelation since coming to me early this summer," Burke said. "She's just kept on progressing and, although we don't do a lot with her at home, she seems to have improved again since her last win at Longchamp.
"I think she's going to run a big race in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Keeneland. She was beaten by the likely favorite Bacio at Royal Ascot, but she's improved enormously since then, and her win at York in August was in a quicker time than Bacio's Nunthorpe (G1) victory there.
"She's uncomplicated, so tough and a battler, and seems versatile on most surfaces," Burke continued. "She's run well on dirt in Dubai, and you'd think she's only going to get better. She could hold her own in sprint races around the world next year."
Burke also emphasized the filly's long-term potential as a broodmare.
"I'd love to keep training her but, if I don't, I'd be delighted to train her progeny one day," he said. "If she transmits her hardiness and will to win to her foals, then she is going to make an outstanding broodmare when the time comes."
Miss Yechance will be offered on behalf of owner Al Leith Racing Club by joint consignors A M Bloodstock and Karl Burke Racing.
Alessandro Marconi of A M Bloodstock, who advises Al Leith Racing, said the Championship Sale presents an ideal opportunity to bring Miss Yechance to market ahead of the World Championships.
"We loved the concept of Keeneland's Championship Sale, giving somebody the chance to buy a live Breeders' Cup contender just days before the race, so it seemed a perfect fit for Miss Yechance," Marconi said.
"She has been a remarkable filly, and of course the Breeders' Cup is only a small part of the next chapter in her story. She's versatile and tough and is going to be a great prospect for the top sprints globally next season, as well as an exciting broodmare prospect.
"Pedigree-wise," Marconi continued, "she's a good outcross, being by Cotai Glory, a son of the outstanding broodmare sire Exceed And Excel, and out of a mare by Wootton Bassett, who needs no introduction."
This year's sale will take place Oct. 28, at historic Castleton in Lexington, with the live auction beginning at 6:30 p.m. ET. The curated catalog features Breeders' Cup contenders, full and fractional ownership interests and other distinctive offerings. The evening will culminate with the offering of Castleton itself, the historic 951-acre horse farm.
Attendance is by invitation only, with bidding available in person, online and by phone. Prospective bidders must pre-register and request credit to participate.
For the interactive catalog, registration information and additional details, visit Championship.Keeneland.com.
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
