VanMeter Sales Brings 18 to Keeneland September

Uncle Mo colt out of Marley’s Freedom

VanMeter Sales will present 18 yearlings as part of its debut Keeneland September consignment, headed by a pair of well-bred colts by Flightline and Uncle Mo set to be offered on the first day of Book 1 on Monday, Sept. 8.

VanMeter Sales was started in late 2024 by Headley VanMeter, who grew up working in the horse industry and going to the sales before working on the racetrack and later at Lane’s End Farm. VanMeter’s mission is to deliver a boutique, hands-on, high-touch consignment experience for both sellers and buyers, with a focus on strategic placement of horses and meticulous sales preparation. In its first year of operation, VanMeter Sales has already achieved six-figure prices at Keeneland April, Fasig-Tipton July and Fasig-Tipton Digital.

“We’re excited to be bringing our first offering to Keeneland September,” said VanMeter. “We’re trying to appeal to all aspects of the marketplace. We have some horses in this sale that will appeal to the pinhookers. We have some that are more for end-users, and a few with international flair.”

No doubt shoppers from around the world will have their eyes on Hip 34, a colt by sire of sires Uncle Mo and out of G1-winning sprinter Marley’s Freedom, who received a timely update in August when his half-sister Hope Road won the G1 Ballerina S. at Saratoga; and Hip 10, a colt from the first crop of the world champion Flightline out of the speedy Lady Shipman, and therefore a half-brother to G1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint winner and young stallion Golden Pal.

Others in the consignment include:

• Hip 1275, a filly by Twirling Candy from the family of champion filly Banshee Breeze.
• Hip 1511, a colt by Jack Christopher out of Etching, a daughter of G1 Kentucky Oaks winner Summerly.
• Hip 1541, a half-brother to the G2 Woody Stephens S. winner Tom’s Ready from the second crop of Charlatan. 

“When buyers come through our consignment, I want them to have trust in us that these horses will continue on and get into the winner’s circle,” VanMeter said. “I want to build trust in buyers that our horses are raised the right way. They’re bedded on straw bedding, fed sweet feed and good bluegrass. We’re just trying to raise horses the right way.”