All eyes figure to be on Storm Cat’s offspring starting Monday, Sept. 14, at the Keeneland September yearling sale. And for good reason. There are 32 yearlings consigned to the sale from Storm Cat’s last full crop, which numbers 56. Twenty-nine of the youngsters are consigned to Book 1.

Storm Cat’s place in the history of the Keeneland September yearling sale is well assured. The top commercial stallion of his era, the 26-year-old son of Storm Bird has topped the sale seven times by average. His 2005 average, $1,766,731, remains a sale mark with three or more yearlings sold. That figure eclipsed the former mark, $1,756,538, set by Storm Cat in 2001.

Storm Cat, who stood at the Young family’s Overbrook Farm near Lexington prior to being pensioned in May 2008, is going into the sale with a solid sire record for the year. All four of his 2009 stakes winners are graded winners, including grade I winners Life Is Sweet and Mr. Sidney.

As is the case with all other stallions, Storm Cat’s success in the sales ring has been predicated on his success as a stallion. He has sired 172 stakes winners, more than any other living North American stallion and the fourth-highest total in history. Many of those stakes winners have gone on to become important stallions and broodmares