TIMONIUM, MD – While many buyers and consignors are making adjustments around the new format of the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale's under-tack preview, Karl Keegan of Lucan Bloodstock is making his first trip to Timonium specifically because of the preview's untimed works.“I am a big fan of the no-time format,” Keegan said. “It really appealed to me. I personally think we are asking probably average horses to do crazy times that only a few special horses can do.”Lucan Bloodstock will offer six 2-year-olds at the Midlantic May sale next week and, not only were they always targeted at this sale, some were even purchased as yearlings with this auction in mind.Asked what type of horses he wanted to bring to his first Midlantic sale, Keegan said, “Pedigree. Really good pedigrees and then as we got them home, just very natural movers over a dirt surface. So they kind of separated themselves.”The two-day breeze show offered Keegan the chance to show off his horses and he said he was happy with the results.“We have not pushed any of these horses,” he said. “I wanted my rider just to showcase the horse's natural stride. I admired what Ciaran Dunne said yesterday, it is May of their 2-year-old year, these horses should be able to go an eighth of a mile, but not absolutely driving them to an eighth of a mile. So I told my rider to set him down on his left lead, give him a tap on his shoulder, engage and let the public see their natural strides. Don't beat them up on the way up. We had one that jumped a cone, but for the most part, we had a very good preview.”With still three days to sale time, one of the Lucan Bloodstock offerings was already attracting plenty of interest at the barn Thursday morning.“The Into Mischief colt has been out 10 times already this morning,” Keegan said.The colt (hip 583) is out of graded winner Verdana Bold (Rahy) and is a full-brother to stakes winner and graded-placed Lucrezia. He was purchased by Grandview Equine for $275,000 as a weanling at the 2024 Keeneland November sale.“We wanted to test the market with this type of horse,” Keegan said. “It's a very, very good pedigree. It seems that's where the market is heading. High pedigreed horses, with very good physicals. He's by the best stallion in America. I thought his preview was tremendous. He had a phenomenal work (video). He's definitely checking all the boxes that this market is looking for.”Lucan Bloodstock will also offer a filly by Epicenter (hip 330) next week in Timonium. Out of Margaret Reay (Pioneerof the Nile), the bay is a half-sister to Grade I winner A Mo Reay (Uncle Mo). Keegan purchased the filly for $140,000 at last year's Keeneland September sale.“She's not the biggest filly,” Keegan said. “She's very robust and a very well-balanced filly. She's always been a beautiful mover on dirt. So I wanted to bring her up here to showcase that as well.”Of his first trip to Timonium, Keegan gave a big smile and said, “I absolutely love it. I just love what Fasig has put on. They are so helpful. They have been absolutely fantastic to deal with, very accommodating. And I just love the tightness of this community and I love the racetrack. It almost gives me a little Saratoga vibe on the backstretch. And I've been very relaxed down on the racetrack because we haven't had to look at these times. So it's been very relaxing. I usually tend to burn a little hot, but I've been much more relaxed up here.”Keegan added, “I am excited about the group of horses I have here. Hopefully we can let this thing expand and grow and I can support it even more going into next year.”The Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May sale will be held next Monday and Tuesday with bidding beginning each day at 11 a.m.The post ‘I’m a Big Fan’: Keegan Enjoying First Trip to Timonium appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.