Now that the Breeders Crown is in the books, the attention of the harness racing world switches to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, for the Standardbred Horse Sale that runs from November 4 through November 8. Three yearling-only sessions will take place from Monday through Wednesday and then the mixed sale will go on Thursday and Friday to conclude the event.
Coming off a strong group of regional sales and the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale that saw its second-highest average and gross in history, Standardbred Horse Sales Company President Dale Welk is optimistic that his sale can continue that trend.
“I think we are probably a little stronger than last year,” said Welk. “We have some full brothers and half-brothers to some of the best horses out there right now. I’m looking forward to it. We do have more horses this year and everybody puts so much emphasis on average. We were down last year so hopefully this year we can stay steady in average and we’ll be up a little bit in gross.
“Some of the ones I got may’ve been cut from Lexington because they were even up in numbers. Some of it was just a few guys that had more yearlings than normal,” added Welk about offering 50 to 60 more horses at the yearling sale in 2024 versus 2023.
The Lexington sale kicked off with a record gross on their first night, showing once again that yearlings with great conformation from top families remain in high demand. With that said, Welk offered that he saw some tapering off below those high-end individuals.
“I thought the middle was a little weak at Lexington and we have a lot of middle-market buyers. The high end was tremendous at Lexington. As a matter of fact, before the sale I told Dave [Reid] and Bruce [Bickerstaff] that if they didn’t have a good sale I wasn’t even going to show up at Harrisburg,” joked Welk. “People don’t realize we are all great friends. They think because we run opposing sales that we are enemies. Our industry is too small to be bickering with each other.
“Everyone has strengths, and I have 50 to 70 on Tuesday that could’ve sold Monday and probably the same amount on Wednesday that could’ve sold Tuesday. There really are great horses selling every day. I could’ve expanded Monday but then we’d be starting at noon and still selling at 8 P.M. at night.”
Hanover tries to duplicate Lexington success
Hanover Shoe Farms had the top seller in Rani Hanover at $925,000 in Lexington, and they have many more yearlings that could accomplish the same feat on Monday in Harrisburg.
“We have a lot of very nice individuals,” said Farm Manager Patti Murphy. “We kept some specifically for Harrisburg that could’ve sold well at Lexington, but we wanted to have some sale-toppers at Harrisburg as well.”
One of Hanover’s offerings that jumps right off the page is HIP 104 Cambridge Hanover, a Walner three-quarter brother to this year’s Mohawk Million, Breeders Crown and Peter Haughton/William Wellwood Memorial champion Maryland.
“He is a bigger colt than his brother and shows wicked bursts of speed in the paddock,” Murphy said.
Another Hanover trotting colt they have to offer is HIP 48 Sterling Hanover, a Walner brother to Pennsylvania Sire Stakes champion and Breeders Crown finalist Meshuggah.
“He is a handsome colt and from 100 percent producer Starita,” Murphy said. “He’s a farm favorite and should be in demand at the sale.”
As for trotting fillies, included in the Hanover consignment are the likes of HIP 28 Sorcery Hanover, a sister to triple millionaire Manchego.
“She’s quick-footed and has an athletic way about her, as you can see in her video,” stated Murphy. “The family is active with 2-year-old Pink Chou Chou (Chapter Seven) winning a leg of the New York Sire Stakes at Vernon. She was also second in an International Stallion Stake at the Red Mile and the Jim Doherty at Hoosier, and third in the Kentuckiana at Hoosier.”
Captaintreacherous fillies remain in demand wherever they show up, and one of Hanover’s offerings is HIP 81 Aabriella Hanover, a full sister to Metro champion and Breeders Crown third-place finisher Fallout.
“She is a bit smaller than her full brother but has speed, a good attitude and likes to go,” Murphy remarked. “She’s also a full-sister to 2020 PASS and KYSS champion and 2021 Adioo Volo winner Blue Diamond Eyes p,3,1:47 2/5m $1,340,144.”
On the pacing colt side, HIP 85 Baby Jack Hanover is one of note as he’s the first colt out of millionaire Bedroomconfessions and is a Captaintreacherous full brother to $1.1 million earner Boudoir Hanover and multi-time stakes winner Bellisima Hanover.
“He is a racy-looking colt with a good way of going and charming personality. He’s a May foal and has some maturing to do but has loads of potential,” Murphy said.
Concord looks to go back-to-back at the top of the board
Concord Stud Farm had the highest-priced yearling in last year’s sale (De Kooning, $600,000) and is back with another eye-catching group in 2024.
HIP 9 All In Agreement is a half-brother to harness racing’s all-time richest 2-year-old male trotter and Breeders Crown 3-Year-Old Colt Trot runner-up T C I, and Concord’s Julie Meirs is interested to see how he sells given he’s by Indiana-based stallion Swan For All.
“We weren’t quite sure where to go with breeding this mare. We didn’t know at the time that T C I would be T C I when we made this choice,” she said. “We had a share in Swan For All and decided to go that way with her. He’s a nice, big, dark Swan For All.”
Concord also has another trotting colt prospect in HIP 29 Ashoka, the second foal out of multiple stakes winner Senorita Rita. He’s by Muscle Hill.
“He’s another nice, well-put-together colt, but he is only New Jersey eligible so we’ll have to see what happens with the price,” stated Meirs.
HIP 53 Swinging Loyalty is a filly from the Concord consignment and is a Walner half-sister to Ahundreddollarbill, Slay, Royal Mission and Royal Filly, who are all multiple-time stakes winners during their respective careers.
“She’s stunning and a truly amazing filly. I can’t wait to watch her sell,” Meirs said. “I do have high expectations for her. Looking at the pedigree, she’s got the family behind her and she has the looks herself.
“She has such a presence when she comes out of her stall. She walks out and visitors just say wow. She’s magnificent.”
Later on Monday, HIP 133 Art Of The State will go through the ring for Concord. A Gimpanzee filly, her brother Periculum won this year’s Maple Leaf Trot final and just missed in the Breeders Crown Open Trot final.
“She’s Kentucky eligible as a Gimpanzee and a very nice filly with a good family behind her as well,” offered Meirs, who also touted pacing prospects in HIP 52 Special Mac and HIP 56 Sandy Cookies from her consignment.
Others To Watch
Below is a list of 11 other yearlings that will sell on Monday that have a chance to do well for their respective consignors.
HIP 8 World Of Faith
Sex: Filly
Sire: Captaintreacherous
Dam: Cannae Cammie
Consignor: All American Harnessbreds
Eligibility: Pennsylvania and Maryland
Early on Monday is HIP 8 World Of Faith, a Captaintreacherous filly who is a sister to former Horse of the Year and $2.4 million earner Test Of Faith. Her full sister Debut sold for $250,000 in Lexington in 2022.
HIP 38 Cottonwood
Sex: Colt
Sire: Captaintreacherous
Dam: Shocking Beauty
Consignor: Diamond Creek
Eligibility: Pennsylvania and Kentucky
This is the go-to family for pacing colts in the sport right now as Shocking Beauty is from the Dominique Semalu broodmare band that has produced the likes of Sportswriter, Downbytheseaside, Tall Dark Stranger, Captain’s Quarters, etc. Cottonwood’s brother Sling Shock was a multi-time stakes winner in Ohio at 2 and 3.
HIP 46 B Sirius
Sex: Colt
Sire: Always B Miki
Dam: Star Captain
Consignor: Diamond Creek, Agent
Eligibility: Pennsylvania & NJ Standardbred Development Fund
B Sirius is the first foal out of Star Captain, a Captaintreacherous mare who earned over $136,000 and had a mark of 1:51 1/5 during her career. Star Captain is also a half-sister to $2.6 million earner and now productive stallion Bettor’s Wish.
HIP 51 A Little Kick
Sex: Colt
Sire: Perfect Sting
Dam: Sweet Paprika
Consignor: Walnridge Farm
Eligibility: New Jersey
Yearlings from the first crop of Perfect Sting sold quite well in Lexington and here’s a half-brother to $1.5 million earner and Dan Patch Award winner Captain Crunch. The dam is a half-sister to Sweet Lou and Bettor Sweet.
HIP 55 Albany Blue Chip
Sex: Colt
Sire: Sweet Lou
Dam: Heavenly Bride
Consignor: Blue Chip Farms
Eligibility: Pennsylvania
Albany Blue Chip’s dam Heavenly Bride earned in excess of $252,000 and his 2-year-old half-brother Wedlock Blue Chip has won multiple stakes events in Pennsylvania this year. Sweet Lou is having another outstanding season and had Breeders Crown 2-Year-Old Colt Pace champion Louprint.
HIP 72 Lucille Walner
Sex: Filly
Sire: Walner
Dam: Ab’sattitudexpress
Consignor: Preferred Equine Marketing, Inc.
Eligibility: New Jersey
Lucille Walner gives those looking for a Walner filly one to check out in the middle portion of Monday’s session. This is the first foal out of Ab’sattitudexpress, a multiple stakes winner who earned $392,416 and had a mark of 1:51 4/5.
HIP 82 Apex
Sex: Colt
Sire: Walner
Dam: Mission Brief
Consignor: Hunterton Sales Agency
Eligibility: New Jersey and Kentucky
Mission Brief’s four yearlings to sell thus far have all gone for $400,000 or more and her 3-year-old Vic Zelenskyy and 2-year-old Kadena both have had good seasons. Vic Zelenskyy trotted two 1:50 1/5 miles at The Red Mile and Kadena won twice in the Kentucky Commonwealth Series and made the Breeders Crown final.
HIP 91 High Noon Inn
Sex: Colt
Sire: Bar Hopping
Dam: Boujee Girl
Consignor: Winbak Farm
Eligibility: Pennsylvania and Maryland
This is the final crop of the late stallion Bar Hopping, and it appeared in Lexington that they were in demand. High Noon Inn is the first foal out of his dam, a full sister to $595,175 earner and world champion Action Uncle. The second dam Action-Broadway banked over $1.1 million and was a Dan Patch Award winner during her career.
HIP 97 JL Serenity
Sex: Filly
Sire: Captain Corey
Dam: Cheesy Hanover
Consignor: Northwood Bloodstock Agency
Eligibility: Pennsylvania and Kentucky
First-crop sire Captain Corey has a few that will go through the ring on Monday, including this filly who is the first foal out of $144,706 earner Cheesy Hanover. A number of Cheesy Hanover’s siblings also earned six figures and one, the Explosive Matter mare Chezatter, produced stakes winner and Valley Victory runner-up Coach K Hanover.
HIP 98 Ceylon Spice
Sex: Colt
Sire: Bettor’s Delight
Dam: Cinamony
Consignor: Preferred Equine Marketing
Eligibility: Ontario & New Jersey Standardbred Development Fund
Right after JL Serenity exits the ring, Ceylon Spice will step in. This colt’s 2-year-old half-brother Captain Optimistic finished third in the Metro and fourth in the Breeders Crown as the favorite and won the New Jersey Classic final.
HIP 137 Captain Strong
Sex: Colt
Sire: Captaintreacherous
Dam: Pirouette Hanover
Consignor: All American Harnessbreds
Eligibility: Pennsylvania and Maryland
Captain Strong is a half-brother to Nijinsky, this year’s North America Cup and Ontario Sires Stakes champion, plus the runner-up in the Breeders Crown 3-Year-Old Colt Pace. There are several other stakes winners in this family as well.
-Derick Giwner contributed to this article
Original source credited to drf.com
Cover Photo Credit to Gunjan Patel
