By all accounts, looking towards the Harrisburg mixed auction that will offer roughly 900 head on Thursday (November 9) and Friday, activity should be extremely high and bidding is likely to follow. The market for racehorses has grown each year with purse money now available in multiple locales offering a wide-range of trainers and owners the opportunity to make good on an investment. What Harrisburg offers for many is the chance to take a horse in current form and get immediate returns in the entry box a week later and perhaps the winner’s circle shortly thereafter. It’s always difficult to assess the true reasons why some owners wish to part with horses, but for buyers this Thursday and Friday looking ahead is all that will matter. Searching for a horse with proven ability is key, but chances are always worth taking for those who can see potential. This year’s mixed auction is surprising in that it offers the opportunity to purchase a Breeders Crown elimination winner in HIP 1599 Rock N Tony. It’s hard to say just how high the son of Rockin Image will sell for while at the same time it’s hard to believe a horse with nearly $500K in earnings in two years of racing doesn’t have potential to be a top aged performer. High speed and consistency has been the mainstay for Rock N Tony to date, a winner 13 times in 30 career starts. While Rock N Tony has been a regional success until his Breeders Crown foray, HIP 1587 Mac’s Jackpot, another with sales topper potential, has been racing at the highest level this year on the Grand Circuit with surprisingly good results. Most recently fourth in the Breeders Crown final, Mac’s Jackpot has shown the kind of talent that gives the impression he will improve with age. Mac’s Jackpot has looked no worse for wear late in the season while starting 23 times as a sophomore with seasonal earnings at $250K. Though gelded, he has an impressive pedigree with Somebeachsomewhere on the male side and his dam, the $1.2 million Michelles Power, a prime player in a powerful female line. There were times this year and last that HIP 1574 Chip Walther appeared to belong with the top horses in the division. The runner-up in this year’s NYSS final at Yonkers to Funknwaffles showed 1:50 speed in 2016 as a freshman and that’s not likely to be lost on those bidding for stock that will need to pace sub-1:50 in 2018. There is a pair of 3-year-old pacing fillies that were Breeders Crown finalists and will be closely followed on Friday through the ring. Ella Christina (HIP 1392) appeared a bit-player in this division until the fall season, but she flashed an enormous closing kick to capture the single Crown elimination race. A daughter of Western Ideal that has shown the ability to get around a half-mile track, Ella Christina could be coveted at the auction. HIP 1397 Obvious Blue Chip, the New York Sire Stakes sophomore filly pacing champion this year, shows the wins, the half-mile track ability and the earnings to be a very expensive prospect on Friday. While the aforementioned quintet has the experience and earnings to draw significant six-figure bidding, there are others that are worth a look given late-season form and potential to develop as 4-year-olds. HIP 1603 Southwind Jenson, a son of Art Major, hinted at talent as a freshman and up until this past month had failed to get back to that form. However, a recent 1:51 blowout effort at Harrah’s Philadelphia has to make this horse worth looking at or perhaps investing in. Then there is HIP 1653 Hill Yes, a son of Muscle Hill that won in Lexington and has returned to Ontario to be competitive in low non-winners class. With so much money available in late closers for this type, he may be a risk well worth taking. Another likely sleeper is Miss Jones (HIP 1417), a Bettor’s Delight filly that was probably a notch below the top level this year. What’s interesting with this Bettor’s Delight filly is that her dam Dreams Are Great proved to be a better aged performer during her racing career. Could Miss Jones follow in her mom’s hoof prints? HIP 1568 Stick With Me Kid was a solid player as a 3-year-old this year on the New York Sire Stakes and that means he’s versatile enough to race anywhere next year. The son of Deweycheatumnhowe is interesting in that the sire has seen many of his offspring make impressive jumps from 3 to 4-year-olds on the track. Without question HIP 1634 Lyons Snyder may be the fastest overall horse in this sale, but clearly he’s been around the block between trainers and locations during his career and it’s hard to say whether he’ll ever regain his brilliant 3-year-old form of 2016. If a new owner has the time, money and patience, it wouldn’t be unreasonable to believe Lyons Snyder may rise again. The two-day Standardbred Mixed Sale begins promptly at 10 a.m. each morning. It will be streamed live here.