Harness: Amazing Catch fetches a record $1,850,000 at Standardbred Horse Sale

HIP 1595 Amazing Catch, who won this year's Canadian Trotting Classic final, was second in the Kentucky Futurity and the Zweig and third in the Hambletonian and Breeders Crown finals, became the highest-priced Standardbred ever sold at public auction when Greg Luther purchased him for $1,850,000 during Friday's mixed sale session at the Standardbred Horse Sale in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Amazing Catch, a 3-year-old Walner colt consigned by Preferred Equine Marketing, Inc. as agent, was bred by Winbak Farm and had been owned by Al Libfeld, Marvin and Lynn Katz and Sam Goldband. Racing out of Ake Svanstedt's stable, where he will continue to reside, Amazing Catch compiled a record of 3-5-6 from 18 starts and posted earnings of $870,830.

"I thought he was, obviously, a very nice horse," Luther said. "He's had some bad racing luck this year and still kept finishing second and third in the big races. When we heard he was for sale, and then we heard everybody was retiring - Karl, T C I, Sig Sauer, Winner's Bet, It's Academic - I thought we could have a huge 4-year-old year with him and then send him to the breeding shed. Everybody wants a Walner. So, that's kind of the game plan. We plan to race him at 4, try to win all the big ones there, and then put him to stud. We've had calls from every single state already asking if they can get access to him. We're very excited about him."

Atlanta's $1.55 million sale on ongait.com in February 2019 had been the previous mark for a Standardbred offered at public auction.

"I planned on (Amazing Catch) going somewhere between $1.5 million and $2 million," Luther said. "It's so great for the sport. I really think it's a great move for everybody. The sale here, we had a million-dollar yearling, a million-dollar broodmare and an almost two-million-dollar racehorse. So, the industry is strong."

Behind Amazing Catch on the board at $750,000 was HIP 1510 Mambacita, a 4-year-old daughter of Tactical Landing who has earned just over $1 million in her career. Ashleigh Bailey, acting as agent for co-owner Crawford Farms, signed the ticket on the Preferred Equine-consigned mare.

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2023 Governor's Cup champion Captain Luke, selling as HIP 1600, was purchased by Andrew Harris for $400,000. The 3-year-old Captaintreacherous colt has earned $639,314 lifetime and was also consigned by Preferred Equine.

Completing the top five sellers on Friday were HIPs 1490 Chaparmbro and 1516 Southwind Bella. Chaparmbro, a 3-year-old Chapter Seven filly who has earned $159,457 and is a half-sister to $1.1M earner Dejarmbro, sold to Linda Stewart for $360,000. She was consigned by Northwood Bloodstock Agency as agent. Southwind Bella, a 4-year-old Huntsville mare, went to Steve Jones from Cameo Hills Farm for $300,000. She's banked $310,119 and is also a sister to $1.1 million earner Southwind Ozzi. Southwind Bella was consigned by Preferred Equine.

The mixed sale portion of the 2024 Standardbred Horse Sale concluded with a record gross of $31,608,000, smashing last year's mark of $27,972,000. The average of $52,945 was also a new record, eclipsing 2022's $52,224.

Three of the five sessions in Harrisburg saw a horse go into seven figures, as yearling Cambridge Hanover and broodmare Hot Mess Hanover both sold for $1 million on Monday and Thursday, respectively.

--Greg Luther quotes courtesy of Ken Weingartner--