Harness: Best of 2019 prove to be reasonably priced at the sales

When we look back at 2019 in Harness Racing, many will remember it as the year we saw not one, but two million-dollar yearlings go through the sales ring at the Lexington Selected sale. In an ironic twist, the stories that played out on the racetracks told a much different tale. In fact, it was a year where several bargains turned into bonanzas.

The top 10 money-earning Standardbreds this year amassed totals in excess of $10.3 Million in 2019 alone. For their careers, those same 10 standardbreds have brought in over $17.2 Million for their owners. Of those 10, nine sold as yearlings and of those nine, only three cost in excess of $100,000 at a yearling sale. All together, the nine horses that sold as yearlings collectively cost $940,000. That’s a return of nearly 11 to 1 on the owner’s investment in 2019 alone, and over 18 to 1 for those horse’s careers.

The biggest bargain starts right at the top, with the horse that is undoubtedly the 3-year-old pacing champion and Horse of the Year contender, Bettor’s Wish. Selling deep into the sale, as HIP 502, Bettor’s Wish brought just $20,000 as a yearling when purchased by Chris Ryder, who owns Bettor’s Wish with Bella Racing, Fair Island Farm and the Bettor’s Wish Partnership. In an article published in the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Ryder touched upon his sales price. “He was a cheap yearling because he was small,” Ryder said, “but he’s well-bred. He’s not a $20,000 horse anymore.”

Granted, a $20,000 yearling turning into a champion is not something that is seen every day and while it was exhilarating to watch two yearlings break the million-dollar barrier at sale this year, it is refreshing to know that you don’t always have to break the bank to become successful in this sport.

One of the aforementioned million-dollar yearlings this year had a brother that fared pretty well on the racetrack, the 3-year-old trotter Greenshoe. While Greenshoe was far from a bargain, costing $330,000 at the Lexington Selected sale, his career produced 12 victories and earnings of over $1.35 Million. While he wasn’t victorious in the two biggest races for his age group this season, his talent and record landed him a stallion career at Hanover Shoe Farm. In addition, his book is already full and closed and all shares in the breeding syndicate have been sold as well. I would say that is $330,000 well-spent. Of course, it remains to be seen if Greenshoe’s brother Maverick, who brought a $1.1 Million sales price this year at the Lexington-Selected sale will be as successful. It certainly would be in the best interest of harness racing if he turns into a champion.

Another 3-year-old trotter who made his mark on the racetrack was Gimpanzee. An undefeated 2-year-old, winning all nine of his starts, Gimpanzee had a productive sophomore campaign, winning 8 of 14 starts. He’ll enter his 4-year-old campaign with over $1.7 Million in earnings. While not the flashiest of horses, he has had an excellent career thus far and given the initial investment, that’s not bad for a horse that cost $170,000 at the Harrisburg sale as a yearling.

Forbidden Trade won The Hambletonian this year on his way to an eight-win season and earnings of nearly $1 Million. He has amassed over $1.2 Million in earnings in his career and is another returning 10 to 1 on his initial $110,000 purchase price.

In addition to the bargain that was Bettor’s Wish, there were other 3-year-old pacers who did not cost a great deal as yearlings and returned dividends for their connections.

Captain Crunch won six starts with earnings of nearly $1 Million this year, bringing his lifetime earnings north of $1.5 Million. He cost just $85,000 at the Harrisburg Sale and was purchased by Nancy Johansson at the urging of her then 13-year-old daughter Ella, who fell in love with the colt at first sight.

Southwind Ozzi was also an $85,000 yearling, a bargain to pay for a Little Brown Jug Champion whose lifetime earnings are approaching $900,000.

Lyons Sentinel went for just $55,000 but paid off in a big way in 2019 as the filly won nine races and over $800,000 in earnings.

Last, but certainly not least, is the likely 3-year-old filly pacing champion Warrawee Ubeaut. She was a $70,000 Lexington Selected yearling and has seen that investment returned to her owners twenty-fold. To date, she has 19 victories to her credit and earnings of nearly $1.6 Million.

Who will be the bargain of the 2019 sales? Will the yearlings that brought $1 Million-plus live up to the hype? Those questions remain unanswered, but if 2019 has taught us anything, it is that when it comes to purchasing yearlings in harness racing, there really is something for everybody.