Harness: Captaintreacherous filly Style For A Mile heads Tuesday action at Lexington Selected Yearling Sale

Pacing fillies occupied the top two spots on the highest-sellers list during Tuesday night's session of the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale, with HIP 277 Style For A Mile, by Captaintreacherous, leading the way after selling to Dana Parham for $225,000.

Style For A Mile, consigned by Kentuckiana Farms as agent, is the fourth foal out of the Western Ideal mare Injeanous Style. This is the family of Artiscape, as the second dam is his full sister Art Account and the third dam is Delinquent Account.

"Tony (Alagna) always looks to find top pacing fillies for Dana," said Myron Bell, who was Racing Manager for sire Captaintreacherous and very familiar with the bloodlines of the filly. "I knew she was a nice filly, and she sold accordingly. Bob Brady bought the mare from Christina and Jimmy Takter. She was in foal to Great Vintage."

First-crop sire Huntsville had HIP 288 Max Contract go for $200,000 to agent Andy Miller Stable Inc. Consigned by Cameo Hills Farm, Max Contract is out of Big McDeal (1:49 1/5, $817,770) and is a three-quarter sister to I'm A Big Deal (1:49, $318,577).

Just before the curtain came down on the night's action, HIP 314 Zappa also went for $200,000 to Marcus Melander, who purchased the Chapter Seven colt for S R F Stable. Zappa is the first foal out of Mrs. Frank, a Kadabra half-sister to $1.4 million earner Strong Yankee and to former Breeders Crown winner Yankee Slide.

Andy Miller Stable Inc. also bought HIP 164 Clenched Fist for $190,000. Another offering by agent Kentuckiana Farms, Clenched Fist is by first-crop sire Walner and is the third foal out of the stakes-winning Explosive Matter mare Smexi ($506,810).

"We liked him on the floor at Kentuckiana. He had a superb turnout," said Julie Miller. "He also has a handsome head and neck and travels well in the field."

Another $190,000 seller was HIP 225 Muscle Mavarick, who was acquired by W.J. Donovan. Preferred Equine Marketing, Inc. consigned this Muscle Hill colt as agent, and he is out of Ava Marion, making him a brother to Lucky Ava and Seventimesalady, both winners in the New York Sire Stakes program during their respective careers.

Yankeeland Partners LLP. won the Jim Doherty Memorial on the 2-year-old trotting filly side of the sport this year, but tonight they picked up HIP 141 Sweet Omen, a filly pacer, for $185,000. A daughter of Sweet Lou, Sweet Omen's dam Omen Hanover was a millionaire during her racing career, and her half-sister Someomensomewhere was a Breeders Crown champion.

"She is a very sharp and athletic filly, and she had quite a bit of interest. Without specific numbers, I did feel she would be well-received as a top filly prospect," said Bob Boni, whose Northwood Bloodstock Agency consigned the filly as agent. "I think Brett Bittle and the Kellers bought a terrific stakes prospect, and I wish them the best."

Always B Miki's highest-priced yearling on Tuesday night was HIP 175 One Of The Guys, who went to Burke Racing Stable LLC. for $170,000. Consigned by Preferred Equine Marketing, Inc. as agent, One Of The Guys is the first foal out of Studio One, a sister to a powerful group that includes Glowing Report, Must See, Perfect Union, and Urgent Action.

"We were actually ready to go to more than $200,000 for him and even to $250,000," said Mark Weaver of long-time Burke Racing Stable LLC. partner Weaver Bruscemi LLC. "He is a stunning individual, and he was our favorite in the entire sale."

Tuesday's session, which stretched into Wednesday morning, saw 181 yearlings go through the ring, bringing a gross of $11,171,000 and an average was $61,718. These numbers are both down from last year ($13,068,000 / $75,103) and two years ago ($13,651,000 / $83,748). Despite that, sale co-manager Randy Manges was upbeat about the interest shown from beginning to end on Tuesday, especially in regards to online bidding.

"I haven’t looked at the numbers yet, which could be down from last year, but I thought tonight was strong from the beginning of the session to the end," stated Manges. "People were still here ready to buy horses late into the session. We also had a lot of increased activity with online bidding, maybe four or five times more than last night. We also still have people applying to bid online. I was happy with how tonight went."

The Wednesday portion of the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale will see HIPS 319-503 offered up beginning at 7 p.m.

--quotes by Derick Giwner and Kimberly French--