Harness: Find your next Diamond at Harrisburg

With the Standardbred Horse Sales Company's yearling and mixed sale fast approaching, many of the usual faces and farms will be present and converge on the Pennsylvania State Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Naturally, Hanover Shoe Farms leads all the consignments with over 200 yearlings offered in the sale. However, one consignment has increased its presence in the sale substantially, that being Diamond Creek Farms.

While Diamond Creek has always had some presence in Harrisburg, it did not compare to their consignment in Lexington the month prior, and while the 2024 Harrisburg consignment is not yet at that level of volume either, the jump in the numbers is noticeable.

This year, Diamond Creek Farms will be selling 38 yearlings in Harrisburg, the most they have ever brought to the sale.

Shaun Laungani, Vice President at Diamond Creek, spoke to several reasons for the dramatic increase in the Diamond Creek presence.

"The reason for the uptick in [Harrisburg] yearlings is Diamond Creek has more yearlings to sell every year," said Laungani. "We hadn't sold our own yearlings in Harrisburg the last several years. Pointing a group to this sale makes sense to try and get them each in their best spot to shine for the markets."

It goes without saying that if this larger consignment is proven to be a success, we can expect to see Diamond Creek send more of their own yearlings to the sale in the years to come.

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Laungani noted that in years past they have been a consignor at the Harrisburg sale, but in the role of selling for their clients.

"The last few years we have sold yearlings for clients at Harrisburg which started with Anthony Perretti approaching us to sell his yearlings. He has really nice horses and we sold Geocentric for them, then Papi's Pistol and My Sweet Lily."

The success shared with Perretti has acted as a catalyst for the Diamond Creek approach to this sale in 2024.

"That momentum brings us to this year where we sell a total of 38. One-third of those yearlings are Diamond Creek yearlings, and the others for clients including Perretti, Hot Lead Farm, Nick Malcolm, Woodside Farm and Order By Stable. It's a mix of good horses we know well, owned by people we work closely with."

In 2023, Diamond Creek sold 13 yearlings on behalf of their clients for an average of nearly $43,000 per yearling. The previous year, they sold 24 yearlings for an average of $34,000 per yearling. With Diamond Creek yearlings on display this year, it will be interesting to see what they average in 2024.

In terms of the yearlings being offered through the Diamond Creek consignment, Laungani has his eye closely watching a few that he is very high on.

HIP 21 Woodside Jet Seven (Chapter Seven-Miss Vet Hanover)

"HIP 21 looks elite in the paddock. This is a strong Chapter Seven colt that appears to have all the tools."

HIP 105 Dancin Daddy (Papi Rob Hanover-Dancin Lucille)

"HIP 105 is from the very good Perretti program that is producing. This colt is a physical standout. He is uber-masculine and has a star presence physically."

HIP 131 Vinyl Daddy (Chapter Seven-Heaven)

"This colt is bred on the same cross as 2-year-old Breeders Crown Champion Maryland. I believe this is the only colt on that cross in this sale."

HIP 330, Climate (Downbytheseaside-Compass)

"HIP 330 - The dam of this filly was injured as a yearling, but this first foal strikes us as a stakes prospect."

HIP 357 Canal (Creatine-Bayou)

"HIP 357 is a lovely and athletic filly. Her pedigree is an outcross for future mating and she is dual-eligible in Ohio and Kentucky."