The 2022 edition of the Standardbred Horse Sale in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, is ahead on Monday (November 7) with three days of yearlings going through the ring and two days of the mixed sale on Thursday and Friday. Monday's opening session gets underway at noon and the other two days of the yearling sale start at 10 a.m. The mixed sale sessions kick off at 11 a.m. Throughout this year's other sales, the major story has been the continued rise in both gross and average year-over-year, which was especially the case with the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale in October. Standardbred Horse Sales Company president Dale Welk is hoping to continue that trend on Monday's opening day when HIPs 1-167 are available to bid on. "I know you hear this with a lot of sales, but I think it's definitely, at this point, the strongest catalog we've had in a long time," Welk said about Monday's slate. "We had a strong catalog last year, but I think this catalog is even better." Officials with the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale opted to go with a group that was more stacked with trotters than pacers during the first night of that event, but Welk remarked that the Standardbred Horse Sales Company kept things more even-keeled between trotters and pacers. "We're a little more balanced, but we've got a lot of Greenshoes and Walners on Monday. We did all of ours by whatever was entered and went by pedigree mainly for the first part. Of course we go and look at all of the yearlings that are in the sale and then we use a conformation score, too," Welk remarked. "Monday's a little more evened out with the Captains and some others." While some of the economic factors outside harness racing's control have seen a downturn this year, it hasn't hurt yearling sale prices thus far, as Welk opined that the money available in regional programs and Grand Circuit stakes continues to be able to overcome any concern potential buyers may have. "I think the market's about as strong as it can get right now. I think people want to buy," Welk stated. "There's kind of a shortage of racehorses, and they want to get stuff together. The quality of our horses has really gone up. I think that's a big factor in the whole thing. The first-year stallions are always great, but I think overall the market is as strong as it's going to be. "I think in some cases, when the market does go down a bit like it was going down here for a while, I think some of the people that like to buy, they figure if we're going to lose our money, we might as well have fun doing it. They've got a chance to make money, but let's buy some horses and have a good time." Welk, who took over as president of the Standardbred Horse Sales Company last year, also noted that there's been high demand for catalogs and sign-ups to the available online bidding. "It's unbelievable. I think our online bidding is going to be right on par with the pandemic year in 2020," he concluded. ► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter Mining the Catalog for possible standouts Here are some yearlings to watch during Monday's action that could both bring big prices and then potentially make an impact on the track in 2023. HIP 18 Jinx Blackout (Walner-Blk Thai Optional) Consignor:  Concord Stud Farm Eligibility: New Jersey Jinx Blackout, a filly, is the first Walner out of Blk Thai Optional, the dam of this year's Hambletonian champion Cool Papa Bell. Blk Thai Optional's 2-year-old filly Semi Formal also won in Indiana Sires Stakes competition this year and made the Super Final in the Hoosier State. HIP 19 Witty Hanover (Greenshoe-Winbak Blondie) Consignor:  Hanover Shoe Farms Eligibility: Pennsylvania Witty Hanover is a filly from the first crop of Greenshoe, which was in high demand in Lexington, and Winbak Blondie, who is a full sister to Muscle Hill, is the dam of Hey Blondie [1:53 1/5, $468,080]. Hey Blondie's first foal Blonde Bombshell, won her 2-year-old debut at Lexington and was able to qualify for the Breeders Crown 2-Year-Old Filly Trot final despite her limited starts. HIP 28 Dolce Amara (Muscle Hill-Ciao Dolce) Consignor:  Peninsula Farm, Agent Eligibility:  New Jersey and Kentucky This dual-eligible Muscle Hill filly is the second foal out of Ciao Dolce, a Credit Winner mare who earned $173,809 and took a mark of 1:55. Ciao Dolce is out of 2002 Dan Patch Award winner Pizza Dolce and is a half-sister to Bella Dolce, a Kadabra mare who is the dam of back-to-back Breeders Crown champion Bella Bellini. HIP 35 Genevieve (Greenshoe-Danish Girl) Consignor:  Preferred Equine Marketing Eligibility:  Pennsylvania Another Greenshoe filly, Genevieve is the third foal out of Danish Girl, a Credit Winner half-sister to the likes of Gimpanzee, Iteration, and Monkey Queen. Danish Girl's prior two foals both sold in Lexington (2019 and 2020) and both brought six-figure prices. HIP 37 Lounar Eclipse (Sweet Lou-Dismissal) Consignor:  Preferred Equine Marketing Eligibility: Pennsylvania and New Jersey Standardbred Development Fund Switching over to the pacing side, Lounar Eclipse, a Sweet Lou colt, is the third foal out of the Western Terror mare Dismissal and is a half-brother to this year's Adios, Milstein, and Little Brown Jug champion Bythemissal. HIP 39 Mint Condition (Captaintreacherous-Double A Mint) Consignor:  Icy Stable/Farhi Standardbreds Eligibility: Pennsylvania Captaintreacherous fillies always seem to be highly sought after, and that could be the case with Mint Condition, as she's the first foal out of Double A Mint, a Bettor's Delight mare who earned $567,388 lifetime and took a mark of 1:47 3/5, which was just three-fifths of a second off the world record for a 3-year-old pacing filly. Double A Mint is also from a strong family that includes stakes winners OK Commander and OK Boromir. HIP 46 Locomotion (Chapter Seven-Explosive High) Consignor:  All American Harnessbreds Eligibility:  New York and Maryland A Chapter Seven colt, Locomotion is the third foal out of Explosive High, an Explosive Matter mare who is a half-sister to stakes winners Volstead and High Bridge. Volstead, a former winner of the Sweden Cup, is now a Ohio-based stallion and was responsible for the highest-priced seller at this year's Ohio Selected Jug Sale. HIP 53 Astarwasborn (Bettor's Delight-Feelinglikeastar) Consignor:  Winbak Farm Eligibility:  Ontario As evidenced in Lexington, progeny of Bettor's Delight are still quite coveted, and this colt is a half-brother to stakes winners Zero Tolerance and Ideal Feeling. Astarwasborn's dam, the Artiscape mare Feelinglikeastar, is a full sister to the great pacing filly and producer Rainbow Blue. HIP 58 Twin B Roulette (Bettor's Delight-Fresh Breeze) Consignor:  Twinbrook Farms Eligibility:  Ontario Speaking of Bettor's Delight, Twin B Roulette is a filly by that venerable sire, and her prospects got a major boost this year as she's a half-sister to New York and Kentucky champion Twin B Joe Fresh [1:48 4/5, $598,162]. This filly's third dam Lifetime Success also produced world champion racehorse and sire American Ideal and another world champion in Make A Success. HIP 75 Mosquito (Muscle Hill-Amour Heiress Consignor:  Concord Stud Farm Eligibility:  New Jersey Horses from the combination of consignor Concord Stud Farm and breeder Order By Stable have topped the charts in Harrisburg before, including last year, and this Muscle Hill colt is a full brother to a trio of six figure earners (Spy Booth, King Alphonso, and Periculum). His 2-year-old half-brother Crown won multiple New York Sire Stakes legs and was second in two Grand Circuit races at The Red Mile. HIP 92 Miki In Luv (Always B Miki-Lover's Dream) Consignor:  Diamond Creek, Agent Eligibility:  Pennsylvania and New Jersey Standardbred Development Fund An Always B Miki filly won the Breeders Crown 2-Year-Old Filly Pace final (Sylvia Hanover) and this daughter of Always B Miki is the second living foal out of a sister to 1:46 2/5 performer and millionaire Rockyroad Hanover. Second dam Romantic Moment also earned over $1 million in her racing career. HIP 93 Donegal Spirit (Captaintreacherous-Lu's Illusion) Consignor:  Preferred Equine Marketing Eligibility:  Pennsylvania and New Jersey Standardbred Development Fund A daughter of Captaintreacherous was this year's Breeders Crown 3-Year-Old Filly Pace champion (Treacherous Dragon), and this Captaintreacherous filly is the first foal out of Lu's Illusion, a Sweet Lou half-sister to double millionaires and world champions Rock N Roll Heaven and Clear Vision. Second dam Artistic Vision was a stakes winner herself and is now in the Hall of Fame as a broodmare. HIP 101 Monticello (Chapter Seven-Hemi Blue Chip) Consignor:  Concord Stud Farm Eligibility:  New York and New Jersey Standardbred Development Fund Monticello, another collaboration between Concord Stud Farm and Order By Stable, is a full brother to last year's Standardbred Horse Sale topper In Italian ($750,000) and is the first colt out of Hemi Blue Chip, the dam of world champion and $3.5 million earner Atlanta. HIP 105 Superior Stats (Muscle Hill-Fine Tuned Lady) Consignor:  Concord Stud Farm Eligibility:  New Jersey The second foal out of Fine Tuned Lady, a Cantab Hall mare who made $643,987 and had a mark of 1:52 2/5, Superior Stats's full brother Oh Well fetched $530,000 at last year's Standardbred Horse Sale. Oh Well is in the midst of a 2-year-old campaign that has seen him bank over $740,000 thus far, topped by a victory in the Mohawk Million. HIP 115 Priceless Hanover (Captaintreacherous-Percy Bluechip) Consignor:  Hanover Shoe Farms Eligibility:  Pennsylvania Yet another Captaintreacherous filly to keep an eye on is Priceless Hanover, the first foal out of Percy Bluechip, a Shadow Play mare who banked $874,267 to go with a mark of 1:51 1/5 during her racing career. Percy Bluechip was a Breeders Crown champion and an O'Brien Award winner and is also a sister to $1.5 million earner Kenneth J and another O'Brien Award winner in Arthur Blue Chip. HIP 122 Best Day (Bettor's Delight-My Lady Day) Consignor:  All American Harnessbreds Eligibility:  Ontario and Maryland Best Day gives Bettor's Delight another chance at a strong seller on Monday as he's a brother to O'Brien Award winner Stag Party and stakes winner Hen Party. His Captaintreacherous 2-year-old sibling Save America, who sold for $300,000 at the Standardbred Horse Sale a year ago, has also won multiple times in stakes action so far in 2022 and has a mark of 1:49 4/5. HIP 129 Shebebakin Hanover (Captaintreacherous-Shebestingin) Consignor:  Hanover Shoe Farms Eligibility:  Pennsylvania The run on Captaintreacherous fillies continues with this one, a half-sister to double Dan Patch Award winner Perfect Sting. Shebestingin remains the fastest 3-year-old filly pacer in harness racing history as her 1:47 mark taken in 2013 at The Red Mile is still at the top of the board. HIP 143 Shekel Hanover (International Moni-Strong Legacy Consignor:  Hanover Shoe Farms Eligibility:  Pennsylvania International Moni has had a very good season with his 2-year-olds, including Breeders Crown finalist Spitfire Oversees, and this filly is a half-sister to 2020 Breeders Crown 2-Year-Old Filly Trot champion Lady Chaos. Second dam Meadowbranch Irene produced $3.5 million earner Mr Muscleman. HIP 151 Samwise The Brave (Greenshoe-The Ice Dutchess) Consignor:  Peninsula Farm, Agent Eligibility:  Pennsylvania and Kentucky Here's a chance at a dual-eligible Greenshoe colt who is the first foal out of O'Brien Award winner The Ice Dutchess [1:51 1/5, $774,029]. In addition to her own on-track success, The Ice Dutchess is also a full sister to Ice Attraction [1:50 1/5, $730,606]. HIP 156 Seven Summers (Chapter Seven-Tu Eres Mi Corazon) Consignor:  Spring Haven Farm Eligibility:  New York Rounding out the list of ones to watch is this Chapter Seven filly from Ohio's Spring Haven Farm. She's the first foal out of Tu Eres Mi Corazon, an Uncle Peter half-sister to Dan Patch Award winner Fourth Dimension and a pair of stakes winners in Valentina Blu and Heart On Fire.