Harness: Mixed Sale at Harrisburg provides a variety of options to buyers

When you get down to it, the Harrisburg Mixed Sale that spans November 8-9 is the last and best place to purchase a horse. Whether you are looking for breeding stock or racing, there’s always plenty to choose from and the timing couldn’t be better.

“Far and away it’s the most attractive place to buy and sell breeding stock,’ said Bob Boni of Northwood Bloodstock, a significant consignor to the auction.

The Mixed part of the Harrisburg sale comes after days of yearling are auctioned off and that in part is why Boni and others like the venue. “What it comes down to is that all of the yearling sales have been completed. Now buyers and sellers can concentrate on these types,” said Boni.

Harrisburg for years has been the go-to stop for racehorse buyers and there’s a good reason for that. “Buyers at this sale understand that some of the 2 and 3-year-olds in this sale are at the end of the campaign. Because of that there’s no penalty for a horse of high caliber that is not currently racing,” Boni said. In contrast, some of the same horses entered in a January sale would likely need to be qualified to bring the money sellers were looking to pocket.

Breeding stock is first and foremost in this auction and there are several candidates that could serve the dual purpose of being racehorses and broodmares in the near term. Boni himself has a pair of top racing mares that would fit nicely into any high-end breeding program looking for quality.

“Take Lady Shadow for example,” said Boni. “There’s no arguing her credentials as a racehorse. Even this year she’s close to $100K.”

The 7-year-old daughter of Shadow Play has earned in excess of $2 million on the racetrack to go along with countless stakes triumphs. Add to those credentials a 1:48 1/5 mark and it’s easy to understand the value she possesses near and long term.

With $1.4 million won during her brilliant career, the Majestic Son-sired Charmed Life has raced from age 2 until 8 and has never gone a year when she didn’t earn in excess of $100K.

While those two mares have some age on them, there are countless examples of younger stock that have the chance to develop as racehorses and grow into potential broodmares. Take Alexis Faith, a top-flight New York Sire Stakes filly in 2018 with $500K in lifetime earnings. As a future broodmare or a 4-year-old with stakes ability, she should fit anyone’s program. Then there’s the Ontario Gold Final winner Smoke And Mirrors, a well-bred daughter of Kadabra that proved herself as a freshman and sophomore and should only get better over time. She’s near $300K in career earnings in just those two seasons.

Serene Stride is an interesting prospect in that she blossomed quickly this season to be ultra-competitive on the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes circuit. The daughter of Somebeachsomewhere improved from her freshman season to her sophomore year and should continue to develop as a 4-year-old.

Breeders Crown finalist Double A Mint has a 1:47 3/5 career best taken at The Red Mile and that should inspire those looking for quality.

“We’re selling a very nice Indiana-sired 2-year-old named Kissesforall,” said Boni. “She’s a daughter of Swan For All that has made about $200K this year and won an Indiana Sire Stakes final.”

As we’ve seen in the past, Indiana has been the foundation state for top trotting talent and many of the state’s best have gone on to big things throughout North America, including last year’s Horse of the Year Hannelore Hanover and this year’s world champion and Breeders Crown winner Homicide Hunter.

Perhaps a sleeper that could get attention in Harrisburg is the 3-year-old trotting filly Sorceress Seelster. A daughter of Holiday Road, Sorceress Seelster was an Ontario Gold division winner this season in limited action. With a 1:54 1/5 mark and a pedigree that includes $1.9 million winner Lookout Victory, Sorceress Seelster could prove valuable today and in the long run.

The Harrisburg Mixed auction is always a place to find sophomore pacers at the end of the season and Nutcracker Sweet, the full brother to Bettor Sweet and half-brother to former racing star and current breeding one Sweet Lou, is the type that may have a niche buyer in mind. Though winless to date as a sophomore, Nutcracker Sweet showed extreme speed as a juvenile and with his pedigree, he may give a small farm the inspiration to take a shot on a son of Bettor’s Delight.

There usually is something for everybody at the Harrisburg Mixed sale and this year will be no different.