Harness: Multiple yearlings could light up the board on opening day at Harrisburg

Most of the regional sales are in the books and the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale has come and gone, so now all eyes turn to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and the annual Standardbred Horse Sale that begins on Monday (11/4). As is the norm, the first three sessions will be for the yearlings and then the Mixed Sale will go on Thursday and Friday.

"The economy is strong. People have money to spend. There's a lot of good news in harness racing right now,” Standardbred Horse Sales Company President/CEO & Treasurer Paul Spears said about the rising trends in the market. “New Jersey has a new source of purse funds. The Ohio program is rapidly improving, and there's even a glimmer of hope in Illinois, so I think people are optimistic about the industry. The sales nationally have reflected that optimism, and we hope to share in it."

Last year’s opening session of the Standardbred Horse Sale saw a massive rise in gross and average over the same day’s action in 2017. The average was up 24.2 percent from 2017 ($93,541 versus $75,305), and the gross surged 28.8 percent, going from $12,350,000 for 164 yearlings in 2017 to $15,902,000 for 170 horses in 2018. With that said, while Spears has his ideas of what an individual might go for, in the end it’s the people raising their hands that make the ultimate decision on the prices.

"I usually go into a sale with global expectations, similar to what I said earlier. For individual horses, we make our projections, but buyers ultimately determine the price, so I rarely make predictions about the sale of any individual horse," he remarked.

Certainly one of the big headlines coming out of the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale was the $1 million threshold for an individual yearling being topped not just once, but twice. Given the positive indicators within the harness racing industry and the continued economic success going on through the world, Spears sees that happening again going forward.

"Certain people at the top are willing to spend large dollars to get the exact individual that they want,” Spears stated. “As long as the economy remains good, and the outlook for the industry is positive, I would expect this trend to continue."

The group of first-crop sires, which include the likes of Always B Miki, Bar Hopping, and Southwind Frank, enjoyed success in Lexington, and there are plenty more of them on offer in Harrisburg, joining yearlings by established sires such as Muscle Hill, Chapter Seven, Father Patrick, Captaintreacherous, Somebeachsomewhere and Sweet Lou.

"I expect the same type of response in Harrisburg,” said Spears of the first-crop sires. “We have some equally great-bred individuals, and we also have plenty of them. We certainly expect this trend to continue. We have 32 Always B Mikis, 28 Bar Hoppings, and 14 Southwind Franks, which actually represents his crop very well.

“We also have 32 Muscle Hills, 29 Chapter Sevens, 47 by Captaintreacherous, 45 by Somebeachsomewhere, 26 Sweet Lous and 25 Father Patricks, so we're very confident that we will have the selection of top sires that the buyers are looking for."

Monday’s session begins at noon, with the remaining sessions all starting at 10 A.M., and HIPS 1-172 kick off the action. Narrowing down a list of such a collective group of well-bred yearlings available on the first day was not an easy task, but from an initial group of 22 that really stood out, here are 13 horses to keep an eye, or both eyes on, as they pass through the ring.

HIP 5 - BALLOON GIRL

(Muscle Hill-Hemi Blue Chip)

New Jersey Eligible

Bay Filly born June 5

Consigned by and raised at Concord Stud Farm for Order By Stable

This filly is the third foal and first Muscle Hill out of the unraced Cantab Hall mare Hemi Blue Chip, making her a half-sister to 2018 Hambletonian champion Atlanta (Chapter Seven, $1,852,584, 1:49 1/5). Hemi Blue Chip is also a half-sister to millionaire Hot Shot Blue Chip (Revenue S) and to Munis Blue Chip (Credit Winner, $471,127).

HIP 39 - BEACH FRONT BABE

(Betting Line-My Little Beach)

Pennsylvania Eligible

Bay Filly born March 5

Consigned by and raised at Winbak Farm

From the initial crop of Betting Line, this filly is the first foal out of My Little Beach, a Somebeachsomewhere half-sister to the likes of My Little Dragon (1:48 1/5, $2,318,623), the dam of Stay Hungry (1:47 3/5, $1,303,709). The third dam Al Dente would produce Delinquent Account (1:51 4/5, $1,038,997), the dam of Artiscape and the grand-dam of If I Can Dream, Western Shore, Western Terror, etc.

HIP 45 - GANGSTA RAT

(Muscle Hill-Order By Wish)

New Jersey Eligible

Bay Filly born April 19

Consigned by and raised at Concord Stud Farm for Order By Stable

Concord Stud and Order By Stable also have this filly who is out of the Cantab Hall mare Order By Wish (1:56 3/5, $35,469), making her a full sister to this year’s Beal Memorial winner Marseille (1:51 4/5, $478,031) and to Rome Pays Off (1:55, $315,494), who was second in last Friday night’s Breeders Crown 2-Year-Old Colt and Gelding Trot final. The dam Order By Wish is a half-sister to three six-figure earners, including world champion Cash Hall (1:51 1/5, $554,298).

HIP 47 - PANDA HANOVER

(Somebeachsomewhere-Panera Hanover)

Pennsylvania Eligible

Bay Filly born April 21

Consigned by and raised at Hanover Shoe Farms, Inc.

Out of the Rocknroll Hanover mare Panera Hanover (1:51 2/5, $158,712), this filly is a full sister to Pennsylvania Sire Stakes champion, Metro runner-up, and Breeders Crown 2-Year-Old Colt and Gelding Pace second-place finisher Papi Rob Hanover (1:50 2/5, $462,858). Panera Hanover is a half-sister to JK Panache (1:47 3/5, $662,789) and a three-quarter sister to Philly Hanover (1:49 2/5, $290,081), and the third dam Panned Out produced the likes of Philos Hanover (1:49 3/5, $523,246) and Panther Hanover (1:47 2/5, $367,877).

HIP 56 - ILLICIT FUNDS

(Kadabra-Pure Ivory)

Ontario and Kentucky Eligible

Bay Filly born April 2

Consigned by and raised at Hunterton Farm

Kadabra fillies were a hot ticket at Lexington, and this one has the pedigree to light up the board as well. Out of the Striking Sahbra mare Pure Ivory (1:53 1/5, $1,297,248), this filly is a full sister to this year’s Hambletonian champion Forbidden Trade (1:51, $1,205,232). Pure Ivory was a two-time O’Brien Award winner in Canada, and her dam Image Control ($240,514, 1:56 3/5) also took home an O’Brien in 1998. Pure Ivory is also a half-brother to The Game Plan (1:55, $501,167), an O’Brien Award recipient in 2011.

HIP 76 - KEEP YOUR COINS

(Chapter Seven-Steamy Windows)

New York and New Jersey Standardbred Development Fund Eligible

Bay Filly born March 6

Consigned by and raised at Concord Stud Farm for Order By Stable

The third foal out of the unraced Muscle Massive mare Steamy Windows, this filly is a full sister to two-time Breeders Crown champion and Yonkers Trot winner Gimpanzee (1:52 3/5, $1,588,521). Going back in the family, the third dam Met’s Rival produced Met’s Inn (1:56 4/5, $184,034), who then threw Met’s Hall (1:51 2/5, $1,295,306), and the fourth dam Yankee Blondie is responsible for the great Muscle Hill (1:50 1/5, $3,273,342).

HIP 83 - CAPTAIN FIREBALL

(Captaintreacherous-Sweet Paprika)

Pennsylvania and New Jersey Standardbred Development Fund Eligible

Bay Colt born April 28

Consigned by and raised at Walnridge Farm

This colt comes from one of the premier pacing families in the sport. The dam Sweet Paprika (1:51 1/5, $211,189) produced Dan Patch Award winner and Pepsi North America Cup champion Captain Crunch (1:47 2/5, $1,460,692), along with three other six-figure earners. Sweet Paprika is also a half-sister to triple millionaire Sweet Lou, $2.7 million earner Bettor Sweet and to Sweet Lady Jane, the dam of two-time Breeders Crown winner and world champion Youaremycandygirl. One HIP before this guy sells, there’s a Betting Line colt from this same family available as he is out of Sweet Paprika’s dam Sweet Future, making him a half-brother to Sweet Lou and Bettor Sweet.

HIP 90 - THE ICE COUNTESS

(Muscle Hill-The Ice Queen)

New Jersey Eligible

Bay Filly born April 21

Consigned by Preferred Equine for Stephen P. Dey III and David P. Reid

The Ice Countess, out of The Ice Queen (1:55 2/5, $66,679), is a full sister to Ice Attraction (1:50 1/5, $730,630) and The Ice Dutchess (1:51 1/5, $714,030). The Ice Queen is also a half-sister to former Breeders Crown champion Southwind Serena (1:55 2/5, $385,088), who would go on to produce Mission Brief (1:50 2/5, $1,599,587) and Tactical Landing (1:50 2/5, $812,300), both by Muscle Hill.

HIP 124 - NEVER CONFESS

(Father Patrick-Behindclosedoors)

Pennsylvania Eligible

Brown Filly born May 8

Consigned by Northwood Bloodstock Agency for Sergent Stables LLC. and Andray Farm

Father Patrick was second in gross and average behind Muscle Hill at the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale, and this filly should be one of his headliners in Harrisburg as she is a half-sister to Sister Sledge (1:53 1/5, $440,102). The dam Behindclosedoors put away $589,226 and had a mark of 1:53 2/5 during her racing career, and the grand-dam Margarita Nights was also a successful race horse, earning $248,614 to go with a record of 1:54 2/5. The third dam The Big Enchilada was responsible for Spice Queen (1:53, $402,864).

HIP 135 - CHAPPY HANOVER

(Muscle Hill-Cedar Dove)

New Jersey Eligible

Bay Colt born May 29

Consigned by and raised at Hanover Shoe Farms, Inc.

Chappy Hanover is the third foal and first colt out of former Dan Patch Award-winner and Breeders Crown champion Cedar Dove (1:52 3/5, $1,178,930). Cedar Dove’s first foal was this year’s Hambletonian Oaks champion When Dovescry (1:50 1/5, $847,016). This is also the family of Lookout Victory as the fourth dam Higher Love produced that $1.9 million earner.

HIP 154 - ERNIE HANOVER

(Sweet Lou-Edra Hanover)

Pennsylvania Eligible

Bay Colt born May 8

Consigned by and raised at Hanover Shoe Farms, Inc.

Edra Hanover (1:51, $171,753) had already produced Eddard Hanover (1:48 1/5, $570,297), but she also now has undefeated world champion Elver Hanover (1:48 3/5, $363,450). Edra Hanover’s dam is Express Gate (1:55, $311,836), who threw multiple six-figure earners, topped by Equinox Hanover (1:51 1/5, $449,393).

HIP 155 - ETHAN T HANOVER

(Bar Hopping-Emmylou Who)

Pennsylvania Eligible

Bay Colt born April 7

Consigned by and raised at Hanover Shoe Farms, Inc.

From the first crop of Bar Hopping, Ethan T Hanover is out of Emmylou Who (1:54 4/5, $635,865), making him a half-brother to two-time Breeders Crown Mare Trot champion Emoticon Hanover ($1,664,863). Ethan T Hanover’s 2-year-old three-quarter brother Solsbury Hill (1:55 3/5, $57,076) won a Peter Haughton Memorial elimination at the Meadowlands back in July and went on to win the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes consolation for the division.

HIP 164 - GOODASHIM HANOVER

(Cantab Hall-Gala Dream)

Pennsylvania Eligible

Bay Colt born May 9

Consigned by and raised at Hanover Shoe Farms, Inc.

Near the end of day one comes Goodashim Hanover. Out of Gala Dream, Goodashim Hanover is a full brother to Father Patrick (1:50 2/5, $2,558,133) and Pastor Stephen (1:52 4/5, $1,048,607). Gala Dream is out of Maple Frosting , the dam of Chocolatier (1:53, $1,324,800) and Sugar Trader (1:53 4/5, $730,898).