Harness: Muscle Hill fillies in demand as Standardbred Horse Sale kicks off

The 2020 Standardbred Horse Sale began on Tuesday at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium. Delilah Hanover led the proceedings after being sold to Dave McDuffee at $440,000 and was one of three daughters of Muscle Hill to crack the $400,000 mark.

Delilah Hanover, who sold as HIP 86, was bred and consigned by Hanover Shoe Farms Inc. She is out of the unraced Cantab Hall mare Danielle Hanover, making Delilah Hanover a half-sister to this year's Jim Doherty Memorial winner Darlene Hanover (1:53 4/5, $239,942), who is by Chapter Seven. The dam, Danielle Hanover, is also a half-sister to Donato Hanover (1:50 1/5, $3,002,922).

"I thought she was an absolutely outstanding individual," said McDuffee. "She was my pick of the litter, so we had to stretch a little more than we wanted to."

Nifty Norman will train Delilah Hanover.

Hanover Shoe Farms Inc. also had HIP 9 Peyton Hanover, who was hammered down for $400,000 to Jeff Snyder. She's the second foal out of the Cantab Hall mare Pennies From Above, a full sister to Wheeling N Dealin (1:54, $909,687).

"We thought she'd go for less, but it ended up we had to pay as much as we did," remarked Snyder. "I have partners on the horse in Four Friends Stable (Patricia Bolte and Arthur Pronti). We've been friends for a long time. We decided that was the one we wanted.

"We thought because she was early in the sale she wouldn't go that high, but she has residual value, and we did what we had to do; we're happy."

HIP 124 Tippet also brought $400,000, going to agent Nancy Takter. Tippet, who was bred by Windsong Stable and sold from the consignment of agent Concord Stud Farm, is out of the Windsong's Legacy mare Ilia, making her a full sister to Long Tom (1:52 1/5, $410,513) and a half-sister to Tight Lines (1:51 2/5, $618,016) and In Range (1:54 1/5, $411,003). In Range was the runner-up in the Breeders Crown 2-Year-Old Colt Trot final at Harrah's Hoosier Park on October 30.

"She's a really nice filly who looks really athletic," stated Takter. "I like her size; she's not too big, more a racy type. She moves well and stands well, so hopefully she races well.

Standardbred Horse Sales Company President and CEO Pete Spears, who operates Windsong Stable, added, "I decided to name all of the mare's offspring with something to do with my father. My dad was a fly fisherman and a Tippet is the very end of a fly fishing line. It is the part you hook the fly to."

McDuffee remained active after acquiring Delilah Hanover, purchasing HIP 93 Energetic Hanover, a Captaintreacherous colt, for $325,000, which tied for fourth-place on the board on Tuesday. Another Hanover Shoe Farms Inc. offering, Energetic Hanover is the first foal out of Eloquent Grace, a Well Said sister to millionaires Fred And Ginger and Ginger And Fred.

Another very active buyer during the session was Serge Godin's Determination stable. Godin, via trainer Luc Blais, purchased HIP 101 Frozen Hanover, a Somebeachsomewhere colt who is a full brother to Filibuster Hanover ($1,855,945), for $325,000, HIP 157 Girl Party, a Bettor's Delight filly who is a full sister to Stag Party($756,530), for $275,000, HIP 41 Capulet, a colt from the first crop of Walner who is out of a Muscle Mass half-sister to Guccio ($1,021,802) and Lagerfeld ($797,371), for $235,000, and 111 Gyre Hanover, a Father Patrick filly who is a full sister to Gangster Hanover ($247,223), for $225,000. Frozen Hanover and Gyre Hanover were both part of the Hanover consignment, Girl Party was offered by All American Harnessbreds, and Capulet was consigned by agent Walnridge Farm, Inc.

"I went to the farm two weeks ago, and he caught my eye," Blais said about Capulet. "He was a nice-looking horse that moved well in the field. He has pedigree and the whole package."

Splitting the Godin-purchased Frozen Hanover and Girl Party was HIP 106 Mikey Sea Mikey Do, who was grabbed by agent David Goodrow for $300,000. A colt by Always B Miki who was consigned by Diamond Creek Farm as agent, he is the first foal out of the Somebeachsomewhere mare Gallic Sea, a full sister to Breeders Crown 3-Year-Old Colt Pace champion Sandbetweenmytoes.

Brent MacGrath trained Somebeachsomewhere at 3 and owned him through his stellar career via his Schooner II Stable, and MacGrath was able to purchase a couple of Somebeachsomewhere's final yearlings available at auction. HIP 122 Ipanema Hanover, a filly, was the higher-priced of the two, going for $250,000. Another big-ticket yearling from the Hanover brigade, Ipanema Hanover is out of the Western Ideal mare Ideal Newton, making her a full sister to Closing Statement ($400,359). MacGrath also got HIP 48 William Hanover, a colt, for $75,000.

Another Muscle Hill filly who sold well on Tuesday was HIP 59 Blue Skies Shining, who was purchased by Chris Beaver for $230,000 from the consignment of agent Concord Stud Farm. Blue Skies Shining, who was bred by Michael Pozefsky, is the first foal out of Anikadabra, a Kadabra half-sister to Resolve.

Beaver isn't traditionally known as someone who goes into that sort of price range at yearling sales, but decided to take a shot with this one with the backing of partners.

"She was a really great individual with a great video. She's from a great family with lots of balance in the pedigree," said Beaver. "There might have been one other one we were watching, but she was one of my favorites.

"I do (buy something outside of Ohio) now and then, but I don't usually spend a lot of money. This is a bit out of character and a little uncomfortable for me. We had a group together and decided to take a shot on a big one."

With Energetic Hanover leading the way, it was a solid day for sire Captaintreacherous as he also had HIP 148 Marlys Hanover, a $240,000 buy for agent Linda Toscano and HIP 65 Boudoir Hanover, who was purchased for $200,000 by Steven Head. Marlys Hanover is out of the Bettor's Delight mare Marinade Hanover, making her a sister to the likes of former New York Sire Stakes champion Money Shot Hanover (1:53, $254,238), and Boudoir Hanover is the first foal out of the millionaire American Ideal mare Bedroomconfessions. Both Marlys Hanover and Boudoir Hanover are fillies.

When the curtain had come down after HIP 158 went through the ring on Tuesday, it showed that the gross ($12,813,000 / 154 horses sold) and average ($83,201) both fell from last year ($19,172,000 / 168 sold, average of $114,119) and two years ago ($15,902,000 / 170 sold, average of $93,541). Despite the declines in those numbers, Spears was upbeat about how the sale began and noted that the Standardbred Horse Sale had lost some yearlings that were slated to have sold there but were moved to Lexington due to the uncertainty when they were looking for a venue to host the event.

"I think the sale was very strong. I think the middle especially was encouraging," remarked Spears. "We didn't have as much extreme ups and downs. There were some big sellers. Determination was especially active and Mr. McDuffee as well.

"Having lost 16 from the time we announced we weren't going to Harrisburg until we said we were going here, I think the numbers are pretty good."

The action in Timonium continues on Wednesday with HIPs 160-462 offered. Tuesday's session started at noon, but the remaining yearling (Wednesday and Thursday) and mixed sale (Friday and Saturday) proceedings start at 10 A.M.

--quotes compiled by Chris Tully--