Harness: Nine yearlings to watch in Friday’s Lexington closing session

It's interesting as the Lexington Selected yearling auction closes out the 2022 season with the fifth and final collection going into the ring on Friday night that unlike any other years there should be extreme enthusiasm surrounding this collection.

While many have focused attention on the first night specifically when the "glamour" boys and girls of the next generation of Standardbreds are on showcase, the fifth day is not just the "leftovers" that some have deemed it. The game has changed with dual-state eligibility offering buyers not just the chance to race in stakes events across state lines, but in a revised format that pays off at multiple levels. With that, the chances are competition on the final night of the yearling auction could be fierce if two or more parties want a horse and know there won't be a tomorrow, at least in Kentucky this year.

The positive vibe suggests that while those showing up on Friday won't necessarily be looking to spend six figures to bring home a quality 2023 2-year-old performer, there's a good chance there will be active bidding that boosts the bottom level as owners and trainers try to complement their big-ticket purchases with perhaps a few more to fill out the stable, or simply pick up an Ohio- or Indiana-bred that dominate the final night of the auction.

Unlike opening night at the Lexington Selected sale, buyers on Friday will have to look deep and go back many generations to find a glimmer of pedigree to pick from. That's not always a knock on a broodmare or a particular family. There are times when dams and granddams have limited foals, and it is thus necessary to go deeply to evaluate what the current generation is capable of.

It's that kind of search that led us to the first of nine we've selected for Friday night that are at least worthy of looking at, if not bidding on. HIP 779 Maryann's Angel represents potential in numerous ways. As a filly from the second crop of the highly successful Helpisontheway, Maryann's Angel has the stallion input of the Chapter Seven line that has grown in stature, not simply by the incredible Chapter Seven's annual star collection, but by his offspring. First Walner, that had his first-crop debut in 2021 and now by Helpisontheway, a horse that from a wide-ranging book of mares has captured those in Indiana fortunate enough to have a 2-year-old son or daughter this year campaigning in the Indiana sire stakes program.

Maryann's Angel is the first foal from a Muscle Hill-sired dam. The mere mention of Muscle Hill on the dam side is usually reserved for some of the more expensive stallions, but in this case it should not be discounted simply because the sire is offering a second crop. To the contrary, Maryann's Angel is a daughter of Angel Of The North, she a winner in 1:57 1/5 as a 2-year-old. The second dam had just four foals and all were winners. Maryann's Angel's third dam Articulate Hanover produced a pair of outstanding fillies from some 20 years ago in the 2003, 3-year-old trotting champion Southwind Allaire, and the 2001 sophomore Breeders Crown finalist Ariane Du Haras. That pair earned a cool $1.1 million collectively during their brilliant racing careers. Should Maryann's Angel be the next filly of choice in this family, the winning bidder will have plenty of options.

The well-bred Muscle Mass has had a productive career at stud, and his 2023 2-year-olds will campaign once again in Ontario. With that in mind, HIP 794 Stonebridge Cosmic has the kind of pedigree likely to excel in Ontario and perhaps well beyond. The April-born yearling is the first colt from a Donato Hanover-sired half-sister to the $927K winner Creamy Mimi. Stonebridge Cosmic's dam Stonebridge Brulee is also being bred the first time to a descendent of Muscles Yankee and thus gives this colt the same cross from the sire and dam's side as this year's $400,000 Kentucky Championship winner French Wine, who scored in 1:53 at The Red Mile and is just a 2-year-old.

While a bit overshadowed by his former stablemate, Fear The Dragon is well on his way to carving out a selective niche in the Ohio Sires Stakes program. HIP 799 is the filly Frontier Dragon and just the third foal from the Real Desire-sired mare Carols Desire. Not only is the dam a 1:49 4/5 winner as a racehorse, she proved herself worthy in Ohio as a runner-up in the 2013 Jugette to I Luv The Nitelife. Frontier Dragon is just the mare's fourth foal and first from this stallion line. She is also the first filly from a solid racehorse line.

HIP 815 Miller Man is another first foal that is worth a long look given a pedigree that appears to have found its groove in this year's exciting 2-year-old crop. Miller Man is out of Forever Country, a daughter of Real Artist, but of more interest in this pedigree is her third dam Incredible Margie. She was a daughter of Abercrombie that helped advance the breed with the Western Hanover-sired filly named Western Montana. Western Montana is the dam of the $2.4 million winner Pure Country. The dam his risen to prominence as well this year with tenth foal Charleston, most recently second in the She's A Great Lady at Woodbine Mohawk Park and one of the top juvenile fillies of the year. Among the top pacing colts in 2022's freshman class is Confederate. He's a Sweet Lou colt and first foal from Geothermal, a half-sister to Pure Country. Confederate, a Kentucky Championship final winner, has a 1:49 2/5 record. Miller Man is by Always B Miki's sire Always A Virgin.

HIP 825 Hot Shave could be a sleeper in that she's just the second foal from a Captaintreacherous-sired mare that has a solid maternal background. Hot Tail, the dam of Hot Shave, is out of Glowing Report, a $2 million-winning mare from a family that includes the sire Well Said, along with one of 2022's premier pacing fillies Treacherous Reign. Hot Shave is by the 1:46 performer Lather Up and will be eligible to the growing Ohio Sires Stakes program in 2023 and beyond.

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Sale attendees should not go out for coffee or other beverages too quickly as HIP 826 gives buyers another chance at a Lather Up offspring in the form of the colt by the name Nine One Oh Six. This is likely the best-bred of the Lather Up's at auction as all five of her foals have been to the races with significant black type performers. Yet those not looking closely enough could miss out on Metro finalist Ants Marching, a 1:52 2/5 winner this year that is scheduled to race on Saturday afternoon in stakes action at The Red Mile.

We are obviously bullish on Lather Up, a third generation Bettor's Delight stallion, and thus HIP 849 Bubblebath Party is a filly that could put all the pieces together. She's just the second foal from the $120K winner Marty Party Two, who hails from a family that's enjoyed great sire stakes successes along the years.

For those who wish to compete in Ohio, there are no sons or daughters of Downbytheseaside you can overlook at the auction without risk of seeing them beat you the very next year. It's with that in mind that HIP 869 Twenty Five needs inspection. With just one foal his dam Hula Shuffle has produced a winner of $172K in Twenty. This is a second foal and first colt by the popular son of Somebeachsomewhere. Of note to us is the presence of a pair of FFA performers from some years back in Maltese Artist and Artesian. The pair earned nearly $3.2 million collectively.

The Lexington Selected sale concludes on Saturday night with a mixed offering for those interested in current racehorses and breeding stock. Just over 80 lots are expected to sell.