Harness: Ohio champion to headline Saturday’s Mixed Sale
There will only be about 80 entries in Saturday's Lexington Selected Mixed Sale, but that doesn't mean there won't be a big-ticket horse on the docket.
All eyes for the Saturday session will no doubt be on 3-year-old trotting colt It's Academic. Slated to sell as HIP 989, the Ohio Champion recently won a division of the Bluegrass at The Red Mile in 1:50 3/5 and owns a 11-5-4-1 record in 2020 with $245,732 in earnings. For his career the Ron Burke co-owned and trained colt has earned $374,734.
"Two of the partners only want to race 2- and 3-year-olds, so it was determined from the beginning to sell him at the end of his 3-year-old year," said co-owner Bill Donovan, who shares interest in the horse with Burke Racing, Joe Sbrocco and Hatfield Stables. "Unfortunately, he is not Breeders Crown eligible, but he is eligible to both The Pegasus and Carl Erskine Trot at Hoosier. We thought he would be more attractive were new owners able to race him a few starts and get an immediate return on their investment before the stakes season ended. Of course, this was all before he set the World Record at Delaware and beat the Grand Circuit colts at the Red Mile. Those two events have certainly elevated interest in him!"
While not eligible to the Breeders Crown, new ownership could certainly supplement to the 3-Year-Old Colt Trot at Hoosier with eliminations on October 24.
Other notables in the Mixed Sale include: HIP 979 Charlotte Chaplin, a Chapter Seven 3-year-old filly who has already won in 1:53 4/5 at Vernon Downs, and HIP 993 Marseille, a 4-year-old by Muscle Hill who took a 1:51 4/5 mark last year and has earned $516,791 in his career.
After offering the sale in 2018 and cancelling last year, co-sales manager Randy Manges said they are glad to be able to revive the concept. "We are trying to make a go of it," said Manges. "We have some quality, including some nice broodmares and plenty of shares from top stallions like Muscle Hill and Captaintreacherous."
Saturday's sale starts at 7 PM.