Harness: Perfect Sting adds luster to sales

Every year, the introduction of first-crop sires to the yearling market generates a high level of enthusiasm. This year that will be true as ever, when the first crop by champion pacer Perfect Sting step in front of the auctioneers' podium.

He will send 46 youngsters to the Lexington Selected Sale and 40 to Harrisburg, making him one of this year's most represented sires.

Perfect Sting p,2,1:49 2/5; 3,1:48 1/5 ($1,808,147) is the only pacer in the history of harness racing to win the Breeders Crown as both a 2 and 3-year-old and be voted Dan Patch Champion both years.

It's been a long-held belief that excellence as a 2-year-old is the greatest indicator of siring success. Should that hold true, for Perfect Sting, the sky's the limit.

As a 2-year-old he went undefeated in 10 starts, winning the Kentucky Sire Stakes Final and back-to-back Grand Circuit stakes at the Red Mile en route to his scores in both the elim and final of the Breeders Crown.

At 3 he added the Breeders Crown elim and final to his resume, along with an elim of the $1-million North America Cup. He finished second in the North America Cup final, Meadowlands Pace, Little Brown Jug, Cane Pace and Tattersalls Pace and retired to stud at Deo Volente Farms in New Jersey with earnings approaching $2-million.

His pedigree lends further excitement to his potential. He is the most accomplished son of World Champion Always B Miki p,1:46 ($2,715,368) and from World Champion Shebestingin p,3,1:47 ($759,522), still the fastest 3-year-old pacing filly in history.

Of note is the fact that his pedigree provides a unique cross to many of today's leading broodmare sires. Market breeders have noticeably taken this into account, as buyers will find his colts and fillies are from maternal lines with sterling production records.

-edited release (Deo Volente Farms)