Harness: Plucking prospects to examine from Lexington's third night

It is hard to accurately forecast how the Lexington Selected Sale will wind up price-wise, though according to the recently concluded Keeneland Thoroughbred Yearling Sale, one might expect it to be somewhat less than the 2019 extravaganza that resulted in two trotting colts exceeding the $1 million mark.

But then, the recently concluded Ohio Sale was up over last year with a couple of $100,000-plus yearlings, which leaves room for optimism. The racing in Ohio has been excellent this year, especially at Scioto, which benefitted from many $1 million-plus handles when they were the first U.S. harness track back in operation. In that many bettors were newly exposed to the high quality of Scioto racing, a portion of that handle increase carried over for much of the season.

That said, on to Lexington, with their largest catalog in recent memory numbering over 850 horses and intriguing pedigrees sprinkled amongst the five selling days. This column will take a look at night three. Whereas sales managers attempt to overload what they, and the consignors consider the best pedigrees and individuals into the opening session, there is still no shortage of potential quality when the third night rolls around. Invariably some might bring higher numbers than anticipated, but that can be attributed to the fact that not every high-market bidder obtains what they need in the first two sessions.

In addition, since having yearling prices on the program discloses that a good number of moderately priced colts and fillies do emerge as stake performers, one can assume that a percentage of those were sold on nights three and even beyond.

As a long-time consignor during my Perretti Farms days, I always stressed the value of under-bidders, sensing that many would still be empty-handed when day three rolled around. Thus it became a comfort level, the realization that good prospects were still available.

Let's look at a few:

HIP 327 STAR PLAYER
We obtained the dam's full sister Promysquous Lady on two separate occasions, re-obtaining her carrying the current Mohawk Preferred regular Rockme Rollme (1:49 as a 4yo). The sire involved, Betting Line, has had a noticeable opening crop with many impressive 2-year-old starters highlighted by Abuckabett Hanover. I'm not sure what to expect to see here as a couple of the Promysquous Lady foals namely Rockaround Sue and Rock Absorber were on the small side, though it didn't stop them from earning over $800,000 between them. There's black type all over the page and familiarity with the family suggests taking a close look.

HIP 356 SOMEWHERE DANCIN
By A Rocknroll Dance from a Somebeachsomewhere daughter, she is eligible to follow her paternal sisters by producing solid racehorses. This family goes back to the great Turn The Tide and there's a piece of me that feels A Rocknroll Dance could be a stallion upgrade over the dam's first consort, Arthur Blue Chip.

HIP 357 YANKEE SOLO
This is a first-night pedigree so it wouldn't shock me if there's a flaw or two, but still that pedigree warrants a close inspection. Sire Walner showed signs of being super-special and as the leading son of Chapter Seven will get every opportunity to prove his stallion mettle. The dam Soprana Hill is a Muscle Hill sister to the gallant Donna Soprano, who came so close to beating the boys in the Mohawk Million on September 26. There's production all over the page and Yankee Solo has the genetic qualifications to be a top filly.

HIP 391 AMERICAN CLASSIC
Another first-night pedigree carried over to the third evening, being an American Ideal three-quarter brother in blood to the millionaire and broodmare star American Jewel. American Classic is about five-eighths (more than a half but not quite three quarter} brother in blood to the hard-hitting Luck Be With You. While the consignor is known for retaining some, they've sold plenty of good ones in the past and I'd be sure to have a look at what could be the next New York Sires Stakes champion.

HIP 401 TWINKLE IN HEREYE
Worst comes to worst, you're getting a racehorse here with this Bettor's Delight sister to five winners including her full sister Twinkle, a winner of over $350,000. This is one of Winbak's elite families as the dam Ashlee's Star is a sister to two major performers in Betterthancheddar and Jug winner Courtly Choice. Here's another that could have been sold a day or two earlier, illustrating the overall strength of the Lexington Selected catalog this year.

HIP 416 THE GREAT WALL
Overlook any second-generation Moni Maker descendant at your own risk. The great mare finally did what so many of her brethren have done by having her daughter Nothing But Moni get a major star in Ready For Moni, this year's most prominent 3-year-old trotting colt. Historically many Moni Maker-type amazons have not been overly productive broodmares, but often a daughter or two makes up for it in the second generation. Consequently, The Great Wall by the anticipated Walner, warrants careful inspection.

HIP 436 AIN'T SHE SPECIAL
There are New York Sires Stakes purses written all over this page, starting with the sire American Ideal, who already has four winners from the $789,299-winning dam I'm Just Special. The next dam, Ladys Special Girl has produced the winners of nearly $2 million, so there's strong production all over the page. I don't know how "special" Ain't She Special will turn out to be, but it won't be surprising if she's a solid New York Sires Stake earner and possibly more.

HIP 448 POETICAL
While the Western Ideal siring son Artspeak has had rather a tough go of it in Pennsylvania competing against the likes of Captaintreacherous and Sweet Lou, he could fit in rather well in Ontario. That said, Poetical is an Ontario eligible three-quarter brother to American Jewel and Luck Be With You from the sterling producer Trim Hanover. Consequently, while examining the close relative HIP 391 AMERICAN CLASSIC at Brittany, we'll take a good perusal at Poetical as well.

HIP 467 THEBIZNES BLUECHIP
Here's one for my writing partner Victoria Howard, who used to own the third dam Efishnc, a former 2-year-old pacing filly champion back in her racing days. The colt, a dark brown son of the impressive 2020 first-crop stallion Betting Line, is a half-brother to four winners including the $580,000+ winning Obvious Blue Chip, by Betting Line's "uncle" Roll With Joe. Not sure what we'll find here but the educated guess says Thebiznes Bluechip is a "looker" like so many Betting Line's have proven to be. And that in itself is a good beginning.

HIP 501 ZIP CITY
Nothing revitalizes a sterling but aging producer like Beachy Lady more than a young vigorous first-crop stallion, of which the Somebeachsomewhere son Huntsville is eligible to fill that bill. The "Beach" sons have all looked respectable as stallions and Huntsville qualifies as one of his better sons. Beachy Lady gets "winners" and we'd expect she'll have another one in this New York Sires Stakes eligible.

By the third night, we'll have a solid idea as to how the sale is going in this COVID-19 year. Whereas it is expected to be a tad less than last year, there are no shortages of quality prospects, some of which may be quite reachable as the sale progresses. Do your homework and good luck.