Harness Racing: New Jersey-breds score big on day one at Lexington Selected Sale

Day one of the Lexington Selected Sale in Kentucky has to be considered a resounding success and much of the credit goes to first-time sire Muscle Hill. On average, the 99 horses sold for $85,590, a 7.7 percent increase over 2011.

Muscle Hill yearlings averaged $125,625 and helped to boost New Jersey-sired prodigy to a hefty $101,865 average price tag; a 57 percent increase over the previous year.

Three of the horses hammered down went for at least $300,000 on Tuesday. The sale topper was HIP 91, Monarch Kemp, a son of Muscle Hill and Emilie Cas El. The half-brother to Impressive Kemp ($501,074) went for $360,000 to Brixton Medical Ab of Sweden.

HIP 81, Deepdish, another Muscle Hill product out of $668,824 earning mare Pizza Dolce was sold for $320,000 to agent Robert Lindstrom. The filly is a half-sister to Bella Dolce ($730,384) and Miss Paris ($671,390).

The top pacer at the sale was another New Jersey-bred, Rock The Casbah. Purchased for $300,000 by Mark Harder, the colt is by Rocknroll Hanover out of the millionaire mare Stienam’s Place. He is a full brother to $2 million-plus earner Put On A Show and half-brother to Jugette winner Showherthemoney.

Of the 99 horses sold, 33 went for at least $100,000. Broken down by state: New Jersey 16; Pennsylvania 12; New York 5.

The Lexington Selected sale continues on Wednesday at 7pm and can be viewed live at www.lexingtonselected.com.

(Statistics complied by Darin Zoccali)