Harness: Red Redemption tops Wednesday's session of the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale at $320,000

Wednesday's second session of the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale was headed by HIP 155 Red Redemption, a Muscle Hill colt who went to Ake Svanstedt for $320,000.

Consigned by Preferred Equine Marketing, Inc. as agent, Red Redemption is out of the Conway Hall mare Magenta Hall ($396,875), making him a half-brother to millionaire Dewycolorintheline.

"It was a Muscle Hill colt, and I liked the family. I liked the conformation on the horse," remarked Svanstedt. "They're always too expensive, of course, but I really liked the horse. That's why I went so high. A couple of guys are interested, and I hope I can keep a piece myself."

HIP 137 Balenciaga came in second on the night's top sellers list, with Paul Kelley purchasing the Chapter Seven colt for $270,000. Consigned by Crawford Farms, Balenciaga is out of Iluvmyjimmychoos (Cantab Hall), a full sister to True Valentine ($172,715).

"I liked everything about him. He had a really nice body, nice shoulder and hind-end to him. He had a really nice leg to him for a Chapter Seven. Some of the Chapter Sevens can be a little on the short side. He had all of that. I thought he was kind of the complete package," said Kelley. "His video is tremendous. He's getting over the ground in a real nice way and kind of changing gears on his own. He was, I thought, one of the nicer Chapter Sevens in the sale.

"Honestly, I bought him for S R F Stable, and I thought for sure he was going to bring $250,000 or right in that range. He sold for what we thought. It's just a really nice cross, that whole family. I can't say that there was any particular horse in the family that drove me to him, but it's just a nice golden-type cross. He's just a really nice individual. We're really happy to get him."

Near the end of the session, Kelley also took HIP 306 Captured for $250,000. Selling from the consignment of agent Kentuckiana Farms, Captured is a Muscle Hill-Highland Glider filly, making her a half-sister to the likes of Sunset Glider (Cantab Hall, $250,836).

Those three yearlings were among the seven that went for $200,000 or more on the night. Heading up that group was HIP 216 Southwind Xena, a Betting Line half-sister to Little Brown Jug winner Southwind Ozzi who was acquired by William J. Donovan.

The second session finished down from last year as 174 yearlings brought a gross of $13,068,000 and an average of $75,103. The second night in 2018 saw 163 horses hammered down for a total of $13,651,000 and an average of $83,748. The drop wasn't totally unexpected since the overall sale toppers both sold on the second night last year, and sales co-manager Randy Manges was still enthused about how the night went.

"We sold a few more horses tonight than we sold last year - I think ten or 11. The good horses sold very well, I thought. We sold a lot of horses for over $100,000, which was good. The high-priced horse tonight was a good price, so I thought the sale was good tonight," Manges said. "I thought there was a buzz around and a stir tonight, but I didn't think that it was as strong as last night. There was so much anticipation. There had been so many people saying we're going to sell the first million dollar horse that I think that just brought a lot of people out and a lot of excitement. We always have the most folks on the first night. I just think they're going to buy what they want, and they pay for what they see that they like with the higher-priced horses."

Heading into the last three nights of the sale for this year, Manges said he thinks there will still be plenty of activity and that he's pleased with what they have left to offer.

"I think there's a lot of depth in all three sessions. I think we've got a very good session all three nights. There's something for everybody. It should be good," he stated.

Prior to the session, there was a stallion shares charity auction held that raised $205,000 for the Breeders Crown Charity Challenge, another thing Manges was very proud of.

"We are really happy with how the breeding auction went earlier. We raised more than I ever expected, and it's a great thing for charity and the Breeders Crown," Manges finished.

Thursday night's session will have HIPS 313-487 going through the ring, and it's slated to begin at 7 P.M.

--quotes by Derick Giwner--