Harness: Regional sales raise optimism for Lexington Selected Sale despite pandemic

With the pandemic realities of 2020 firmly settled into place, the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale provides participants in the Harness Racing industry the opportunity to perhaps forget about the here and now to dream of the future.

Nearly 850 yearlings will walk through the Fasig-Tipton Sales Pavilion in Lexington, Kentucky during the five-night sale which kicks off on Monday, October 5 at 7 PM, and while some were looking at a "doom and gloom" scenario as recently as a month ago, recent events may have swayed the momentum back to the bright side of the spectrum.

Two regional sales -- Goshen in New York and Ohio Selected -- both showed strong returns, with the former coming in flat year-over-year and Ohio checking in up an amazing 18% despite the economic downturn brought on by COVID-19. These positives certainly brought a smile to co-sales manager Randy Manges' face.

"Oh yeah," said Manges when asked if he was happy with what has transpired so far with yearling sales. "I thought Ohio would be a decent sale because we had a strong online response and we sent out more catalogs than ever.

"I thought it would be good, but to be up 18% with 60 more horses sold than last year, that was unbelievable."

Looking ahead to Monday, Manges pointed to a few factors which he felt were more positive signs for Lexington. First off was how smoothly online bidding went during the Ohio sale, which he also runs. Over 200 bids came in online for Ohio and Magnes said about 20 horses sold through that method. This newer method to placing bids will be key with many Canadians who would normally visit the sale staying at home to avoid a 14-day quarantine period in Canada upon return.

A second piece of good news comes from the European front. "They lifted the European travel ban," said Manges, who was hoping that would mean the sale would attract the usual high-bidders from overseas. "Usually they have a sale the week before our sale and many Europeans don't make arrangements to come. This year there is no conflict. That's why we backed up the sale one day (from Tuesday to Monday) when we decided to add a Mixed Sale. When the Mixed Sale was Sunday night, it was hard for people because they had to stay around until Monday."

It's doubtful whether in the current economic environment the Lexington Selected Sale can continue its historic gains from recent years. In 2018, the sale was up 10.6% and 2019 saw a 22% increase with the first two million-dollar yearlings sold in the sport's history.

"We sold two million-dollar yearlings. I'm not sure when that will happen again," said Magnes when asked about the 2020 catalog. "Still, it is a very nice sale. I'd like to think we can get to last year's level, but I'm not going in optimistic."

While the numbers will ultimately decide the success of the sale, a decline won't be due to lack of talent. The catalog is filled with progeny from top stallions and broodmares, including many first-time sires -- Downbytheseaside, Huntsville, Fear The Dragon, What The Hill, Resolve, and more than 50 from Walner -- who always spark interest from interested buyers.

Below is a look at nine hand-selected yearlings from opening night which should garner plenty of interest from those in attendance as well as bidders in the virtual world.

HIP 7 -- Venerable
Here's a first-crop Walner who is a half-sister to Pennsylvania Sire Stakes winner Crucial (Father Patrick) and Ineffable (Cantab Hall), who was third in the Doherty this year. That's two solid showings from broodmare Jolene Jolene. The New Jersey and Kentucky-eligible trotting filly should get some attention for the team at Hunterton and create early sparks on opening night.

HIP 14 Violence
The name certainly gets to the point of the matter and seems like the moniker of a future champion. Mom She's Gone Again has produced earners just about every year who seem to peak as 3-year-olds. Her most recent sophomore Tuscany, a full sister to Violence, has already posted a 1:51 career mark. Colt also has some champions in the bloodlines as second dam Travelin Superlite produced 2009 2-year-old Dan Patch Trotting Filly of the Year Poof She's Gone.

HIP 36 Stardust Volo
As a Muscle Hill trotting filly with black type up and down her card, she has inherent value even if all goes wrong and she never makes it to the races. This is the second pairing with Muscle Hill for Sterling Volo and the first resulted in Breeders Crown winner Lily Stride ($701,858). Kentuckiana Farms product is New Jersey and Kentucky eligible.

HIP 62 Monkey Queen
Filly is a full sister to Gimpanzee, who was a 2-year-old Dan Patch winner and just won the Caesars Trotting Classic on September 25 at Hoosier, and Iteration, this year's rookie-filly New York Sire Stakes final winner. That's potentially two home runs in three tries for this Concord Stud Farm product who is eligible in New York and the New Jersey Standardbred Development Fund races. Sky's the limit here.

HIP 64 Bonanza
He's a beautiful-looking colt that seems to have good size judging by the video. Mom Designed To Be produced the freaky-fast champion Greenshoe with her first foal and the first-ever million-dollar yearling with Maverick last year. The potential for greatness is there for this Walco Farms-raised, Kentuckiana Farms-consigned colt that is eligible in both New Jersey and Kentucky.

HIP 71 Behindblueeyes
Northwood Bloodstock consigns this Sergent Stables filly eligible in Pennsylvania. Third foal from Behindcloseddoors is a half-sister to 2-year-old PA champion Sister Sledge ($830K+) and from the first crop of Southwind Frank. With all of the Walners, Muscle Hills and Chapter Sevens on opening night, maybe she falls through the cracks.

HIP 91 Pure Wow
Pennsylvania eligible trotting filly is a half-sister to $2.5 million earner Crazy Wow, who won the NYSS championship as a 2-year-old and went on to be a top Grand Circuit performer in his second year of racing. Love her video! She moves so free and easy with strong fluid strides. Crawford Farms bred 2020 Hambletonian winner Ramona Hill and this one has the looks of another potential standout filly.

HIP 100 Southwind Gauntlet
From six previous foals broodmare Gambler's Passion shows only one meeting with what I consider to be a potential elite stallion (Always B Miki) and the result is Southwind Gendry, a Pennsylvania Sire Stakes champion and Elevation winner in 2020 from his first eight starts. Southwind Gauntlet, consigned by Preferred Equine for Southwind Farms, is the result of the second pairing with a major sire in Captaintreacherous. Will lightning strike twice?

HIP 124 Lightnier
Here's another Captaintreacherous filly and the last yearling to go through the ring on Monday. She's a half-sister to millionaire Medusa, O'Brien winner at age 2 Alicorn, and $362K earner Eighthunrdolarbill. Preferred Equine-consigned Pennsylvania/NJ STDB Development eligible filly from Lindy Farms is the first Captaintreacherous foal from this mare, so there's certainly upside that he'll unlock a next-level talent.