Harness: Talent-filled Lexington Selected Sale could soar to new heights

The 2022 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale is ahead, with a change in the normal schedule seeing the event start on a Monday (October 3) instead of the usual Tuesday beginning. HIPs 1-127 will go through the ring on that Monday, with a host of exquisite individuals and pedigrees to send the bid board soaring.

Last year's first session of the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale saw a record average of $161,261, and the gross of $18,545,000 also established a new high-water mark. As Diamond Creek Farm's Adam Bowden noted, while the opening day of the Standardbred Horse Sale in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, is still held in the highest regard and many top horses are available there, as well, Lexington has a special cachet that's unique.

"I think Lexington has sort of moved into that first-place spot, especially the opening night. It's like the cream of the crop. Nothing to take away from Harrisburg because quite a few good horses go through there, but there's something about selling expensive horses at night," Bowden said. "Everybody dresses up and it feels a little old school, which I think is neat."

Diamond Creek is attempting to go back-to-back as the consignor and/or breeder with the highest-priced yearling in Lexington as their Exile, a daughter of Walner, fetched $800,000 in 2021, but Bowden explained that while he always hopes for the best, it's difficult to go into a sale with those kind of lofty aspirations.

"I don't know that you ever expect that they're going to bring that kind of money. You always hope that they're going to bring good money. We knew she was popular, but I don't know that you're ever in a position to be like yeah, I'm getting $800,000," he stated. "It was a surprise and a good surprise, and one where we liked her where we ended up staying in on her."

The Diamond Creek contingent during Monday's catalog includes HIP 90 Design, an Always B Miki filly who is the second foal out of millionaire and 1:48 1/5 performer Darlinonthebeach. Design's 2-year-old full brother Christchurch has made three starts in overnight races thus far at The Red Mile, winning twice and placing second once to go with a mark of 1:52 2/5.

"We own her in partnership, and we all agreed that we were going to keep the first colt and then the first filly was going to go through the ring. That was always the plan when we purchased the mare," Bowden stated. "She's a different type of Always B Miki. She almost looks like she should be a Sweet Lou and not an Always B Miki. Her brother is supremely talented but super green, so I don't know that he necessarily helps her out.

"She is a big, strong, rugged filly. I'm sure some people will be freaked out by her eyes because she has like those human-looking eyes, but she's done everything right at the farm. She's easy, she's never had a problem, never been sick, never been injured, none of that stuff. She belongs on day one."

Design has dual-eligibility in Kentucky and Pennsylvania.

Hanover brings the Holy Grail to Lexington

Hanover Shoe Farm's return to the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale in 2021 saw the Pennsylvania nursery end up second in the consignor averages at $155,100. They are back again this year with an eye-catching group that includes HIP 47 Holy Grail Hanover, who is the initial foal out of Horse of the Year and triple millionaire Hannelore Hanover. The Pennsylvania-eligible colt is also from the highly-anticipated first crop of Greenshoe, adding to his appeal.

"Holy Grail is a stunning yearling. He is a beautiful dark color, with a lot of leg and a very classy head and neck. He just looks like an athlete. To me, he's just about a perfect physical blend of Greenshoe and Hannelore Hanover," said Hanover's Dr. Bridgette Jablonsky. "Personality wise, I would have to say he favors Greenshoe. Both he and Greenshoe really crave attention and are what I call people-friendly horses; if given the choice to interact with people or not they will choose to interact.

"It's no secret that I'm a huge fan of Greenshoe and have been since I saw him race at 2."

Greenshoe displayed immense talent and high speed during his career, which saw him earn over $1.3 million and take a mark of 1:49 4/5 at The Red Mile. The son of Father Patrick stands at Hanover for a fee of $25.000, and Dr. Jablonsky has high hopes for him and his offspring, especially given the standout mares that he serviced.

"In my opinion, he was the most naturally talented trotter I have seen. The book of mares he got in his first crop is unparalleled, as can be seen by looking through the Lexington catalog and the Black Book. His yearlings are outstanding, and it's not only me that thinks so; I have heard that from several breeders," she stated. "Like Holy Grail, they are athletes first and foremost. The vast majority have very good conformation and personality to them. I am very optimistic and look forward to seeing them race in 2023."

Some others to watch on opening night from the Hanover consignment include HIP 7 Bree Hanover, a daughter of Captaintreacherous-Bedroomconfessions who is a full sister to stakes performers Boudoir Hanover and Belissima Hanover; HIP 29 Darcy Hanover, a Walner-Danielle Hanover filly who is a sister to the well-regarded Darlene Hanover and Delilah Hanover, and HIP 80 Youbet Hanover, a Bettor's Delight filly who is the first foal out of Youaremycandygirl [$1,566,292, 1:48 2/5].

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More yearlings to check out on opening night

With such a strong group from beginning to end, it was difficult to pare down the list of yearlings. All of them certainly merit mention, but the following caught my eye when perusing the catalog.

HIP 4 Bella's Musclehill (Muscle HIll-Barn Bella)

Consignor: Hunterton Sales Agency

Eligibility: Pennsylvania

Muscle Hill is having another strong year with his rookies, including Mohawk Million champion Oh Well, and Bella's Musclehill, a colt, is the first foal out of Barn Bella, a Conway Hall mare who won the New York Sire Stakes final as both a 2-year-old and a 3-year-old.

HIP 15 Show Of Faith (Captaintreacherous-Cannae Cammie)

Consignor: All American Harnessbreds

Eligibility: Pennsylvania and Maryland

Show Of Faith will give bidders a chance to purchase a half-sister to 2021 Horse of the Year Test Of Faith [$2,113,631, 1:47], giving her not only racing potential, but the additional benefit of residual broodmare value. She is also the first offspring of Captaintreacherous from Cannae Cammie, as she was previously bred to Somebeachsomewhere, American Ideal, and Art Major.

HIP 24 All Green (Greenshoe-Check Out Trixie)

Consignor: Cameo Hills Farm

Eligibility: Pennsylvania

This filly is another one from the first crop of Greenshoe and is a half-sister to this year's Jim Doherty Memorial champion Instagram Model. Overall, this family is also one of the hottest in the sport right now, as the dam Check Out Trixie is out of Check Me Out, making Check Out Trixie a half-sister to Dan Patch Award winner King Of The North.

HIP 25 For July (Greenshoe-Clarabelle)

Consignor: Preferred Equine Marketing

Eligibility: Pennsylvania and Kentucky

Right after All Green comes For July, a Greenshoe colt who has Kentucky eligibility. For July is a half-brother to multiple stakes winner Cuatro De Julio, and their 2-year-old sister Toulouse Lautrec has also shown talent in races at The Red Mile this summer, winning three times by open lengths and taking a mark of 1:54. Toulouse Lautrec was a $200,000 purchase at last year's Lexington Selected Yearling Sale.

HIP 31 Leadstar S (Chapter Seven-Daydream S)

Consignor: Hunterton Sales Agency

Eligibility: New York and Kentucky

Chapter Seven had the top two finishers (Cool Papa Bell and Joviality S) in this year's Hambletonian and swept the New York Sire Stakes finals, so his offspring should remain in high demand, and Leadstar S is a full brother to Hypnotic AM, who earned $1,457,943 and took a mark of 1:50 3/5 during her racing career.

HIP 45 Santa Croce (Father Patrick-Treviso)

Consignor: Preferred Equine Marketing

Eligibility: Pennsylvania and Kentucky

The third foal out of the Muscle Massive mare Treviso, Santa Croce is a half-sister to this year's Peter Haughton Memorial victor Kilmister. Father Patrick has had a strong 2022 season with his 2-year-olds, including Pennsylvania Sire Stakes champion Once In A Lifetime and Kentuckiana Stallion Management winner Heart On Fire.

HIP 53 Sea Glass (Downbytheseaside-Im With Her)

Consignor: Preferred Equine Marketing

Eligibility: Ohio and Kentucky

Downbytheseaside won this year's North America Cup with Pebble Beach and the Little Brown Jug with Bythemissal, and Sea Glass is a three-quarter sister to their rival Beach Glass, the victor in the Meadowlands Pace, Cane, and Hempt. Breeder Schooner II Stable retained the first two horses out of the dam, so this is the first opportunity the public will have to purchase one of her offspring.

HIP 57 Epoch (Chapter Seven-Jolene Jolene)

Consignor: Hunterton Sales Agency

Eligibility: New York and Kentucky

Another daughter of Chapter Seven, Epoch is a half-sister to Dan Patch/O'Brien Award winner Venerable and two other stakes champions in Crucial and Ineffable. Epoch is also the first Chapter Seven offspring out of Jolene Jolene as Venerable is by Walner, Crucial by Father Patrick, and Ineffable by Cantab Hall.

HIP 58 Skippy Rope (Chapter Seven-Windy Corner)

Consignor: Concord Stud Farm

Eligibility: New York

If Chapter Seven fillies are your thing, Skippy Rope comes into the ring right after Epoch. Skippy Rope is the first foal out of Windy Corner, who took the 2018 Pennsylvania Sire Stakes final for 2-year-old filly trotters, and Windy Corner is also a sister to this year's Goodtimes champion Fast As The Wind and also to Wind Chime, a winner in the Kentucky Sires Stakes program at both Oak Grove and The Red Mile. Concord Stud Farm topped last year's consignor averages at $186,429.

HIP 63 Awaiting (Walner-Lonely Lady)

Consignor: Hunterton Sales Agency

Eligibility: New Jersey and Kentucky

A full sister to New Jersey Sire Stakes champion and Kentucky Championship Series runner-up Walner Payton, Awaiting is the third foal out of Lonely Lady, a full sister to noteworthy sire Bar Hopping. Walner Payton was hammered down for $510,000 in Lexington a year ago.

HIP 65 Hoop Star (Courtly Choice-Sports Chic)

Consignor: Winbak Farm

Eligibility: New York and Maryland

From the first crop of $1,345,754 earner Courtly Choice comes this colt, whose 2-year-old half-sister Vivians Dream has banked $222,675, won six times in the New York Sire Stakes program, and taken a mark of 1:50 4/5 at Vernon Downs thus far in 2022. Hoop Star's dam Sports Chic is also a half-sister to former Horse of the Year and Hall of Famer Rainbow Blue.

HIP 84 Total Stranger (Bettor's Delight-Precocious Beauty)

Consignor: Hunterton Sales Agency

Eligibility: Ontario and Kentucky

Sire Bettor's Delight has not shown any signs that he's slowing down, and one of his potential standouts on night one is this full brother to 2020 Horse of the Year Tall Dark Stranger [$2,020,195, 1:47 1/5]. He's also one of just two colt pacers eligible to the rich Ontario Sires Stakes program available during the first session.

HIP 104 Thinker Monkey (Chapter Seven-Steamy Windows)

Consignor: Concord Stud Farm

Eligibility: New York and New Jersey Standardbred Development Fund

Foals out of Steamy Windows have gone up in sale price with each year so far during her breeding career, and with good reason as she's thrown $2.7+ million earner Gimpanzee, $780K+ earner Iteration, and another stakes winner in Monkey Queen. This is another full brother to that group, and his full sister Mandrill, who hasn't raced yet as a 2-year-old, brought $750,000 last year in Lexington.

HIP 110 Punch The Clock (Tactical Landing-Check Me Out)

Consignor: Cameo Hills Farm

Eligibility: New Jersey

Tactical Landing has made a positive impression with his first crop on the track, headed by New Jersey Classic champion Quick Step and stakes winner Mambacita. This filly is a half-sister to Dan Patch Award winner King Of The North, so if you missed out on HIP 24 earlier, it provides a second chance at a member of that family.

HIP 117 Bonaparte (Bettor's Wish-Treacherous Reign)

Consignor: Kentuckiana Farms

Eligibility: New Jersey

One of a pair of colts from the first crop of $2,601,083 earner Bettor's Wish that will go through the ring on Monday is Bonaparte. He's also the initial foal out of his dam, a multi-time stakes winner during her career who earned $877,893 and took a mark of 1:48 3/5.

HIP 123 Vehement (Tactical Landing-Woodside Charm)

Consignor: Hunterton Sales Agency

Eligibility: New Jersey and Kentucky

Last, but certainly not least on this list, is Vehement, a Tactical Landing colt who is the first foal out of the brilliant Woodside Charm. She banked $531,658 and was the Breeders Crown champion and Dan Patch Award winner in her 2-year-old season in 2018.

Monday's action at the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale is slated to get going at 7 p.m. EDT.