Harness: Talented prospects in abundance on night one of Lexington Selected sale

With the Little Brown Jug and Mohawk Million in the rearview mirror, the stage is now set for the eyes of the harness racing world to shift to Lexington, Kentucky, with Grand Circuit action at The Red Mile and the 2024 edition of the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale. The sale, which will take place at the Fasig-Tipton Sales Pavilion, begins on Monday, September 30 and continues through Friday, October 4, with the first and last sessions at 7 p.m. and Tuesday through Thursday at 1 p.m.

Last year's sale topper was Kadena at $800,000 for Steve and Cindy Stewart's Hunterton Farms. While the Stewarts have been enjoying some success owning as of late with the likes of MGM Yonkers International Trot champion Jiggy Jog and Mohawk Million victor Maryland, breeding is their bread and butter, and they have several offerings that could light up the board, not just on opening night, but throughout the event.

"We have a lot of nice horses. Mission Brief's yearling will be selling at Harrisburg this year. The two girls that continue to have sale-toppers are Mission Brief and Jolene Jolene, the dam of Venerable. Last year they both had Gimpanzee fillies. Mission Brief's went to Lexington and sold for $800,000 as the sale-topper. The other filly was the second-highest price in the Harrisburg sale at $535,000," Steve Stewart remarked. "This year we've switched them. Jolene is having her first colt - by Walner - after six fillies and that one will sell at Lexington, and Mission Brief has a Walner colt that will sell at Harrisburg. So we have a lovely problem, kind of like Ake [Svanstedt] with so many aged trotters he gets to pick where they have to go.

"We don't go into the sales assuming we are going to have the sale-topper," said Steve Stewart before his wife Cindy chimed in, "Our goal is not to have a sale-topper. It is to have the next great horse on the track.

"If our horses perform well on the track, the rest will take care of itself," added Steve Stewart. "So the idea is to continue to have the Tactical Approach's and those type of horses, so it justifies the prices. The money will come if we win elite races."

In addition to Jolene Jolene's colt, who is named Kaizen and goes at HIP 50, a couple of others to watch on opening night for the Stewarts are HIP 19 Rocknacious and HIP 108 Inexpressable.

Rocknacious is a New Jersey and Kentucky eligible colt from the first crop of Perfect Sting and is the initial foal out of the $1.1 million-earning Captaintreacherous mare Rocknficient, who is a daughter of $2.2 million earner Rockclamation.

Inexpressable also has that coveted New Jersey and Kentucky dual-eligibility as he is a Walner colt, and if you missed out on Kaizen, here's a chance to get into that same family as he is the first foal out of one of Jolene Jolene's fillies - the Cantab Hall mare Ineffable. Jolene Jolene has not only been a top producer herself, but her daughter Crucial is the dam of Maryland, so this family should remain as one of the most sought after in the sport.

Another consignor with a cluster of yearlings coming to Lexington is Pennsylvania's Hanover Shoe Farms. While known more for their offerings in Harrisburg, they have been coming regularly to Lexington again in recent years and have some noteworthy offerings sprinkled in the catalog.

"We have a smaller group of yearlings at Lexington this year with 13 exceptionally exciting individuals," noted Farm Manager Patti Murphy. "We sell four of them on night one."

Jumping right off the page early on Monday night is HIP 15 Rani Hanover, a Walner filly. Trotting fillies have been leading the way at sales in recent years, and this one should have every chance to do the same thing as she is the first foal out of $1.3 million earner, two-time Dan Patch Award winner and 2020 Hambletonian champion Ramona Hill.

"Rani Hanover is a gorgeous filly. She is lighter-boned, similar to her dam, and trots out amazingly. I was feeling very stressed about doing videos and when she came to the paddock, she was incredible," Murphy stated. "She trotted down and back along the fence line three straight trips with no prompting needed. I just stood and watched her thinking to myself this is awesome. She is quick and athletic. She had a sequestrum removed from her left hind cannon area earlier this year from an injury in the yearling fields but it does not impede her ability at all. Rani is Kentucky and New Jersey eligible."

One of Hanover's other horses on Monday night is HIP 93 Ecuador Hanover, a colt from the second crop of Papi Rob Hanover. This one is a sibling to three multi-time stakes winners and six-figure earners in Caviart Belle, Energetic Hanover and Ervin Hanover

"He is a leggy colt with a solid body," Murphy remarked. "Papi Rob's first crop has been having a wonderful season, and we are extremely excited about his production thus far. Ecuador Hanover is Pennsylvania eligible."

Based north of Lexington in Georgetown, Kentucky, is the Caldwell family's Cane Run Farm. A regular consignor at the sale, 2024 is no exception as their group starts out with a pair on Monday night.

"Hopefully if we keep getting lots of lookers, we have what the buyers are looking for, and that will translate in how the sale goes for us," Elizabeth Caldwell said. "It's a nice, solid group of yearlings - good individuals, nice pedigrees and several have current activity, and they videoed well. We have good yearlings each day of the sale. It's hard to pick out just one yearling as the overall star when several of them have excellent potential.

"I find it more difficult to select the top one when we are consigning for multiple clients over the past few years. It was easier when we had our own to sell and I could highlight the obvious ones. It's nice that people have considered selling their yearlings with us and being able to grow our consignment over the past few years, too. We look forward to getting started on the right foot on opening night with the two we have. Day two and three look strong for us too. And four has good horses too. I'm hoping we have something for everyone and we look forward to seeing everyone at the sale. So far I'm pleased with the group overall."

One of Cane Run Farm's offerings during the initial session is HIP 27 Wukong. Bred by Lennart Agren and Jan Johnson's AB Svensk Reklamfinans, Wukong, a Gimpanzee colt, has certainly seen his status go up as his Walner 4-year-old brother Winner's Bet has won the Graduate Series final, the Charlie Hill Memorial and the Caesars Trotting Classic this year while going over the $1 million mark in lifetime earnings. Being by Gimpanzee, Wukong also has the added appeal of the Kentucky stallion bonus that increases the money he's eligible to race for.

"He has been popular, as can be expected with being a brother to Winner's Bet. So far, a couple have mentioned he is similar looking to his brother at that age. Hopefully that is a good thing. He is a nice individual with a good head on his shoulders, and he has a presence to him," Caldwell offered about Wukong. "Being a May foal, he has a little maturing to do, but he's on the right track. Hopefully we have him at peak condition on opening night. Fingers crossed for a good sale overall for everyone and we hope to have happy clients and happy buyers when it's all said and done."

Diamond Creek also has a farm in Kentucky and will be active on night one with five trotters in the catalog.

"I do think this is a really strong crop for us and there are some champions in this group," said Diamond Creek's Shaun Laungani. "Nobody really knows where, but we'll leave it to the buyers to sort it out."

Among the offerings from Diamond Creek Farm on Monday is HIP 61 Copernicus, a Gimpanzee colt who is the first foal out of 1:50 3/5 performer and $225,000 earner Altar.

"All of the Gimpanzees are such a joy to video. They are smart and willing," added Laungani. "They just seem to know what you want them to do."

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In addition to the seven yearlings already mentioned, here are 13 additional ones to keep an eye on that could set the bid board spinning during Monday night's opening session.

HIP 7 Buy Another

Sex: Filly

Sire: Chapter Seven

Dam: On Your Tab

Consignor: All American Harnessbreds

Eligibility: New York, Kentucky and Maryland

The first one to watch is this triple-eligible Chapter Seven half-sister to $700,000 earner and multiple-time stakes winner Buy A Round. Breeder Fred Hertrich III wound up retaining Buy A Round and the dam didn't have a foal last year.

HIP 9 Pacey Station

Sex: Filly

Sire: Downbytheseaside

Dam: Pace Baby Pace

Consignor: Spring Station Bloodstock

Eligibility: Ohio and Kentucky

A yearling from one of the newest consignors in the sport, Spring Station Bloodstock, Pacey Station is the first foal out of $384,000 earner Pace Baby Pace. Downbytheseaside is having a terrific year with the likes of world champion Sippionsearoc and Swingtown, and here is a chance to get into a family that's not usually available at public sales as Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi own the second dam Breakheart Pass and have retained all of her offspring.

HIP 18 Jumpin' Jack Deo

Sex: Colt

Sire: Captaintreacherous

Dam: Rocklamation

Consignor: Preferred Equine Marketing, Inc., Agent

Eligibility: Pennsylvania and New Jersey Standardbred Development Fund

HIP 19 Rocknacious was mentioned earlier, and right before him comes HIP 18 Jumpin' Jack Deo, who is out of $2.2 million earner Rocklamation, Rocknacious's second dam. Jumpin' Jack Deo is also a full brother to Rocket Deo, who won this month's New Jersey Classic final for 3-year-old pacing fillies and has pocketed over $312,000 this year.

Captaintreacherous just had a fantastic week with Captain Albano winning the Little Brown Jug and three of his colts sweeping the trifecta in the Metro Pace.

HIP 32 Scorpion Seelster

Sex: Colt

Sire: Bulldog Hanover

Dam: Soiree Seelster

Consignor: Preferred Equine Marketing, Inc., Agent

Eligibility: Ontario

The lone yearling from the first crop of Bulldog Hanover, harness racing's all-time fastest horse, that's available on Monday is Scorpion Seelster. His dam side has power as well, as Soiree Seelster was a stakes winner during her career, and she's produced a $1.27 million earner and multi-time year-end award winner in Stockade Seelster.

HIP 35 Kountry Splash

Sex: Filly

Sire: Chapter Seven

Dam: Splash Blue Chip

Consignor: Anvil And Lace Farm, Agent

Eligibility: New York and Kentucky

If you miss out on HIP 7 earlier on Monday, here's another Chapter Seven filly worth watching as she's the first foal out of $474,000 earner Splash Blue Chip. Splash Blue Chip, who had success both in New York and on the Grand Circuit, is also a half-sister to $1.5 million earner and world champion Plunge Blue Chip.

HIP 51 Ubrute

Sex: Colt

Sire: Tall Dark Stranger

Dam: Warrawee Ubeaut

Consignor: Crawford Farms

Eligibility: Pennsylvania and Kentucky

Among a loaded group for Crawford Farms on Monday is Ubrute, the first foal out of $1.8 million, two-time Dan Patch Award winner and world champion Warrawee Ubeaut. The second dam Great Memories has been a great producer, too, as in addition to Warrawee Ubeaut she's thrown millionaire Warrawee Needy and two more big earners in 1:46 4/5 performer Warrawee Vital and Big Bay Point.

HIP 60 Bricco

Sex: Colt

Sire: Gimpanzee

Dam: Sigilwig

Consignor: Crawford Farms

Eligibility: Kentucky and Kentucky Stallion Bonus

Crawford Farms also has this trotting colt on Monday night. He's just the second foal out of the dam and a half-brother to near $600,000 earner – and this year's Beal Memorial winner – Sig Sauer. He also has the Kentucky Stallion bonus eligibility as he's from the second crop of Gimpanzee.

HIP 69 Aspen

Sex: Colt

Sire: Propulsion

Dam: Avalicious

Consignor: Crawford Farms

Eligibility: Kentucky and New Jersey

This Crawford product is out of the $202,000 earner Avalicious, making him a half-brother to Hambletonian champion Karl. New Jersey-based sire Propulsion, who has a couple of stakes winners this year in filly R Charm and gelding Tregaron, gets a big chance here with a night-one yearling.

HIP 74 The Unit

Sex: Colt

Sire: Huntsville

Dam: Big McDeal

Consignor: Cameo Hills Farm

Eligibility: New York

Huntsville is at the top of the list for total earnings by 2-year-old progeny so far in 2024, and this Huntsville colt is a full brother to Max Contract, last year's Breeders Crown Open Mare Pace champion. The Unit's dam Big McDeal was a world champion during her racing career, and in addition to Max Contract, she has produced three other six-figure earners.

HIP 80 In New York

Sex: Colt

Sire: Gimpanzee

Dam: Brooklyn

Consignor: Concord Stud Farm, Agent

Eligibility: Kentucky and Kentucky Stallion Bonus

Concord Stud Farm typically sells foals out of Brooklyn in Harrisburg, but this one they brought to Lexington. His half-brother Hidalgo went for $600,000 at the Standardbred Horse Sale in 2023 and five of Brooklyn's seven offspring have fetched $200,000 or more. Hidalgo has had a solid 2-year-old campaign with over $151,000 in the bank, and he was recently second to Maryland in the Peter Haughton Memorial.

HIP 88 Delightful Yankee

Sex: Filly

Sire: Muscle Hill

Dam: Darlene Hanover

Consignor: Preferred Equine Marketing, Inc., Agent

Eligibility: New Jersey and Kentucky

Delightful Yankee is the first foal out of multiple stakes winner and $591,000 earner Darlene Hanover. This has been a super filly family overall as Darlene Hanover's half-sister Delilah Hanover banked over $308,000 and another half-sister Delaney Hanover was a fast-closing second in the New Jersey Classic for 2-year-old filly trotters.

HIP 111 Solidarity

Sex: Colt

Sire: Tall Dark Stranger

Dam: Kissin In The Sand

Consignor: Kentuckiana Farms, Agent

Eligibility: Pennsylvania and Kentucky

Tall Dark Stranger got another exceptional book of mares, and here's another one as Solidarity is the first foal out of $1.7 million earner and two-time Dan Patch Award winner Kissin In The Sand. Under the third dam is Kikikatie, a millionaire herself who went on to produce top Indiana sire Rockin Image.

HIP 113 You Can Dream

Sex: Colt

Sire: Walner

Dam: Mets Life

Consignor: Winbak Farm

Eligibility: New Jersey and Maryland

This Walner colt certainly got a big boost on Saturday (September 21) when his full brother Amazing Catch won the Canadian Trotting Classic final at Woodbine Mohawk Park. The dam Mets Life is a half-sister to Met's Hall, who has had a great year with his son Sir Pinocchio winning both in New York and on the Grand Circuit.