Harness: Three horses fetch $200,000 at 2026 Ohio Selected Jug Yearling Sale

For the fifth out of the last six seasons, the Ohio Selected Jug Yearling Sale broke its own sales record during this year's edition of the Standardbred auction, with 268 horses selling for a gross of $9,191,000, which was a six percent increase from 2025. The average price per yearling sold was also up 5.4 percent to $34,294 from the previous year.

Interestingly, there were three co-sale toppers that each commanded a bid of $200,000. The first was Hip #66, Seaside Memories, a Downbytheseaside colt from a Fear The Dragon mare who was purchased by Burke Racing Stable. The consignor was Clearview Farm.

About an hour later Hip #90, Free Range, an In Range filly from the Spring Haven Farm consignment, was sold to Reijo Liljendahl for $200,000. She was from a Chapter Seven mare and from the same maternal family as the freakishly-fast CR Kay Suzie.

A few minutes later Hip #95, Perls Hotshot, a filly by first-crop stallion and Jug champ Lou's Pearlman, was hammered down for $200,000 to Burke Racing Stable. She was consigned by Hickory Lane Farm, Agent for Ivy Holdings, and was that nursery's first sales topper.

Farm owner and syndicate manager Kevin Greenfield could not have been more pleased. "I am thrilled to have the co-sales topper by our first year stallion Lou's Pearlman," he said. "They were very well accepted at the sale, and we want to thank all the consignors and bidders for their enthusiasm with the stallion."

Lou's Pearlman's average was the highest of all first-crop stallions at $45,920, and co-owner Mark Weaver of the Burke Brigade was excited about the results. "We've been waiting for this day for a long time and are thrilled it went as well as it did for him and everyone that supported him," remarked Weaver. "To average ten times his stud fee and have the sale topper at forty times the stud fee might be uncharted territory."

The 2021 Little Brown Jug winner had 25 sell for a gross of $1,148,000

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Second-crop trotting sire Ready For Moni enjoyed the highest average, which was $56,100 for 20 sold for a gross of $1,122,000. Third generation Midland Acres co-manager Jake Mossbarger noted, "We are extremely proud of how good he's done. We had a lot of faith in the horse, and it's coming through on the track. We are just glad that the owners and the buyers are supporting him. We are super-excited for all the breeders who have supported the horse."

Another first-crop sire, trotter Branded By Lindy, also enjoyed strong support with an average of $48,111 for nine sold, which was just above last year's leader In Range, who had 18 go through the ring for an average of $46,556.

On the pacing side, Downbytheseaside led the charge for the sixth consecutive year, with the high gross of $1,494,000 for 28 sold and an average of $53,357.

The sale is conducted by the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale Company, and general manager Bruce Brinkerhoff was proud of the continued success of the sale, and noted, "We were very pleased with the results of the sale. The consignors brought an outstanding set of horses that were very well received. With the strength of the Ohio program, which is perhaps the best in the nation, people were very eager to bid and buy. In addition, we had a significant amount of participation from people outside the state. There were a lot of new faces."

Brinkerhoff added, "We are very happy for Ohio breeders who enjoyed another record-breaking sale with high gross and high average."

Burke Racing was the top buyer, spending $537,000 for five purchases, followed by William Hartt (8, $506,000) and Reijo Liljendahl (3, $470,000).

Midland Acres topped the consignor gross sales category with $1,392,000 in total for 50 sold. They were followed by Spring Haven Farm with $1,044,000 (35); Rose Run Farm with $936,000 (19), and Hickory Lane Farm with $929,000 (19).

Clearview Farm led the consignor average category at $64,000 for eight sold. Abby Stable was second in consignor average with $61,000 for two sold, followed by Spring Run Farm at $55,000 for two sold.

Complete results, sales summaries and other important auction data is available on the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale website: http://www.lexingtonselected.com/cgi/ohio_sales_results_2026.php

--press release (Ohio Harness Horse Breeders)--