Friday's mixed session of the Standardbred Horse Sales company auction in Harrisburg will have a bit of a 'kid in the candy store' feel for many buyers looking for racing and broodmare prospects. Well over 200 horses will change hands, with many being proven commodities and others oozing with future potential. Those with credit on account and ready to buy should first check the "outs," as a number of trainers and consignors revealed that some horses would be pulled from the sale. Included in that grouping are a 1:49 3/5 freshman pacer and an Indiana champion, among others. Even with the defections, there are still many fast horses and even some millionaires that are expected to hit the block starting at 11 a.m. on Friday morning. The Diamond Creek Farm consignment is led by 2020 Mohawk Million winner Venerate and 2021 Ohio Horse of the Year Gulf Shores. Venerate (HIP 1500) is certainly one of the most interesting prospects. While he excelled as a 2-year-old, winning half of his 10 starts, one would think the future could be down the road since the 4-year-old is by French stallion Love You. "He's in sharp form and was a really good second beaten by a half-length at Lexington last time [in a 1:50 1/5 mile]," said Diamond Creek's Shaun Laungani, who added that the sale was due to a stable change with the partnership. "Someone could take him overseas and win big races or win big races here, and he also has stallion potential. The story is still being written with him, and there is still untapped potential. He's still one of the fastest trotters we've seen when his gait is right." Gulf Shores (HIP 1542) is similar to Venerate on the pacing side in that he did his best work as a 2-year-old, but he was able to win in 1:50 3/5 over a five-eighths at Scioto earlier this year and has obvious appeal as a son of Downbytheseaside. "People don't mind buying from Brian Brown because he is good to the animal, and he doesn't break them down, so you'll get a horse that is sound," said Laungani. "He probably has something going on that we've never been able to figure out health-wise, but it doesn't mean someone can't reap the rewards by solving it and making him into a free-for-aller. He could probably benefit from being turned out every night or turned out more. He's not a stall-walker, but he can be a nervous type." Laungani threw out a "fabulous filly" selling as HIP 1392 named Primadonna Deo and a lightly-raced 2-year-old filly by Walner named Serena (HIP 1343) as horses worth considering. "Primadonna Deo's been in good form and done everything she could for the owners," said the Diamond Creek Vice President. "Her third dam is Spellbound Hanover, and she is a super prospect for breeding as well as racing. "HIP 1343 is a Walner sister to Selfie Queen, who's had an amazing year. This is a chance to buy a younger version of that horse for less money than she'll bring." Bob Boni's Northwood Bloodstock has a number of proven 3-year-olds consigned with six-figure earnings in 2022. HIP 1397 A Girl That Twirls made well over $100,000 as a 2- and 3-year-old and recently romped in the Simpson stake at Harrah's Philadelphia. "[A Girl That Twirls] has a record of 1:50 4/5 now in her last start, and she is a nice broodmare prospect, as well as a potential earner on the track," said Boni. HIP 1501 B A Superhero has been racing against the best 3-year-old male trotters all year and already has a 1:51 2/5 mark in 2022. "He's a Muscle Hill with a big pedigree that people should really look forward to next year because he has the Graduate, Hambletonian Maturity and other stakes." Indiana Sires Stakes runner-up RIP Wheeler is one of the fastest horses in the sale with a 1:48 4/5 lifetime record. The son of Rockin Image, selling as HIP 1503, has been in-the-money 18 times in 20 starts this year. "He's eligible to two races after the sale in Indiana - The Star Destroyer and Thanksgiving Classic - on November 18 and 25 which are $50,000 estimated but go for more. Those are the races that propelled Bulldog Hanover last year," noted Boni. In addition to a 2-year-old Sweet Lou gelding named Gallie Getaway, who just won at Freehold in 1:56 4/5, Boni named a couple of others which were worth consideration from his group. "Palermo Hanover (HIP 1432) is a high-quality mare with big pedigree. She's more a broodmare than anything else. She's a stakes winner of $250,000. There is one other one is Swan Trixie (HIP 1403), a Swan For All mare with over $100,000 made so far this year. She also has the Hoosier races yet to come." It is hard to top Preferred Equine's consignment in terms of star power, and one of the standouts is certainly HIP 1422 Next Level Stuff, a 5-year-old trotting mare with earnings of $857,732 and a 1:50 4/5 mark. "Scott Farber, the owner, has the mother of her so he has more siblings, one being a Tactical Landing filly. It wasn't an easy decision for him to sell, but it was a business decision," said current trainer Jim Campbell. "If someone wants to race her, she is physically able to do that and has a great attitude on the track. She is also a Sebastian K, so she can go to any of the top stallions. She's a gorgeous-looking mare with a really nice conformation." A younger broodmare prospect worth considering is HIP 1429 Selfie Queen. Through two seasons on the track the Nancy Takter trainee has earned $479,882 and won in 1:51 1/5. "She's one of the fastest 2-year-olds ever and one of the fastest 3-year-olds as well. She can be bred to Chapter Seven, Walner, Gimpanzee or any from that line," said Takter, who indicated that she can't race right now due to a wing fracture in her coffin bone that would require at least three months rest. ► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter There are a few Tony Alagna trainees in the sale, and he was happy to share some thoughts about a pair of 2-year-olds with a potential bright future. "Captain Batboy [HIP 1358] is a nice horse. He probably needs another year of maturity and hasn't had the best of luck, but he showed in the one start when he was second to Save America that he has a lot of upside for next year," said Alagna. "Cabot Beach [HIP 1357] is a brother to Pebble Beach. He's a medium-sized horse that we raced in Lexington who is probably better suited to a smaller track like a five-eighths because he is not big. He won in 1:51 in Lexington and his last start in 1:53 at Chester, so he has upside for next year, plus he has the Kentucky Sires Stakes." Alagna also felt someone might come away happy if they purchased HIP 1537 Rouser Hanover. "He's shown how much ability he has. He has some aches and pains where sometimes you have to give him time to catch up again, but as far as raw speed and talent, he's got it. He's also still a stallion and a brother to Rockyroad Hanover. He can go regionally to stand stud or a small breeder can buy him." Others from Preferred that warrant a look (assuming they remain in the sale): HIP 1414 Fire Start Hanover: 4-year-old pacing mare with $1.2 million in earnings HIP 1425 Peyton Hanover: 3-year-old trotting filly who won a division of the Bluegrass this year in 1:51 2/5. HIP 1428 Scarlett Hanover: Bettor's Delight mare who was a top 2- and 3-year-old but suffered the 4-year-old blues and could come out of her shell again. HIP 1507 Double Deceiver: 3-year-old was just second in the Breeders Crown and is entered in the Matron on 11/10 at Bally's Dover. He has a 1:50 2/5 career mark. HIP 1508 Energetic Hanover: 3-year-old won the Simpson last time in 1:49 4/5 at Philly and is entered in Thursday's Matron. HIP 1531 Delayed Hanover: Has almost $500,000 in career earnings and the 4-year-old owns a 1:51 1/5 career-best time. Whether looking for a 2-year-old or an aged performer, a trotter or a pacer, a broodmare or a stallion, there is truly something for everyone in Friday's mixed session at Harrisburg. You just have to choose right!