Lexington Yearling Sale: Ake Svanstedt makes his presence known on day two

A whopping 158 yearlings were hammered down during the second session of the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale at the Fagsig-Tipton Sales Pavilion on Wednesday evening. Following an opening day with flat results, the sale saw a 7.6 percent year-over-year increase for the second night.

The sale-topper at $175,000 was HIP 240, Holy Ground, a Cantab Hall colt out of Domestic Diva. Purchased by agent Bjorn Noren for Courant AB and Knutsson Trotting, the colt will join the stable of Ake Svanstedt, who is coming to America after a long run as Sweden’s leading trainer.

“He had good breeding and is a nice horse to look at,” said Svanstedt about Holy Ground. “That owner bought three horses. I’m buying for multiple owners.”

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Svanstedt was a busy man at the sale, signing for eight yearlings totaling $284,000. According to Noren, who will serve as Svanstedt second trainer, they are hoping to scoop up around 30 yearlings between Lexington and the Harrisburg sale in November.

Starting over in the United States, Svanstedt will bring only two horses with him from Sweden when he officially arrives on October 22. That pair includes top trotter Sebastian K, who is owned by Knutsson Trotting.

“I’ve been thinking about coming (to the U.S.) for five or six years,” said Svanstedt, who will train at Palema Trotting Center in Florida during the winter and will look for a New Jersey farm from spring to fall.

Perhaps the busiest man at the sale next to the auctioneer was trainer Jimmy Takter. The Hall of Famer purchased 10 head for a hefty $614,000. Spearheading his list of future hopefuls is HIP 140, Flyangelfly De Vie, a $160,000 purchase. Another high-priced Cantab Hall filly, she is out of the mare Dream Angel.

Also raising his hand multiple times and snagging the runner-up in the sale-topper rankings was trainer Tony Alagna. The conditioner of standout Lexington purchase Captaintreacherous, Alagna snagged HIP 191, Gifted Way, for $170,000. The Cantab Hall-Rare Gift colt is one of five Alagna will take home from day two.

Sales totaled $8,332,000 for the second session versus $7,450,000 from the same day in 2012 (four fewer horses). Sixteen yearlings sold for at least $100,000. Cantab Hall led the list with four hitting the $100k mark. Rock N Roll Heaven had another good night with three reaching the plateau.