Day One At Harrisburg

Eighty-eight fewer yearlings were sold on day one at Harrisburg than there were in 2015, and the emphasis on quality over quantity resulted in a 41% increase in the average.

Last year Muscle Hill sold 32 more yearlings in Lexington than he sold at Harrisburg, and his average at the Kentucky sale was 39% higher. This year he sold 52 in Lexington for an impressive $114,385 average. The $800,000 fetched for the full brother to Mission Brief was certainly no anchor on that average. Twenty-two of them topped $100,000—that’s 42%.

The King of the trotting ranks still sells the bulk of his stock in Kentucky as 21—or 31 fewer than were available at Lexington Selected—are for sale in PA this year. All but three of them sold today and they averaged $168,833. Five of the nine colts brought at least $200,000, and there were a couple in the $400,000 range as well as a $350,000 colt in the mix. Seven of the nine fillies sold today topped $100,000. The cheapest on both sides was $47,000. 

Jimmy Takter paid $410,000 for Story Time Hanover, a colt out of Shared Past, a three-quarter-sister to Dejarmbro. And Perry Soderberg signed the $350,000 slip for You Know You Do, the first foal—a colt—from I Want You. Determination Montreal handed over 400 large for Hey Jack, a colt out of Sugar Wheeler, a half-sister to Wheeling N Dealin. And Ake Svanstedt spent $270,000 on Drum Hanover, a half-brother to Lauderdale. And Jeffrey Snyder gave $245,000 for a three-quarter brother to Time To Kill who is also half to Blenheim.

Muscle Hill’s closest competitor on day one was Cantab Hall, who averaged a nifty $78,304 for 23 sold. Also, Donato Hanover averaged $70,571 for seven sold. Unlike Muscle Hill, Cantab has 18 left to sell.

Somebeachsomewhere was the leader on the pacing side as he averaged $88,538 for 39 sold. He still has 35% of his offering left to sell. Last year in Harrisburg SBSW sold 50 for a $59,760 average.

SBSW averaged $123,615 for 39 sold at the Lexington Selected Sale, so this should be the second year in a row that Harrisburg brings up the rear. Today’s offering was led by the $260,000 paid for a half-brother to Betting Line and the $230,000 given for a half-brother to American Jewel and Luck Be Withyou. In Lexington a filly out of Put On A Show went through the ring for $550,000 while a colt out of Darlin’s Delight brought $450,000.

Ron Burke took home four colts and a filly by SBSW. They ranged in price from $30,000 to $140,000.  Jimmy Takter paid $130,000 for a filly out of Kiss Me Kate, while Peter Blood gave $165,000 for a colt from the same family.  

Last year the Harrisburg average wasn’t helped by the 61 Well Said yearlings that averaged a disappointing $29,164. He had his first high profile success this year in the form of Control The Moment, who won the Pace and Cane, but his season and career were cut short by injury. Well Said averaged $45,182 for eleven sold today. The problem is, he has 41 more to sell. A filly out of L Dees Lioness brought $100,000.

Bettor’s Delight sold eleven from his second and final Pennsylvania crop. They averaged a shade under $60,000. Two of his colts brought $125,000.  The nomadic sire of Betting Line and LA Delight had a disappointing sale here in 2015 as 59 averaged $30,695. Last month he averaged $55,655 for 29 sold in Lexington. He has 47 more available in Harrisburg.

Kadabra averaged $58,500 for eight sold today. He topped out at $80,000. He has a dozen more to sell. He averaged $72,950 for 20 sold here last year; that was up 46% from 2014. Six brought at least $100,000 last year. The 17-year-old son of Primrose Lane sold eleven in Lexington for a $82,091 average.

Joe FitzGerald