Catch The Fire colt tops Ohio Selected Jug Sale

CIRCLEVILLE, OH. – The Ohio Selected Jug Sale was a flurry of bidding activity, paving the way for the highest gross in the sale’s storied history, which enjoyed a double digit increase of 10.7 percent from last year’s auction.  The sale also saw the highest priced harness racing yearling sold in the state of Ohio fetch $225,000 from Greg Luther.

The sale topper was HIP 106, a Catch The Fire half-brother to Captain Cowgirl p,3,1:49.3f ($600,579), named Catch The Cowboy.  The handsome colt was bred and sold by Jeff and Senena Esty’s Spring Haven Farm, who themselves are perennial leaders in average and gross in Ohio Standardbred auctions.  From the Western Hanover mare Rideintothesunset, this was also the dam’s most expensive yearling.

Overall the gross sales totaled $8,276,000 for 269 yearlings sold, resulting in an average of $30,766 per horse.  This was a 9.4 percent increase from last year’s premier Ohio yearling auction.  The median was $25,000.

President of the Ohio Breeders, Randy Haines was very pleased with the outcome, “This was a strong sale across all categories.  It speaks volumes to the prominence of the Ohio program and people’s desire to be a part of it.”

The sale is conducted by the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale Company, and general manager Bruce Brinkerhoff was equally excited about the strength of the sale, “We are very thankful for the enthusiastic bidding from a deep contingent of buyers throughout the day.  Our consignors have upped their game and continued to bring horses that are in great demand…and it shows with record gross, average, and the record priced horse.”

Looking at the numbers more closely, the highest average for pacing sires, for the third year in a row was dominated by Downbytheseaside at $50,968 for 31 sold.  First crop sire Catch The Fire was second at $35,909 for 22 sold, followed by Lather Up with $34,000 for 8 sold.

On the Trotting side Triumphant Caviar had just five yearlings sold, but averaged $79,000.  Much of that was on the strength of two six-figure yearlings, especially HIP 144, a full brother to 2-time Ohio Sire Stakes champion Rose Run Yolanda at $150,000, who was the highest priced trotting yearling sold.  Both of those colts hailed from the Rose Run Farm consignment who sold 13 yearlings for a gross of $856,000 for a leading consignor average of $65,846.

While the stallion Volstead averaged $37,000 for six sold, Uncle Peter ($33,909 avg.; 22 sold) and What The Hill ($31,632; 38) also led the trotting sires with greater numbers sold.

Spring Haven Farm topped the consignor gross sales category with $1,331,000 in total for 44 sold.  They were followed by Dublin Valley Farms with $901,000 (38) and Midland Acres with $898,000 (36).

Archie Yoder’s Rose Run Farm also sold the highest priced pacing filly in the sale, HIP 36, a gorgeous Downbytheseaside filly that was purchased by Burke Racing for $140,000.

For complete sale results, click here.

by Chris Tully, for Ohio Harness Horse Breeders Association