Kadena sells for $1.2million as Mixed Sale sets new record

Harrisburg, PA – Three-year-old trotting filly Kadena, a graded-stakes winning daughter of Gimpanzee-Mission Brief, led the way at the second-and-final day of the Standardbred Horse Sale’s mixed sale, going for $1.2 million on Friday to Armitage Farm at the Pennsylvania State Farm Show Complex.

Kadena was among five horses to sell for at least $500,000 on Friday in Harrisburg. The others were 4-year-old trotting mare Date Night Hanover, for $985,000 to Armitage Farm; 3-year-old trotting filly What A Bid Hanover, for $650,000 to Kountry Lane Standardbreds; 3-year-old pacing filly Rodeo Drive Deo, for $650,000 to Cindy Stewart, and 3-year-old pacing colt Fallout, for $500,000 to Ron Burke Racing.

Overall, the two-day mixed sale totaled nearly $38.6 million, a record for the event, for 699 horses and stallion shares. The previous high, $31.6 million for 597 horses and stallion shares, was established last year. This year’s mixed sale average of $55,156 also was a record, bettering the $52,945 average established last year.

Kadena, who sold for $800,000 at the 2023 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale – which at the time equaled the highest price ever for a trotting filly at a yearling auction, was the top seller at this year’s Standardbred Horse Sale, besting the $1.15 million for 4-year-old trotting mare French Champagne one day earlier in Harrisburg.

A three-quarter sister to this year’s multiple Grade 1 stakes-winning 2-year-old colt Apex, Kadena won a division of the Bluegrass Stakes (G3) in a career-best 1:51 on Sept. 27 at Lexington’s Red Mile. She was trained by Marcus Melander.

Date Night Hanover, another Melander trainee, trotted a career-best 1:49.2 (tied for the second fastest mile of the year by a trotter) on Oct. 5 in winning the Allerage Mare Trot at The Red Mile. She is a daughter of Chapter Seven-Don’t Wait Up and half-sister to Grand Circuit winner Delayed Hanover. The family also includes millionaire Periculum.

What A Bid Hanover, a daughter of Muscle Hill-What A Knockout, won the Goldsmith Maid (G1) at age 2. Her family also includes Southwind Serena, the dam of the aforementioned Mission Brief and stallion Tactical Landing. She was trained by Ake Svanstedt.

Rodeo Drive Deo, a multiple graded-stakes winning daughter of Captaintreacherous-Miss L A, counted the Jugette (G1) and USS Indianapolis (G3) among her victories in 2025. She also won the 2024 Kindergarten Classic Series final (G3). Her family includes multiple O’Brien Award-winner L A Delight. She was trained by Ron Burke.

Ron Burke Racing purchased Fallout, a son of Captaintreacherous-Aria Hanover who won the Metro Pace (G1) in 2024 and is a full brother to former Burke standout and millionaire Blue Diamond Eyes. Fallout was trained by Tony Alagna.

For complete Standardbred Horse Sale results, click here.

by Ken Weingartner, for the USTA