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CIRCLEVILLE, OH. – Once again, the Ohio Selected Jug Yearling Sale broke its own sales record during this year’s edition of the Standardbred auction with 266 horses selling for a gross of $8,659,000, an 8 percent increase from 2024.
“Over the 30-plus year history of this sale we have never seen this much money being spent for Ohio-bred yearlings,” Senena Esty stated. “It shows that we can sell big ticket harness horses at this venue.”
Not only is Esty’s Spring Haven Farm the consignor and breeder of the $210,000-sale topping Blue Ranger, an In Range full sister to Next Generation champion Big Ranger, but she also serves as the Ohio Harness Horse Breeders president.
“We are thrilled and wish all the new owners the very best of racing luck and success,” she added.
Sold as Hip# 106, the sharp filly was the highest priced trotter ever sold at public auction in Ohio, and was purchased by Reijo Liljendahl, Agent.
The highest priced colt sold, regardless of gait, was Hip# 148 an In Range half-brother to Jet Hill and Jet Wings. Bred by Martz Creek Farm and consigned by Trackside Farm, he was purchased for $200,000. The purchaser(s) were McClelland Stable, Zanesville, Ohio and Larry Wills, Columbus, Ohio.
The talk of the town, and now all over Ohio, is the success of the stallion In Range, whose offspring commanded high prices at historic levels.
“The buyers really gravitated toward his foals,” noted Kevin Greenfield of Hickory Lane Farms. “His $62,875 average may be the highest ever for any major stallion in Ohio.”
The second crop sire had 25 yearlings offered for a sale-leading gross of $1,509,000.
First crop trotting sire Ready For Moni enjoyed a robust $42,500 average for 14 sold.
On the pacing side, Downbytheseaside led the charge for the fifth consecutive year, grossing $1,358,000 for 32 sold and an average of $42,438.
The highest priced pacer sold was offered by Alliance Bloodstock, a new partnership between Diamond Creed Farm and Northwood Bloodstock. The Sugar Valley Farm-bred Downbytheseaside filly McWallen fetched $115,000 from Greg Luther.
First crop pacing sire Monte Miki also fared very well with a $26,071 average for 42 sold.
Overall the gross sales totaled $8,659,000 for 266 yearlings sold, resulting in an average of $32,553 per horse. This total was a significant 8.1 percent increase from last year’s auction, whereas the average was up an equally impressive 9.3 percent. The median was $24,500.
The sale is conducted by the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale Company, and general manager Bruce Brinkerhoff was extremely pleased with the historic strength of the sale, and noted, “It’s our highest gross and highest average in the 30-plus year history of the sale. It was also the third time we grossed over eight million. The Ohio breeders and consignors have really raised the bar and it was evident that they are selling what people want.”
Brinkerhoff added, “Our entire sales team is grateful for the support of the bidders and buyers and we wish them lots of luck with their purchases.”
Greg Luther was the top buyer spending $553,000 for eight purchases, followed by Burke Racing (7, $342,000) and Bootville Stable (3, $318,000).
Spring Haven Farm topped the consignor gross sales category with $1,271,000 in total for 43 sold. They were followed by Midland Acres with $1,026,000 (37) and Rose Run Farm with $769,000 (19).
Trackside Farm and Martz Creek Farm led the consignor average category at $66,500 for 4 sold. Alliance Bloodstock was second in consignor average with $53,600 for 10 sold, followed by Hickory Lane Farm at $48,400 for 15 sold.
Complete results, sales summaries and other important auction data is available on the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale website: http://www.lexingtonselected.
by Chris Tully, for the Ohio Harness Horse Breeders
