Ohio Selected Jug Yearling Sale ready to start

CIRCLEVILLE, OH – With the Ohio Selected Jug Yearling Sale less than 24 hours away, the harness racing consignors who know these colts and fillies best, weighed in on their selections on who may emerge from Friday’s (Sept. 15) sale as ‘the one to watch.’

The hardworking men and women that breed, foal, raise and prepare these yearlings for auction often know the individuals best, and can offer sage advice as to why a particular yearling should be given another look.

While the sale is conducted by the Lexington Selected Yearling Sales Co., the auction is owned by the Ohio Harness Horse Breeders, a consortium of about a dozen Buckeye State nurseries that send their wares to this marketplace each autumn.

“Business is good in Ohio,” noted Ohio Breeders president Randy Haines.  “All the farms have been busy showing yearlings before the sale, and the strength of the Ohio program has put many of our stallions on North America’s leaderboard.”

Joe McClead, co-owner and manager of Sugar Valley Farms in Delaware, Ohio agrees.  He noted, “Lather Up is currently the leading money-winning first crop sire of 2-year-old pacers in the country.”

McClead, who was recently elected as a director of the Hambletonian Society, also stands Downbytheseaside and is was the third leading sire in North America of both 2- and 3-year-old pacers in 2022.  “This speaks volumes to the caliber of racing in Ohio,” the Delaware-native added.

Although money pays the bills, speed is also important to breeders and handicappers alike.  In fact, an Ohio sire (or two) is listed in every age division on the North American (otherwise known as the world record) race records list for both trotting and pacing on a half-mile track.

In addition, nearly a dozen of those world champion performers have siblings selling in the sale.  And because three of the five (that were sold at public auction) $300,000 Scarlet champions of 2023 were purchased at this sale, the Ohio Selected Jug Sale has emerged as the ‘go to’ sale for acquiring eventual Ohio Sire Stakes champion harness horses.

Because of this power, they come from far and wide to inspect, bid on and ultimately purchase an Ohio yearling.  On hand for the show day was the multi-jurisdictional owner from New York, Adam Friedland.  With his name on the registration of hundreds of Standardbreds, the astute Brooklynite is a one-third owner of recent 3yo Ohio champion trotter Grand Revival 3,1:53.1f-’23 ($251,007).  Friedland put down his severely dog-eared catalog long enough to quip, “I’m out here to play the lottery known as the Ohio Select Sale!”

Buying unproven racehorses can be a tough game, and many will say that you must look at many, many yearlings before placing your first bid.  While siblings to World Champions are easily identified by their impressive pedigree pages, the other attributes indicative of performance may not be so outwardly obvious.  That’s where the people that know them best can come in very handy.

People often ask, ‘which one of these colts or fillies caught the eye of their breeder or farm manager?’  For that information, we went right to the horse’s mouth, so to speak.  We asked the consignors, which in many cases, is also the breeder.

Senena Esty, who along with her husband Jeff, operate Spring Haven Farm have sold their fair share of Ohio champions.  They are especially fond of their Downbytheseaside ¾ brother to Heart Of Chewbacca, HIP 142 Chewie By The Sea.

Spring Haven also sells the only foal by Muscle Diamond available anywhere, HIP 261.  The Estys also like a trifecta of colts by Downbytheseaside (104, 116, 153).

The Estys are known throughout the industry for their quality care and excellent sale preparation.  It seems that equine performers are not the only individuals to have graduated from their ‘college of knowledge.’

Enos Weaver unveiled his upstart consignment at this sale, Weaver Standardbreds.  He and his wife Lexie have embarked on a new breeding and boarding operation that has encompassed sales representation.  They have both worked with the Estys for the last decade.

“We bought a farm next to Jeff and Senena in Utica, which was also their former household,” Weaver noted.  “Lexie and I are grateful for the opportunity to have learned from them, which has really helped us build our own business.”

The Weavers like HIP 252, a roan Downbytheseaside colt who is dual eligible.

Another new consignor that has been added to the mix is Spurwood Farms, led by the talented Kelsey Grose.  Having worked with both Hickory Lane Farm and Spring Haven for the last decade, she took the plunge during the pandemic and bought a farm in Marysville and some broodmares to roam around it.

“We are very excited to be here.  Ohio is the place to be, and I am looking forward to growing our farm around the strong stakes and fair racing program,” the 30-something entrepreneur noted.  Grose likes P 62, an Uncle Peter colt, first foal from a stakes winning Cash Hall mare.

Beth Yontz of Anvil and Lace Farm has been a part of the Ohio sales for decades, and finds HIP 42, a Volstead filly, first foal from a Muscle Hill mare; and HIP 249, an Enterprise filly from a full sister to Breeders Crown winner Winndevie, to her liking.

Dr. John Mossbarger of Midland Acres, the oldest continuously operated Standardbred nursery in the state, is proud that “the Ohio program is very active and been so productive for all the participating owners, trainers, drivers and caretakers.”  Mossbarger has several on his ‘personal list’ that warrant additional interest, including, HIP 73, Long Tom colt; HIP 105, Fear The Dragon colt; and a pair of Bit Of A Legend A colts HIPS 107 & 263.

Mitch and Laura Nault of LMN Bred Stables really like HIP 96, DBSS filly, first foal from the family of NZ star Christian Cullen; and HIP 147, DBSS filly, first foal from Sweet Ace p,2,1:50.4f ($103,000).

Hickory Lane Farm’s farm and stallion manager, Brad Wallace, pointed to HIP 114, Uncle Peter first colt from a half-sister a World Champion; and HIP 253, What The Hill filly, first foal from Delcrest Magicstar 4,1:54.3f ($268,489).

Archie Yoder of Rose Run Farm fame exclaimed that HIP 36 is ‘must see TV’ as the Downbytheseaside filly is the ‘real deal.’

Dublin Valley Farms believes that HIP 80, Volstead filly from an active family, and HIP 235, full sister to Iam Independent (third in OSS final), are ones to take a closer look at.

Al Manke of Steiner Stock Farm has high marks for HIP 152, DBSS colt from a 100% producer with four foals, with 2 in 1:49.2 or faster, including Jug winner Captain Barbossa.

Mark Adams’ Winterwood Farm is loaded with power, and highlighted HIPS 43 (DBSS filly); 133 full brother to Rumble Strips; 166 Catch The Fire filly from the family of Cheery Hello, first foal; and 226, a Long Tom colt from a family of Ohio champions.

Cool Winds Farm touts: HIP 33, Long Tom colt, first foal from Kota’s Swan 3,1:54.2 ($232,000); HIP 185, DBSS colt, first foal from Acrobatta p,3,1:53.2h ; HIP 220, a flashy Dancin Yankee colt

The sale is held at the Pickaway Ag Center in Circleville, Ohio and begins at 10 am.  Prospective purchasers can bid online by registering here.

For more information, please visit here or visit here.

by Chris Tully, for the Ohio Harness Horse Breeders