Record prices drive New Jersey-eligible yearlings over $20 million

MANALAPAN, NJ — October 15, 2025 — For the second year in a row, New Jersey-eligible harness racing yearlings sold for more than $20 million at the annual Lexington Selected Yearling Sale in Kentucky.

This year, New Jersey-eligible yearlings brought a total of $20.46 million at the recently concluded five-day event at the Fasig-Tipton Pavilion in Lexington. The gross was an increase over last year’s total of $20.27 million.

Trotting stallion Walner, who stands at Southwind Farms, was the sale’s top-grossing sire, at nearly $10.5 million. He also led in average, at $131,188, for 80 yearlings.

Walner sired the sale’s two highest purchases, both fillies: Dejeuner for $1 million, and Turtle Dove for $900,000. Dejeuner became the highest-priced yearling filly ever sold at auction, bettering the previous record of $925,000 for Rani Hanover (also sired by Walner) in 2024. Only three other yearlings, all colts, have ever sold for at least $1 million.

In addition, five other New Jersey-eligibles were among the Top 10 sellers: Valorous (by Alrajah One IT), Social Hour (Walner), Temple Of Trot (Walner), Umbria (Tactical Landing) and Temperamental (Muscle Hill).

Muscle Hill ranked third in gross among all sires at the sale, with 37 yearlings totaling $4.14 million, and his average of $111,973 also was third. Tactical Landing was fifth in gross among trotting sires, with 40 yearlings totaling $3.17 million. Both stallions stand at Southwind Farms.

Overall, New Jersey-eligible yearlings averaged $94,327. The average for all yearlings in the entire sale was $68,417.

Buyers from New Jersey spent $21.4 million at the Lexington sale, by far the top total at the event.

from the Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association of New Jersey