Record-setting second session at Lexington yearling sale

Lexington, KY — The second session of the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale at the Fasig-Tipton Sales Pavilion produced more harness racing records for gross and average on Tuesday (Oct. 4), and for the second consecutive year, the day’s top seller reached the half-million-dollar mark.

Courant Inc. purchased Flashback Bi, a son of Greenshoe-Dream Child, for $500,000. He is a half-brother to Grand Circuit winners You Ato Dream and Ari Ferrari J. The colt is Pennsylvania and Kentucky eligible. He was bred by M Biasuzzi Stable and consigned by Hunterton Sales Agency.

“What’s not to like,” said Marcus Melander, who will train Flashback Bi. “He’s a very athletic colt, stands very correct, obviously a great pedigree; he’s just a very nice horse. We really liked him. He was one of our top picks. We’re very glad we got him. We were prepared to go high on him, we really liked him that much.”

Melander trained Greenshoe, who was the 2019 Trotter of the Year.

“(Flashback Bi) looks a lot like him, to be honest,” Melander said. “He’s very light on his feet and athletic. He really looks like his dad. I’m thrilled to train him.”

FLASHBACK BI YEARLING VIDEO

Greenshoe’s first crop as a stallion has been well received at the sale. He leads all trotting sires in average at $163,943 for 35 yearlings.

“I’m not surprised,” Melander said. “He bred super-good mares and conformation-wise they look great. They’re standing correct, they have great bodies, they’re very athletic. He’s a first-crop sire, so you never know how they’re going to sell, but I’m not shocked they’re selling that good because they look really good.”

Flashback Bi led the way for day two of the five-day sale, which saw 227 horses sell for a total of $20.4 million and average of $90,013. The previous highs for day two, set last year when 213 yearlings passed through the ring, were $17.9 million for gross and $84,141 average. This year’s numbers represented a 14-percent increase in gross and 6.97-percent increase in average.

Overall, this year’s sale has seen 349 horses sell for $43.5 million, an average of $124,642. Last year’s record-setting sale stood at $36.4 million for 328 horses after day two, an average of $111,164. This year’s sale is up 19.5-percent in gross and 12.1-percent in average.

Following Flashback Bi on the best-seller’s list Tuesday was Eunoia Hanover, a daughter of Captaintreacherous-Eloquent Grace, who sold for $375,000 to Nancy Takter as agent for Caviart Farms. She is a full sister to Grand Circuit winner Ervin Hanover out of the family of millionaires Ginger And Fred and Fred And Ginger. She was bred and consigned by Hanover Shoe Farms. She is Pennsylvania eligible.

San Jose, a son of Captaintreacherous-Santa Rosa, was purchased for $300,000 by Tony Alagna as agent. He is a three-quarter brother to this year’s North America Cup winner Pebble Beach. His second dam is Hall of Fame broodmare Art’s Vintage, the mother of millionaires Vintage Master and Great Vintage. The colt was bred and consigned by Brittany Farms. He is Pennsylvania and Kentucky eligible.

In Your Eyes, a daughter of Cantab Hall-Bright Baby Blues, was purchased for $280,000 by Euro Stall Se. She is a half-sister to Jula Muscle Pack, who was a winner on the Grand Circuit, and her second dam is Dan Patch Award winner Bar Slide. She was bred by Bluestone Farms and Fredericka Caldwell and consigned by Cane Run Farm. She is Pennsylvania and Kentucky eligible.

Rounding out the top five for session two was Fly By, a son of Chapter Seven-Fly Angel Fly, who sold for $275,000 to Tony Alagna as agent. His family includes Grand Circuit winner Oasis Dream and U Wanna Lindy, the dam of millionaire Wild Honey. He was bred by Al Libfeld, Marvin Katz, and Sam Goldband. He was consigned by Kentuckiana Farms and is New York and Kentucky eligible.

Bettor’s Delight was the leading pacing stallions in average through two days, at $207,500 for eight yearlings. Captaintreacherous was second at $165,389 for 36 horses.

Following Greenshoe in average for trotters with multiple horses sold was Muscle Hill at $139,688 for 32 yearlings. Chapter Seven was just behind, at $139,610 for 41.

The third session of the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale begins at 2 p.m. (EDT) Wednesday.

For complete sales results, click here.

by Ken Weingartner, for the USTA