Walner yearling sells for $1 million at Harrisburg

Harrisburg, PA — Cambridge Hanover (Walner), a three-quarter brother to standout 2-year-old male trotter Maryland, became the third yearling in harness racing history to sell for seven figures Monday when he was purchased for $1 million by trainer Andrew Harris as agent for Bill Pollock during the opening session of the 86th annual Standardbred Horse Sale.

The price was a record for the Standardbred Horse Sale, eclipsing the $825,000 paid for trotting colt Detour Hanover in 2011.

Cambridge Hanover joined trotting colts Maverick and Damien, who both sold at the 2019 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale, in the million-dollar club. Maverick was purchased for $1.1 million while Damien brought $1 million.

Cambridge Hanover is the second foal out of the mare Crucial. Her first, the Chapter Seven-sired Maryland, has earned $1.14 million this year and counts the Breeders Crown, Mohawk Million, Peter Haughton Memorial, and William Wellwood Memorial among his five victories.

The family also includes Dan Patch and O’Brien awards winner Venerable as well as Grand Circuit winner Voguish.

“I wanted this one; I loved this horse,” Harris said. “When you watched the video, and then watched him in the field, I’ve never seen a horse move like that. When a horse can move like that, it’s hard to find those kinds. Especially with the family. We’ve got Voguish, who is also related to him, and then Maryland too. It’s a really nice family.

“He has to perform, but he’s the type that if you’re going to take a shot on one, this is the one to take a shot on.”

Cambridge Hanover was bred and consigned by Hanover Shoe Farms. He is New Jersey eligible.

In addition to the Standardbred Horse Sale record for Cambridge Hanover, trotting filly Swinging Loyalty sold for $760,000 to become the highest-priced female yearling ever purchased at the Harrisburg sale. Richard Gutnick signed for Swinging Loyalty, who will be trained by Linda Toscano.

Swinging Loyalty is a daughter of Walner-Swinging Royalty and three-quarter sister to two Canadian Trotting Classic winners, Ahundreddollarbill and Slay, as well as a 2024 New York Sire Stakes champion, Royal Mission.

“This was our top choice all along,” said Gutnick, who will share ownership of the filly with several partners, including Brad Grant. “Linda loved her. She’s built phenomenally and she does everything effortlessly. I expected it to go $650,000 to $700,000. I wasn’t really prepared to go as high. I have some partners who say that if I’m in, they’re in. So, that makes life a lot easier.

“(Linda) kept telling me it’s too much. And it was too much. But you only live once.”

Concord Stud Farm was the consignor of Swinging Loyalty, who was bred by Jonas Schlabach. The filly is New Jersey eligible.

Cambridge Hanover and Swinging Loyalty were among eight yearlings to sell for at least $400,000 on Monday at the Pennsylvania State Farm Show Complex.

Overall, the first session of the sale had 150 horses go through the auction ring, bringing a total of $16.5 million and average of $110,387. Last year, the opening day saw 153 horses sell for $15.2 million, an average of $99,497.

“It’s been a stellar day. Just amazing,” said Dale Welk, the Standardbred Horse Sales Company president and director of operations. “I can’t thank the buyers enough. It really set the pace today, and it kept going.”

He added about the sale’s first million-dollar yearling, “That was a goal. I wanted to sell a million-dollar horse. I got emotional. I’m still a little choked up about it. It’s a great feeling, especially with all the other ones that we sold. I’m just happy for all the consignors.”

Two yearlings topped the half-million-dollar mark Monday, with trotting colt Apex and trotting filly Art Of The State both selling for $525,000.

Apex, a son of Walner-Mission Brief, was purchased by Jeff Snyder and will be trained by Marcus Melander. He is a three-quarter brother to Kadena, a 2-year-old filly who finished second in the Kentucky Sire Stakes Commonwealth Series championship and was a Breeders Crown finalist.

Snyder is co-owner of Kadena, who was an $800,000 buy at last year’s Lexington sale. The family also includes stallion Tactical Landing.

“I thought the pedigree was as good as anything,” Snyder said. “We have high hopes for Kadena, and she has a (three-quarter) sister, Jaya Bae, who showed a huge amount of speed. This one was more racy looking than Kadena and more racy looking than Jaya Bae. She checked all the boxes and the whole family is wonderful. We’re happy.”

Apex was consigned by Hunterton Sales Agency for breeder Mission Brief Stable. The colt is New Jersey and Kentucky eligible.

Art Of The State, a daughter of Gimpanzee-Amour Heiress, was purchased by Melander for Snyder and S R F Stable. She is a half-sister to Melander-trained Periculum, who has $1.2 million in career earnings and counts the Maple Leaf Trot among his victories this season. She also is a half-sister to stakes-winners Spy Booth, King Alphonso, and Mosquito, as well as a three-quarter sister to stakes-winner Crown. Her family also includes 2014 Hambletonian winner Trixton.

“She’s the first filly in that family,” Melander said. “We’ve had some of the colts. It’s a great family. We really liked her. With what these fillies go for, it’s kind of what you expect to pay. But she is a nice-looking filly, and the pedigree speaks for itself.”

Art Of The State was consigned by Concord Stud Farm for breeder Order By Stable AB. The filly is Kentucky and Kentucky Stallion Bonus eligible.

The top-selling pacer Monday was Sea Bistro Hanover, purchased for $410,000 by David McDuffee. The colt, a son of Captaintreacherous-Santa Rosa, is a half-brother to Dan Patch and O’Brien awards winner Pebble Beach. His family also includes millionaires Vintage Master and Great Vintage. He was consigned by Hanover Shoe Farms and bred by Brittany Farms. He is Pennsylvania eligible.

The second session of the three-day yearling sale will begin at 10 a.m. Tuesday. The final session will begin at 10 a.m. Wednesday.

“I really feel good about tomorrow,” Welk said. “I think our middle market is going to be just fine. We’ve got some real good yearlings to sell. Almost every consignor has something good to sell. I could probably have put 50 or 60 more (yearlings) in today.”

For Standardbred Horse Sale results, click here.

For the yearling catalog, click here.

For the auction live stream,  click here.

by Ken Weingartner, for the USTA