Yearling portion of Harrisburg Sale ends with record

Harrisburg, PA — The harness racing yearling portion of the Standardbred Horse Sale concluded Wednesday (Nov. 9) at the Pennsylvania State Farm Show Complex with the three-day auction establishing a record for gross at $44.3 million while recording its second-best average in history at $49,109.

The previous record for gross was $42.7 million, set in 2007 when 1,048 horses were sold. This year’s event saw 145 fewer yearlings pass through the auction ring, a total of 903, but bettered the 2007 total by 3.6 percent.

Last year, the yearling sale grossed $42.4 million for 777 horses and set the record for average at $54,653. Interestingly, when this year’s sale reached 787 horses sold, the average at that time was only $1,100 less than the 2021 figure.

Prior to last year, the record average was $48,903, set in 2019 when 833 horses sold.

Filly pacer Vignette Blue Chip (Bettor’s Wish-Mo Molly Blue Chip) and colt pacer Tenacious Hanover (Stay Hungry-Temptation Hanover) were the top-selling yearlings during Wednesday’s session, going for $100,000 apiece.

Tenacious Hanover was purchased by Linda Toscano as agent. He is from the family of O’Brien Award-winner Percy Bluechip and millionaire Kenneth J.

The colt was bred and consigned by Hanover Shoe Farms. He is Pennsylvania eligible.

Vignette Blue Chip was purchased by Bill Donovan. She is a half-sister to Ry’s Red Rocket, who was a Massachusetts Sire Stakes champion in 2020. Her family also includes Ucandoit Blue Chip, a New Jersey Sire Stakes champion this year out of Breeders Crown winner Molly Can Do It.

She was bred by Blue Chip Bloodstock and consigned by Blue Chip Farms. She is New Jersey and Massachusetts eligible.

The session’s third-highest price was $95,000 for filly pacer Artonic Hanover (Betting Line-Allamerican Cognac), who also was purchased by Donovan.

Artonic Hanover is a half-sister to Grand Circuit winners JJ Flynn and Air Force Hanover, who are two of six Allamerican Cognac offspring to earn six figures. She also is a half-sister to Aria Hanover, the dam of millionaire Blue Diamond Eyes, and her family also includes O’Brien Award-winner Caviart Ally.

She was bred and consigned by Hanover Shoe Farms. She is Pennsylvania eligible.

For complete results of the yearling sessions, visit The Black Book.

The Standardbred Horse Sale’s two-day mixed sale begins at 11 a.m. (EST) Thursday.

by Ken Weingartner, for the USTA